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Sea Circle Calendar 1500.
Sabaody Archipelago Harbor.
A massive ship, sealed away for years, gleamed with fresh polish as it sat docked at the pier.
"Damn, brings back memories... the Oro Jackson."
Aus stepped onto the deck, taking in every familiar detail. Those days felt like yesterday.
No tearful goodbyes or dramatic farewells—with his teleportation, he could be back in seconds if shit hit the fan. Only Rayleigh got misty-eyed watching the legendary ship disappear over the horizon.
Meanwhile, scattered through the crowd of gawkers at the harbor, several very unusual figures were taking notes.
To Sami, Rayleigh, and the inner circle who actually knew Aus, this was just another Tuesday. Guy goes on trips all the time.
But to the rest of the world?
Aus wasn't just a name.
He was the living symbol of an entire era.
Until some new king stepped up, most people figured he was the guy most likely to claim that crown—
"Black Gun" Doctor Aus!
---
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
"Buru buru buru..."
"Emergency report to headquarters! Code red situation!"
The voice through the Den Den Mushi was talking a mile a minute.
The operator's face went tight. "Talk to me!"
"Report: This morning, 'Black Gun' Aus and 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk set sail together!"
"...And?"
Look, Aus hanging around Sabaody's red-light district was old news. Half the world knew where to find the guy. And Mihawk tagging along? Kid was still a nobody to the Marines.
But then the agent dropped the real bomb:
"They're sailing on the former Pirate King Gol D. Roger's Oro Jackson. Intel suggests this isn't some weekend getaway!"
"Holy shit!"
Just like that, word of "Black Gun" Aus hitting the seas again spread to every major power on the planet. Everyone started paying very close attention, very fast.
Which was exactly what Aus wanted. Unlike the other Roger Pirates who'd gone into hiding, he was making it crystal clear—he wasn't retired.
The Marines called an emergency meeting within the hour.
"Confirmed intel: Black Gun and Hawk-Eyes just took the Oro Jackson out for a spin. This looks like the real deal, people. We need to be ready."
Sengoku ran the show these days, addressing a room full of officers with that trademark serious expression.
"Wahahahaha! Sengoku, just give me the word and I'll drag that brat back from Sabaody! Why overcomplicate things?"
Crunch crunch...
Garp munched rice crackers like this was all a big joke.
"Shut the hell up, Garp!"
Sengoku shot to his feet, veins popping. "Fighting Aus is strictly forbidden—World Government orders!"
Truth was, plenty of people in that room were taking this way more seriously than Sengoku.
RUMBLE...
CRACK CRACK...
Sulfur-scented heat waves clashed with bone-deep cold as two Vice Admirals lost their cool completely.
Even the usually level-headed Kuzan looked ready to murder someone at the mention of Aus's name.
You had to wonder—if Aus walked through that door right now, would these two risk court martial just to take a swing at him?
Can't blame them for the reaction. Aus had been a complete bastard—beating the shit out of the Marines' most hardline pirate-hater right in their own headquarters.
As for Kuzan... yeah, everyone knew that story.
Kizaru kept it together better, just breaking out in a cold sweat. Guy was smart enough to avoid the worst of Aus's attention back in the day.
"Scary That monster among monsters is going to stir up trouble again"
"Kuzan! Sakazuki! Get your shit together! This isn't the time for personal vendettas!"
Watching elemental powers leak everywhere, Sengoku felt a migraine coming on.
"We've got bigger problems—the World Government wants us to launch a Buster Call on Ohara! Keep your drama to yourselves!"
That finally got the two hotheads to simmer down. Barely.
---
New World, Totto Land Waters, Whole Cake Island.
Pure fairy-tale madness—candy trees, chocolate rivers, flowers that danced and sang. The whole nine yards.
Running this sugar-coated kingdom was one of the New World's most terrifying rulers. Natural-born monster, former Rocks Pirates member—
Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin.
Inside her castle, someone came sprinting through the halls, bursting into her massive throne room in full panic mode.
"Ma... Mama!"
"Breaking news on 'Black Gun' Aus! He's back on the seas!"
The mountain of a woman looked up from her dessert buffet.
Next to her, a tall figure in a massive scarf—covering everything but his eyes—went rigid with attention.
Big Mom had lost all traces of her younger beauty. Years of constant sugar binges and popping out kids had wrecked her body, even if she wasn't quite the walking sphere she'd become later.
She froze when she heard the news.
Then her face split into the most terrifying grin imaginable. Pure hunger in those eyes.
"Mamamamama~ Has that Aus boy finally grown up? Perfect timing!"
Katakuri's expression went dark. He knew exactly what his mother was thinking.
"Mama... about 'Black Gun' Aus, should we..."
If she ordered them to bring Aus here, it'd be a suicide mission. Katakuri had done his homework—even his legendary Observation Haki probably couldn't match someone born with that gift.
"Mamamamama... Obviously you idiots can't handle him! But we can send him an invitation. I'm betting he'll be very interested!"
The world's strongest woman threw her arms wide, eyes blazing with manic excitement:
"Just imagine—a child with both our Conqueror's Haki, my steel skin, his monster strength and natural Observation abilities..."
"That kid would be strong enough to crush Roger, Whitebeard, even Rocks himself! Strong enough to rule the entire world!
The ultimate monster!"
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