As Ren and Kaido lay unconscious, the world refused to sleep. News traveled faster than ships, faster than reason, faster even than fear. Before either of them awoke, the result of their battle had already reached every sea.
Big News Morgans had not hesitated.
Across the front page of every major newspaper was a colossal image—one side showing a mythical flaming dragon rising toward the heavens, the other a towering Monkey King swinging a blazing staff downward. The moment of collision was frozen in ink, lightning splitting the sky between them.
The headline read:
"A New Emperor Rises — Ren the Monkey King!"
Below it, in massive bold print, Morgans had declared Ren the Fourth Emperor of the Sea.
Every port that received the paper fell silent.
Some readers felt a chill crawl down their spine as they stared at the image. Others broke into cold sweat. The idea that someone had defeated Kaido in direct combat shook the foundations of the New World.
Pirates whispered the name in taverns.
Marines cursed it under their breath.
The era had shifted.
—
On the deck of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard sat in his chair with the newspaper resting in his massive hand. The sea breeze rustled the pages as he stared at the image for a long moment without speaking.
Marco hovered nearby, studying his captain's face carefully.
"Pops… what do you think?" Marco asked quietly.
Whitebeard exhaled deeply. "Gurararara… what do I think?"
He raised the paper slightly. "I think the sea just became more interesting."
Though he was still in his prime, his body had begun to show subtle signs of weakening. The aches lingered longer than before. His recovery took more time than it once had.
He knew the truth.
"I couldn't fight Kaido now," Whitebeard said bluntly.
The crew fell silent.
"After that breakthrough in Conqueror's Haki…" he continued, eyes narrowing slightly. "Kaido became my equal. Truly my equal."
Marco clenched his fists slightly but said nothing.
Whitebeard looked back at the image of Ren.
"And now that brat defeated him."
There was no jealousy in his voice—only contemplation.
"I wanted to avenge Oden," Whitebeard admitted quietly. "But revenge without certainty is foolishness. If I couldn't guarantee victory… I couldn't risk my sons."
The words hung heavy in the air.
"If Kaido had attacked in the future… if my body weakened further…" Whitebeard's grip tightened slightly on the paper. "I might not have been able to protect you."
Marco stepped forward immediately. "Pops—"
Whitebeard waved him off.
"I've already chosen," he said. "I won't chase revenge."
He stared again at Ren's image.
"But I do want to meet this Ren."
The crew exchanged glances.
"If he's someone I like," Whitebeard continued thoughtfully, "I may entrust Fish-Man Island to him."
Marco blinked. "You'd give up territory?"
Whitebeard snorted. "I already protect too many countries. If he can guard it better than I can… I'd be happy for my brother Neptune."
He folded the paper carefully.
"Prepare a course," he ordered calmly. "Not to fight. To talk."
The Moby Dick shifted direction under quiet command.
—
On the Queen Mama Chanter, chaos and laughter filled the air.
"That damned brat…" Big Mom snarled, newspaper crumpling slightly in her massive hand. "Kaido lost?"
"Ma–mamamamamama!" she burst into loud laughter. "Since you've lost Wano, don't mind if I take it for myself, Kaido! Mamamamama!"
Perospero shifted nervously beside her. "Umm, Mama… wouldn't it be bad to provoke him? He did defeat Kaido."
Big Mom's eyes narrowed slowly.
"Mamamama… are you saying I'm weaker than Kaido, Perospero?"
Cold sweat rolled down his temple. "N–No, Mama! Of course not!"
Katakuri stepped in smoothly before the tension could escalate.
"Mama," he said calmly, "news reports that Loki of Elbaf is also heading toward Wano."
Big Mom's expression shifted instantly.
"Mamamama… Loki?" she repeated, interest sparking in her eyes. "Keep track of him."
Perospero swallowed.
"Since he's going," she continued with a disturbingly pleased smile, "this is the best chance to marry him into our family."
Her eyes gleamed with manic excitement.
"Imagine it… an alliance with Elbaf at last!"
Even Katakuri felt a faint shudder run through him. Perospero looked away quickly, pretending to study the sea.
"Mama," Katakuri said cautiously, "Ren defeated Kaido. He won't be easy to approach."
Big Mom grinned widely.
"Then we'll approach him sweetly first… and if that doesn't work…"
Her smile sharpened.
"We'll see."
—
At Marineford, Sengoku rubbed his forehead aggressively as another report was placed on his desk.
"This is out of control," he muttered.
A Marine officer saluted. "Sir, confirmation has spread across all Blues. Morgans has officially declared Ren the Fourth Emperor."
Sengoku gritted his teeth.
"That idiot bird…"
Tsuru stood by the window, arms folded.
"That boy will surely come after the Marines," Sengoku continued. "We not only attacked Boa Hancock… we also attempted to eliminate him."
He slammed his fist lightly against the desk.
"Damn it, Sakazuki… where the hell are you?! Why hasn't he contacted Marine HQ yet?"
Tsuru spoke calmly. "What if he has been defeated?"
Sengoku snapped immediately. "Not possible! He is an Admiral!"
He stood up, pacing slightly.
"That girl Hancock is troublesome… that's why I sent Sakazuki. He must be stuck in the Calm Belt. Yes… that must be it."
Tsuru watched him carefully.
He was trying to convince himself.
She sighed softly and shook her head.
Fear of the unknown was something even Fleet Admirals struggled with.
—
In Fusha Village, the Red Hair Pirates gathered around the newspaper in silence.
Ben Beckman exhaled slowly. "Well… the guy did it."
Shanks leaned back against a barrel, staring at Ren's image thoughtfully.
"The youngest Emperor has been crowned by Morgans," Ben continued. "Looks like you'll have to defeat an Emperor yourself now, Shanks."
He tapped the paper.
"That guy set the example. If you don't defeat one, you won't become one."
Shanks scratched the back of his head and laughed.
"We'll see when the time comes," he said lightly. "For now, let's raise a toast."
He lifted a bottle.
"To the new Emperor—Ren the Monkey King!"
The crew erupted in cheers.
"Yes, Captain!"
Morgans had officially named him Ren the Monkey King. Unable to find a title that suited him better, he had chosen the myth itself.
The Four Emperors were complete.
The era of the Yonko stood solidified once more.
—
At Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 13, Shakky exhaled a stream of smoke.
"Well," she said calmly, "the boy did it. He became the Fourth Emperor."
Rayleigh shook his head slowly.
"It's not just that," he replied. "He became one by defeating another."
Shakky glanced at him. "Meaning?"
"If Shanks cannot do the same," Rayleigh said evenly, "he won't be counted among them."
He leaned back slightly.
"And now that Kaido had a breakthrough… Shanks' chances of defeating him aren't as high as before."
Shakky raised an eyebrow.
"That leaves Big Mom."
Rayleigh sighed softly. "The next major clash might be Shanks versus Linlin."
Shakky laughed faintly. "Linlin… that brings back memories."
Rayleigh's expression softened slightly.
"She's changed. But not enough."
He stared out toward the sea.
"With her talent… if she had trained seriously from the beginning… she could have stood equal to them."
Shakky flicked ash from her cigarette.
"Too late for regrets."
—
Somewhere at sea, aboard a Revolutionary ship, Dragon stood silently watching the horizon.
"So the kid has done it," he murmured to himself.
Ivankov raised an eyebrow. "He's shaken the balance, eh?"
Dragon's cloak fluttered in the wind.
"The era of the Four Emperors has begun anew."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"And this one… may be the most unpredictable of them all."
—
Back in Wano, beneath the shade of a large tree near the coast, Ren slept peacefully.
His head rested on Yamato's lap, his breathing steady and calm. The Azure Dark Green energy continued circulating faintly within him, repairing the damage from his battle.
Without waking, he shifted slightly.
Then, instinctively, he wrapped his arms around Yamato's waist.
As if afraid she would disappear.
Yamato froze.
Her face turned bright red instantly.
"H–Hey…" she muttered softly. "You're unconscious…"
But her hand never stopped stroking his hair.
He nuzzled closer unconsciously, tightening his hold slightly.
Yamato's heart pounded.
"You idiot," she whispered gently. "You fought like a madman."
Her other hand remained near her kanabo, alert.
But her posture softened.
She looked down at his face—so calm now, so unlike the storm he had become in battle.
Without realizing it, she was smiling.
"I still don't understand what I feel," she murmured quietly.
The sea breeze carried her words away.
"But… I don't hate this."
Ren's grip tightened slightly in his sleep.
And beneath the quiet Wano sky, the Monkey King rested—crowned Emperor by the world, yet asleep in the lap of the girl he had fought to free.
{Ahem.... Sorry about the super fast relationship growth between Yamato and Ren. 😅🤧}