Off the Grand Line, on a secret island in the West Blue.
"Captain, you idiot, what on earth are you doing?"
Rockstar, a member of the Red Hair Pirates, spoke with great dissatisfaction: "Pirates from the same generation as us have all rushed off to the New World, yet we haven't even set sail or entered the Grand Line. It's so embarrassing!"
Shanks, captain of the Red Hair Pirates, had a bounty of less than 50 million and was not listed among the Supernovas. He was currently training here, in his home waters of the West Blue.
In response to Rockstar's complaints, Shanks simply smiled faintly and went back to practising his swordplay.
"Patience, Rockstar!"
At that moment, Ben Beckman, a senior officer of the Red Hair Pirates with a foxtail grass stem hanging from his mouth, walked over. "The Captain certainly has his own plans."
"What plans?"
Rockstar remained displeased. Whenever he saw new figures like Mihawk, Doflamingo, and Bartholomew Kuma rising to prominence and making names for themselves on the Grand Line, he couldn't help but feel restless and eager.
But Shanks believed that the time had not yet come to set out, and that they should focus on training first.
Rockstar, who had abandoned his family and home to join Shanks just like Yasopp, found this hard to accept.
Beckman, who had just finished his own training, walked over and sat down beside Rockstar. He took the foxtail grass from his mouth, turned it stem-down, and stuck it into the sand.
Seeing this, Rockstar and the other crew members all gathered around, squatting down to watch what Beckman was doing.
Beckman drew a circle in the sand, then divided it into four equal sections with a cross through the centre.
"This area is the first half of the Grand Line—what those great pirates call 'Paradise'. The Shiki is active here quite often, and he regularly wipes out other pirate crews operating in these waters."
Beckman then pointed to the other section. "And this is the New World. Right now, it is controlled by four people: Charlotte Linlin, Kaido of the Beasts, Whitebeard, and Grimm. People call them the Four Emperors!"
He lit a cigarette and continued: "Though the Pope is quite an unusual one. While he has claimed territory and left his crew to guard his Sanctuary, he himself prefers to roam around hunting down other pirates. He and our Captain are on friendly terms, so if we ever cross paths with him, we shouldn't have anything to worry about."
"And he's actually quite well-regarded within the Navy too," added Yasopp, the Red Hair Pirates' sniper. "They say he's done them a lot of favours by taking out countless pirate crews."
"The Navy are also clever enough to recognise his strengths and weaknesses, so for the most part they simply avoid direct conflict with him."
Beckman took a deep drag from his cigarette. "In short, do you understand now? Out of all these powerful figures, only the Pope holds no ill will toward us—even though he's responsible for more deaths than anyone else. If we run into any of the others, we'll be in serious trouble. We have no idea what awaits us if we enter the New World: will we be killed? Or forced to swear allegiance and serve under one of them?"
"And besides, if we just rush in blindly, what exactly is our goal? I, for one, have a very important mission to fulfil…"
"I agree with him!"
Yasopp clapped his hands. "Hahaha, rather than charging into the New World without a clear purpose right now, wouldn't it be better to spend some time strengthening ourselves first? Sharpen our blades, so to speak!"
Hearing this, Rockstar and the others no longer complained, looking somewhat ashamed. "We're sorry, everyone… Captain."
"Now, now, there's no need to rush," Shanks said with a smile, lowering his sword. "Let's throw a feast instead!"
"YES!" the crew cheered in unison, raising their fists in celebration.
One week later, on the bustling trading island known as the Winterless City of Spring Queen, which rivalled the size and prosperity of Water 7.
"C-Captain!"
Inside the palace-like cabin of the Shiki, which hovered high above the island's coastline, several crew members came scrambling inside in a panic. Seated upon his throne, Shiki frowned. "What is the meaning of this? Why are you all in such a state?"
"Shiki the Shiki… where is that man you proclaimed to be the World's Greatest Swordsman, Yasuo?"
Before his subordinate could answer, a tall and imposing figure stepped through the palace doors. He carried a black blade taller than his own body, drawing the full attention of the crew standing guard along both sides of the hall.
"Captain… that's… that's Mihawk, also known as Hawk Eyes!" shouted a man bearing the Shiki Pirates' mark tattooed on his head, his expression turning tense.
"Oh… so it's that young swordsman who's been making quite a name for himself in Paradise lately…" Shiki replied, half-lidded eyes giving him the look of someone who had just woken from a nap.
"I set sail with the ambition of becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman," Mihawk stated firmly. He unslung the massive black blade from his back and held it out before Shiki. "Since that 'King of Intimidation' isn't here, I'll challenge you first instead!"
"You're looking for me, are you?"
Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from right behind Mihawk. As a swordsman, his instincts were sharp, and he spun around instantly, raising his blade defensively across his chest.
"Hmm… you've got some skill at least. You're not just some pirate chasing fame and glory…"
Yasuo lunged forward, the blade in his hand striking hard against Mihawk's sword. A fierce gust of wind swept through the hall instantly.
In the next moment, Yasuo's blade moved so fast it blurred, striking again and again toward Mihawk. Mihawk could only block desperately with his black blade, forced steadily back with every attack.
"But… you're still far too slow!" Yasuo roared.
In that instant, the sheer force of his sword pressure sent Mihawk flying clean out of Shiki. He was hurled straight back through the doors he had entered from, crashing all the way to the docks of Spring Queen City and embedding himself deep within the stonework of the city wall.
But it wasn't over yet.
"HASAGI!"
A massive tornado, seeming to swallow everything in its path, descended from the sky. Yasuo's figure followed closely behind the raging storm.
"Captain Shiki… is the King of Intimidation actually trying to kill that new challenger? He's really going all out!" said Diego, standing beside Shiki.
"Gahahahaha, of course not. That young Hawk Eyes may be a little reckless, but he is undoubtedly a true warrior…" Shiki laughed heartily.
---
One month later, on Whitebeard's island in the New World.
Whitebeard stood at the edge of a stone fortress, surrounded by countless members of his crew. Before him, on one knee and gasping heavily for breath, was a young man.
"Guhahahaha… is this really all there is to you, Supernova Crocodile?"
Teach spoke with a smile, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "You really still have what it takes, Father!"
"You bastard…"
Crocodile lifted his head with great effort, his eyes bloodshot as he stared up at the towering figure standing before him—an existence as vast and unshakeable as a mountain. "Whitebeard…"
"Judging by that look in your eyes, it seems you have no intention of becoming one of my sons…" Whitebeard threw his head back and let out a thunderous laugh.
"Kurarararara! It's far too early to end your life now. Leave here, and whenever you feel ready to come for my head, you are welcome to try!"
And so, the challenge issued by Supernova Crocodile against the legendary Whitebeard ended in defeat.
---
Somewhere in the New World, on a remote and uninhabited island.
Grimm sat atop a large rock formation along the coastline, looking down at the newspaper the News Coo had just delivered to him, speaking to himself.
"Oh… so two future Warlords of the Sea have both suffered consecutive defeats? It seems Hawk Eyes was simply too young and hotheaded—challenging Yasuo, who already possesses the strength of an Admiral… he really let his ambition get the better of him."
Grimm shifted his gaze slightly to the right, his golden eyes glinting. "Wouldn't you agree, Supernova, Bartholomew Kuma?"
The moment the words left his mouth, a figure slowly emerged from the dense tropical forest behind him. The man had a prominent chin and thick, wavy hair.
He appeared to be around twenty-five years old, with an extraordinarily large and imposing frame standing well over seven metres tall, which contrasted sharply with his disproportionately short legs and small feet.
This was the Supernova known as the "Tyrant" — Bartholomew Kuma, with a bounty of 130,000,000 Belly.
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