Just as the Five Elders had predicted, the next morning, the news of the "Battle of Dressrosa" swept across every island on the sea carried by the newsbirds. The entire world was shocked and erupted into a frenzy of chaos.
Headlines screamed the impossible:
"Shock! Total Defeat! The World Government Fleet in the New World—Wiped Out?!"
"The Rise of Another Superpower? Dressrosa Declares a New Age!"
"Three Marine Admirals Defeated, 50000 World Government Soldiers Killed in the New World!"
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea, Doflamingo, Killed! The New King of Dressrosa—Adrian, a Man with the Power of 'Poseidon'!"
"Emperor Kaido Sent Flying! Is Man Truly Insignificant in the Face of the Sea Kings?"
"Adrian, the Most Unstable Man in the World: Is He a Warmonger or a Liberator of the World?"
The first reaction for many who saw the newspapers was pure, unfiltered denial.
"This has to be fake news!" a man in a bustling tavern shouted, his hand trembling as he held the paper. "How could anyone beat the World Government?!"
Even though the specific details of the battle were sparse, the mere presence of words like "Three Marine Admirals," "50,000 Allied Forces," "Sea Kings," and "Emperor Kaido" was enough to make their hands shake. How could the World Government, the very symbol of global authority, lose? And fifty thousand people wiped out? It was a historical, unprecedented defeat—perhaps the first in eight hundred years.
Panic began to spread. For so long, people had lived in a fragile, false "peace" created by the World Government, even as they groaned under the burden of the annual Heavenly Gold tribute. They had been content to believe in a world order, no matter how oppressive, that offered them some semblance of security. Now, with the news of this defeat, that illusion was shattered. It felt as if the end of the world was coming tomorrow.
As the news continued to spread, Adrian and Dressrosa were instantly thrust into the global spotlight. The World Government seized the moment, spreading a narrative of Adrian's imminent threat. Yet, even they couldn't deny the reality. After this battle, Dressrosa had not only secured its own stability but had also leaped to become a power widely recognized in the New World as a genuine rival to the Yonkos.
Even the most arrogant pirate now thought twice before venturing into the waters around Dressrosa. It was a simple calculation: a single Sea King had sent Kaido flying. Who could be tougher than that?
As for Adrian, less than a month after the Summit War, he was directly crowned with the title of "The Strongest King." The public, unaware of the truth, even began to believe he was Poseidon himself, a man who could command the giant Sea Kings. This suited Adrian perfectly; it protected Shirahoshi from the dangerous spotlight and allowed the gentle princess to remain at ease.
The New World was no longer a chaotic free-for-all. It had now been divided into an uneasy three-way balance of power: Adrian's Dressrosa, the remaining 3 Yonko, and the World Government and Marines, who were now at a clear disadvantage.
On Cake Island, Big Mom's jolly laughter echoed through the air.
"Mama-mama-mama!" she cackled. "I never expected that guy Kaido would be so utterly humiliated. Today's a good day!"
Her mood was particularly good. After all, her crew had seized a significant chunk of Whitebeard's territory after the war, and now seeing her old rival Kaido humbled was a treat.
"Katakuri, do you think this boy is really Poseidon?" she asked, her voice dropping.
A tall, imposing man with stitched scars on his cheeks stepped forward. He picked up the newspaper, his eyes scanning the lines of text. After a moment, he shook his head.
"There's too little information to confirm the news, Mama," Katakuri said slowly. "There isn't even a single photo. But one thing is for sure… this man, Adrian, is extremely dangerous."
Coming from him, the second-in-command of the Charlotte Family, a man who rarely spoke such words, this was a grave assessment. It was a testament to the shockwave Adrian had sent through the major powers of the world.
"Oh?" Big Mom raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in her eyes before she grinned. After all, this was the man who had supposedly killed Whitebeard head-on and was the first person in eight hundred years to wield multiple Devil Fruit powers. His strength was undeniable.
"Mama-mama! Very good, Katakuri," she announced. "I want you to go to Dressrosa sometime soon and ask this boy if he wants to be my son-in-law. Any of my daughters are on the table… except Smoothie. He can pick whoever he likes."
"Mom, that kid is so handsome, why do you treat me differently?" Smoothie grumbled.
Big Mom, as if she hadn't heard, continued. "And while you're there, ask him something else for me. Since he took over the Joker's country and industry, when will the 'Giant Soldier' experiment that I spent so much money on, finally give results?"
"Yes, Mama!"
Just as Adrian had predicted, it didn't take long for the World Government to secretly send a negotiating envoy to Dressrosa. Even after their staggering loss, they were forced to swallow their pride and negotiate. They simply couldn't contend with Adrian's supposed power over the Sea Kings. Since a fight was out of the question, a peaceful resolution was their only option.
He was not surprised. In this world governed by the jungle's law, only strength could earn you the right to speak. All notions of justice and goodness were worthless without power. This was a cruel and undeniable reality.
Atop the King's Plateau, in the new palace, the World Government's emissary knelt, trembling.
"Your Majesty Adrian," the man stammered, his voice laced with fear. "I have come under the orders of the Five Elders to negotiate with your country and resolve the misunderstanding from the 'Battle of Dressrosa.'"
His attitude was so humble that Adrian almost wondered if he'd get on his hands and knees to beg. The World Government's interior had become so rotten that its envoys now had no shame.
"A misunderstanding?" Shiryu sneered, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword.
"That's bullshit!" Bullet roared, his massive aura swelling. "Our captain lost thousands of loyal men in that battle. Do you call that a fucking misunderstanding?!"
"Please! Don't kill me!" The negotiator fell to his knees, utterly terrified, waving his hands wildly. "It's truly a misunderstanding! We are willing to compensate for all of His Majesty Adrian's losses!"
He seemed to have completely forgotten that his own side had lost fifty thousand soldiers in that sea.
Adrian's expression was cold and unreadable. "Before we begin formal negotiations," he said, his voice quiet but commanding, "let's talk about how you'll compensate my soldiers who died in the battle."