"You're going to be just fine. Just rest and recover for a while, and you'll be back to normal!"
Chopper smiled as he treated the wounded Rosy Life Riders who had defended the ship.
"Thank you, Doctor Chopper!"
The Rosy Life Riders chorused gratefully.
"Don't call me doctor! Just because you say that doesn't mean I'm happy, you idiots!"
Despite his words, Chopper's actions were as earnest and kind as ever.
"Straw Hat-san, everyone, I'm so glad to see you all again!"
Captain Duval of the Rosy Life Riders laughed joyfully.
"We feel the same, handsome Duval!"
Sanji grinned.
"Maaaan~"
Duval's expression twitched at the compliment.
He was clearly not used to getting flirty stares.
"While we were gone, you all really kept the Sunny safe for us. Thank you."
Franky said sincerely.
"No, no, no—"
The Rosy Life Riders waved their hands in protest.
"We just did what we had to. After all—we're friends!"
Duval beamed.
"Hi hi hi! That's right. Between friends, there's no need for thanks!"
Luffy nodded, laughing.
"But Straw Hat-san, if I may... I do have a question."
Duval looked over the Straw Hat crew with growing astonishment.
"Ask anything!"
Usopp pounded his chest with confidence.
"Forgive me for being blunt, but... it's only been ten days since we last saw you, right? So why does it feel like you've all changed completely—as if years have gone by?"
Duval laughed, a bit unsure.
The other Rosy Life Riders nodded in agreement.
Though they hadn't known the Straw Hats long, it had only been ten days since they last met.
Yet the changes in the crew were undeniable—like the ground had been turned over beneath them.
First, their captain, Luffy.
Besides a new scar on his chest, his appearance was mostly unchanged.
But his presence—his sheer aura—was overwhelming.
Sanji had grown facial hair. Zoro had a visible scar over his eye.
Nami, in just ten days, had matured significantly—her hair was longer, her figure more pronounced.
Usopp, once the coward, now had the muscular build of a fighter.
Brook and Chopper looked more or less the same on the surface—but their vibe had changed.
But the most shocking of all were Franky and Robin.
They practically looked like different people.
Robin, who once had a tanned, mature beauty, now had skin as fair as snow.
Could such a transformation really happen in just ten days?
Had she discovered some ultimate skincare secret?
If such a method existed, women across the world would go crazy to learn it.
"Straw Hat-san, everyone—just what happened in those ten days?!"
"What could've caused such a dramatic transformation?!"
"And that guy at the bow of the ship—if I'm not mistaken... isn't that the Shichibukai, Knight of the Sea, Jinbe?!"
"Why is a Shichibukai with the Straw Hats?!"
Duval and the Rosy Life Riders bombarded them with questions.
"Because... we really did come from two years in the future!"
Luffy declared it openly, without hiding a thing.
Silence followed.
"Wha—wha—WHAAAAAA?!"
Duval and the Rosy Life Riders screamed in shock, their voices ringing across the ship.
"Everyone, we're almost there. Grove 13 should be just ahead."
Jinbe smiled and called out.
---
Meanwhile...
While the Straw Hats made their way to Grove 13,
the duo of Kid and Killer, who had landed on Sabaody two years into the future, arrived at Grove 32.
---
10:50 AM.
Only 4 hours and 10 minutes remained until the public execution of Whitebeard's Second Division Commander—Fire Fist Ace.
The world held its breath.
All eyes were on Marineford.
Countless people raised their heads—waiting.
Waiting for the titanic war that was about to erupt at Marine Headquarters.
Waiting for the clash—
Between the World Government's Navy and the strongest man in the world, the King of the New World—Whitebeard!!!
The outcome of that war would shape the future of the entire world.
Everyone believed this.
Across the world, people could only wait for the final announcement.
But on the Sabaody Archipelago—
They were lucky.
Due to its close proximity to Marineford, Sabaody had a direct broadcast link to Marine HQ.
The fact that the Navy dared to stream the entire battle live was a show of confidence.
They truly believed—they would win.
4 hours remained until the execution.
But—
At Grove 32's broadcast plaza, the square was already packed to bursting.
Journalists from major news outlets had all gathered in one place.
Their eyes were locked on the giant central screen—barely blinking.
Though the execution was scheduled for 3:00 PM,
everyone knew the war would erupt sooner.
Whitebeard could arrive at any moment.
Beyond the reporters, curious nobles and ordinary spectators surged toward the plaza.
They wanted to witness this historic war with their own eyes.
Further from the square, on elevated platforms—
Pirate crews who had braved countless hardships to reach Sabaody were gathered.
Among them, the most eye-catching group was the Supernovas—
the rookie pirates with bounties over 100 million.
Some stayed hidden, waiting to reveal themselves when the war broke out.
Like Captain Eustass Kid and Surgeon of Death, Trafalgar Law.
Others, unable to suppress their excitement, had already rushed to the plaza to secure prime viewing spots.
Like Capone Bege of the Fire Tank Pirates,
Urouge the Mad Monk of Skypiea,
Scratchmen Apoo of the On-Air Pirates, and
Basil Hawkins of the Hawkins Pirates.
According to memory—
Two years in the future, Kid and Killer had also gone to the square early.
Their eyes scanned the crowd.
Soon—
They spotted them.
On a high platform, acting like a circus clown, was 'Sound Magician' Scratchmen Apoo.
And calmly watching the screen, as if reading fate, was the stoic Magician Hawkins.
"Oh ho ho ho ho—found you."
Killer chuckled darkly.
"Then let's get started—revenge on the traitors, round two."
Kid smirked, stepping forward.