Chapter 507: The Changing Situation Concludes
Time reached Sea Calendar 1496, June.
The chaos that had lasted for half a year in the New World gradually subsided.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the situation in the New World was gradually changing.
Today, the John Pirates, Five Peaks Pirates, and Silver Axe Pirates were no longer the so-called Second Echelon.
The previous division among the Top-Tier Pirate Crews of the New World was no longer suitable.
Although only two or three years had passed, the results of the war had undergone astonishing changes.
In the war between the Demon King Pirates and the Five Peaks Pirates, both sides had their victories and losses, and the Five Peaks Pirates were now unable to suppress the Demon King Pirates.
With the growth of the Demon King Pirates' cadres and their development over the years, the Five Peaks Pirates did not gain much advantage in the nearly half-year-long war.
The islands at the border between the two sides changed hands repeatedly.
By the time the war ended, the Five Peaks Pirates had still not managed to suppress the Demon King Pirates.
Even Wang Zhi failed to defeat "Demon King" Nash.
Compared to the Five Peaks Pirates, the Demon King Pirates were only slightly inferior in military strength numbers, but this had little impact on the war.
The Demon King Pirates were more united and possessed a complete logistical support system.
Thanks to Nash's management, the entire sea area had become his Pirate Kingdom.
The wealth harvested each year was far higher than that of the Five Peaks Pirates.
As an important customer of "King of Arms" Victor, the Demon King Pirates purchased a large amount of munitions from him every year.
With the growth of the cadres, the most significant weakness of the Demon King Pirates was also addressed.
In targeting the Demon King Pirates, Wang Zhi was not without the idea of coveting their wealth.
However, in the nearly half-year-long war, although the Five Peaks Pirates occupied six islands belonging to the Demon King Pirates, the Five Peaks Pirates suffered over six thousand casualties.
The total losses of the Demon King Pirates were only four thousand.
Given these numbers, the mere six islands occupied by the Five Peaks Pirates were nothing but a joke.
On the surface, the victor of the war was the Five Peaks Pirates, but in reality? Heh heh!
"Tyrant Dragon" Zak did not directly confront Silver Axe, so Silver Axe could do nothing against him.
In the first month of the war, Silver Axe directly led his large force into the territory of the Tyrant Dragon Pirates.
He even reached the foot of Wano Country, hoping to defeat the Tyrant Dragon Pirates in one fell swoop and completely occupy Wano Country, this treasure land.
Silver Axe had long coveted Wano Country.
It was easy to defend but difficult to attack, and it possessed precious ore, making it an excellent place to settle down.
With the calm of Wano Country, "Tyrant Dragon" Zak clearly no longer had any worries about his rear.
No matter how the Silver Axe Pirates attacked, they were unable to reach Wano Country due to the obstruction of the Tyrant Dragon Pirates.
Instead, Zak, relying on his powerful firepower and his ability, easily destroyed over a dozen pirate ships belonging to the Silver Axe Pirates.
That battle completely dispelled the Silver Axe Pirates' notion of a frontal assault.
Subsequently, a fierce great battle unfolded right in front of the Giant Waterfall.
Facing the challenge from the Silver Axe Pirates, the Tyrant Dragon Pirates also showed no fear.
To solidify their status, what was needed was a proper war, not relying on so-called geographical advantages.
Just one battle, and they were evenly matched.
In the war between the two sides, the two main commanders only made moves in the first two months; afterward, they did not intervene, relying solely on their subordinates and cadres to fight each other.
In terms of military strength, the Tyrant Dragon Pirates were definitely inferior.
However, in terms of high-end combat power, the Tyrant Dragon Pirates did not lose to the Silver Axe Pirates.
Relying on the powerful Dragonoid Gang, the Silver Axe Pirates, even after summoning their affiliated pirate groups, were unable to suppress the Tyrant Dragon Pirates and were even counterattacked by the Tyrant Dragon Pirates.
The territory previously occupied by the Silver Axe Pirates was retaken.
By the end of the war, the final number of occupied islands was only a mere dozen, which was insignificant to the Tyrant Dragon Pirates.
The territory of the Beast Pirates did not expand much, but their overall faction grew like a snowball, with their cadres fighting battles everywhere.
Kaido also made multiple moves, directly invading the enemy's base camps and powerfully deterring the surrounding factions.
This solidified the core status of the Beast Pirates in the Southern Sea Area of the Former Half of the New World.
The base camps of the Explosion Pirate Group, Tyrant Bear Pirate Group, and even the young Bone Demon Pirates in the north were all ravaged by Kaido alone.
The Whitebeard Pirates in the east, who wanted to expand, also dared not act rashly in the face of the Beast Pirates' strength.
"Calamity Wind" Garosger, "Calamity Plague" Queen, "Calamity Ghost" Herbid, and "Calamity Flame" King became thoroughly famous through continuous battles.
Especially "Calamity Flame" King, a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user of the Mythical Zoan: Karasu-Tengu Fruit.
That was the only Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit Kaido obtained at God Valley, and it was his greatest gain.
After King returned after completing his training, Kaido gave this Devil Fruit, which he had treasured for a long time, to King.
Although the foundation of the Beast Pirates was still relatively weak, each of the "Four Calamities" possessed powerful combatants capable of standing on their own.
The potential of the Beast Pirates was self-evident.
The war performance that surprised people the most was that of the Whitebeard Pirates.
In just two years, the Whitebeard Pirates were no longer the group that the John Pirates could easily manipulate.
The impact of defeat was cruel.
The Whitebeard Pirates were inactive for a period, followed by a resurgence, putting in effort and training.
As Newgate's children continued to grow, they were no longer a burden to Newgate.
Some of the powerful ones also gained considerable reputation in the New World.
Facing the arrival of the John Pirates, the long-inactive Whitebeard Pirates erupted with terrifying energy.
They did not fall behind in the all-out war, and Whitebeard even exhibited terrifying strength, forcefully repelling Captain John.
If John had not retreated, he might have died at the hands of the enraged Whitebeard.
Perhaps because his reputation was not as high as Roger's and Shiki's, many people overlooked Whitebeard's terror.
He was a monster no less formidable than Roger and Shiki, perhaps even more terrifying.
Today, the young "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate could unleash the strength of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit without restraint.
Undoubtedly, the John Pirates were asking for trouble.
Compared to the evenly matched Five Peaks Pirates and Silver Axe Pirates, the John Pirates were completely suppressed.
In just one month, the Whitebeard Pirates began their counterattack on the John Pirates' territory and shifted from a passive position to taking control of the initiative in the war.
Over half a year, facing the Whitebeard Pirates filled with wrath and hatred, the John Pirates were defeated repeatedly, losing over one hundred and fifty islands, with nearly two-thirds of their territory occupied by the Whitebeard Pirates.
Their losses were close to ten thousand.
Of course, the Whitebeard Pirates also suffered significant losses.
However, during this process, the terrifying strength exhibited by Whitebeard was undeniable.
As long as he had no burdens, he was an almost invincible existence.
The structure of the New World changed in a short period through this war.
The John Pirates, Silver Axe Pirates, and Five Peaks Pirates had lost their superiority.
The advantage established after the God Valley Incident had vanished.
Even the Beast Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates, who established their pirate crews later, had completely caught up to them.
Their era seemed to be coming to an end.
(end of chapter)