...
On the light screen, the aftermath of the war continued to sweep across the world in waves.
Although Marine Headquarters Marineford had achieved a tactical victory, it suffered a complete strategic defeat.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's plan to intimidate the seas by publicly executing Ace and killing Whitebeard had completely backfired—even producing the opposite effect.
Whitebeard's dying declaration about the "ONE PIECE" swept across the Four Seas and the Grand Line like the wildest storm.
Countless people harboring ambition or driven to desperation surged toward the sea, causing an explosive increase in the number of pirates.
These newly emerged pirates, in order to obtain the capital to set sail, began frantically plundering supplies, leading to a sharp deterioration in security along coastal towns.
Even more far-reaching was the drastic change in the power structure of the New World.
The fall of Whitebeard—the "guardian deity" who had once protected countless islands and towns—created an instant power vacuum over his vast territories.
Pirate crews and other forces that had previously dared not act due to fear of Whitebeard's prestige now swarmed in like sharks smelling blood, frantically invading and carving up these unprotected lands.
Burning, killing, looting—war flames reignited, plunging once relatively peaceful islands into endless suffering.
Sengoku sat in the partially rebuilt Fleet Admiral's office, staring at the avalanche of urgent pleas for help and disastrous reports flying in from everywhere, his face ashen.
As the wise general, he had won the battle but lost the war!
He had intended to bring order to the seas, yet he had personally unleashed far greater chaos.
In the end, those who bore the bitter fruits of all this were always the unarmed ordinary civilians.
This heavy sense of failure nearly crushed him…
The light screen perspective shifted to a relatively calm yet undercurrently turbulent corner of the sea.
Through Den Den Mushi communication, the Kuja Pirates' ship successfully rendezvoused with Trafalgar Law's Polar Tang in the designated sea area.
After brief pleasantries (mainly Hancock anxiously inquiring about Luffy's condition), the unconscious Luffy was carefully transferred via stretcher onto the beautifully decorated ship of the Kuja Pirates.
"Straw Hat Boy is entrusted to you now…"
Ivankov stood at the bow with his massive frame, addressing Hancock and Jinbe: "Since we've already come out of that gloomy Impel Down…
This lady… no, this great one is going to enjoy freedom properly and, by the way, give those World Government bastards a few more headaches!"
He blinked his huge eyes. As a cadre of the Revolutionary Army, he still had more important missions to fulfill.
Jinbe decided to accompany Hancock to Amazon Lily.
He was gravely injured and couldn't rest easy about Luffy's condition; he needed to recuperate in a safe place and stay by Luffy's side until he awoke.
This deeply loyal and righteous Fish-Man boss had already taken protecting Luffy and helping him through this ordeal as his own responsibility.
After a brief farewell, Ivankov's warship sailed toward an unknown path of freedom.
Meanwhile, the Kuja ship sped toward the depths of the Calm Belt, toward the Women's Kingdom—Amazon Lily.
In a scene transition, the Kuja Pirates' ship slowly entered the harbor of that isolated island surrounded by giant sea serpents.
"It's still the same as always—nothing has changed at all…"
Shakky looked at the familiar waterfall, dense jungle, and distinctive architecture on the light screen, a gentle nostalgic smile appearing on her face.
"Hee hee hee, sure enough, home feels familiar and warm!"
Gloriosa also laughed, her eyes filled with longing and attachment to her homeland.
As the former former former Empress and former former Empress of Amazon Lily, this land carried far too many memories for them.
However, this warm nostalgic atmosphere was soon shattered.
The moment the ship docked, a unusually short old woman leaning on a snake staff rushed over in a hurry—it was the future Gloriosa
(at this time known as Granny Nyon)
She angrily pointed at Luffy being carried off the ship on the stretcher and Jinbe following beside him, loudly scolding Hancock: "Hancock! You've gone too far! If it were just Luffy, fine…
But you actually dared to bring other men back to the country?! This violates the rules! This is absolutely unacceptable!"
Outside the light screen, at God Valley.
When Gloriosa clearly saw the short, wrinkled, shrill-voiced Granny Nyon on the light screen, she froze as if struck by lightning—instantly petrified!
"I… that's me?! Aaaaaaaaaaaah! I don't want to live anymore!!"
After a brief stupor, Gloriosa let out a piercing wail. Tears instantly burst from the corners of her eyes as she plummeted from nostalgic joy into the abyss of despair.
She had always thought Big Mom Charlotte Linlin's future appearance was already "too horrific to look at"…
She never expected herself to outdo her—shrinking straight into a dwarf old lady!
"Mam-ma-ma-ma~ Gloriosa, how did you end up like that in the future?"
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, seeing the future Gloriosa's image, instantly lost it. She slapped her thigh and burst into deafening laughter: "Oh dear, sorry—I really couldn't hold it in, hahahahaha!"
Compared to Big Mom's own still-burly (though aged) figure, Gloriosa's massive "drop" suddenly made her feel much more balanced inside…
She even felt a strange sense of superiority.
"Hahaha, Gloriosa, although I sympathize with you, but in that state…"
Nearby, Stussy—who was draped over Whitebeard—tried hard to cover her mouth with her hand, but her shoulders shook violently. The unstoppable upward curve of her lips betrayed just how hard she was struggling to hold back her laughter.
"Shut up! Stussy…"
Gloriosa fiercely wiped away her tears and glared viciously at Stussy, as if wanting to vent all her future grief and indignation on her.
"You definitely won't end up any better in the future! Just wait and see!"
Hearing this, Stussy scoffed disdainfully, flicked her hair confidently: "Hmph, in the future I'll definitely still be an eternally stunning beauty—at the very least, my figure won't turn into some short winter melon like a certain someone…"
Stussy had always been extremely confident in her maintenance and charm, but for some reason, after saying that, her heart suddenly lurched in panic.
"Wuwuwu! Roger!"
Gloriosa, hit by a double blow, grief overwhelming her, shoved little Shanks—who had been playing with her hair—into Rayleigh's arms beside her…
Then, like a little girl seeking comfort, she replaced Shanks and threw herself fiercely into Roger's embrace, voice choked with sobs: "If I turn into that in the future, will you still like me!?"
This sudden "throwing herself into his arms" left both Roger and little Shanks (in Rayleigh's arms) dumbfounded.
"Hey, hey, hey, Gloriosa!"
Roger flailed in a panic, trying to push away Gloriosa who had wrapped around him like an octopus, his face awkward…
"I'm already dead in the future! And can you please mind your image a little! So many people are watching!"
The more Roger pushed, the tighter Gloriosa clung, as if pouring out all her fear and grievance about her future appearance.
In the end, Roger sighed helplessly, gave up resisting, and let this emotionally out-of-control former former former Empress seek a moment's solace in his arms—though his expression remained full of embarrassment.
The powerhouses of God Valley looked at the diminutive Granny Nyon on the light screen, then at the still-charming Gloriosa now buried in Roger's embrace, their faces showing extremely complicated expressions…
Many subconsciously turned their gazes toward Shakky—if Gloriosa's future was already like this, what would become of Shakky, the former former Empress, in the future?
Feeling the faint glances around her, Rayleigh paid them no mind.
He pulled Shakky tightly into his arms, a carefree yet deeply affectionate smile on his face, and declared loudly: "No matter what you become—white-haired and old, or full of wrinkles—I will always like you!"
Hearing this sincere confession, Shakky's face instantly flushed red, happiness sparkling in her eyes. She gently rested her head on Rayleigh's solid shoulder, her heart filled with sweetness.
In this moment, no more words were needed between the two.
However, this heartwarming scene deeply stung the eyes of someone not far away.
"Damn it! Shakky! You're my fiancée!!"
Saint Garling watched Rayleigh and Shakky openly displaying affection, grinding his teeth audibly, veins bulging on his forehead.
Though he knew full well how much Shakky despised him, in Saint Garling's arrogant heart, he had long claimed Shakky as his possession.
Once he won this contest, Shakky would become his woman!
But now, seeing his "fiancée" so intimate with a "lowly" pirate, the rage of "betrayal" and "humiliation" nearly consumed him…
His heart felt like a bottle of mixed flavors overturned—sourness, anger, jealousy intertwining in an indescribable taste.
Seeing Shakky and Rayleigh's love didn't just affect Saint Garling—Saint Sommers also had a face full of dark lines!
...