Sea Circle Calendar, February 1487.
New World — Linderland Island.
This once-bustling island was now in utter chaos. Large numbers of civilians crowded into the port, scrambling to board any ship that could take them away.
Tickets that originally cost forty to fifty thousand Berries had now been driven up to hundreds of thousands per ticket—and even then, they were nearly impossible to obtain.
"Why did they have to choose this place?! Those damned pirates will destroy everything!"
"Damn it! Aren't we part of a World Government affiliated nation? Linderland Island belongs to the Visa Kingdom! Isn't anyone going to do something?!"
"Where's the royal army? Where are the Marines?!"
"Idiot, stop complaining! In the New World, the World Government's words don't carry as much weight as those pirates!"
Logically speaking, Linderland Island lay near the gateway waters of the New World, close to the Red Line, and was part of the World Government-affiliated Visa Kingdom. It should have been relatively safe.
But unfortunately, the pirates arriving this time were far too ferocious.
At this very moment, not far from the port, a massive fleet flying the banner of the Flying Pirates had already been anchored here for quite some time.
One could even spot Shiki's flagship among the fleet, making it clear that the current highest-bounty pirate in the New World—the Golden Lion, Shiki—had already arrived in these waters.
However, the brutal Shiki had not stopped the civilians of Linderland Island from fleeing. He had no intention of plundering the island.
Today, the Golden Lion was waiting for an opponent worthy of his attention—Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.
As Shiki stood on deck, a cigar clenched between his teeth, enjoying the sea breeze while waiting for the Whitebeard Pirates to arrive—
On the other side, from the southeastern waters, a peculiar warship flying a pirate flag cut through the waves as it approached.
"Admiral! It's Byrnndi World! I can see his pirate ship!" the lookout atop the mast shouted.
This sudden development caused Shiki to frown slightly in surprise. "World? What's that guy doing here? Looking to pick a fight with me?"
"Could he be reinforcements called in by Whitebeard?" one of the Flying Pirates' officers said with a grim expression.
Shiki snorted disdainfully. "You're underestimating Whitebeard. Reinforcements? He wouldn't stoop to that…"
On the other side, World stood on his own deck, his brow tightly furrowed. "Why the hell is Shiki here?"
World was a burly man, powerfully built, exuding raw strength. Behind him stood his older brother, Byojack—who was his complete opposite. Frail and small, he even had an IV drip hanging from him.
"I told you before—Linderland Island hasn't been peaceful lately. Word across the seas is that Shiki and Newgate are going to clash here. World, let's leave…" Byojack urged.
"Leave?!" A flash of anger crossed World's eyes. "The clown we're looking for is on this island. Once I get their explosive formula and combine it with my ability, no one in this sea will be able to stop me! I could blast straight through the Red Line with a single shot! And now you're telling me to leave?!"
After a brief pause, World turned his head toward Byojack and declared, "Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the World Destroyer!!!"
With that, World waved his hand and shouted, "Ignore Shiki and Newgate—we do our own thing! Fire on the port! Not a single ship is allowed to leave Linderland! I'll dig three feet into the ground if I have to, but I will find that formula!!!"
The moment he gave the order, the massive cannons on his peculiar warship immediately aimed at Linderland Island's port.
With a thunderous boom, the cannons roared, and a pitch-black shell shot toward the port.
Midway through the air, a savage gleam flashed in World's eyes as he activated his power.
"Mora Mora... Hundredfold Cannon!"
As his ability took effect, the already enormous cannonball instantly expanded a hundred times over, becoming like a massive meteor hurtling down toward the port.
In the distance, Shiki watched this scene, his brows knitting slightly. "That bastard is as reckless as ever. He knows I'm here and still dares to make a move…"
The next moment, the gigantic shell slammed into the port. A blaze of destruction instantly engulfed the entire harbor—civilians, ships, and port structures alike were swallowed whole by the violent explosion.
Thick black smoke billowed across the sea, and the entire island of Linderland seemed to tremble from the impact.
Having destroyed the entire port in a single strike, World showed no change in expression. He said coldly, "Increase speed. Bring the ship closer."
Beside him, Byojack looked like he wanted to say something but held back.
He really wanted to ask—if you're so determined to obtain that formula, why fire so recklessly? What if that blast just killed the very person you're looking for?
But clearly, World didn't care.
Perhaps all he wanted was to destroy anything that stood in his way.
Truly worthy of the title "World Destroyer."
Fortunately, luck was on his side—the people he sought hadn't all been wiped out.
At the edge of the ruined port, swallowed by flames, a three-year-old child with a red nose knelt amidst the rubble, looking utterly lost.
His name was Buggy.
Not long ago, he had fled to Linderland Island with his uncle. As for his parents, they had tragically died years earlier.
Just minutes ago, his uncle—who had gone to the port to grab tickets—was swallowed by the explosion. Now, let alone a body, not even ashes remained.
A child just over three years old could already speak.
Buggy was no exception.
When he came back to his senses from the explosion, he began crying out his uncle's name over and over again.
But amidst the chaos of the surviving crowd, his cries seemed so powerless.
Just as World's pirate ship was about to approach Linderland Island, the sea itself began to change.
The previously calm surface suddenly turned violent.
Waves piled upon waves, their forces compressing and stacking, forming towering surges. These surges pushed against one another, quickly merging into a white line on the horizon as they rushed forward.
A tsunami.
On deck, World naturally noticed the change. Tilting his head, he looked toward the direction of the incoming tsunami, as if he had already seen something.
Not just him—even within the Flying Pirates' grand fleet, Shiki's lips slowly curled upward into a wild, cruel grin.
"They've arrived… Newgate…" he muttered.
As his voice fell, Shiki casually raised a hand, activating the power of the Float-Float Fruit.
At that moment, the sea beneath the Flying Pirates' fleet surged violently!
Endless seawater gathered, forming enormous, arrogant lions—silent yet awe-inspiring in their roars. One, two, three, four, five… row after row!
"Lion's Threat… Imperial Waves…"
With a slight drop of his gaze, Shiki unleashed his attack.
Countless massive lion-shaped waves charged forward, fearless even in the face of the natural disaster that was the tsunami.
At this moment, Linderland Island and World were caught between the tsunami and the charging lion waves—like prey being contested between them.
From this instant onward, the great event later known as the Battle of Linderland Island erupted!