"…Roger… Roger…"
Rayleigh's voice trembled as he stared at the figure standing on the small boat not far away.
At his side, Shakuyaku froze.
"?!?! Roger?"
For most people, the name "Roger" immediately brought to mind the man who had opened the Great Pirate Era more than twenty years ago—Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
Shakuyaku was no exception.
But…
Everyone in the world knew one fact—
The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had been publicly executed over twenty years ago.
"Old Ray, you…"
Shakuyaku turned to ask—
And then she stopped, shocked.
The man who had always been a blood-and-iron warrior, whose body hadn't faltered even in a fierce battle against Admiral Kizaru—now stood with red, tear-filled eyes.
The legendary Dark King Rayleigh, former first mate of the Pirate King's crew—
Tears were streaming down his face.
In all the years she had known him, this was the first time Shakuyaku had ever seen Rayleigh lose control like this.
She understood immediately—
This was no joke.
No misunderstanding.
This was the second earth-shattering revelation of the day.
---
"ROGER!!!"
The legendary pirate of a bygone era—Dark King Rayleigh—shouted his brother's name with a voice overflowing with joy, excitement, shock, and every emotion tangled together. His cry echoed through the air, long and unending.
That shout carried all of Rayleigh's heart.
Sixty years ago, as a young man, he had first met Roger in East Blue.
From then on, they had sailed together, supported one another, and endured decades of storms side by side.
On countless nights, Rayleigh had awoken from dreams of those days—
Of standing shoulder to shoulder with Roger, cutting through the seas and living as they pleased.
In this world, no one had a deeper bond with Roger than Rayleigh.
Even Roger's wife, Rouge, perhaps fell just a step behind.
Memories surged like a tide.
Tears blurred the Dark King's vision.
On the boat, the tall man stirred at the sound of that familiar voice—the voice of a brother for life.
He awoke from the depths of his slumber.
On the night before his execution twenty-two years ago, Roger had already reached the end of his life. His life's flame had been like a dying candle in the wind, ready to be snuffed out at any moment.
Even now—though he had obtained medicine from Katakuri to suppress his illness—his remaining days were slipping away. He endured only through sheer will to save his son.
One misstep, and he could sleep forever.
Just now, he had fallen into a deep coma without realizing it.
By some twist of fate, the waves had carried him here—to the Sabaody Archipelago—
Right to the side of his brother-in-arms.
And at Rayleigh's call, Roger broke free from the chains of death.
His consciousness returned.
Removing the straw hat from his head, he straightened his back.
Raising his eyes, he locked them on Rayleigh in the distance.
"Well, well, Rayleigh! It's been decades, hasn't it? The old Dark King himself—and what's this? Crying like a little girl?"
Roger teased, grinning with the same dazzling smile as before, tinged with that familiar foolish charm.
Hearing his best friend's voice again after more than twenty years, Rayleigh was momentarily dazed.
Then he quickly turned away, rubbing his eyes before striding toward the shore.
"You idiot, Roger! What eyes of yours see me crying? And you—you still need someone to come wake you up, you brat?"
Rayleigh shot back without mercy.
"Ahahahaha!"
Laughing heartily, Roger stepped ashore to greet his brother.
"Rayleigh, our meeting is clearly fate! How about it—shall we go and shatter the world once more?"
Roger extended his right hand.
These were the very same words he had spoken the first time they met decades ago.
Hearing them again, Rayleigh felt his mind roar as he was pulled back to that day—
When a sunny young man had invited him aboard.
Just like now.
As if fate had come full circle.
Sixty years ago, Rayleigh had taken that hand—and his life had changed forever.
And now…
"Ah!"
Rayleigh shouted, gripping Roger's hand firmly.
"ROGER!!!"
"Ahaha! RAYLEIGH!!!"
Their smiles widened until they both burst into loud laughter.
Then they pulled each other into a crushing embrace.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Two men, together over one hundred fifty years old, pounded each other's backs with enough force to shake the small hill beneath them like an earthquake.
"The Pirate King… has truly returned! This time—the world really will be shattered!"
Shakuyaku whispered in awe.
Three minutes later – Shakky's Rip-off Bar
"Hahhh~ That hit the spot! I feel fully alive again!"
Roger exclaimed after downing a glass of iced rum.
Quick as ever, Shakuyaku poured him another.
"Thanks, Shakuyaku—and for taking care of this old Rayleigh all these years. You've worked hard!"
Roger grinned.
"No, no—Rayleigh's helped me plenty too!"
Shakuyaku waved it off.
She'd met Roger decades ago—thirty, maybe forty years past—and they had spoken more than once.
Even so, meeting him again now felt surreal, as if she were still dreaming.
"Shakuyaku, I know Rayleigh well—he freezes whenever he sees a young beauty. You'd better keep an eye on him! And you, Rayleigh—you'd better not waste such an incredible woman. If you do, even as a ghost, I'll haunt you every night!"
Roger said with mock seriousness.
"You idiot, Roger! We haven't seen each other in decades, and the first thing you do is make me want to hit you?"
Rayleigh growled, rolling up his sleeves.
"Alright, alright—you two, it's rare for brothers to meet again!"
Shakuyaku stepped in quickly.
"Ahahahaha!"
Laughter filled the room.
---
After three rounds of drinks—
"Roger… how did you survive back then?"
Rayleigh finally asked.
"No, Rayleigh—truth is, I did die,"
Roger said with a crooked grin.
Both Rayleigh and Shakuyaku froze.
Rayleigh reached out, squeezing Roger's face—it was warm, alive.
"You seem pretty alive to me."
"Yes, for now. But twenty-two years ago—just one second before my execution—a strange, unknown power pulled me from the past into this time,"
Roger explained.
"You time-traveled too?!"
Rayleigh and Shakuyaku exclaimed together.
"That's right!"
Roger nodded.
"Wait… you mean someone else time-traveled too?"
"My disciple—Luffy, the heir to the Straw Hat. But that's not the point,"
Rayleigh waved it off.
"Roger, you came to this era not just for fun, right? You're planning to join the Navy's Summit War—to rescue Fire Fist Ace?"
"Exactly!"
Roger confirmed.
"But why?"
"Because Ace… is my son."
Roger said proudly.
The room went still.
Rayleigh and Shakuyaku both jolted in shock.
"Ace is your son?!"
"This… how…?!"
Even Shakuyaku, with all her intelligence networks, was stunned speechless.
Roger then briefly explained how he had entrusted Ace to Garp back in Impel Down.
"I see… I see… no wonder,"
Rayleigh nodded, all doubts cleared.
"Rayleigh, to see you again… I'm truly grateful,"
Roger said, standing and giving his brother one last crushing hug.
"You bastard—what's with the sudden sentiment?"
Rayleigh laughed.
"Ahahaha! Well then, I should get going. I don't have much time left—I need to hurry!"
Roger waved, ready to leave.
"Wait. I'm coming with you,"
Rayleigh said firmly.
"But—"
"No buts. You invited me once to break the world with you. I accepted then—and I accept now."
Rayleigh grinned.
"Ahahaha! Then let's go, old friend—
Let's shatter the world!"