The Edd War Sea.
The storm had become a living beast.
Howling winds tore across the ocean, churning the waters into towering, frothing waves. Sheets of rain lashed down from blackened skies as thunder rolled like cannon fire, echoing across the chaotic sea.
"Aaaaaaah! What the hell is this?!" Buggy screamed, his voice cracking with terror. He clung to a mast for dear life, his red nose pale and trembling. "We're surrounded! Completely surrounded!"
The Oro Jackson rocked violently under the storm's fury, waves slamming against its hull from all sides.
And around them—looming in the darkness like a naval graveyard—was a fleet of ships so vast they seemed to consume the sea itself. Hundreds of pirate vessels formed a circle, encasing the Roger Pirates in an iron ring of death.
Above the mastheads, the Flying Lion Pirate Flags fluttered violently, each one brimming with a suffocating aura—raw, oppressive Haki rippling through the air like an invisible net.
"What's with the panic, Buggy?" Shanks called out with a grin, clutching a mast of his own, his straw hat tugged low over his brow. "You're practically unkillable now anyway."
"Damn you!" Buggy's severed hands shot out, yanking Shanks by the collar, sparks flying from his eyes. "I still have weaknesses, you idiot!"
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be stuck with this cursed body!"
Shanks just smirked.
Buggy turned away with a curse, dragging himself across the rain-slick deck toward Rayleigh.
"Mr. Rayleigh!" he howled. "Please! Talk Captain Roger out of this! That's the Golden Lion! He's got a fleet! We're gonna get sunk!"
Rayleigh glanced at him, unfazed. "You know Roger. The more you yell, the more excited he gets."
He tapped the railing. "Besides... this ship—Oro Jackson—was built by Tom. She can weather any storm."
Buggy froze, despair etched across his face like he'd just swallowed poison. He glanced at the rest of the crew for support—
Only to see them already standing in formation, weapons drawn, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
He crumpled.
"We're doomed... we're so doomed..." Buggy collapsed to the deck in dramatic misery. "They're all insane. Bullet was the smart one... I should've jumped ship with him..."
But no one paid him any mind.
The Roger Pirates drew their blades, their eyes locked on the monstrous fleet encircling them.
They weren't afraid.
This wasn't just Roger's battle.
This was their final voyage.
And not even the Edd War Sea or the Flying Pirates could force them to turn away.
"Shiki, huh...?"
Heavy footsteps rang out.
Roger strode forward through the crew, soaked to the bone, his crimson coat clinging to his body. The rain streamed down his face, and his boots thudded across the deck.
Thump.
He stopped at the bow, planting his foot firmly on the railing. He lifted his gaze—and stared down the vast fleet blotting out the sea and sky.
The view was overwhelming.
Countless ships. Endless cannons. Pirates crawling across every deck, aiming barrels, drawing blades, eyes burning with anticipation.
A noose tightening around a single ship.
"Roger!!"
The voice cracked like a thunderclap, slicing through wind and rain.
From the sea of clouds above, a figure descended.
Golden hair whipped in the wind like a lion's mane. A lit cigar burned in his mouth, glowing faintly in the dark. Arms crossed, eyes locked onto Roger, the man grinned—feral and unrepentant.
Jihahahaha...
The pressure rolling off his body was monstrous. A tangible storm of Haki exploded from him, twisting the clouds, bending the rain, and pressing down on the sea like a god descending.
Captain of the Flying Pirates.
Overlord of the New World.
The Flying Admiral—Golden Lion Shiki.
Buggy dropped to his knees, his face drained of color.
"Just standing there... it's like he's crushing the air around us..."
"We're gonna die...!"
"Shouldn't we run, Captain Roger?!"
But Roger only grinned.
"Shiki. Been a while."
He tilted his chin at the pirate fleet circling them. "Is this your idea of a welcome?"
Golden Lion sneered. "Cut the crap. You know exactly why I'm here."
Roger blinked innocently. "Honestly, not a clue."
Shiki's face twisted. "The Ancient Weapon."
"You know something. I'm sure of it."
A ripple of shock spread across the Oro Jackson. The crew went still.
Buggy's knees buckled. "No way…"
Roger looked genuinely confused. "Wait... how do you know about that?!"
Buggy: …
Tears filled his eyes instantly.
Rayleigh slapped a hand over his face.
Roger had just... admitted it.
Out loud.
In front of everyone.
Even Golden Lion faltered for a second, stunned by the confession.
He'd been ready to squeeze the truth out of Roger.
Instead, the fool had shouted it into the wind.
And then—Shiki laughed.
Hard.
Jihahahaha!!
"Good! I never thought you'd admit it that easily!"
"In that case... let's make a deal."
Shiki's grin widened, predatory and gleaming.
"Let's bury the past. Forget our old grudges."
"Join me, Roger."
"With your knowledge of the Ancient Weapons—and my military might—we'll rule the world."
He raised a fist to the sky.
"The Marines. The World Government. All of them will fall."
"Stand beside me... and this world will be ours."
BOOM!
Lightning cleaved the sky.
For an instant, the horizon lit up—revealing ten massive silhouettes cutting through the storm from afar. Steel hulls. Warship flags.
The Marine fleet.
Positioned in silence, cloaked by the storm, now watching from several nautical miles away.
On the lead battleship, Darren stood at the bow, a cigar between his lips, the smoke curling into the storm.
"It's starting," he said quietly.
Sengoku stood beside him, peering through a telescope, eyes wide with panic.
"They're... teaming up?! Golden Lion and Roger?!"
To be continued...