Syrup Village was once famous for producing two great pirates: Yasopp and Usopp.
In the East Blue, due to the influence of the Straw Hat Pirates,
the hometowns of several East Blue native crew members had drawn particular attention.
For example, Luffy's hometown, Windmill Village.
Having produced Marine Hero Garp, Revolutionary Army leader Dragon, Straw Hat Luffy, Revolutionary Army Chief of Staff Sabo, and Fire Fist Ace, it had been dubbed the strongest village in the East Blue.
Similarly, Shimotsuki Village became widely known due to the fame of Three Sword Style Zoro, attracting crowds who came seeking swordsmanship training.
And the Baratie restaurant, having produced Black Leg Sanji, was now experiencing booming business.
But now, this once peaceful and harmonious village had been reduced to rubble and ruins.
Luffy stepped onto the extremely familiar harbor.Walking along the slope where they had once battled the Black Cat Pirates, through the woods, they entered Kaya's grand estate.
Gazing at the collapsed walls, shattered barriers, and the lawn scarred with craters from cannon fire, Luffy's eyes grew distant.
"Luffy, there's an Image Den Den Mushi here."
Suddenly, Robin strode to a table placed in the center of the estate and spotted a Den Den Mushi resting on it.
Beneath the Den Den Mushi lay a note.
Robin picked it up and read it.
Written on it were the words: To the esteemed captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy, from your defeated foe, Don Krieg.
"It was left by Krieg."
Luffy gently handed Kaya over to Robin and picked up the Den Den Mushi himself.
On the shell of the Den Den Mushi was a button. Pressing it would cause the Den Den Mushi's eyes to project a short video.
This was the remarkable function of the Image Den Den Mushi.
Luffy took a deep breath and pressed the button.
The Den Den Mushi's eyes soon opened, emitting hazy beams of light as it played a video.
"Usopp!" Luffy cried out in shock.
In the video, Usopp was shown with his shoulder blades pierced, two chains locking his collarbones, and his limbs nailed to a cross with large iron spikes.
From off-screen, a vaguely familiar man's voice rang out.
"God Usopp, isn't this the death you've always dreamed of? Hahaha, in the New World, they call you God, so I thought, killing you like this should let your soul rest in peace, right? Hahahaha."
"Now, while you still have breath, say your final words to your captain."
In the video, Usopp lifted his head and looked toward the camera.
His face was smeared with blood, his eyes utterly hollow.
He gasped for breath a few times before mustering a bit of strength, his voice hoarse as he spoke:
"Luffy…"
"Usopp!!"
Luffy dropped to his knees, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, teeth gritted until they nearly bled, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the scene before him.
"Luffy, it's Usopp. I'm sorry… I never thought I'd have to say goodbye to you like this.
Since I was little, I've always been a coward—afraid of dying, afraid of trouble.
I loved lying, loved getting attention, loved being in the spotlight.
But I never had the skills or abilities to back it up.
Until I met you.
Luffy, the time I've spent with you has been the happiest and most fulfilling of my life.
Even though I still haven't completely overcome my cowardice and negativity, even though I haven't become the fearless warrior of the sea I always dreamed of being…
I've still come a long way.
I really wanted to sail the seas with everyone again, feeling the ocean breeze, singing 'Binks' Sake,' and fishing.
I'm sorry… back in Wano Country, I was really terrified. When you suggested disbanding the crew, I shamefully felt relieved.
Heh, to be honest, sailing with you… for us weaklings with no real talent, it's been one scare after another.
Because the enemies you face keep getting stronger and stronger, more and more terrifying.
From small-time pirates, to the Seven Warlords, from the Seven Warlords, to the Yonko.
The opponents became more and more monstrous, and we felt like we couldn't keep up with you anymore. We thought following you would only hold you back.
Although I've gone through two years of training, compared to you and Zoro, my progress is practically negligible.
For the first time, I felt how unfair life can be from birth.
A person's achievements are often predetermined the moment they're born.
You're the grandson of the Marine hero, Zoro might be a descendant of Wano Country samurai, Sanji is a prince of Germa—that's why you're all so powerful.
An ordinary person like me really shouldn't be mixed up with exceptional people like you.
A coward like me should never have boarded your ship in the first place.
I should have stayed in Syrup Village, haha. Maybe by now I'd be married to Kaya, with several children.
Kaya... she went through some terrible things. If you save her, please tell her to stay strong..."
"Enough! Stop blabbering—time to go!"
Usopp's words were brutally interrupted by a voice.
On the screen, a man holding a massive war spear emerged, a cigar dangling from his mouth.
He had a square-jawed face and wore heavy armor.
It was Krieg, the former overlord of the East Blue who had been sent flying by Luffy at the Baratie.
Krieg chuckled darkly into the Den Den Mushi, then suddenly raised his war spear high and viciously stabbed it toward Usopp, who was nailed to a cross!
Thud!
Luffy's eyes instantly turned blood-red as he saw Usopp's throat torn open, blood gushing out in torrents.
The blood splattered across Krieg's face, but he continued to sneer, grabbing Usopp's head and repeatedly thrusting his war spear—again and again—until a bloody head was severed and held in his hand.
"Hehehe, Straw Hat Luffy, do you know what my favorite saying is?"
Krieg laughed like a madman, plopping down on the ground and tossing Usopp's head aside.
The hollow, agonized eyes remained wide open, staring directly at the Den Den Mushi as if locking gazes with Luffy.
"Always annihilate your enemies completely. Otherwise, if they make a comeback, it'll make you sick as if you'd eaten shit. Hahaha, I've made a comeback—are you sickened?"
"Oh, and tsk tsk... I heard a certain village in the East Blue produces sweet oranges. Should I go pick some to taste? Gahahaha!"
The transmission ended there.
After watching the footage, Luffy stood as if struck by lightning, completely petrified.
"Ahhh!!"
Suddenly, a piercing scream jolted the statue-like Luffy back to reality.
He looked up to see Kaya break free from Robin's embrace, rush toward him, snatch the Den Den Mushi, and sink her teeth into it, tearing at it wildly.
Luffy stared blankly, watching as Kaya bit the Den Den Mushi to pieces and swallowed it raw.
The woman's eyes burned with deranged hatred, just like when she had gnawed at Sarquiss in Loguetown.
"Hahaha, heehee..."
After shredding the Image Den Den Mushi, Kaya's mouth dripped with reddish-green fluid mixed with saliva.
She wept, then laughed, then ran to the grass, staring vacantly at ants on the ground.
She had gone mad.
Robin's face was sorrowful, but she remained strong and kept her composure.
She knocked Kaya unconscious, cradled her in her arms, and shouted to Luffy.
"Luffy, we need to hurry to Nami's village! That Krieg might make a move against Nami—he mentioned oranges!"
"What? Nami!"
Luffy shot to his feet, his killing intent so palpable it seemed to solidify, dropping the temperature around him.
"Krieg!!! I'll kill you!!"