Chapter 158

[Amazon Lily, Calm Belt; October 17th, 1522]

A blue and clear sky where the clouds freely floated by. A calm sea where not even a slight trickle of movement was seen on its surface.

Calm Belt was such a place, where the usual sailing ships that rely on the ocean currents and winds to travel were unable to make any progress—before suffering utter destruction at the sharp fangs of the Sea Kings.

Amazon Lily was an island that lied within this fearsome Calm Belt. This island was governed by Boa Hancock, who also went by the title of 'Pirate Empress.'

With the unique characteristic of Calm Belt, along with Hancock's well-known strength, the Kuja pirates existed as the fearsome crew who plunder the victims that were trapped within the still sea.

However, the usually calm sea nearby the Amazon Lily was filled with noises today.

"Boa Hancock! For refusing to heed to the order of the Marine to partake in the war against the Whitebeard pirates, we hereby denounce you from the title of 'Warlord' as of today!"

The female Vice Admiral, Gion, who also went by the title of 'Momousagi,' meaning pink rabbit, stood by the deck of her warship as she faced Boa Hancock.

Hancock, who was standing on top of her crew's ship, Perfume Yuda, glared back at Gion with a haughty demeanour.

"Hmph, as if I care about that!" Hancock, with her arms crossed and her chin lifted up high, snorted, "The war has already ended months ago, and now you are denouncing me?"

"Not only that, ssssssister." The serpent-like pirate with long and wavy green hair, Boa Sandersonia, flopped her tongue up and down while speaking up, "Look how they are trying to attack us immediately after the announcement. And they call themselves justiceeee!"

Many things changed. While Crocodile, Moriah, Jinbe, and Boa Hancock were officially out of the Seven Warlords, the world found suitable replacements.

First, Edward Weevil, who claimed to be the biological son of Edward Newgate, Whitebeard himself.

Second, Capone Bege. He, by successfully executing his scheme on the island of Antimony, received an offer to become a Warlord.

Third, Basil Hawkins. With the news regarding hi s victory against the Brownbeard pirates having spread out wide, he too received an offer in a similar manner as Bege.

And finally, Gild Tesoro. The man who was known for not only controlling 20% of the world's wealth, but also for packing a ferocious strength to support his status. The whole world was shocked by the fact that such a man decided to become a Warlord, and the capable few suspected that there must have been an unknown deal between the World Government and Tesoro.

Hence, the system of the Seven Warlords has once again made a complete recovery.

After having restored the so-called 'balance of the world,' some of the Marine's notable actions were such:

Admiral 'Chaton' was dispatched to the South Blue for the purpose of subjugating the Blackbeard pirates.

Vice Admiral 'Momousagi' was dispatched to the Amazon Lily in order to arrest the Kuja pirates.

Such was the Marine under the command of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, who, perhaps, was ripping his hair out of stress at the current moment.

And now, Hancock, who kissed the tip of her index finger, produced a pink heart-shaped substance. Then, she directed it at Gion, whose eyes narrowed in caution.

"Pistol Kiss!"

With her attack as a cue, the war between the Kuja pirates and the Marine troop under Gion's command has begun.

_____________

[Unknown Island, New world]

Amidst the turbulent waves and stormy weather, there lied one enthralling island in the middle. It was a bizarre scene, for only the weather around the island seemed peaceful and undisturbed.

The twinkling trees that exhibited a mystical glow.

The beautiful plants and flowers that gently swayed upon receiving the pleasant breezes of wind that travelled down from the hill above.

The fascinating creatures that harmonically lived along with nature.

It was a type of an island unlike any other that the Grimheart pirates encountered in their entire journey.

"No sight of any human civilization, captain." Dan, who gazed at the island with twinkling eyes, muttered weakly.

"Of course." Rowan, sitting on the chair casually, replied, "After all, just what kind of sailor would dare to take the most unstable needle from Raijin?"

Just as Rowan said, this island was one of such that hasn't been discovered yet. It was primarily due to the harsh environment of Raijin causing the survivors to avoid the most unstable needle among the three given by a Log Pose; Rowan undermined such a thought to evade the eyes of the World Government, Kaidou, and Big Mom.

Additionally, even if there were those who wished to travel in accordance to the most unstable needle, they wouldn't have been able to do so. Not only were their ships in a poor condition after their arrival in Raijin, but they also had to have such ships go through another harsh sea for days.

The Grimheart pirates were only able to reach this island thanks to Rowan's fruit ability.

"This island seems as if it has popped out of a fairy tale." Carina, amazed by the scenery of the island, commented with a blush on her cheeks.

"And those trees... they aren't of a normal kind." Alfred noted with squinted eyes, before turning his back at the broken poles of Prominence, which would've been connected to the huge sails in usual cases.

"Although we aren't the expert shipwrights, I've thoroughly measured the dimensions of the sails beforehand. As long as the materials are provided, recreating the sails that are identical to our previous ones shouldn't be an impossible task."

"I doubt it." Rowan, who seemed to be slightly disappointed instead, muttered to himself. No one seemed to have heard it.

Urouge grinned as he nodded, "Yes. That will serve as a great way to restore Prominence. However, the fact that we need the insight of an expert shipwright doesn't change."

Now, Rowan reduced the magnitude of his bounce forces, causing the Prominence to slowly descend toward the sea below.

"Make sure to jot down the details in-depth, Dan. In-depth. Do you hear me? In-depth."

Rowan said with his eyes locked onto the island, and unseen by the others, they were getting increasingly dull.

"I heard you the first time, captain!"

Robin, who was listening to the conversation, raised her hand up and asked in inquiry, "If we are the first discoverer of this island, what should its name be?"

Upon hearing Robin's question, everyone began to think.

"Oh, I know!" Carina enthusiastically waved her hand, "Fairyland!"

"""That sounds awful.""" Carmen, Dan, and Cavendish instantly retorted, causing Carina to grow a tickmark on her forehead.

"I'd say... the Shining." Carmen suggested with her arms crossed.

"Nah, it's the Brilliant Heaven." Dan clenched his hand with a firm expression.

Cavendish snorted before closing his eyes and placing his hands on his waist, "All of you got no talent in naming things! This island's name should be—"

Dan shouted mischievously all of a sudden,

"Not it!"

Immediately after, he jumped out of the Prominence and ran into the island with a goofy demeanour.

Alfred, Urouge, and Farul looked at each other in confusion,

"What does monsieur Dan mean by 'not it?'"

"Not sure. Anchor?"

"Neigh!"

before they too jumped off of the Prominence.

Carmen, by turning herself into flame, propelled herself into the sky.

"—Arcadia!"

Cavendish opened his eyes and sighted that almost all the members of the crew were running into the island excitedly.

"...Huh?" Cavendish instantly turned into light and chased after them, "Wait for me!!!!"

However, Rowan, Carina, and Robin remained on the ship.

"Heyyy, why aren't you going, Rowan?" Carina squinted her eyes toward Rowan in suspicion, "There's something else, isn't there?"

Robin smiled knowingly, "I think the same."

Rowan simply sighed while placing his hand on his forehead. Then, he stated, "Let's just hope that it doesn't take long for the Log Pose to record this island."

Then, something shocking happened in front of all the other members of the Grimheart pirates; the whole island began to tremor all of a sudden.

*Vroooooooom*

"Huh?!" Carina turned around and witnessed such a phenomenon; she couldn't help but frown questioningly.

Immediately after,

*BOOMBOOMBOOM*

the countless number of monstrous and gigantic worms shot out of the ground,

"""KYEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!"""

and screeched at the Grimheart pirates.

Simultaneously, the mesmerizing scenery of the island began to disappear, revealing nothing but a barren island full of holes everywhere; all the members of the Grimheart pirates on the island, especially Carmen, were shocked by such a scene.

"...What a letdown." Robin, who was standing next to Carina, stated with a hint of disappointment, "So it was nothing but a mere illusion."

"...Of course..." Carina fell to her knees in depression, "It was too good to be real, after all..."

"F***!!!!!!" From the island, Dan was seen to be screaming with his eyes full of tears, as he vigorously scribbled on his journal.

"DIE!!!! DIE!!!!!!!! Ahhhh, get away from me!!!!!" Carmen maniacally shot out the ball of flames without control, completely frightened by the disgusting appearance of those worms.

"Hehe... this can't be real, right...?" Cavendish, who was on his knees, muttered in disbelief.

"O-ohhhh!!!" Urouge, whose hand was gripping onto a sharp fang of the huge worm, was being thrashed up and down.

"If I were to name this island..." Rowan, back on the Prominence, stated as he spectated the comical scene in front of him, "I'd say Worm Pit. How does it sound?"

"Y-yeah, that sounds fine, I suppose..." Carina, who was still shocked, weakly replied.

On the other hand, Robin sighed in relief; she made the right decision, it seemed.

Rowan stood up from his spot and went into the inner body of the Prominence. After few seconds, he returned with three fishing rods in his hands, before passing two of them to Carina and Robin.

"It's time to work, girls." Rowan said as he began to prepare for fishing, "If we don't catch any here, we'll be stuck with those ball plants until we reach another island."

After all, something as disastrous as those worms wasn't what Rowan expected either.

"Oh, s***." Carina whispered with widened eyes, before tightly gripping onto the fishing rod that Rowan passed to her.

"...Anything but that, please." Robin seemed to be close to vomiting.

'Lesson learned. Don't take the most unstable needle starting the next time. It's better to deal with those annoying World Government agents, bounty hunters, and goons of the Emperors, than... than this abomination.' Rowan thought grimly.

New World surely was full of wonders, mysteries, and... mind-blowing things.

____________

[Briss, South Blue; October 19th, 1522]

"Welcome, fellow marines."

Teach, who was standing on top of a cliff with his crew members standing by his sides, grinned as he raised his left hand up,

"I've been expecting you."

From below, Tokikake, who stood firmly with the marine soldiers standing on his back, grimaced as he assessed the calamity that Blackbeard brought upon this island of Briss.

"Admiral Tokikake."

From the back, one marine officer who held onto a Den Den Mushi in his hand, reported with an enraged expression,

"There is... no survivor on this island."

Tokikake, whose eyes were shadowed under his fedora hat, held onto his cigarette while breathing out the smoke,

"...Is that so?"

And it wasn't just him. Upon noticing the malicious act that the Blackbeard caused upon the whole South Blue, all the marines were seen to be full of fury—especially the ones whose relatives were living within the South Blue.

"Zehahahaha!!!" Teach, who seemed to be enjoying Marine's reactions, laughed witlessly, "Is that the rage that I feel from you?! Oh, you must be so angry at your own incompetence!!"

"...Indeed, we've done wrong to let the countless number of innocents suffer under the malicious deeds of you and your crew." Tokikake, who adjusted his hat, muttered in a low tone,

"But no more. This is where it ends."

Then, the ground in front of Tokikake began to quaver in a bizarre manner, before morphing into a gigantic swamp, which—

—began to sink the whole cliff that the Blackbeard pirates stood on top of.

Teach, who greedily gazed at the swamp below, spoke to Burgess next to him,

"Do you see that power, Burgess? Soon, that will be yours."

Burgess slammed his fists together, "Weehahaha!!!"

There was a reason that Teach was so confident in his victory against Tokikake. His strength? Of course, with the three strongest fruits in his hands, he believed that he is superior in terms of strength as well, however, that wasn't the key here.

Within the Blackbeard pirates who were standing on top of the sinking cliff,

Shiryu and Devon weren't in sight.

Without the marines knowing, the war has already begun.