Just then, the surrounding crowd was violently pushed aside as Akainu walked in with a gloomy face, magma dripping onto the floor with a sizzling sound. "Don't forget the rules, Warlord."
He threw down a set of rules: "Don't let me catch you with any evidence of your crimes, otherwise—"
"Otherwise, you'll be disqualified, right?" Ace interrupted carelessly, lighting the document on fire with a flick of his hand. "Don't worry, I'm a good, law-abiding Warlord."
...
In the Marine Headquarters communication room, dozens of Den Den Mushi began working simultaneously.
With a series of beeps, the news of Ace becoming a Warlord spread across the world as radio waves.
Since the newspapers had already publicized it, this merely confirmed his privileges and didn't cause much shock.
But then, a shocking piece of news swept across the sea!
News Coos' wings soared over the tumultuous waves of the New World, scattering the latest World Economic Journal to every pirate ship.
The front page headline was a startling announcement:
**"Rocks' Bloodline Revealed! Marines Will Publicly Execute Blackbeard Teach in Three Days!"**
The accompanying picture showed Teach, wearing Seastone handcuffs, being escorted onto the execution platform. The small print below provided a chilling explanation: "This is the sole bloodline inheritor of Rocks D. Xebec."
As soon as the news broke, the entire sea erupted!
Who was Rocks? He was an existence who could take down an Admiral single-handedly!
He was also the former captain of some of the current Emperors!
His bloodline was still alive?
...
Wano Country, Onigashima,
The sky above was overcast, purple lightning streaking through the clouds like swimming dragons. Suddenly—
*"Boom!"*
A bolt of lightning as thick as a bucket struck the dragon horn decoration at the highest point of Onigashima, shaking the entire island.
Inside the main hall, hanging lanterns swayed violently, casting Kaido's grotesque shadow on the walls.
*"Crack!"*
Kaido's thick fingers suddenly crushed his sake gourd, amber liquid mixing with gourd fragments slipping through his fingers. His eyes instantly became bloodshot, and veins pulsed wildly at his temples:
*"Wororororo!* Rocks' son?!"
Conqueror's Haki erupted like a tsunami, tearing the roof off the main hall. Debris scattered everywhere, and the Gifters guarding the entrance foamed at the mouth and fainted. Even the All-Stars had to retreat several steps.
King was also startled: "Lord Kaido, this..."
"Those useless World Government bastards!" Kaido's roar cracked Onigashima's bedrock. "How could they let Rocks' bloodline live until now?!"
He snatched the newspaper, his eyes fixed on Teach's photo. "Blackbeard... Teach... So that's how it is..."
Suddenly,
He burst into maniacal laughter, his dragon-scale tattoos faintly visible with his laughter: "Interesting! Too interesting!"
He grabbed a new sake jug and gulped it down, the liquid running down his chin and soaking the fur on his chest. "Prepare the ships! I'm going to Marine Headquarters to watch this good show!"
Queen also became interested: "Boss Kaido, are we all going?!"
*"Wororororo!"* Kaido smashed half a wall with his club. "Also, tell Yamato to come along... No, order all the Tobiroppo!"
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "Such a grand spectacle is rare in a hundred years. How can I, Kaido the King of the Beasts, be absent!"
As the order was given, Onigashima's port instantly became a hive of activity.
Dozens of ships simultaneously raised their sails, the Beasts Pirates' flag flapping loudly in the thunderstorm. Kaido stood at the bow of the main ship, his spiked club wreathed in red and black lightning:
"Captain Rocks," he murmured to the storm, "Let me see if your offspring will beg for mercy...."
...
At the same time,
The sky over Totto Land suddenly changed color, marshmallow clouds twisting into grotesque shapes. The chocolate brick walls of Whole Cake Chateau trembled violently, scaring the Homies into screaming and fleeing in all directions.
*"Crack!"*
In the throne room, Big Mom's thick fingers crushed the newspaper to dust, Teach's face in the photo distorting in her palm. For the first time, her sweet laughter contained a dangerous tremor:
*"Mamamamama...* That madman Rocks... actually left offspring? Katakuri! Perospero!"
The candy decorations on the walls suddenly melted. Katakuri emerged from a mochi lump, his mouth under his scarf tightly pursed. Perospero emerged from a syrup waterfall, the candy on his staff making an uneasy *"click"* sound.
"Prepare the ship~" Big Mom's pupils contracted to pinpricks. "We're going to watch a good show~"
Thundercloud Zeus and Sun Prometheus crashed into each other in fear.
It had been a long time since Mama had summoned both of her eldest children simultaneously.
Katakuri also frowned, and after careful thought, he spoke: "Mama, Marine Headquarters will surely strengthen its defenses now. Should we really get involved in this mess...?"
*"Mamamamama~"* Big Mom suddenly looked towards Wano Country, the fat on her belly jiggling like waves with her laughter. "That brat Kaido definitely won't be able to sit still~"
Then she thought of something and laughed heartily: "Back on Hachinosu, Rocks used a slipper to beat him until he cried~"
Perospero's candy staff snapped with a *"snap."* This secret was too shocking—Kaido the King of the Beasts, now famous throughout the seas, was beaten until he cried back then???
"Hurry up and prepare!" Big Mom suddenly stomped her foot in a rage, shaking the entire Whole Cake Island. "I can't wait to see Kaido's expression."
...
New World,
On the deck of the Red Force, Benn Beckman's cigarette slipped from his fingers, leaving a charred mark on the teak floor.
The usually composed First Mate's voice was tight now: "This can't be, Rocks' descendant actually survived..."
Shanks' right hand lightly pressed his left eye scar. The wound left by Blackbeard was burning with pain. The sea breeze suddenly became sharp, whipping his cloak.
"Teach..." Shanks' voice was low. "No wonder that guy could find 'that place'." A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "Change course, full speed ahead to Marine Headquarters."
Yasopp's sniper rifle, which he was cleaning, dropped to the deck with a *"clatter"*: "Captain, you're not thinking of..."
"We must stop this execution." Shanks' Conqueror's Haki caused ripples on the surrounding sea. "We absolutely cannot let this era run wild!"
All the old crew members understood that the wild era must not return, otherwise, this sea would become even more chaotic and brutal!
Lucky Roux's half-eaten meat leg dropped onto the deck: "But the one who caused this chaos is that kid Ace! His identity is..."
"Captain Roger's son, huh..."
Shanks looked into the distance, a brilliant smile identical to Roger's appearing before his eyes. His tone suddenly became complex: "What a pity... fate didn't choose him."
....
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