Rocks fought Roger and Garp alone, their overwhelming Conqueror's Haki tearing the sky apart. Crimson lightning flickered across the land, bathing the battlefield in a deep, blood-red hue.
The entirety of God Valley shook violently, on the verge of total collapse. The earth's crust fractured and groaned under the pressure until the island was ripped into more than a dozen jagged pieces.
Peaks crumbled into the sea, and rivers were thrown into the sky. Mountains collapsed into canyons, plains sank into basins, and once-great cities were reduced to nothing but rubble.
Under the protection of the Marines and the God's Knights, the Celestial Dragons evacuated the island. Over a dozen branch warships arrived to assist, while Fleet Admiral Kong, watching from Marineford, resolutely issued the order for a Buster Call.
Instantly, a rain of cannon fire descended upon God Valley.
But then, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded. The moment the shells reached the sky, terrifying Conqueror's Haki transformed into dozens of chaotic thunderbolts. They wove together into an invisible barrier above the shattered island, pulverizing every incoming projectile. Brilliant fireworks of fire and steel exploded across the horizon.
At dawn, God Valley was engulfed by a light so white and blazing it looked like a second sun. The island disintegrated and began to sink, and surging seawater rushed into the streets, sweeping away what little remained of the ruins.
In his previous life, Kaido had left God Valley early and never witnessed Rocks' demise firsthand. Now, even from a distance, the power Rocks unleashed in his final moments sent shivers down Kaido's spine.
As seawater swirled around his feet, Kaido gazed into the distance, his expression a mix of shock and uncertainty. He turned to Rayleigh with a sneer. "That's enough for today!"
Dragon scales sprouted across Kaido's face, and horns tore through his forehead. His body surged in size, reaching a towering ten meters. With a final glance, he lunged into the blinding white light.
A World in Chaos
Several months later, the world was still reeling from the Rocks Pirates' defeat at God Valley. The World Government had forcefully rewritten the news, spreading their version of events to every corner of the globe.
According to the reports, the world's greatest cancer—the Rocks Pirates—had hunted Celestial Dragons at God Valley only to be stopped by the hero Garp. Rocks' whereabouts were officially unknown, though he was suspected to have vanished into the depths along with the island. People celebrated, hailing it as a monumental victory for the Marines.
The real bombshell followed: the Rocks Pirates had disbanded. Without Rocks to keep them in check, the high-ranking officers began a bloody campaign for territory, dragging non-affiliated countries into the crossfire. The Great War didn't end; it just changed shape.
Golden Lion Shiki, having secured the Float-Float Fruit at God Valley, established the Flying Pirates. Using his massive reputation, he absorbed many of the former Rocks subordinate crews.
Whitebeard, now the user of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, explored the seas with the "Ice Witch" Whitey Bay and his newly adopted seven-year-old son, Marco. He carried a deep scar on his chest from a stab wound dealt by Saint Garling, a wound that had taken ten days just to start healing.
Silver Axe, accompanied by a crew of giants, seized several former Rocks territories to establish the Silver Axe Pirates.
John and Ochoku both formed their own factions. The two clashed fiercely over control of Hachinosu Island. Because Ochoku's injuries from God Valley were still fresh, John ultimately seized the island for himself.
Charlotte Linlin rushed back to Hachinosu looking for Kaido, but when she couldn't find him, she tore the place apart in a rage. Eventually, she took her children and her head chef to form the Big Mom Pirates, launching an invasion of the northern kingdoms.
The world realized too late that peace hadn't arrived; a new, more chaotic wave of unrest was sweeping the Grand Line.
The Rise of the World Pirates
With the era of one-crew dominance over, new pirate groups emerged like mushrooms after rain. Among them was the World Pirates.
Led by Byrnndi Wald, the crew was a family affair. Wald had set sail with his older brother, Byojack, to pursue their childhood dream of world travel and freedom. However, the reality of the sea—oppression, exploitation, and violence—was far from what they had imagined.
During a Marine siege on a different crew, the World Pirates were mistaken for accomplices. Wald fought back with ferocity, crushing the Marines and landing himself a bounty of fifty million Berries. Wald didn't care about the money or the target on his back; he just kept moving.
Recently, he had discovered a tattered treasure map. After weeks of piecing it together, he found a set of coordinates and led his crew on an adventure. After a week of sailing, the World Pirates finally reached their destination.
The sight before them was grim. It was a pitch-black, uninhabited island surrounded by jagged reefs and steep rock walls. Dark clouds swirled above, occasionally spitting purple lightning that illuminated the churning waves below.
The cold, salty breeze stung their skin. The frail Byojack trembled as he checked his compass. "This is the place, no doubt. But landing here is going to be a nightmare."
Gairam, the revolver officer, asked, "Captain, should we head up?"
Wald looked at his lean brother sitting on his shoulder. Seeing his concern, Byojack smiled. "Wald, don't worry about me. I'm with you on this."
"You sure, Brother?" Wald asked.
With Byojack's nod, Wald ordered Gairam and Nachen to move the ship closer. Sebastian, the Fishman, dived into the water to scout for hidden reefs. Once the path was clear, they anchored the ship.
Wald slung a rope over his back and began the grueling climb. His strength was immense; he hauled himself up the cliffside, hammered in pegs, and repeated the process until he reached the summit. He dropped the rope for his companions, who soon joined him at the top.
A bolt of purple lightning struck the ground, revealing distant, jagged mountains that looked like the open mouth of a monster. Dog-shaped rock formations were scattered throughout the landscape, a silent warning to anyone who dared enter. It was clear the mountain held the treasure—and something else.
Sebastian tensed, his Fishman instincts screaming. "Captain, watch out! Something's hunting us!"