Chapter 27: Emperor's Convergence

The sea area called New World is controlled by Four Emperors, strong pirates, shady groups, and others. Even the Marines don't have as much power here as the Four Emperors.

It was a sunny day, but things weren't good for the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Pops, all the crews are ready!"

"Once we coat the ship, we can head to the first half of the Grand Line!"

Marco, with his blue flames, landed next to Whitebeard, who was drinking. But Whitebeard wasn't his usual happy self.

Something was wrong with Ace.

Whitebeard regretted not stopping Ace from going after Blackbeard. If he had been stronger, things would be different.

He knew something was off. Blackbeard had been with them for a long time, and Whitebeard knew he was dangerous, even without a Devil Fruit. Now Blackbeard had Logia Devil Fruit, the Yami Yami fruit.

But Whitebeard hadn't stopped Ace.

Now he felt terrible.

His precious son, Ace, was locked up in Impel Down. In twelve days, he would be publicly executed at Marine Headquarters.

This made Whitebeard and the entire Whitebeard Pirates furious.

The Moby Dick was ready. All the commanders were there, except for Ace and Thatch, who had died.

They were waiting for their captain's orders. They were ready to fight a war.

The Marines and the World Government would learn that the Whitebeard Pirates weren't a crew to be messed with!

"Pops! Red Hair's here!"

A tiny figure burst onto the Moby Dick, gasping for breath.

Whitebeard, roused like a lion, scowled.

"Hmm?"

Shanks swaggered on board, a giant wine barrel slung over his shoulder.

Emperors rarely met – especially not to chat. Their unspoken truce kept the World Government in check, a balance that would shatter if they joined forces.

"Whitebeard, this war… I don't want it."

"Shanks, what are you spouting?"

Fury contorted Whitebeard's face. He snatched his mighty blade, Muramasa, and swung it towards Shanks.

Shanks met the attack with his own prized sword.

A deafening boom echoed as a powerful gust swept the sea. The Moby Dick shuddered violently, and the surrounding ocean churned.

"Pops... Red Hair..."

Everyone on board was shocked. But what truly terrified them was the sight that greeted Vista as he looked up at the sky – it was split in two, as if cracked open.

"Look! The sky...!"

When the Sea Emperors clash, the first thing that splits is the sky itself.

"Not rescuing Ace, are you? You going, Red-Haired Shanks? I don't like troublemakers"

"I'm going, Whitebeard"

Whitebeard roared, the force of his Conqueror's Haki unconsciously knocking out many of the weaker crew members.

For Whitebeard, wealth, fame, power, Raftel, One Piece – none of it mattered. But touch his family, and there would be hell to pay.

If Ling Bai were here, he wouldn't let Shanks hold back.

You love peace so much, why not become a Marine already?

You know, Shanks must have a lot to do with Mariejois. Maybe he's even a Celestial Dragon, and an important one at that.

But Shanks has no idea that Luffy, the one he bet on, is already in trouble. Who knows what will happen to him?

The news about Ling Bai was so crazy, even the Supernova stuff got buried.

This whole deal is doomed to fail, Shanks can't stop Whitebeard.

Big Mom and Kaido on the other side are the biggest headaches for the World Government in the New World. Those two are wild.

They knew Whitebeard was coming for them.

...

"If Whitebeard dies, Fish-Man Island is mine!"

"Well..."

Big Mom thought of Fish-Man Island's signature dessert, and instantly, the stomach acid in her gut, more corrosive than sulfuric acid, surged up and dripped onto the ground, causing it to emit thick smoke.

Of course, the premise is Whitebeard being killed in battle.

"Mama, this is the latest newspaper with a bounty update," Charlotte Perospero said respectfully. "It's about a pirate who apparently beheaded three Celestial Dragons, a man the World Government considers as dangerous as the Four Emperors. He's got a two-billion Beli bounty! On top of that, Douglas Bullet, who tried to cause havoc on Whole Cake Island, is also on the list."

"Hm?"

Big Mom snatched the newspaper upon hearing this.

"Interesting. Escaped Impel Down, huh?"

"Exactly from that place!"

"Just a brat!"

"Mama, their pirates seem really tough"

"Perospero," her voice cutting through his worries, "we just need to figure out if Whitebeard's crew can even make it back to the New World."

Peropero gulped under his mother's fierce gaze. He knew better than to doubt her. She wouldn't hesitate to kill even her own children.

...

Onigashima.

Kaido is having a drink.

"Just a kid, don't bother me while I'm drinking!"

Jack the Drought brings newspapers and bounty posters about Ling Bai, but Kaido doesn't seem to care any more than Big Mom did.

"But, Kaido..."

"Get out! Jack, get me ready for a fight!"

Kaido is ready to face off against the Whitebeard Pirates!

Whitebeard wants to mess with the execution? Kaido won't let him!

The Emperors are making their moves, making things even more chaotic in the already troubled New World.