A long silence.
Then—
"Hahahahaha…"
"It seems my time is almost up."
"Even my old brother Abyss has called to take me on my way."
Abel laughed.
He truly felt that his lifespan was nearly exhausted, that he was already one step away from the netherworld—
and his brother, long dead for more than sixty years, was waiting for him at the beginning of the road as a ghost, to accompany him.
After all,
the name Abyss, this brother, the traces of his existence… were too ancient.
So ancient that almost no one in this world remembered him anymore.
Who else could know this name and claim this identity to "tease" him, other than the ghost of the man himself?
It seemed… he really was about to die. He could even hear spirits.
"Hah, you old fool…"
Abyss listened to his brother's resigned tone, first stunned, then laughingly cursed.
More than sixty years of distance seemed to melt away in that familiar jest.
He suddenly thought—pretending to be a ghost and spooking this old man might actually be amusing.
"Real or fake? Wouldn't you know if you came to Area 66 of Sabaody Archipelago to see for yourself?"
Click.
Before Abel could respond, Abyss decisively ended the call.
At the same time, on Zou,
a lean, short old man sat frozen, his expression shifting wildly.
See you in Sabaody 66.
Really…?
Back outside, Abyss was asking Tucker what year it was.
"Tell me about the current world."
Tucker, who had only recently left Stomach World, was still well-informed. He immediately replied with respect:
"Your Majesty! This is the era of the Thunder Emperor!"
At that name, Tucker's voice carried awe.
"The Thunder Emperor is the strongest Logia user, wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"
"He is the undisputed overlord of the sea, ruling from Thunder God Island in the New World. His throne is unshakable!"
Abyss's expression flickered. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit… no wonder. Someone who possessed such a power could indeed reign over the seas.
Thunder God Island—he remembered. Like Punk Hazard, its climate was permanently twisted. Lightning fell day and night without end.
So that was the doing of this so-called Emperor.
"But there are other fierce new stars, too!"
"There are the brothers Enta and Anka, called the Dragon and Tiger Brothers."
"There is Jinmu, the Divine Brush."
"And Zer, the Snow Demon of the Land of Snow…"
Tucker rattled off the names, brimming with admiration.
Abyss only listened silently, brows faintly furrowed.
None of these names rang a bell. They sounded strong enough… but compared to the Golden Age of Pirates that he knew, an era overflowing with heroes, this one felt strangely barren.
The Marines' grip on the seas was even firmer now.
Even the New World, later a "Pirate's Paradise," was largely under Marine control.
Only Thunder God Island stood defiant, a nail they couldn't pull out.
Then—
"Wait."
Abyss interrupted, eyes narrowing. "Have you heard of a man called Flame Abel?"
"Flame Abel?"
Tucker frowned, searched his memory, then shook his head firmly.
"Never heard of him. But the previous era's overlord was a man named Tas—known as the Phoenix."
"Phoenix Tas…" Abyss muttered. The name was unfamiliar.
He waved it off. "Forget it."
Abel's prime was decades past. For a youngster like Tucker not to know was normal.
As for this Phoenix Tas… no impression whatsoever.
Whoosh—whoosh—
Tucker's wings beat against the sky, carrying Abyss swiftly to the nearest Spring Island.
When Abyss finally set foot on solid, damp ground, a fresh sea breeze mixed with the scent of vegetation rushed against him, tugging at his tied-back black hair.
But before he could savor the long-lost sensation of solidity—
A gale, fierce and heavy with will, swept over like a storm front!
This was no natural wind, but—
Rumble rumble—!!!
On the open plain ahead, two arcs of dark red lightning clashed violently, their collision tearing at the very air!
Conqueror's Haki.
And not just ordinary Haki—this was a clash of two powerful conquerors!
Abyss's eyes sharpened. He gazed toward the source.
There—two young giants, each over six meters tall, faced off. One drew his sword, the other bent his bow.
Their overwhelming wills collided, cracking the earth beneath their feet.
Their appearances… shockingly alike. Clearly twins.
And between them—
A beautiful woman with long light-green hair, dressed in a kimono, desperately trying to stop the fight.
Abyss's pupils shrank.
He knew this woman.
Kozuki Oden's wife. Kozuki Momonosuke's mother. The wielder of the Time-Time Fruit who had traversed across centuries—
Amatsuki Toki!
What in the hell was she doing here?
Abyss froze, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
"Your Majesty, we must go!"
Tucker panicked, lowering his voice as if afraid to be overheard.
"Those are the hottest rookies right now—the Dragon and Tiger Brothers!"
"The elder, Arephati Enta! Zoan: Crocodile-Crocodile Fruit, Saltwater Crocodile form! Bounty: 90 million Berries!"
"The younger, Arephati Anka! Zoan: Cat-Cat Fruit, Tiger form! Bounty: 80 million!"
"Both are vicious and lawless! We cannot provoke them, let's retreat!"
Tucker's words barely registered.
Abyss stood rooted, as if thunderstruck.
His mind went blank. His blood ran cold.
He hadn't heard a single word about Zoans, bounties, or lawlessness.
Only one thing echoed in his mind—
Arephati.
That name. That surname.
The one he himself had created upon transmigrating.
No one should bear it. No one.
And yet—those two faces, their features—five, six parts similar to his own.
Sixty-five years ago, he had indeed… had a dramatic, tragic affair.
No… impossible. Could it be—?!
Could these two, the Dragon and Tiger Brothers clashing with Conqueror's Haki over Lady Toki,
be his grandsons?!!!
==========================
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