The entire world was in turmoil.
After more than a month of sailing, the Nightfall Pirates finally arrived at their destination.
They did not head directly to Hunting Island. Doing so would expose their route, and Teach had no intention of dragging uninvolved people into trouble.
Despite the sheer size and strength of the Nightfall Pirates' fleet, they had already dealt with the fourteen Marine war beasts at the first opportunity.
This was routine business.
Those war beasts, constructed by the World Government's exclusive shipyards in Water 7, were incredibly valuable. Countless forces coveted them. Once the fighting ended, buyers quietly reached out.
Ten billion Berries was a fair price. Teach had no interest in haggling. Both sides were satisfied, and the deal was concluded quickly.
The Marines could only swallow it.
They were still tangled in the aftermath of the Battle of Urso Island, and without a concrete plan in place, they had no way to openly confront the Nightfall Pirates. For now, they chose to look the other way.
As for scouts and spies, none could hide from Teach's Observation Haki. After a brief and bloody cleanup, no one dared to follow them again.
Gar, however, was far from calm.
Unlike the others, his heart was surging with emotion as he stared at the distant island. Excitement crept into his expression before he even realized it.
Hunting Island was his home.
He had lived there far longer than in his birthplace, the Mokomo Dukedom.
Everything he knew had come from that island. His friends. The old hunter who raised him like a father. The endless primeval forest that served as both playground and battlefield.
Gar lifted his head slightly and drew in a deep breath. His chest felt light, as if he could already smell the familiar scent of trees and soil.
Hunting Island lay close to the Calm Belt. One side of it faced a tiny uninhabited island, so small that no one ever settled there. Occasionally, passing ships would stop by to grab a few naturally grown coconuts before leaving.
Gar knew that island well. From Hunting Island, he had seen it countless times.
To avoid exposure, the Nightfall Pirates steered directly toward that uninhabited island instead.
"We'll rest here," Teach said with a grin. "Anyone interested can come with me to see where Gar grew up. And the monster who shares his fame."
There was curiosity in Teach's eyes.
He had paid attention to the name "Slada" for a long time.
Even after everything Gar had experienced with the Nightfall Pirates, he still spoke highly of Slada. A monster-like physique and strength that Gar himself admitted he could not match.
If Gar had grown this much, then Slada must have become even more terrifying.
Unlike Gar, Teach felt no sense of homecoming. Only interest.
More than a hundred people followed Teach. The rest stayed behind on the small island, resting, chatting, or wandering around.
Redyat remained behind as well.
The chances of trouble were slim, but he preferred caution. Who knew if someone with a strange ability was observing them from the shadows, capable of evading even Teach's, Redyat's, and Pito's Observation Haki?
Pito's Observation Haki was unusual.
It spread wide and carried an instinctive sense of malice, capable of discerning intent. She seemed able to feel good and evil directly.
Perhaps it was because her heart was so simple.
Teach recalled that only one person in the future possessed something similar. The blind Marine admiral, Fujitora. Despite losing his sight, he perceived the world more clearly than most.
Marine Staff Officer Tsuru might have had something close as well. Otherwise, it was hard to explain why she had kept such a close watch on Donquixote Doflamingo for years.
In the original timeline, that watch lasted nearly a decade.
Now, Doflamingo had truly awakened.
The betrayal of his last blood relative had twisted him completely. Even Teach could not predict what kind of monster Doflamingo would become.
With his resources, Doflamingo could easily uncover Rosinante's ties to the Marines. And with a future elite Vice Admiral among his former subordinates, there was no doubt he had planted other moles as well.
Meanwhile, the Shichibukai system was being pushed forward. Teach had already received word that it would be implemented within the next two years.
This era was full of upheaval.
The Beast Pirates and Big Mom Pirates were on the rise, and the framework of the Four Emperors was already taking shape. Whether it became five or six would depend on time, as the remaining overlords still lacked the strength and accumulation.
Marine Headquarters would soon undergo a generational shift, presenting a stronger and more aggressive face to the world.
And the Shichibukai would become a crucial force capable of influencing the balance of the seas.
Teach doubted the World Government truly wanted Doflamingo among them. His background alone made him problematic.
But Teach believed in Doflamingo's methods.
Someone like him would find a way. No matter the cost.
The Lucky Goddess sailed steadily toward Hunting Island.
From afar, the roars of wild beasts echoed through the air.
Teach raised an eyebrow.
When his Observation Haki spread out, his expression changed slightly. Several powerful auras appeared, all of them beasts.
Hearing was one thing. Sensing was another.
Teach had underestimated this place.
This was no ordinary island filled with wildlife. It was closer to a dangerous beast island, only slightly less extreme.
At the very least, several creatures possessed strength on par with Marine Vice Admirals.
And if the villages on the island had survived here for generations, then the people themselves could not be weak.
The Lucky Goddess docked along the shore. Anchors dropped. Crew members disembarked in an orderly fashion.
Gar jumped off first, unable to hide his excitement.
"I know this place," he said eagerly. "Captain, follow me. The village is over there. About eight kilometers."
He pointed and then waved them forward, striding straight into the jungle.
The island lived up to its reputation.
Wild beasts. Venomous snakes. Danger everywhere.
Teach had no patience for it. A pulse of Conqueror's Haki swept through the forest, instantly silencing everything in their path.
Meanwhile, in the village, hunters reacted.
"Grab your weapons!" someone shouted. "Something's wrong. A large group is approaching."
The warning spread quickly.
No one panicked.
This was not their first time facing danger.
They trusted their strength. Strong warriors guarded the village, and children were quickly moved to safety.
Older hunters picked up their weapons as well. Even past their prime, they had no fear of death.
Traps were set in haste, meant to slow whatever was coming.
"How are there this many beasts?" one hunter muttered. "Didn't we clear this area already?"
The rustling grew louder.
"Rexa," an old hunter said quietly, "doesn't this sound strange to you?"
Rexa nodded. "It sounds like people."
His eyes flickered.
Among the approaching presences, one stood out. Vast. Unfathomable.
But beneath that overwhelming aura was something familiar.
His heart pounded.
A hunter climbed onto a rooftop and raised his binoculars.
"It's not beasts!" he shouted. "It's people! A lot of them!"
Humans could be far more terrifying than monsters.
Hunting Island rarely saw outsiders. Those who arrived by accident usually died or fled.
The island did not even appear on sea charts.
Teach smiled as he sensed their reaction. "Looks like they've noticed us. Their welcome might be rough."
Gar could barely contain himself.
"I'll go first," he said.
Teach nodded. "Go."
Gar bent his legs and launched forward. His voice boomed across the forest.
"Roar!"
The jungle shook.
Weapons tightened in nervous hands.
"That sounded like a giant beast…"
"Wait," someone said. "That roar… it's familiar."
A young boy's eyes widened. "It's Uncle Gar!"
The realization spread instantly.
Laughter erupted.
"Of course. Only Gar knows where Hunting Island is."
"They must be the Nightfall Pirates!"
Excitement replaced tension.
The sounds grew closer.
Then a white figure burst from the forest.
Four meters tall. Unmistakable.
"Gar, you're back!"
Gar grinned widely.
"Long time no see, everyone."