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New World â A Certain Island
At the center of the island stood a massive, fortress-like palace. The marble structure gleamed under the sun, flying the Jolly Roger of the Golden Lion Piratesâa lion's mane splitting into twin sabers.
Inside the grand hall, waves of laughter and clinking of glasses echoed. Dozens of pirate crews, all flying the flag of Shiki the Golden Lion, were drinking and brawling in wild celebration. These were no ordinary pirates. They were elite forces gathered from across the New Worldâveterans of sea battles, Devil Fruit users, and swordsmen who had survived the Great Pirate Era's rise.
Seated atop a raised golden throne at the center, Shiki himself guffawed thunderously, his blond mane flowing like wildfire. He raised his sake gourd high, golden mechanical legs crossed proudly.
"Jiehahahaha! Drink! Celebrate! My flying fleet now has more than two dozen battleships!" Shiki bellowed. "We feast today, because soon⊠we'll be inviting the Roger Pirates to join our grand cause!"
Gasps and curious murmurs rippled through the pirates.
"Of course, if they refuse, thenâgehahahahaâwe'll give them a war worthy of legends!" Shiki roared. "The seas will belong to me, Shiki, the Flying Pirate!!!"
It was clear to all: the Golden Lion wasn't just expanding his military power for fun. He was aiming for domination, and he knew that brute force alone wasn't enough. Even after recruiting top-tier pirates, he understood that someone like Gol D. Roger, the only man alive who could rival Rocks D. Xebec in charisma and power, was the missing piece.
Shiki's ambition wasn't blind. He'd witnessed firsthand what Roger could do, both during their time under Rocks and after. Recruiting him would either make or break his bid for supremacy.
Just thenâ
"Admiral Shiki!!! Admiral Shiki!!!"
The raucous atmosphere broke as a group of panting pirates rushed into the hall. The leader dropped to one knee and bowed, holding two bounty posters in his trembling hands.
"What is it?! Speak!" Shiki growled, lifting an eyebrow.
"A major shift in the balance of the seas, sir⊠Two individuals' bounties just soared astronomically."
The pirates in the room quieted instantly. A few moved closer, sensing something big.
The messenger swallowed, then extended the posters. Shiki grabbed them, his smirk replaced by a growing look of shock.
"What the hellâŠ? Six billionâŠ"
His eye twitched.
"This guyâAyrâhis bounty jumped to six billion berries?!"
The entire hall went dead silent.
"Even mine is only 4.5 billion⊠and I've done enough to burn half the New World!" Shiki muttered.
Murmurs erupted:
"Six billion?! That's more than Rocks ever had!"
"Ayr's bounty exceeded even Roger and Whitebeard in their prime!"
"What in the world did he do to warrant this kind of number?!"
"Didn't the World Government label him 'The Strongest Pirate' already? Looks like it wasn't just propaganda!"
Many in the room exchanged uneasy glances. Even Shiki's most battle-hardened commanders gulped. This was no longer about territory or fleetsâAyr was entering the realm of legends.
Shiki stared at the bounty poster, deep in thought. "To think he'd climb this far⊠after everythingâŠ"
Then he stood.
"I'm heading out. Don't follow me."
Without another word, Shiki stormed out of the palace.
---
Elsewhere â Totto Land, New World
Inside Whole Cake Chateau, Charlotte Linlin lounged on her candy throne. In her hand were two freshly printed bounty posters.
"Six billion⊠and five-point-two billion." Her eyes narrowed. "Ayr and Whitebeard. Just what kind of chaos did they stir at Mariejois?"
She was referring, of course, to the aftermath of the Holy Land Incidentâa battle that not only destroyed half of Pangaea Castle but also saw multiple Celestial Dragons killed and Admirals injured.
Katakuri, her most trusted and capable son, stood beside her, arms folded and eyes stern.
"Mother, Ayr is a threat. Not just to the World Governmentâbut to our ambition. If he continues to rise, the dream of ruling the seas may vanish."
"Mamamamama⊠you're not wrong. But this seaâmy seaâisn't something he'll take without resistance. I've been biding my time since Rocks fell." Linlin smirked.
Her strength was monstrous. She'd consolidated dozens of territories, bred an army of elite children, and cultivated Devil Fruit users from her lineage who could challenge Yonkos. Perospero, Daifuku, Oven, and of course Katakuri, were all monsters in their own right.
"He's dangerous, yes⊠but he won't outshine Big Mom!"
---
New World â Kingdom of DeRosta
A land purchased and fortified by Ayr, once a mysterious but now undeniable force in the world.
He walked alone by the coast, cloak fluttering, the sea breeze gently rustling his hair. Waves crashed beside him, but his focus was on something else entirely.
With a faint mental command, he opened the System Panel, scrolling to the Item Mall.
Among the rotating list, a newly unlocked category caught his attention: HadĆ Techniquesâoffensive magic from the world of the Shinigami.
Unlike pirates or marines, the world of the deadâSoul Societyârelied on advanced reiryoku and spellcraft. Among them, HadĆ techniques (Destructive Arts) numbered from 1 to 99, each growing exponentially in power.
Ayr's eyes narrowed on a particular listing:
HadĆ No. 90: Kurohitsugi (Black Coffin)
The power to engulf enemies in a spatial sarcophagus of crushing spiritual energy.
But the priceâŠ
Just like the Armament Haki Mastery Card, the HadĆ category required 12 Devil Fruits for a single exchange.
Ayr clenched his fist.
"I got 10 from the Five Elders during Mariejois⊠my subordinates gave me one moreâŠ"
He was only one Devil Fruit short.
But Devil Fruits weren't exactly scattered like seashells. Whether by theft, conquest, or treasure huntingâfinding one more would require time⊠or blood.
He sighed, closing the system window.
And just thenâ
"AYR!!!"
The familiar voice made him stop.
He turned, and standing there, sword slung across his back and eyes burning with conviction, was none other thanâ
Gol D. Roger.
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