War had broken out between the United Nations of the Kingdom of Joy and the allied nations under the World Government.
With the backing and manipulation of the World Economic News' Morgans, the conflict had already become the focus of the century.
From the great powers at the top down to commoners in the streets, everyone was speculating who the ultimate victor of this war would be.
Perhaps due to Morgans' deliberate hand, all the information being released in the papers tilted toward the Kingdom of Joy's United Nations.
Because of this, the already chaotic world erupted into a new wave of enthusiasm for enlisting.
The cry to overthrow the old government and build a new regime—such a shocking proclamation—drew countless hot-blooded youths to join the revolutionary cause.
And with this influx of passionate new blood, people who had never appeared in the original tale began to emerge, even rising to become mid-level leaders within the United Nations, commanding small-scale battles.
Compared to the wars raging between nations, the seas had grown no less chaotic.
Even the pirates had been split by this invisible tide into two factions:
One was the old guard, who still lived by pillaging, burning, and plundering at will.
The other was a new faction led by the Kingdom of Joy, who instead turned their sights on seizing territory from the World Government's allied nations.
Amid this turbulence of the seas, a pirate crew known as the Blood Pirates had recently risen to prominence.
And yet, despite their sudden fame, no one knew anything concrete about them.
Rumors spread that those who encountered the crew were either killed at sea or forcibly absorbed into their ranks.
The more mysterious the rumors grew, the more attention the crew drew—especially from the Revolutionary Army's command, for not long ago, a supply ship belonging to the Army's logistics division had vanished in the New World.
The ship's commanding officer, "Lightning," had disappeared along with it.
With such a dangerous pirate crew prowling the vital supply routes, Sabo could not rest easy. He therefore dispatched the idle Kuzan.
As for why Robin was said to be involved—wasn't simply traveling along the same sea route perilous enough?
Sabo, at least, did not believe that Luffy could handle such a mysterious crew on his own.
Kuzan, listening to Sabo's roundabout reasoning, could only fall silent with a sigh.
Still, since it had been some time since he had taken to the sea, he decided to stretch his legs, fetched his bicycle, and leisurely pedaled deeper into the New World.
Across the vast, ever-changing seas, storm clouds suddenly gathered, heralding a tempest.
"Boss, we've tracked down the whereabouts of that Blood crew—but with this storm, we can't put out to sea!"
On a remote island in the New World, inside a cave, a fat man gnawed on a chicken leg as he glanced at the darkened skies outside.
"Haha, true enough."
"But I can't help worrying about that kid…"
Sitting atop a barrel, a red-haired man looked at the stormy skies, laughing at first, before a trace of worry softened his face.
"Even if you're worried, in this weather there's nothing we can do," said a gray-haired man smoking by his side. His expression grew serious as he asked:
"Shanks, I've never asked before—why do you care so much about that brat?"
"And back in Foosha Village, when that Devil Fruit was taken, there's no way it could've slipped past your senses."
"Hahahaha…"
Shanks burst into hearty laughter at the words. "Beckman, I always thought you'd never bother asking about that."
"In Foosha Village back then, it was simply a matter of intuition. I felt that fruit suited Luffy, so I didn't stop him. But you should know—that fruit is one the World Government has always desperately sought to claim."
"What? Come on, it was just a Gum-Gum Fruit. Who'd care about that?"
The fat man chewing his chicken leg stared in surprise at Shanks' words.
"Heh… it's not just some Gum-Gum Fruit. The World Government deliberately renamed it to conceal its true identity."
Shanks smiled faintly as he explained, before adding, "As for the fruit's real name, it's better you don't know. Those who learn it risk being erased by the World Government."
"The World Government, huh?"
"This time, they may not even be able to protect themselves," Beckman muttered with a sigh.
"Haha, you're right! Who could've predicted that even monsters from a thousand years ago would resurface?"
Lifting a bottle of liquor at his side, Shanks laughed again. "Thinking of that monster, I'm actually less worried about Luffy. After all, that boy is part of that kingdom too—and not a lowly part at that."
"Come, let's keep the banquet going!"
At his words, the cave filled with cheers once more. Perhaps this was one of the few truly free-spirited pirate crews left in the world today.
Yet elsewhere, another pirate crew who also longed for freedom found no such ease.
The seas of the New World never knew calm. After leaving Dressrosa, the Straw Hat Pirates followed the pointer left to them by King.
The Heart Pirates, after consulting with their crew, chose to sail alongside the Straw Hats.
Luffy, for his part, had no objections. He felt no resistance toward Law, and even the other Straw Hats treated the Heart Pirates with warmth. Even the shy little reindeer Chopper occasionally discussed medical knowledge with Law.
But just as the two crews were enjoying this honeymoon-like camaraderie, an island loomed into view ahead.
Half of it was black and barren, the other half lush and green.
"That island… something's wrong with it."
From afar, Law—who had been discussing medicine with Chopper on the Sunny's deck—suddenly stiffened and rose to his feet.
His Ope Ope no Mi, after all, possessed healing properties among its many powers.
And from the verdant half of the island, he felt an overwhelming energy—an energy of regeneration.
It wasn't hostile. On the contrary, it brimmed with a seductive vitality, one that was nearly irresistible.
For a doctor, the allure of such regenerative power was beyond words.
"Law-san, what is it? What did you sense?" Chopper asked nervously as he saw Law's face pale.
"That island—or rather, that half of it—harbors a terrifying regenerative force," Law answered grimly.
"If that power could be harnessed, it could heal all wounds and illnesses… even slow the march of aging itself…"
But his words faltered, for as their ships drew closer, he spotted several pirate vessels already moored on the island's shore.
From the flags flying above them—some familiar, some strange—he realized he was not the only one to have discovered the island's secret.
"Whoa! So many pirate ships!"
At that moment, a long arm suddenly stretched past Law and grabbed the Sunny's railing, flinging a figure forward.
Perched at the bow, Luffy's eyes lit up like stars as he gazed at the ten or so ships along the beach.
It was the first time since entering the New World that he had seen such a massive gathering of pirates.
Overcome with excitement, he shouted:
"Adventure! Adventure! Adventure…!"