The Approaching Future

Breaking news spreads across the sea: "The war is over!!!" Crowds cheer as Marine Headquarters announces to the world, "The Marines have won!!!" and "The legendary pirate Whitebeard was defeated!!!" The page calls this a message from Marine Headquarters to the entire world. Elsewhere at sea, the report reaches X Drake's ship: "We're announcing... zaza... from Marineford Bay..." His crew calls, "Captain Drake!!" and the narration says that at the stage for the battle at the summit, there are seven ships on the waters of Marineford's bay.

The narration says these men who will carry the new pirate age would not have missed this juncture in history for anything. The Supernovas and other pirates watch the smoke rising from Marineford as proof of the establishment of a new age, feeling the age's frenzied flow upon their skin. One pirate says, "Looks like it's over..." while X Drake notes, "The Marines have won out... and things will change!" Another voice warns that in a little while Whitebeard's territories will become seas of blood. The page frames the end of the war not as peace, but as the start of a violent scramble.

The Supernovas discuss what the war means. Urouge says, "Blackbeard was the key. Make no mistake, he's going to become the eye of the storm!!!" Apoo is stunned that Trafalgar Law saved someone who would become an enemy one day, shouting, "What the hell is he thinking!? Trafalgar Law!! Isn't he supposed to be known for his brutality!?" Bonney cries that everything is "his fault" and says, "We have to find him!! Let's go!! To the New World!!!" Hawkins studies his cards and says, "Strawhat Luffy's chances of survival... No matter how many times I check... it never comes out to be zero!!"

Eustass Kid reads the shape of the coming era. He admits, "Honestly, I was scared when the war broke out... But now, Whitebeard is dead!!" He says Blackbeard has been born as a great power, and that the new world is ruled by the Four Emperors: Red Hair, Kaido, Big Mam, and the missing Whitebeard seat. With that balance broken, Kid says nobody knows what will happen. He grins and declares, "A new age is dawning!!! The likes of which we've never seen!!!" His crew stands behind him as the war's end becomes a call toward the New World.

The news is carried to the East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, North Blue, and the Grand Line, spreading as if it had already been written in history. Though the Marines' victory is reported, people seize on Whitebeard's final words instead. Crowds shout, "Whitebeard said it!!!" "One Piece is real!!! Let's go find it!!!!" and "The sea still holds unseen dreams!!!" Newsboys cry "Extra!" while others yell, "Whitebeard is dead!!" The narration says the news was whittled down as it spread until the only word carried throughout the oceans was the Marines' "victory," but Whitebeard's confirmation of One Piece stirs the world more deeply.

The world grows restless at the news. In some places people cheer, "The Marines have won!! Thank God!!!" and "The Marines are invincible!!! Salute the heroes!!!" Young boys wave Marine flags and one says, "Someday... I'll become strong enough to get called to headquarters!!" But elsewhere people do not notice the danger rising. On Foodvalten Island, civilians scream, "Don't come any closer! Don't come into the town!!!" and "Th-this island is...!!!" Pirates stand before Whitebeard's flag and sneer, "Whitebeard's territory? Yeah, it was! But what is it now? You've heard the news, right?"

With Whitebeard gone, pirates invade the islands he protected. A raider tears down Whitebeard's flag and shouts, "That flag doesn't mean a damn thing now!!! He's dead!!! With Whitebeard gone, the world is ours for the taking!!!" Brownbeard and his crew announce, "Burn this image into your eyes!!! This island is now ours!!!" Brownbeard laughs, "I'm the great pirate Brownbeard!!!" The narration says the Marines have won, but that outcome does not necessarily bring peace; with the threat of Whitebeard's wrath gone, chaos has begun to reign.

At sea, Boa Hancock's ship meets Trafalgar Law's submarine after the escape. The Kuja Pirates ask, "How is Luffy doing!!?" Law's crew answers, "You did well to figure out we were surfacing here. We thought the Marines were here, so we freaked out for a moment." Law emerges from the submarine hatch, bandaged and exhausted, while Bepo calls, "Captain!!" Hancock says Salome followed them on the sea floor, then scolds Salome: "And don't change the subject, you dumb beast!!" Salome apologizes, looking ashamed under Hancock's glare.

Law gives his medical report on Luffy. He says, "I've done all I can. The effectiveness of the operation is tied to his condition. He's taken an impossible amount of damage. I can't guarantee he'll survive." Hancock is shaken silent. Ivankov and the escaped prisoners erupt happily from the submarine, shouting "HIIHAAA!!" and declaring that Strawhat tried his hardest and helped them escape Impel Down. Hancock asks who they are, and she is told, "Prisoners from Impel Down... It looks like they're Luffy's allies. They snuck onto the battleship." Ivankov announces they are heading to the kingdom of Kamabakka, from Newkama Land to the true home of Newkamas.

Ivankov explains how much Luffy had already endured before Marineford. He says the Strawhat boy was already injured so badly he could not stand at Impel Down, and that it is amazing he managed anything in that condition. He adds that Luffy did all of it so he could rescue Ace, only to have the brother he tried so hard to save die right before his eyes. Ivankov fears Luffy's spirit may be broken: "If I give up, I'll always regret it!!!" is remembered against Luffy's battered face. Hancock says it is tragic and wishes she could suffer in his place, while a wounded pirate shouts for Luffy to hang in there. When Hancock asks Law if he is Luffy's friend, Law answers, "No..."

Law says he had no obligation to help Luffy and asks Ivankov if he should make something up because Ivankov is uncomfortable with his kindness. Ivankov laughs that there are times when instinct moves the body, then suddenly calls, "Jimbei!!" Jimbei wakes, gravely wounded but alive, and thanks Law: "You're Trafalgar Law, from North Blue, right? You have my thanks for saving my life...!!" Ivankov warns Jimbei, "If you don't sleep, you'll die," but Jimbei says his heart will not calm down and that what he lost this time was too important to him. The aftermath leaves both Luffy and Jimbei physically alive but emotionally shattered.

Inside the submarine, Law reflects that compared to Jimbei's wound, Luffy's loss was even deeper. He says that when Luffy lost consciousness it must have been a defense mechanism to prevent him from losing his life, and worries about what will happen when he awakens. Hancock begins arranging shelter: if they call the Kuja pirate ship, they can pull the submarine across the Calm Belt. She tells Salome he must have a Den Den Mushi, and when he admits he does, she says if the government learns Luffy is alive, they will definitely come after him. Hancock decides, "We'll hide him on the Isle of Women. And if I'm still one of the Shichibukai, he can safely recover there."

At Marine Headquarters, amid the ruins of Marineford, Sengoku receives reports about Impel Down. A messenger says, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku!!! So here's where you are!! We've been able to confirm the situation at Impel Down!" Sengoku asks, "Is Magellan all right?" and is told Magellan was badly injured, barely alive, and being treated in intensive care. The report says he is a very straightforward man who has already taken responsibility for everything and might try to commit suicide if he could move. Sengoku orders, "Don't let him do anything that stupid!!" When asked what happened inside the prison, a Marine says that judging by the aftermath, Level 6 was where the most tragic incident happened.

The report describes Blackbeard's invasion of Impel Down's Level 6. In a flashback, Blackbeard greets the cursed prisoners and tells them, "Zehahaha!! You're all just waiting for death to come anyway, so how does this sound!? Go ahead and kill the others in your cell!! I'll take the survivors to the surface as part of my crew!!!" The strongest prisoners slaughter each other in the cages. Back at Marineford, a Marine reports that Teach chose his crew from the worst prisoners in the world and brought four prisoners out with him, but many more prisoners from Level 6 are missing. Sengoku reacts in shock, realizing the disaster is larger than the public knows.

Sengoku immediately grasps the danger of the missing Level 6 prisoners. He orders, "Confirm the number and names of the escapees, and send out wanted posters immediately!!! Even a single Level 6 class prisoner could be a huge danger to a country out there!" But the report continues that the government has ordered the incident covered up, because any further failures could cause faith in the government to fall. Sengoku is stunned that escaped monsters might be hidden from the public for political convenience. Sweat running down his face, he explodes, "Are you kidding me!!?"

In the backstreets of Marineford, Donquixote Doflamingo attacks Gecko Moria with Pacifistas and shadowy forces. Moria, badly wounded, curses, "Doflamingo, you bastard!!!" Doflamingo laughs, "Fufufu-fufu!!!" and tells him, "Moria... you're no longer strong enough to bear the Shichibukai name... Doesn't 'died in battle in the war at the summit sound nice...? Better than 'disposed of by the government' anyway!!" Moria asks through ragged breaths, "Who ordered you to do this...? Haa... haa... Sengoku...!?" Doflamingo answers, "No... someone higher up!!!" revealing that the order comes from above the Fleet Admiral.

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