Loguetown, Central Square.
To publicly execute Pirate King Roger and thereby terrify pirates across the seas,
the World Government and the Marines erected a special execution platform in the center of town, ensuring every corner had a view of Roger's death.
Dawn had only just broken, yet the square was already packed with onlookers from the Four Seas and the Grand Line.
In the crowd, Astrix stood expressionless beside Mihawk, his heart pounding with the thrill of the system finally activating and aching at the thought of Captain Roger's imminent end.
Six years earlier, Astrix had been selling tri-colored dumplings from a stall in his hometown of Goose Town when thugs smashed his cart.
After taking a beating from five punks, Astrix drove his knife into the ringleader and sent the rest fleeing.
While he was picking up the pieces alone, a huge hand reached out.
"Kid, your fish balls are pretty good."
"Join my crew."
At that instant, Roger's towering frame blocked out the sun, a halo behind his head; Astrix stood frozen for a long moment.
It wasn't Roger's charisma that stunned him—his transmigrator's cheat had finally arrived.
[Ding! Multiverse Trading Platform binding successful. Please complete the prerequisite conditions to activate the system.]
From that day forward, Beelzebub Astrix officially became a cook of the Roger Pirates.
Together with the crew, he fought through dozens of battles—from the Battle of Edd War to clashes with the Whitebeard Pirates—and reached Sky Island, Fish-Man Island, Wano Country, Zou… and finally the last island, Laugh Tale.
Along the way, Astrix collected the items needed to unlock the system.
Captain Roger's straw hat—the one later passed to Shanks and then to Luffy—was secretly swapped out by Astrix and submitted to the system.
Whitebeard's mustache was traded for a cask of Astrix's home-brewed sake.
Blackbeard Teach's teeth: Buggy kicked out three, and Astrix quietly pocketed two.
Over six years, his personal strength remained mediocre, yet Astrix got along famously with the Roger Pirates.
Anyone who sails knows: never offend the cook. Annoy him and, even if the food isn't poisoned, it can still taste like bilgewater.
But every feast ends, and every voyage reaches its shore.
A stir ran through the crowd. Flanked by two soldiers, Captain Roger appeared.
Nails digging into his palms, Astrix's body went rigid as he watched Captain Roger ascend the gallows step by step, his breathing only easing when the man stood at the top.
He respected Captain Roger's choice.
A gambit against the World Government.
The World Government and the Marines meant the public execution to cow the pirates and showcase their might.
The result?
You couldn't say it had no effect—
You could only say—
Captain Roger's dying words about the great treasure spread through every witness, racing across the globe and birthing the Great Pirate Era.
Seeking the great treasure, pirates and refugees alike took to the seas; the age grew more volatile than ever.
In the Great Pirate Era, the Four Emperors rose one after another, drawing the World Government's gaze and giving the Revolutionary Army room to grow.
It was the tide after an age of repression.
Some say Roger did it on purpose: Imu's Domi Reversi can only be cast on a target within their homeland.
So Roger spoke of the great treasure, luring everyone to leave home and sail, severing the chains of Domi Reversi.
Whether one sails for freedom, for the great treasure, for the Poneglyphs, or for the truth of the Void Century—
All paths converge on one destination: the final war.
Whether the dragon slayer becomes a dragon depends on who wins in the end.
Astrix figured that, no matter who triumphed, classes would never vanish; that was simply human nature.
Someone would always pride themselves on standing above others.
Everyone despised the Celestial Dragons—yet everyone wanted to become one.
For people don't hate privilege itself; they hate that the privileged one… isn't themselves.
Exhaling slowly, Astrix stared at the gallows with a blank face until Captain Roger's gaze swept over him. Then his eyes crinkled in a smile, lips moving without sound.
"Sayonara, Captain."
A pity he had never mastered the Captain's Divine Departure.
Henceforth, only Shanks would be able to flick out a casual Divine Departure.
Out of the corner of his eye, Astrix spotted Moria nearby, robust and grinning with confidence.
"That smile won't last."
A year later, pirate turmoil would erupt in Wano; the Beasts Pirates and Moria's crew would clash at Ringo. Moria would be crushed and lose every comrade.
Fleeing Wano, he would rob Ryuma's tomb, making off with the corpse and the blade Shusui.
From then on, his spirit would be broken.
In this world, strength feeds on will; lose the will, and power bleeds away.
Moria, broken by Kaido, and Chinjao, whose pointed head was flattened by Garp—both lost their spirit and their might.
"Hey, Pirate King!"
A Garp-lookalike cupped his hands around his mouth. "You got that legendary great treasure, didn't you?"
"The one and only great treasure."
"ONE PIECE—!!!"
On the platform, Roger sat cross-legged, fearless in the face of death, as casually as if chatting on deck.
"Hohohahaha!"
"My treasure, huh?"
"If you want it, go claim it—go find it! I left every last bit of it there!"
"Shut up!" The soldiers hurried the execution.
The bright sky turned black in an instant; fat raindrops poured down.
The square, crammed with people from every ocean, showed no sign of seeking shelter. Instead, news of the great treasure set off cheers and laughter that rose above the downpour.
In the rain, Buggy sobbed until his body shook, afraid no one would notice his bond with Roger.
Nearby, Shanks wore the straw hat Astrix had bought for Roger, his youthful face twisted, tears streaming down.
Astrix scrubbed a hand across his face; the rain today tasted saltier than usual.
Three fifteen-year-old boys bade their Captain farewell in their own ways.
[Ding! Multiverse Trading Platform activated.]
[Ding! Congratulations on your beginner gift pack.]
Astrix drew a deep breath, tilted his head, and let the rain wash the grief away.
From this moment, he would leave weakness behind.
From now on, no one would ever dare raise their voice to him again.
"Let's go—someone's marked you."
"Okay."