The days after Rocks' death were nothing short of chaotic. Despite the victory, the world wasn't at peace. The power vacuum left in the wake of Rocks' demise sparked new tensions, and the marines faced an ever-growing threat as pirates scrambled to fill the void. While some celebrated the end of the Rocks Pirates, others saw it as an opportunity to build their own empires.
I spent the next few days reflecting on what had transpired and what was to come. The sheer magnitude of what we'd achieved had yet to sink in. Rocks was dead, but the world was still full of monsters in human skin—powerful individuals with ambitions that could shake the very foundations of the world.
Kong called us together again. The aftermath of the battle needed to be dealt with, and the consequences of Rocks' death were more than we could handle alone. We gathered in the war room, each of us weighed down by the grim reality of the situation.
"We may have won," Kong began, his voice steady but filled with concern, "but this is far from over. The Rocks Pirates were powerful, yes, but they weren't the only threat out there."
I nodded, my mind already jumping ahead to the possible scenarios we would have to face. Rocks had been one of the strongest, but there were others waiting in the wings—new alliances forming between pirates, revolutionaries, and even corrupt figures within the world government itself. The world was far from stable.
Sengoku spoke up next. "Our next course of action should be to establish a firm hold on the seas again. We need to stamp out any remaining factions of Rocks' crew, and any pirate who thinks they can take advantage of the chaos we've left behind. But we also have to consider other factions that may rise to fill the power gap."
Zefa's voice rumbled from the back of the room. "The seas are a dangerous place, and they always will be. But we've made the world aware that the marines are not to be trifled with. If anything, this victory will make them think twice before challenging us head-on."
I didn't speak at first, letting the weight of what had been said settle in the room. The battle against Rocks had been a victory, but it had been a costly one. The marines had suffered significant losses. Thousands of soldiers had died in the battle, and the families of the fallen would mourn their loss for years to come. I'd lost soldiers, comrades, and friends. But we had to move forward. We couldn't afford to grieve for too long. The world needed us more than ever.
"I'll take a fleet and continue hunting down any remaining pirates who are trying to regroup," I said, breaking the silence. "If we let them rebuild, we'll face the same chaos again."
Kong gave me a nod of approval. "Agreed. Gojo, I want you to lead the charge on this. The marines have no better captain to bring order to these seas."
I stood, straightening my coat, and took a deep breath. "Understood, sir."
The meeting continued, but my mind was already elsewhere. The feeling of the battle still lingered in my bones, but now I had a new purpose. The marines were my family, and I would protect them. The world could be as chaotic as it wanted to be, but I was determined to restore order.
---
Days passed, and the marines went to work. I led my fleet on an aggressive campaign to dismantle what was left of the Rocks Pirates. The seas were filled with pirates trying to capitalize on the instability, but we wiped them out swiftly. Each victory felt bittersweet. It was necessary, but it felt like putting a bandage on a wound that kept reopening.
The world was changing faster than we could keep up with. News from the East Blue, the Grand Line, and the New World came in waves. Powerful pirates were rising in prominence. News about the Straw Hat Pirates spread like wildfire, and rumors of a new "great war" between the pirates and the world government began to swirl. It seemed like the dawn of a new era, one that no one could predict.
One night, as I stood on the deck of my ship, looking out at the horizon, a feeling of unease settled over me. I had been battling for so long, for so many causes, and now it felt like we were only scratching the surface of a much larger conflict. The Rocks Pirates were gone, but the true storm had only begun to brew.
I wasn't just fighting for the marines anymore. I was fighting to keep the world from falling apart. And if I didn't succeed, if I faltered, the entire world would pay the price.
"Are you alright?" Kong's voice broke through my thoughts.
I turned to face him, seeing the concern in his eyes. Even he could sense the pressure weighing on me.
"I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about what comes next."
"There's no easy way ahead," Kong said, his tone grave. "But we can face it, together. We've always done so. And we will continue to do so."
I nodded, grateful for his support. But deep down, I knew the truth: the world was on the verge of something much larger than any of us. We could only hope to be ready when the storm finally hit.
The marines had survived the rise of the Rocks Pirates. But now, as the shadows of new threats loomed on the horizon, we had to face a future that none of us could predict.
And so, we sailed onward.