At dawn, News Coos cut through the silent skies of the Four Blues and the Grand Line.
When the first rays of sunlight fell on the front page of the latest World Economy News Paper, the entire world was thrown into unprecedented turmoil.
"EARTH-SHATTERING NEWS! The Eternal Divine Kingdom War!"
MARINE ADMIRAL AKAINU SLAIN!
The Lord of the Divine Kingdom, Ron, Severs the Admiral's Arm!
Whitebeard Returns from Hell! Suspected Awakening of a New Mythical Zoan: The White God!
Navy Elite Fleet Annihilated! Total Defeat for Justice!
The report, personally written by "Big News" Morgans, occupied three full pages.
It was accompanied by a high-definition snapshot of Ron—his blade White Moon shrouded in purple-black Haki—severing Akainu's magma arm.
In the photo, the splattering magma and blood formed a startling contrast, while Ron's stern face appeared particularly clear amidst the battlefield flames.
"This... this can't be..."
The bar owner on Sabaody Archipelago's Human Auction House rubbed his eyes, the newspaper trembling in his hands.
"A Marine Admiral actually... died?"
In an underground casino on an island in the New World, notorious pirates with bounties exceeding hundreds of millions fell into a collective silence.
A burly man wearing a gold chain stared intently at a close-up photograph of Whitebeard.
In the image, a white Divine Halo radiated behind the Emperor's head.
The pirate was oblivious to the expensive whiskey spilling from his glass.
"You've got to be kidding me... That old monster can still get stronger?"
"This has to be a joke! A damn Awakening at his age?!"
"And look at the report... it says he regenerated from ash! Since when does the Tremor-Tremor Fruit do that?!"
"It says here... 'Suspected Mythical Zoan: White Phoenix or Eight-Faced God'?"
Suddenly, the drinks in their hands lost all appeal.
Akainu was dead.
The death of an Admiral-level combatant—the Marines' greatest offensive power—would send shockwaves across the seas.
This was no trivial matter.
Soon, they began to leave, one after another, in great haste.
Territories would soon change hands.
Pirate crews that had been suppressed by the fear of Akainu's ruthless pursuit would quickly reemerge.
....
Marine Base G-5 (New World).
The morning mess hall was filled with the aroma of bacon and coffee as Marines chatted over breakfast.
Vice Admiral Smoker sat alone in a corner, holding the day's newspaper in one hand and a cigar in the other, pale smoke curling around his stern features.
"Hey, have you heard? They say over in Paradise..."
"Shh! The Vice Admiral is reading the paper..."
"I can't believe it... Admiral Akainu is really dead..."
PLOP.
Suddenly, Smoker's cigar slipped from his lips and fell into his bowl of corn chowder.
Soup splashed onto his pristine white uniform, but he didn't even notice.
His sharp eyes were fixed on the front page of the newspaper, pupils contracting violently.
BAM!
His fist slammed heavily onto the table, instantly denting the sturdy alloy surface.
The surrounding soldiers jumped in fright, plates and cutlery clattering to the floor.
"Bastard...!"
Smoker's low growl seemed to squeeze through gritted teeth, his voice a mix of disbelief and rage.
He crumpled the newspaper haphazardly, yet the shocking headlines remained starkly visible.
"That old man Whitebeard... He's actually alive... and stronger." Smoker's arm trembled uncontrollably.
"And Admiral Sakazuki... actually fell to Ron and Newgate..."
The mess hall fell into a deathly silence.
Tashigi's teacup slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor with a crack.
She hurriedly knelt to clean up the pieces but found her fingers shaking too badly to pick them up.
"This... this has to be fake news, right?" a young soldier timidly asked.
Smoker abruptly stood, tearing off his Justice coat and throwing it onto the table.
"Initiate Level One Combat Readiness! Recall all personnel on leave!"
"Sir?"
"The balance is gone," Smoker growled, grabbing his jitte. "With Akainu dead, the pirates will go into a frenzy. We need to be ready to slaughter them."
Outside the window, new recruits were still laughing and playing on the training grounds.
Smoker gazed at their innocent faces and suddenly recalled Admiral Akainu's words.
"Absolute Justice requires absolute sacrifice."
And now, the one who had paid that sacrifice was the very man who championed it.
...
Mary Geoise - The Room of Authority.
In the deepest crystal hall, five copies of the newspaper, torn to shreds, lay scattered across the obsidian floor.
The Five Elders stood encircling the remnants, their usually authoritative faces now dark enough to drip with palpable fury.
"Forty warships..." The sword-wielding Elder (Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro) gripped the Shodai Kitetsu, its scabbard clinking crisply against the floor as his hand trembled.
"Completely annihilated. The loss of prestige is incalculable."
The blond Elder (Shepherd Ju Peter) stomped on the newspaper photo of Akainu turning to ashes, his expensive leather shoe grinding that resolute face into fragments.
"Useless! He couldn't even deal with an aged Whitebeard! He allowed himself to be baited!"
The long-bearded Elder (Marcus Mars) tightened his hand around a teacup, the precious porcelain instantly crumbling to dust.
"What's more troublesome is that Ron..." A flicker of apprehension passed through his eyes. "To grow strong enough to sever an Admiral's arm. If we leave him unchecked..."
HUMMM...
Before he could finish, all five suddenly froze simultaneously.
The air in the hall seemed to solidify instantly, even the falling dust particles hanging motionless mid-air.
An indescribable pressure descended from the depths of the void, making these Elders—who stood at the pinnacle of world power—unconsciously straighten their spines and lower their heads.
"Im-sama..." The curly-haired Elder (Jaygarcia Saturn) whispered, his voice trembling with reverence.
Without any warning, all five dropped to one knee in unison.
THUD.
The dull sound of knees hitting the floor echoed clearly in the silent hall.
They bowed their heads, their posture as devout as the most faithful believers, even their breathing becoming cautious.
The light cast through the crystal dome twisted strangely.
A blurred figure was faintly visible sitting upon the Phantom of the Empty Throne.
Though not a single word was spoken, fine beads of sweat appeared on the Five Elders' foreheads.
"Ron... is a variable..."
A voice that sounded like it came from the beginning of history echoed in their minds.
"We acknowledge our failure!" The bald Elder (Topman Warcury) cried out, terror in his voice.
"We will immediately activate the 'Great Cleansing' lights to ensure Ron doesn't become a second Nika..."
"A second Nika? Hmph."
After a moment of silence, Im continued, the voice cold and dismissive.
"He is not worthy. Find Nika. Focus on Nika. Eliminate Nika."
BOOM!
An invisible force suddenly lashed out, sending Warcury flying several meters into a pillar.
The blond Elder hurriedly added, pressing his forehead to the floor.
"As... as you command! As you command! We will focus on the Straw Hat boy!"
The pressure in the hall intensified abruptly, the backs of the Five Elders' suits completely soaked with cold sweat.
They understood that this disastrous defeat had angered the King of the World.
When the phantom pressure finally dissipated, the five remained kneeling for a full ten minutes before daring to rise.
"Contact Vegapunk immediately."
Nusjuro wiped his cold sweat, his expression grim.
"The Seraphim Mass Production Plan is moved up. Tell him we'll provide whatever funding he needs! We need to replace the lost military power immediately."
"Are you joking? The cost of one Seraphim is nearly ten billion Berries!"
"...Then we'll just produce fewer units. Quality over quantity."
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
"And put a bounty on Ron... One that reflects the death of an Admiral."