Chapter 364: The Prologue to the Pirate's Doomsday
New World · A Certain Deserted Island
The campfire crackled, yet the sea breeze felt heavy enough to suffocate.
Benn Beckman exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his brow deeply furrowed and his tone grim. "Roy is back. And the Marines are announcing to the entire world that they intend to sever the very roots of the pirates."
Shanks' eyes burned with a roiling fury, his voice low but as resonant as a clap of thunder. "The Great Pirate Era that Captain Roger opened with his very life..."
"Does Roy truly dare to defile it all?!!"
"BOOM!!!"
A wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted without warning!
On the island, flocks of birds took flight in terror, the surrounding jungle fractured, and wild beasts fled for their lives. The members of the Red-Haired Pirates all lowered their heads in silence; no one dared to trigger the captain's wrath in this moment.
Yasopp squatted down, picking up a newspaper that had drifted by in the wind. Suddenly, his gaze froze. In the corner of a Marine photograph, a face with a long nose caught his eye.
His lips trembled slightly as he whispered to himself, "This guy... why does he look so much like my son??"
Sacred Land Mariejois · Room of Authority
Heavy curtains blocked out the daylight, leaving the massive hall illuminated only by flickering candlelight. The Five Elders gathered around a long table, upon which lay the news that had already set the world on fire.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter tapped his finger against the wood, his voice cold. "Roy appeared out of nowhere, and the moment he returned, he tore Totto Land apart..."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro frowned, his gaze deep and mysterious. "This is more than just crippling a Yonko... it is a public challenge to the very foundation of the 'One Piece.' If he is allowed to continue, the governing system of the World Government will be shaken to its core."
Saint Topman Warcury responded deeply, "But it cannot be denied that he has broken the pirates' momentum and weakened the Great Pirate Era."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn let out a cold snort, his eyes narrowing with a flash of lethal intent. "Don't forget, two years ago, this man dared to storm Mariejois alone... he is completely beyond our control! Such a variable cannot be allowed to run wild any longer!"
The atmosphere solidified as the candle flames danced violently. Finally, Saint Marcus Mars spoke, his voice falling like a heavy iron hammer.
"Lord Imu has his own considerations... for now, we watch. But if necessary—"
The five of them lifted their gazes simultaneously, coldly uttering a forbidden word:
"—Reset."
The sky over the New World was churning with dark clouds.
The news of Roy crushing two Emperors and seizing the Road Poneglyph—bolstered by the exaggerated rumors of the Underworld Emperors—swept the globe like a massive tsunami!
Countless newspapers, intelligence fliers, and News-Coo broadcasts exploded across every region simultaneously! The Marines had officially announced: From this day forward, our policy toward pirates is total annihilation. No mercy will be shown!!!
The First Half of the Grand Line
Young men who once sang and drank boisterously in taverns were now shaking with fear. They watched as tavern owners tore down pirate flags and tossed them into the fire. No one dared to sing "Binks' Sake" anymore; the atmosphere was as deathly silent as a tomb.
The Four Blues
Countless youths who hadn't even begun their journey slammed their bags of saved coins onto tables, weeping as they tore up their "freedom" fantasies of setting sail.
"What's the point of going to Laugh Tale now?! The Marines already have the Poneglyph!!!"
"Roy can fight two Emperors at once by himself... what are we supposed to be? Just cannon fodder?!"
The New World
Many small-scale pirate crews lingering on the fringes disbanded on the spot. Captains held their heads and cried out in despair.
"Roger, you bastard! We were all lied to! The Great Pirate Era is over!!"
The "Pirate Dream" of the entire world had been torn open by the cruelest of wounds on this day.
Marine Headquarters · Admiral's Office
Sakazuki sat behind his desk, a thick stack of combat reports before him. On his battle-hardened face, a rare, almost savage smile appeared.
"Good... this is the aggressive posture the Marines should have had all along! It's about time!!!"
He reached out and snatched Enel, who was lying on the sofa munching on an apple. "Let's go! You're coming with me to the New World to 'clean up the trash'!!!"
Enel looked utterly irritated. "Hey! I haven't finished my break yet—"
Akainu ignored him completely, his lava-fied fist punching straight through the office wall. "Pirate scum must be thoroughly purified!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
"RYUUSEI KAZAN (METEOR VOLCANO)!!!"
Gargantuan fists of lava rained down from the sky like a meteor shower. Pirate ships were instantly incinerated and vaporized, leaving nothing but charred wreckage.
"GOD'S JUDGMENT: THUNDERFALL!!!"
Ten thousand bolts of lightning poured down like a waterfall. Entire stretches of sea were turned to scorched earth, and fleeing pirates were reduced to ash in an instant!
The warship pushed forward relentlessly, leaving a purgatory of lava and lightning in its wake. The cries of agony echoed through the New World.
"AKAINU AND THE THUNDER GOD HAVE TEAMED UP!!!"
"IT'S OVER!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES—!!!"
Countless pirate ships scattered like startled birds, fleeing in every direction.
At the Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Dragon gripped the newspaper, his expression more somber than a tropical storm.
"Roy... what kind of world are you actually trying to create?"
While the world was reeling from the Marines' iron-fisted proclamation, a different kind of "farce" was playing out on the plaza at Marineford.
Sanji stood in place with a look of extreme distress, the hem of his suit jacket being held in a death grip by a small figure.
Pudding was teary-eyed, her three eyes shimmering with moisture, her voice trembling. "Sanji-san, I betrayed Mama. I have nowhere left to go... I only have you now..."
Sanji rubbed his temples with a massive headache, the cigarette in his mouth nearly falling out. "Pudding-chan... this is Marine Headquarters. We can't do this here..."
Before he could finish, a light, teasing laugh rang out from ahead.
"My, my~ if it isn't our gentleman chef? Putting on a romance drama in the middle of the plaza again?"
Gion (Momousagi) strode over in her high-heeled boots, flanked by Nami and Nojiko, who both had their arms crossed.
Nami glared at Sanji. "Sanji! This is way too much, even for you! Bullying a little girl in public?!"
"WH—WHAT?!!"
Sanji was nearly petrified with shock, his arms flailing wildly. "It's not what you think!!"
Gion kept her gentle smile and looked at Pudding. "Don't be afraid, come with me. Roy has already given the instructions. You'll be placed in the female division for screening and protection."
Pudding lifted her head timidly, but her gaze remained glued to Sanji. Only when she saw him give a slight nod did she release his jacket, following Gion with her head down, looking back every three steps.
Halfway there, she suddenly stopped, spun around, and screamed at the top of her lungs:
"SANJI-SAN!! WHEN I GROW UP, I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO MARRY YOU!!!"
Sanji was petrified on the spot. In the next second, heart-shaped eyes exploded from his sockets. He dove toward the ground, sprawling out. "OHHHH~ PUDDING-CHAN!!!"
Nami delivered a cold, sudden blow to his spirit with a smirk. "Keep dreaming! She's only 14 years old!"
"PFFT—!!!"
Sanji felt as if he'd been struck by a bolt of lightning. His eyes shattered like glass, and he went as rigid as a stone statue. "Four... fourteen?!!"
Nojiko added a chilling commentary from the side. "According to Marine Code Article 17—anyone caught dating a minor will face the maximum penalty!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAGH—!!!"
Sanji coughed up a spray of blood, falling to his knees as his soul seemingly left his body. "My love... it ended before it even began..."
Gion, meanwhile, led Pudding away as if nothing had happened, her tone light. "Roy said that while you come from the Big Mom Pirates, you weren't directly involved in their major atrocities. As long as you pass the screening and undergo Marine training, you'll have a chance for a fresh start."
Pudding asked in a shy, low whisper, "Then... can I still see Sanji-san later?"
Gion tilted her head slightly, her expression meaningful. "Let's wait until he's released from his 'prison' of despair first~"
Pudding's cheeks turned red as she murmured, "Sanji-san... I'll wait for you..."
In the distance, Sanji was still rolling around on the pavement, howling in agony. "NOOOOOOO—!!!"
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