The Roger Pirates fell into a heavy silence as they stared at the newspaper's photograph.
Buggy and Shanks, the two youngest aboard, were struck dumb, mouths hanging open, unable to form words.
A legend, a man who had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their own captain, had fallen. And not in the New World, not amidst grand fleets and rival emperors, but in the faraway, unassuming North Blue—felled by a Marine.
The image was chilling. The corpse of the Golden Lion sprawled across a ruined wasteland, while beside him stood the towering figure of the Marine who had slain him.
The apprentices felt their skin prickle, the memory of their near-death encounter with that same Marine surging back with brutal clarity.
And now, most terrifying of all—he was still growing stronger.
"Something's off," Gaban muttered, rubbing his chin, his brow furrowed. "We saw what that brat could do back at Edd War. He's stronger now, no doubt about it—but not enough to bring down Shiki."
Rayleigh nodded gravely.
Even if Roger himself had fought with everything he had, victory over the Golden Lion was never certain. That Darren had done so? Impossible.
"Roger, what do you think?" Rayleigh asked at last.
But there was no answer.
He turned—and saw Roger sitting in silence, clutching the newspaper with both hands.
"Roger…?" Rayleigh's voice softened. He laid a hand on his captain's shoulder.
Roger stayed quiet for a long moment, then finally exhaled, a long, heavy sigh.
"Shiki's dead…"
The crew fell silent again.
They all knew the truth: the Golden Lion had nearly ended them at Edd War. If not for that sudden, miraculous storm, the Roger Pirates might already lie at the bottom of the sea.
And yet—beyond enmity—there was understanding. Respect. Shiki and Roger had once shared the same horizon. Titans who, despite everything, had recognized one another.
"I'm fine," Roger said at last, shaking his head. A faint, wry smile touched his lips. "Shiki's journey ends here. Ours continues."
He lifted the newspaper slightly, pointing at the photograph.
"Whatever trick that Marine brat pulled… whatever really happened that day—I know one thing for certain. Shiki died without regret."
His gaze shifted toward the endless sea, and slowly his smile broadened into something bold, almost carefree.
"He must have had one hell of a fight."
The words hit the crew like thunder. If even Roger spoke with that certainty—then perhaps Darren truly had ascended into the realm of legends.
"Time for us to go too."
Before anyone could respond, Roger wiped the grease from his fingers, stood, and threw his tattered red captain's coat over his shoulders. His missing tooth had already grown back. He strode toward the Oro Jackson with fiery purpose.
"Set sail."
"Our final adventure awaits."
Sunlight broke through the clouds. The wind caught his coat, sending it billowing behind him. Roger's steps were sure, his smile ablaze with fervor. His crew watched, spellbound.
BOOM!
A cannonball exploded on the shore, a geyser of seawater bursting skyward.
Roger yelped, nearly leaping out of his skin. He spun on his heel and bolted for the ship like a man possessed.
"Move it!!" he screamed, voice cracking. "That bastard Garp's here again!"
The crew stood frozen in disbelief.
A vast pirate ship, resembling a white whale, lay anchored on the sea in the New World.
The harsh sea wind whipped the Jolly Roger—a skull emblazoned with Whitebeard's signature crescent mustache—into a frantic dance.
Marco and the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates stared grimly at the newspapers in their hands, lost in a long, heavy silence.
Kozuki Oden, his arm severed, slumped dejectedly against the railing, surrounded by empty sake bottles. His face was flushed crimson from heavy drinking.
At the ship's bow, Whitebeard clutched a flask of strong liquor, his deep-set eyes scanning the vast ocean horizon.
The oncoming wind billowed his voluminous white captain's coat, its folds flapping wildly.
Suddenly, Whitebeard tilted the flask and drained it in a single gulp.
"It's been a long voyage, Shiki..." he murmured softly.
A complex mix of sorrow and nostalgia flickered in his profound gaze.
Whole Cake Island.
"Mamamama! Just as I expected from the man I chose! He actually killed that bastard Shiki!"
Big Mom's sultry yet shrill laughter echoed through the cream-scented Whole Cake Chateau, its ear-splitting pitch causing the Big Mom Pirates guarding the perimeter to pale, their limbs buckling beneath them as they collapsed to their knees with a series of heavy thuds.
On the top floor, Katakuri listened in silence, his jaw clenched. Fury burned in his eyes.
With a snarl, he hurled his trident. The Earth Dragon whistled through the air, slamming into the wall and pinning a drifting newspaper to the stone.
It pierced straight through the photograph.
"One day," Katakuri swore, his voice trembling with rage, "I will kill you, Rogers Darren."
Wano Country.
"Aaaaaaaah!!"
A horrifying scream suddenly erupted from the research institute, only to be abruptly cut short moments later.
A moment later, Queen stormed out of the institute, his overalls straining against his bulky frame, seething with rage.
"Damn it! Another failure! How is this even possible?!" he roared. "I controlled the virus dosage perfectly! Why the hell does it keep failing?!"
The Beasts Pirates members nearby flinched, backing away in terror as Queen's eyes burned with fury.
If Boss Queen sets his sights on me, I'm dead! they thought, trembling. The pile of corpses behind the institute is already mountain-high!
Ignoring them, Queen lumbered onto his motorcycle, his immense weight making the vehicle groan in protest. He revved the engine, and with a deafening roar, sped away in a cloud of dust.
Today was the Beasts Pirates Executives' meeting. He couldn't afford to be late, not if he wanted to avoid another beating.
Soon, Queen arrived at the Beasts Pirates' ritual hall in the Kuri Region. Stepping into the Japanese-style palace, he immediately sensed something was off.
The executives stood trembling, their legs shaking like leaves in a storm.
"Uh... what's going on?" Queen frantically racked his brain, confirming he hadn't messed up recently, before cautiously stepping inside.
King, clad in pitch-black armor that obscured his face, glanced at him. "See for yourself," he said, tossing a newspaper into Queen's hands.
Queen froze, then opened the paper with a puzzled expression. But the moment he saw the headline—
"What?!"
Overalls Fatso's eyes nearly popped from their sockets, his jaw dropping open. "Golden Lion... killed by that brat Darren?!"
Suddenly realizing something, he frantically raised his hands, sweating profusely. "Boss Kaido, this has nothing to do with me!"
"I KNOW THAT, YOU IDIOT!" Kaido roared irritably, his voice seething with fury, sparks glinting in his eyes.
Hearing this, Queen finally exhaled in relief and chuckled obsequiously. "Well, this is good news, actually. Golden Lion was a pain in the ass while he was alive. He's better off dead."
"Hmm, that little brat Darren... How the hell did he manage to kill Golden Lion?"
"Something doesn't add up..."
Queen rubbed his chin, his fleshy folds rippling like waves.
"Wait a minute..."
Suddenly, a lightbulb seemed to flash in his head. He slammed his fist into his palm and exclaimed excitedly, "I've got it!"
"Boss Kaido, did you intentionally hide that kid's true strength from Golden Lion, setting him up for a fall?"
King's eye twitched at the question.
Oblivious to the tension, Queen continued his self-assured analysis aloud. "Could it be that this whole thing just made that brat Darren even stronger?"
"If he comes back to Wano Country, we're screwed... Huh?"
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
An immense shadow, like that of a demonic god, loomed before him.
"Uh... wait, Boss Kaido..."
Queen's face paled as he stumbled backward in terror.
Zzzzz...
The kanabo began crackling with pulsating arcs of electricity.
The world shuddered.
The Battle of Edd War, and the fall of the Golden Lion, had plunged the seas into fresh chaos.
His death left a vacuum in the New World, drawing predators like sharks to blood. Pirates, kingdoms, and syndicates all lunged for his former domain.
But amidst the storm, one sea remained untouched.
The North Blue.
The "Pirate's Forbidden Zone."
Whether mighty nations, shadowy Mafias, or pirates of terrifying renown, all who dared enter those waters bent to one man's rule. To defy it was to be erased.
Perhaps it was truth. Perhaps myth.
But one thing was certain—
The name Rogers Darren now carried the weight of legend.
To be continued...