The arrival of Wano Country's samurai ignited the spirit of every swordsman on Parage Island. The atmosphere grew noticeably livelier, as if the entire island had been sharpened by their presence.
After Kozuki Oden's arrival, more and more prominent figures began to appear. Each entrance stirred waves of attention, drawing crowds and speculation in equal measure.
Morgans had long since deployed his forces across key areas of the island. From the port to the arenas, from bustling streets to the towering Battle Pyramid, everything worth watching was under constant surveillance.
For the people of the world, life became unusually simple over the following days. Work continued as usual, but outside of that, their eyes were glued to screens. Live broadcasts showcased the culture of Parage Island, duels between swordsmen, and brutal clashes within the Nightfall Arena.
For many pirates, the arenas were far more enticing than the Swordplay Tournament itself. As a result, the thirty-six arena islands were packed daily, with evenings drawing the largest crowds.
Even so, what most people truly awaited was not the tournament.
It was the Four Emperors.
Countless individuals had come not for swords, but for legends. At a time like this, everyone wanted to witness those figures with their own eyes.
According to circulating intelligence, three of the Sea Emperors had already entered the territory of the Nightfall Pirates and would soon arrive at Parage Island. The fourth, Golden Lion Shiki, had yet to be seen, though many suspected he remained somewhere in the sky.
Interestingly, the Marines arrived in the Nightfall Sea at nearly the same time.
That meant one thing.
They would meet.
The vast port was packed to the brim.
Members and officers of the Nightfall Pirates had gathered in full force, forming an imposing reception line. Compared to previous arrivals, where only one or two cadres were sent, this display made their intent clear.
This time, the guests were different.
As for "Dark Emperor" Teach, he had yet to appear. Since welcoming Kozuki Oden, he had remained out of sight, though no one doubted he would show himself when it truly mattered.
"Fufufufu… it's been a long time since I felt something like this," Donquixote Doflamingo muttered from a rooftop, his grin widening. "The execution of Roger… the aura of an era reaching its climax."
His body trembled faintly with excitement.
He had arrived days ago, and as the ruler of Dressrosa, his position was already secure. Yet even he could feel it.
This era was peaking.
The first to arrive were the Whitebeard Pirates.
From the distant horizon, the Moby Dick approached, its massive silhouette unmistakable. Even before it docked, an overwhelming pressure spread across the port.
Some people instinctively held their breath.
The strongest man in the world had come.
"Gurararara! Quite the welcome you've prepared!" Edward Newgate's booming laughter echoed across the sea.
On deck, his towering figure alone was enough to shake the nerves of those watching. He did not suppress his presence, nor did he deliberately release it. Simply standing there was enough.
Fear.
Raw and unavoidable.
"Is that… Whitebeard?" a pirate whispered, his voice trembling.
The Moby Dick docked, and the Whitebeard Pirates disembarked in formation. Hundreds stood together, each one an elite, each one a commander or veteran of countless battles.
Not all of them had come.
Yet even this was overwhelming.
Before anyone could step forward to greet them, Newgate suddenly turned his head.
Something had caught his attention.
Others followed his gaze.
From the opposite direction, several warships approached, cutting through the sea with disciplined precision.
Whitebeard's lips curled into a grin.
"Garp… that old bastard."
Onboard the Marine flagship, tension spread among the ranks.
"Vice Admiral Garp, we're about to reach Parage Island," a Marine reported cautiously. "The Whitebeard Pirates are directly ahead. Should we… avoid them?"
The concern was obvious.
A direct encounter carried risks no one could ignore.
But before anyone else could respond, Garp's eyes lit up.
"Avoid them?" he scoffed. "Why would we do that? Full speed ahead! It's been ages since I've seen Newgate. Might as well catch up properly."
No one was surprised.
Tsuru remained silent, fully aware of his nature.
Behind them, both Kuzan and Borsalino had already shifted their attention forward. Even beneath their relaxed demeanors, seriousness lingered.
They represented Marine Headquarters.
Retreat was not an option.
The warships accelerated.
Soon, the massive Marine vessel docked right beside the Moby Dick, while the remaining ships spread out to nearby positions.
"Hahaha! Newgate, long time no see!" Garp strode forward, cloak of Justice billowing behind him.
"Indeed," Whitebeard replied with a grin. "But shouldn't you have retired by now?"
"Sengoku just took over as Fleet Admiral. I've got at least twenty more years in me," Garp shot back, raising his fist. "My hands have been itching."
The air grew tense.
They stared at each other.
But no one moved.
Around them, pirates and Marines locked eyes, hostility crackling like invisible lightning. Yet no one dared act first.
At the same time, many noticed something else.
The Marine lineup.
Besides Garp and Tsuru, two Admirals stood among them. Numerous Vice Admirals and elite swordsmen filled the ranks.
Even the Nightfall Pirates grew wary.
This was not a mere visit.
Then, suddenly, something changed.
A presence.
Sharp.
Overwhelming.
Especially to swordsmen, it was unmistakable.
Everyone looked up.
High above, two blazing lights appeared, like miniature suns hanging in the sky.
But they were not suns.
They were slashes.
Enormous crescent-shaped blades of compressed power, each stretching hundreds of meters, descending with terrifying speed.
It felt as if the sky itself had been cut open.
"Who…?" someone gasped.
"Someone daring to attack both Garp and Whitebeard at once?"
Many already had their answer.
Elsewhere, Teach raised his head slightly.
Through Observation Haki, his perception extended far beyond sight, reaching deep into the sky.
He found it instantly.
A floating island.
And atop it, a familiar presence.
"Shiki…" Teach murmured. "Still as reckless as ever."
To them, this was nothing more than a greeting.
A very Shiki greeting.
At the port, Garp and Whitebeard moved at the same moment.
Neither could allow those attacks to land. Behind them stood their people.
Garp leaped into the air, using Geppo to ascend rapidly.
"Fist of the Galaxy!"
His punch collided head-on with the descending slash. The impact shattered the blade instantly, exploding into a shockwave that rippled across the sky.
Whitebeard's response was even more direct.
His fist clenched, coated in the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. With a single strike, the air itself fractured like glass.
The second slash froze midair for a brief moment before being swallowed entirely by overwhelming vibration.
The sky trembled.
The sea roared.
Then it was over.
Garp landed with a thud.
"You almost hit me, Newgate," he complained.
"So what if I did?" Whitebeard laughed. "With your thick skull, you'd only lose a layer of skin."
Garp scratched his head and laughed along, completely unfazed.
Behind him, Tsuru sighed quietly.
All eyes turned upward again.
A black dot descended from the sky, growing larger and larger.
Then people saw it clearly.
An island.
Panic spread instantly.
But before chaos could erupt, members of the Nightfall Pirates quickly announced the truth, calming the crowd.
The floating island stopped midair, hovering steadily.
Relief swept through the port.
Then, from above, a figure stepped forward.
Golden Lion Shiki.
Dressed in a yellow kimono, cigar in his mouth, he looked down at the scene below with a wide grin.
"Jiehahaha! Garp, Newgate… long time no see!"
Garp's expression hardened slightly.
Compared to Whitebeard, Shiki's ambition made him far more unpredictable.
"Quite the rude greeting," Whitebeard said with a smirk.
"Just stretching my arms," Shiki replied casually.
The surrounding crowd was stunned.
That had been a greeting?
Even Doflamingo felt a chill run down his spine, sweat forming along his back.
This was the true peak of the world.
Even that single slash was beyond what he could block.
"If you want to fight, name a time," Whitebeard said, gripping his bisento. "But don't come crying afterward."
Shiki laughed loudly.
Behind him, members of the Flying Pirates began descending from the floating island using ropes, abilities, and equipment.
The final piece had arrived.
The Whitebeard Pirates.
The Marines.
The Flying Pirates.
Three great forces now stood on the same stage.