The world was drowning in relentless warfare, with chaos spreading across every corner of the seas as conflict erupted simultaneously in the Four Seas, the Golden Sea battlefield, the New World clashes between pirates and the Marines, and even the violent confrontation between Edward Newgate and Shiki the Golden Lion in the turbulent waters of the Grand Line.
This disorder did not remain confined to the battlefield alone. Many kingdoms, seeking to divert internal instability, turned their ambitions outward and ignited new wars, further accelerating the collapse of global stability. The sea no longer offered any sense of peace, and to most people it felt as though hope itself had been stripped away.
Countless civilians chose to remain indoors, relying on live broadcasts to follow developments across the world, since every shift in the war would eventually ripple into their own lives. Even neutral kingdoms that suffered losses were beginning to mobilize, and powerful nations without direct conflicts were quietly preparing alliances to protect their interests, causing the formation of new power blocs to accelerate at an unprecedented pace.
In the midst of this chaos, thunderous explosions echoed across a shattered island battlefield.
"Thunder Bagua."
"Iron Fist."
Garp and Kaido collided once more, their attacks shaking the earth itself as the island beneath them trembled violently. Kaido's expression remained sharp and focused as he faced the Marine hero head-on, refusing to yield even under overwhelming pressure.
Their clashes had repeated countless times, each encounter ending in Kaido's defeat or forced withdrawal. Garp, fully aware of the larger stakes of the war, no longer held back his strength, aiming to suppress Kaido as quickly as possible. However, even he understood that killing Kaido was no longer a simple matter. In earlier years it might have been possible, but now Kaido's resilience had reached an absurd level that made elimination nearly impossible.
Kaido, for his part, had no intention of fighting to the death. Whenever his condition deteriorated beyond recovery, he would retreat without hesitation, only to return days later after recovering, stronger and more refined than before.
This battlefield had become his training ground. Every blow from Garp's Iron Fist forced Kaido's body to adapt, refine, and evolve, gradually increasing his durability and combat instinct in real time.
Elsewhere across the battlefield, Charlotte Linlin continued to suppress Sakazuki with overwhelming ease. She barely needed to exert her full strength while casually directing her Homies to devastate surrounding Marine forces, treating the entire war more like a chaotic banquet than a life-and-death struggle. Occasionally, her physical condition even shifted due to the sheer energy expenditure, subtly reducing her weight as prolonged combat replaced constant indulgence.
Sakazuki, however, bore the full weight of responsibility. The gap between him and a Yonko of Linlin's caliber remained evident, and despite his absolute offensive intensity, he could only endure and retaliate without achieving decisive results.
Elsewhere, Zephyr clashed against Ares in a prolonged duel that drew attention across the battlefield. Unlike his past limitations, Zephyr's condition had been stabilized through emergency treatment developed overnight by Marine medical teams. Though not a cure, the medication suppressed his asthma attacks enough to allow sustained combat. For now, Zephyr was able to unleash his full combat ability without interruption, restoring a portion of his former prestige in battle.
Meanwhile, the skirmish between Borsalino and Rhine appeared intense on the surface but remained controlled underneath, as neither side intended to risk unnecessary losses. Their primary objective was containment rather than annihilation.
Among all engagements, Sakazuki suffered the most pressure, forced into continuous high-intensity combat against an opponent far above his current tier.
Across the world, the atmosphere grew heavier by the day. Many began to hope for an end to this global conflict, yet others secretly worked to prolong it, aiming to weaken the World Government's long-standing dominance. The war had become a catalyst for shifting global power structures, and no faction could afford to ignore its consequences.
Amid this expanding storm, a critical shift finally emerged.
Kuzan, who had previously frozen himself to recover from exhaustion, returned to the battlefield. His reappearance immediately changed the balance of power, strengthening the Allied Forces and forcing the Pirate side into greater defensive pressure. As a Marine Admiral-level combatant, his influence on the battlefield was undeniable, and his presence alone marked a turning point in the war.
However, Redyat had already anticipated this development. Kuzan's recovery arrived slightly earlier than expected, suggesting his condition had stabilized faster than predicted. Even so, he had not fully regained peak condition, and his return still placed him under considerable strain.
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku had already begun recalibrating strategy based on this development, recognizing that the war could not be prolonged indefinitely without consequences.
In the months that followed, Nelson's role became increasingly significant on the battlefield. With his ability to manipulate outcomes indirectly through coordinated attacks, he functioned as a strategic disruptor, severely delaying the Allied Forces' momentum. His eventual coordination with Laffitte resulted in the elimination of the opposing Door-Door Fruit user, which finally freed him from suppression and allowed his full utility to emerge.
Despite these shifts, Redyat ultimately ordered a tactical withdrawal for the Pirate side, carefully staged to maintain the illusion of a nearing Allied victory. This controlled retreat was essential to maintain pressure on the World Government, ensuring they continued committing resources under the belief that final victory was close.
The retreat was executed in stages, gradually pulling forces back toward Jaya Island while preserving overall cohesion. The World Government, interpreting this as progress, intensified funding and logistical support through both official channels and hidden alliances, drawing heavily from the World Nobles under promises of unimaginable future wealth.
From high above the battlefield, Marshall D. Teach observed everything in silence.
From the perspective of Observation Haki, the flow of the war was already clear. This phase was not the final clash, but the slow tightening of a trap designed to exhaust the World Government completely. Redyat's role was not victory, but endurance, stretching the conflict to its absolute limit.
Teach's thoughts drifted briefly toward reinforcement possibilities. Figures such as Douglas Bullet and other world-class combatants passed through consideration, yet each carried complications that made recruitment uncertain. Even relying on Shiki alone was insufficient insurance against unknown World Government reserves.
Eventually, one name surfaced in his mind with clarity.
Monkey D. Dragon.
Leader of the Revolutionary Army, known as the world's most dangerous criminal, and a man directly opposed to the World Government itself.
With that decision made, Teach issued a quiet order. Through the Nightfall Pirates intelligence network, a message was dispatched into the hidden veins of the world, eventually reaching one of the Revolutionary Army's secret bases.
When the letter arrived, the Revolutionary agents immediately recognized the symbol of the Nightfall Pirates and fell into alarm, quickly escalating the matter to the highest level.
Dragon received the report without delay.
Without hesitation, he moved personally to the designated location that very night and opened the letter that had crossed the hidden currents of the world to find him.