92. The New World In Trouble, The Pirate King's ship And The Cross Union

"Yeah, got it."

"It's really important for us to find out if the Straw Hats beat BIGMOM."

"But, Borsalino, you just need to look around for info. Don't jump in; we're not strong enough to meddle in the fight between those two big shots."

Sengoku spoke solemnly through the phone bugs.

"They're at their weakest right now, so Kizaru's the only muscle we can use in the New World. Gion and other Vice Admirals are busy in the first half of the Grand Line and the four seas, keeping a lid on those pirates running wild."

"Things are heating up this autumn."

Sengoku sighed after hanging up.

"The Straw Hats picked a fight with one of the Four Emperors, BIGMOM, and they've actually clashed within days. And they managed to take her down quickly."

"That's a big deal. At this point, it's pretty obvious only the Straw Hats could pull off something like that," Kizaru and Sengoku agreed.

"At this rate, are the Straw Hat Pirates really that strong?" Sengoku wondered.

He'd expected a drawn-out battle, like the ones the Marines and World Government had seen before between the Four Emperors.

It usually played out with no clear winner, which suited the Marines and the government just fine, wearing down the pirates.

But now, the BIGMOM Pirates, one of the old guard Four Emperors, had fallen so swiftly to the Straw Hats.

"That crew's hiding something, for sure. That Straw Hat kid's fruit ain't your run-of-the-mill Devil Fruit," Sengoku frowned.

He remembered the Summit War, where the Straw Hat kid had seemed almost mythical, like some kind of Zoan fruit user with powers beyond the norm.

But Sengoku wasn't eager to go to Mariejois now. He knew those five old guys too well; if they hadn't spilled the beans by now, they weren't going to.

Plus, the Marines were stretched thin as it was; they didn't have resources to spare for the Straw Hat kid.

The New World was in turmoil, not just because of the Straw Hats versus BIGMOM, but also the clash between the two of the Four Emperors, Kaido and Marco.

"Kaido and Marco," Sengoku muttered, feeling a headache coming on. Kaido had wanted to muscle in on Whitebeard's turf during the Summit War, but Shanks had put a stop to it.

Now that Whitebeard's gone, Kaido's been getting bolder. He's gone head-to-head with what's left of Whitebeard's crew.

After a few run-ins, they're on the brink of an all-out brawl.

It's a whole different story from the smaller Straw Hat crew.

Both Kaido's Beasts Pirates and Marco of Whitebeard Pirates are massive crews.

They've got top-notch fighters and big fleets, way bigger than what Marines expected.

The scale of the clash is even bigger than the Golden Lion Shiki and Gold Roger's Naval Battle of Edd War.

Back then, there were fewer pirates out there, mostly sailing solo.

But now, with the Four Emperors, it's like they're their own governments, ruling over territories like countries.

The battle between these two big crews is like a full-blown war.

Marine's freaking out at the size of it all.

Back in the day, they might've stepped in, but now, with their own mess from the Summit War still lingering, they're powerless.

"Mr. Sengoku, the warship watching Kaido and Whitebeard's turf got hit," a Marine burst into Sengoku's office.

"What? By who?" Sengoku's face twisted in anger.

"Those damn pirates."

"Those jerks!" Sengoku smashed his desk. "They want to kick off a full-on war in the New World?"

The Cross Union, a bunch of crazies, are too close to the big fight between the Four Emperors.

No one knows what'll happen if they get involved.

With the Cross Union jumping into the mix and the Straw Hats taking down BIGMOM, the New World's heating up fast.

"The tide's turning in the New World," Sengoku muttered, remembering Whitebeard's roar at Marineford like it was a sign of things to come.

"You saw this coming, Whitebeard," he murmured, but no one could answer him.

In Whitebeard's old territory, things are a mess.

With Whitebeard gone and Kaido's Beasts Pirates on the rise, the Whitebeard Pirates are getting hammered.

Marco's tough, no doubt, and some folks even think he could take Whitebeard's spot as a Four Emperor.

But Kaido's a whole different league.

Marco's just trying to hold Kaido off, but he can't really put a dent in him.

If it wasn't for Whitebeard's leadership and the strength of his crew, they'd be toast.

But even now, they're hanging on by a thread.

Out at sea, a massive pirate ship's making its way.

Its bow's shaped like a mammoth's head, with huge tusks jutting out, looking downright intimidating.

On the sail, a huge Beasts Pirates logo was proudly displayed.

In this area of the sea, that flag represented the sheer power of Kaido's crew.

Aboard the Mammoth, Jack the Drought was feeling pretty pleased with himself.

With Kaido making moves, the Whitebeard Pirates were backing off. They were practically giving up their territories.

All Jack had to do now was claim those islands for the Beasts Pirates.

"Captain Jack spotted an iron ship up ahead. Doesn't look like Whitebeard's crew," one of his crewmates reported.

"Iron ship? Pirate ship? Well then, let's pay them a visit," Jack grinned wickedly, itching for a fight.

"Don't you want to ask who they are, Captain?" someone asked nervously.

"Who do you think I am?" Jack sneered, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. "I'm Jack the Drought of the Beasts Pirates. Full speed ahead!"

The crew hurried to obey, pulling up the sails and steering towards the strange iron ship.

As they drew closer, they could make out figures on the other deck.

Jack looked up disdainfully, but what he saw made his blood run cold.

"Fancy meeting you here," Byrnndi World's voice was cold and menacing.

"That's a nice-looking boat," Bullet remarked, eyeing the enemy's ship. He needed top-notch materials for his powers.

"Almost there?" Hawkeye glanced up lazily from his perch on a barrel, then went back to his business.

"What's going on? Isn't this Whitebeard's turf?" Crocodile grumbled, puffing on his cigar.

"Jack the Drought," Gekko Moria's voice was sharp with anger, his fists clenched tight.

Faces from the past flashed before Jack's eyes, and then darkness consumed him as he sank into the sea.

"Why are these lunatics here?" was his last thought.

Meanwhile, on Cake Island, the dust was settling after a fierce battle.

The island lay in ruins, especially where Luffy and BIGMOM had clashed.

Thankfully, the final blow hadn't landed in the island's heart, or it might have been obliterated.

"That was quite the showdown," Zoro remarked, surveying the wreckage.

"Luffy!" Chopper leapt down from a cake-like mound, medical kit in hand, ready to tend to his captain.

"At least that's over. The Four Emperors Pirates didn't seem all that tough," Nami stretched, her Weather Staff still in hand.

Despite her enhancements, she'd managed the fight with ease, using her staff to dispatch foes.

She used to think the Four Emperors were unstoppable monsters of the sea.

"Miss Nami, the BIGMOM Pirates are no joke," Jinbei reminded her, shaking his head. "Don't underestimate them."

He knew firsthand the power of the Four Emperors. With Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, they had a formidable team, each on par with an Admiral.

With Chopper's Shichibukai-level strength, along with Brook's and Usopp's, they make a formidable trio.

Though they're few in number, their combined power is nothing to scoff at.

It's said the Red Hair Pirates are an iron wall of monsters.

But compared to the Straw Hat Pirates, even they fall short.

That's why it seems they didn't go all out against the Four Emperors Pirates.

Except for their captain, the Straw Hats outclass the Four Emperors' crew by far.

After a while, Chopper finished patching up Luffy, and they found themselves surrounded by BIGMOM's fleet.

These were reinforcements from nearby islands, responding to the distress call. Nearly 20 ships encircled them.

But it was just a show of force.

Even though the BIGMOM Pirates outnumbered them, they didn't dare advance.

Because with only the Straw Hats in sight, the outcome of the battle on Cake Island was clear.

The Straw Hats had won.

"Hey, Straw Hat, where's Mommy?" Charlotte Cavalette, leader of the BIGMOM fleet, called out.

Though he had a hunch, he hoped against hope Luffy hadn't taken down his mother so easily.

"Ah, you mean BIGMOM? I don't know," Luffy shrugged from his spot on the grass, bandages covering him.

Cavalette's smile faded as Luffy's next words sank in.

"She got sent flying. She might be in the clouds by now."

"You're joking, right?" Charlotte Galette snarled.

"Mom's one of the Four Emperors! You think a brat like you could take her down?" Galette roared.

"All ships, prepare to fire on the Straw Hat Crew!" Galette commanded.

As the guns aimed at them, Zoro grinned.

"These fools don't know what they're dealing with," he muttered.

Jinbei stood beside Luffy, ready to defend him with his karate.

Though outnumbered, the Straw Hats remained unfazed.

Zoro's hand hovered over his sword, ready to strike.

But just as tension reached its peak, a voice broke through the chaos.

It was Katakuri.

"Stop," he commanded, stepping forward.

Charlotte Galette and Cavalette looked on in disbelief.

"Let them go," Katakuri ordered, his voice steady despite his weary appearance.

----------

You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion