Groups of news birds flew out from Morgans' headquarters. Their wings covered the sky as they flew to every part of the world where people lived.
This newspaper was going to be very special. The news inside was enough to shake the entire world.
The big title on the front page read:
[The End of an Old Era! Shiki the Golden Lion is Dead!]
The smaller title was written in big, dark letters:
"The Navy Star Who Killed a Legend—G-17 Base Commander, Aiden!" "The Perfect Mix of Lightning Power and Sword Skills! One Strike Cut the Sky!"
In the New World, on the Moby Dick.
On the deck, it was the best time of the day—party time.
"Pops! Something huge happened!"
A young Marco ran toward Whitebeard's huge seat. He was holding a newspaper and his eyes were full of shock.
"Hmm?"
Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate put down his large bowl of alcohol. His long blond hair fell over his shoulders, and his muscles were very strong. He had a scary energy that could change the sky.
He took the newspaper and read the big title.
After staying quiet for a long time, he spoke.
"Gurarararara!"
Whitebeard suddenly laughed. His laugh was so loud it made the sea around them shake.
"That crazy man who always wanted to rule the world... he finally cut off his legs to escape prison, only to die to a young Marine?"
Whitebeard moved his head back and took a big drink. The liquid ran down his mouth. He looked like he was thinking of many things. "Roger is gone, and now Shiki is gone too. There are fewer old friends left on this sea to drink with me."
"Pops, this Marine named Aiden—" Marco pointed at the photo in the paper. He looked worried. "The news says he's only eighteen. He has the lightning power and is already a top swordsman. No normal human grows this fast."
"Yeah, I see it."
Whitebeard looked closely at the blurry person in the photo. He smiled. "To kill Shiki in a fair fight alone, this Marine kid is a total monster."
"Has the new era already started? Gurararara!"
Whitebeard threw the paper to Jozu and picked up his bowl again. "Listen, sons! Don't worry about it! The sea is big. Now that an old legend is dead, let's see what this new kid can do! Until then—keep the party going!!"
"Ohhh! Long live Pops!!"
Onigashima, Wano Country.
Inside the giant skull building, a wild party was happening.
"What did you say?!"
An angry shout was heard, and then a large drink jar was broken on the ground.
"That jerk Shiki... is dead?!"
Kaido sat with no shirt on, smelling like alcohol. He looked very angry. He looked at the report his subordinate gave him, breathing out thick white steam from his nose.
"What a waste! He made the Rocks Pirates look bad!"
Kaido grabbed his iron club. With black and red lightning around it, he hit the ground hard!
BOOM!!!
The whole island felt like it was hit by a big earthquake. The stone floor broke instantly. A giant crack spread from where he hit, flipping over the table covered in meat and wine.
"He made himself a cripple for that silly plan, finally escaped prison, and before he could do anything real, a Marine kid killed him?!"
Kaido was very angry. He grabbed a giant jar of alcohol and drank it all. Then, he broke the empty jar against the wall.
CRASH!
A big hole appeared in the wall.
"Shiki! You really got weak as you got older!!"
Kaido stood up, shaking a little from the drink. His eyes were blurry but full of hate. He swung his club, and the wind blew away several unlucky pirates.
"Boring! Too boring!!"
"I wanted you to make the sea crazy! And you just died like that?!"
With another loud noise, rocks fell from the ceiling. The people nearby ran to hide, shaking on the floor.
After breaking things, the room was a mess.
Kaido seemed to feel a bit better. He sat back down on his chair.
He picked up the dirty newspaper and looked at it again.
"The lightning power, huh? That power they call 'unbeatable' belongs to the Navy now."
Kaido smiled, showing his teeth. "I really want to see... if his lightning is better, or if my attack is stronger!"
He grabbed more wine and looked at a person kneeling nearby. "By the way, where is that fool Oden? Is he still dancing without clothes today?"
The person shook and bowed. "Y-Yes! Lord Kaido! Oden keeps his word. He danced at the city gates today. The people are all laughing at him. His family's name is ruined!"
"Worororo! What an idiot!"
Kaido laughed loudly. He did not respect Oden at all. "To have such great power but choose to be a clown for some poor people... a boring samurai like that is not interesting."
"But that Marine kid who killed Shiki is interesting! If he comes to the New World, I'll break his bones myself!"
Whole Cake Island.
A big party was happening on the castle balcony.
"Ma~ma-ma-ma! Is that old man Shiki finally dead?"
Charlotte Linlin was eating a giant sweet snack. She laughed a loud, mean laugh after hearing the news from her son, Perospero.
Big Mom was almost fifty, but she was still tall and strong. She wore a lot of makeup and looked very scary and powerful.
She picked up the newspaper with her long nails.
When she saw Aiden's photo and read about his strength, she looked very hungry and greedy.
"This boy Aiden... he is quite handsome."
Big Mom licked her lips. "He is young, he has the lightning power, and he is a great swordsman. Such perfect genes are a gift!"
"Perospero!"
"Yes, Mama."
"Go find this kid! No matter what, even if you have to take him by force, bring him here!"
Big Mom stood up, feeling excited. "If it's him... he can be the father of my strongest child!!"
"Ma~ma-ma-ma! That will be a perfect masterpiece!"
Perospero wiped sweat from his face and whispered, "Yes, Mama. But he is a Marine, so I'm afraid—"
"Shut up!" Big Mom looked like she wanted to kill someone. "There is nothing I want that I cannot get!"
Goa Kingdom, East Blue.
On a coast with a big storm, a black ship with no flag sat quietly.
A tall man in a green coat stood at the front, letting the rain hit his face.
Lightning lit up the sky, showing his face with red tattoos.
Monkey D. Dragon.
He held a wet newspaper, looking toward the east.
"Shiki the Golden Lion—the old man who tried to rule with fear—is gone."
Dragon's voice was low and strong.
"A very special person has appeared in the Navy."
Standing behind him, Ivankov blinked his large eyes and said, "Hee-haw! Dragon, this kid Aiden is tough! I heard he is very strict at G-17. He doesn't seem like a puppet who just follows orders from the rich leaders."
"You feel it too?"
Dragon put the paper away. "Very strong power and a free mind... he is like a dangerous but useful tool."
"If he really cares about justice, he might be the hope for this world. But if he only wants power—"
Dragon turned to the people behind him. "Since the sad event at Ohara, I have been thinking. This world doesn't just need a small group of people fighting for freedom. it needs a total change."
"The storm has begun. Shiki's death is a sign. The old world is falling apart."
Dragon closed his hand into a fist. "We can't wait anymore. We must start the fight everywhere. We will build a real army—the Revolutionary Army!"
"Tell everyone to get ready. We must gather our strength."
"As for Aiden—" Dragon looked one last time at the young man in the paper. "Keep an eye on him. I think we will meet him one day."
Mariejois, Room of Authority.
The five old men who lead the world were sitting together.
"The Golden Lion is dead."
"Hmph. He was an old man from the past. He should have been gone a long time ago."
"But—"
The old man with no hair and white clothes held a sword. He threw Aiden's photo on the table. He looked serious.
"Is this 'tool' a bit too sharp?"
"He has lightning power, he is a top swordsman, and he killed a legend. He is useful, but he doesn't follow rules easily. The report says he gave a powerful fruit to someone else without asking us."
"Power we can't control is dangerous."
"But we need people now," another man said. "The pirate era Roger started is out of control. The pirates in the New World are moving. The Navy needs a new hero to scare them."
"As long as he works for us, we can use him."
"I agree. Give him a big reward. Give him a special title. The more fame he has, the more he will need the Navy."
"It's settled then. But... have our secret agents watch him closely."
G-17 Base, base commander's office.
The world was going crazy because of Shiki's death, but Aiden was very calm.
He sat at his desk, carefully cleaning a small bottle.
Outside the window was the sea. Birds were crying, and the sun was shining on the water. Everything looked peaceful.
"Phew—"
Aiden blew the dust off the bottle. He felt relaxed.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
Captain Moore opened the door carefully. He held a wooden box. He looked at Aiden with a lot of respect. "Commander, the job you asked for is done."
"Those two swords—the best workers worked all night to clean them. The covers are also fixed."
Aiden put down his cloth, took the box, and opened it gently.
The two famous swords—Oto and Kogarashi.
They were very clean now. There was no blood on them. The blades shined with a cold light.
Aiden grabbed the handles of the two swords.
Hum—
Because he had learned Shiki's sword skills, the swords felt very familiar to him.
They did not feel like objects. They felt like his own arms.
"Good swords."
Aiden smiled. He was happy with them.
"Commander—"
Moore watched Aiden. He looked worried and pulled out a messy newspaper. "Have you seen the paper? What they wrote about you... it's a lot."
Moore wiped sweat from his face.
"The 'Navy Star who Killed a Legend'... that news man Morgans has made you look like a god."
"Everyone is looking at you now! Pirates who want to be famous and the monsters in the New World... they will all be watching you."
Moore knew Aiden was strong, but he also knew that the most famous person is the first one people attack.
"Everyone is looking at me, huh?"
Aiden closed the box and stood up. He walked to the window.
Outside, the base shined in the sun. Ships were in the harbor.
Aiden opened his arms as if to touch the sea that was about to get wild because of him.
"Let this sea understand that I was not made to bow to anyone."