The Nightfall Pirates, who had vanished from the seas for more than half a year, finally reappeared, announcing to the world that they had set sail once more.
Their return sent a clear message. The Nightfall Pirates had finished accumulating strength.
With the spread of new video transmission technology, countless analysis videos surfaced almost overnight. Some speculated on why the Nightfall Pirates had gone silent for so long. Others predicted their next move. Most of the theories sounded reasonable, or at least convincing enough to stir discussion.
Within days, the Nightfall Pirates revealed their course without any attempt at concealment. Their fleet sailed straight toward Reverse Mountain, their destination unmistakable: the Grand Line. After years rooted in the West Blue, they were finally leaving.
If the Nightfall Pirates successfully entered the New World, they would inevitably shake the existing balance of power. The rulers who had dominated those seas for decades would be forced to face a dangerous new challenger.
Still, the Nightfall Pirates had not yet reached the New World. They held no stable territory there and could not yet be compared to the entrenched powers who had ruled for generations.
In recent history, only two pirate crews had managed to rise rapidly and secure imperial status: the Golden Lion Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates.
Golden Lion Shiki defeated the great pirate Wang Zhi after a brutal three-day battle. Shortly after, Edward Newgate crushed the Silver Axe Pirates in another three-day clash. These victories earned Shiki and Newgate the unquestioned title of Sea Emperors.
Although both the Wang Zhi Pirates and the Silver Axe Pirates suffered devastating losses, neither crew was fully destroyed. Their captains survived, either escaping by force or possibly spared. Even so, everyone understood the truth. They had lost their right to contend for the throne of the sea.
Those battles were recorded from hundreds of angles, spreading across the seas. The sheer number of recordings showed just how closely the world was watching.
People lamented the fall of the old monsters. No matter how glorious their past, they could no longer keep pace with the times. Elimination was inevitable.
Even after securing their imperial status, the Golden Lion Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates were not at peace. Other legendary pirates continued to challenge them, though few dared claim equality. Everyone knew the gap in strength still existed, and most challengers needed time to grow.
During this turbulent period, another legend fell.
Captain John, the infamous pirate known for hoarding immeasurable treasure, died not at the hands of rival Emperors, but at the blades of his own crew.
Greed was the root of it. Captain John possessed mountains of wealth, most of it hidden even from his closest subordinates. In the end, that secrecy bred betrayal. His death struck many as tragic, if not entirely unexpected.
With Captain John gone, his territory was torn apart in an instant. Other dominant pirate crews divided his lands, while his former subordinates scattered. Some joined new crews. Others vanished under false identities.
They had all tasted his treasure.
Soon after, rumors of Captain John's hidden hoard began spreading like wildfire. It was said that he had hidden the majority of his wealth in a single location, a fortune accumulated over decades. Among the great pirates of the New World, this was no secret. Now, the entire world knew.
Ironically, Captain John's paranoia had ensured his downfall. He trusted no one, and so no one spared him.
While pirates fought and fell, the Navy watched closely.
The Nightfall Pirates' movements were under constant surveillance. The Navy would never allow them to enter the New World without resistance. Plans were already being prepared for the moment they reached the Grand Line.
This time, however, the plan did not originate from Sengoku.
It came from two Navy Vice Admirals, both contenders for the rank of Admiral.
Reaching the Admiral level was no simple task. Sakazuki and the other two Logia users, along with Freda, placed enormous pressure on all remaining candidates. Under Sengoku's guidance, they were frequently dispatched to assist allied nations, strengthening both their reputations and political backing.
With Sengoku's support, Sakazuki and his peers already held a clear advantage.
Yet no new Admirals had been officially appointed. The delay bred anxiety, especially among those falling behind. There was still a chance, but time was slipping away.
In terms of raw military achievements, the contenders were close. Even Borsalino, known for his laziness, ranked highly due to the overwhelming efficiency granted by his light-speed abilities.
The Admiral position symbolized supreme authority and honor. None of them were willing to relinquish it easily. With pressure from supporters and rivals alike, even Borsalino became unusually serious.
At present, Borsalino ranked first in accumulated achievements, followed closely by Sakazuki and Kuzan. Freda, who had entered the competition late, lagged behind despite his Repulsion Fruit's exceptional mobility and combat efficiency.
The Five Elders were not blind. They understood that allowing the competition to drag on would destabilize the Navy. Sakazuki and the other two rising stars were clearly their preferred candidates.
Thus, they imposed a deadline.
Two years.
After two years, the Admiral positions would be finalized.
This limit was meant to quietly eliminate weaker candidates. Admirals were the face of the World Government and the peak of naval power. Another Lloyd-style disgrace was unacceptable.
The Five Elders were also fully aware of Freda's true identity. CP0's interference pushed boundaries, but internal rivalry between departments was nothing new. With the seas growing increasingly chaotic, even three Admirals might no longer be sufficient.
Within the World Government, a proposal emerged: expand the number of Admirals.
Four Admirals instead of three.
This would strengthen the Navy while embedding a controlling piece within it. The candidates were effectively predetermined.
For Sengoku and his peers, an additional Admiral posed no real problem. More strength was always welcome, and with careful oversight, even someone like Freda could be restrained.
The existence of CP0 itself was a reminder of hidden terror. Fewer than fifty members, yet every one an elite. Beyond their Director, known as the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield, there were two Vice Directors of even greater power. How many others like Freda existed remained unknown.
For Gilman and Atchison, however, this shift was disastrous.
Backed by World Government officials but lacking overwhelming strength, they found themselves at a severe disadvantage. Their patrons had already invested too much to retreat.
Their solution was simple.
Military achievements.
They avoided the New World entirely, remembering Lloyd's fate. In the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, only one target offered enough value.
The Nightfall Pirates.
They had noticed them a year ago. Young, dangerous, and already showing the signs of future Emperors. At the time, Gilman and Atchison judged that even together, the cost would be too high.
Now, with greater mastery over their Devil Fruits, their confidence grew.
Even so, Teach remained a terrifying variable. His power countered Devil Fruit users directly.
To minimize risk, they brought in a third ally: Vice Admiral Nickt, another veteran sidelined by circumstance. His Exploding Blast Fruit excelled at wide-area destruction and pirate suppression.
Combined with Atchison's Miasma Fruit, they believed they could wipe out the Nightfall Pirates' ranks. All that would remain were Teach himself and his mysterious Mythical Zoan subordinate.
With three Admiral candidates, elite Marines, and overwhelming numbers, they believed victory was assured.
If the Nightfall Pirates fell, the rewards would be enormous. Even divided three ways, the achievements would surpass Sakazuki's. Prestige, promotion, and legacy would follow.
They had no other choice.
Thus, as soon as news of the Nightfall Pirates' return spread, the operation began.
At Marine Headquarters, three Vice Admirals departed together, each commanding a massive force. Fifteen warships. Fifteen thousand elite Marines. Five Rear Admirals per fleet.
Their status as Admiral candidates set them apart from ordinary Vice Admirals. Their fleets dwarfed anything Brom had once commanded.
Such a movement could not be hidden.
In his office, Sengoku sighed. Tsuru sat beside him, calm and unsurprised. They had known this would happen.
In Marine Headquarters, nothing of this scale went unnoticed.
Gilman and Atchison had been preparing for over a year. Only the Nightfall Pirates' disappearance had delayed them.
Now, their target was clear.
'Dark Emperor' Teach.
"Will they succeed?" Sengoku asked quietly.
Tsuru sipped her tea, her expression unchanged. "No. Teach already possesses Admiral-level strength, possibly more. His subordinate can hold off one of them alone. That much is certain."
She continued evenly. "Before they even reach Teach, their Marines will likely be slaughtered by the Nightfall Pirates' cadres. A year is enough time for monsters to grow."
Sengoku frowned. "That's why they brought Nickt."
"But it won't be enough," Tsuru replied.
After a brief silence, Sengoku spoke again. "This was their choice. Prepare support forces. If an opportunity appears, we intervene."
The storm was coming.