A piece of news shook the entire world.
The war between the World Government and the Whitebeard Pirates, which was expected to become a historic execution, ended up revealing truths far more shocking than anyone had anticipated.
The first major revelation was about the man who had been publicly declared as Portgas D. Ace, the adopted son of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. For days, the world believed he was about to be executed at Marineford. But as it turns out, that man was not Ace at all. Rumors began to spread rapidly: the person on the execution platform was merely a low-level criminal with a shapeshifting Devil Fruit ability, planted there to act as Ace.
This revelation sent waves of outrage and confusion across nations. People began questioning the integrity of the World Government. If the man was not Ace, then what was the purpose of the execution? What truth had been hidden behind this grand spectacle?
Many began to believe that the execution was never about justice at all. Instead, it had been a strategic move by the World Government to lure Whitebeard into a direct confrontation, using a false Ace as bait. It was a trap disguised as justice. The war that followed was, in essence, a fabricated excuse to eliminate Whitebeard and send a message to the rest of the pirate world.
But the deception did not stop there.
The real Ace, Portgas D. Ace, had indeed been imprisoned in Impel Down. But in another twist, he was rescued before reaching the execution stage. According to spreading reports, his savior was none other than Monkey D. Zino—the rising Supernova with a bounty now feared across the seas. Zino not only freed Ace, but also broke several key figures out of Impel Down, including prominent Revolutionary Army members Ivankov and Inazuma.
What was even more unbelievable was that Zino, along with the escapees, managed to reach Marineford during the war itself. He arrived mid-battle, shocking everyone by engaging directly with the admirals. Witnesses claimed he launched a surprise attack on Admiral Akainu, sending him flying, and then fought Admiral Aokiji on equal footing. It was a terrifying display of power that left both the Marines and the public stunned.
With such feats, it was clear that Monkey D. Zino was rapidly becoming one of the greatest threats to the World Government. As a result, his bounty was raised again—reportedly to astronomical levels. His reputation among pirates and revolutionaries soared, while fear spread among the elite.
However, the biggest surprise of all came at the war's end.
Just when the Whitebeard Pirates and their allies got cornered inside the bay of the Marineford, they suddenly vanished. One moment they were fighting, the next, they were gone. No trace was left—not a single ship, not a body, not even a trail. The bay was empty.
It was as if they had never been there at all.
Some critics labeled Whitebeard a coward, accusing him of running away in fear. But most of the world disagreed. Many viewed the Marines as the ones who suffered the biggest embarrassment. They had prepared everything: the battlefield, the soldiers, the weapons, the broadcast. And yet, they achieved nothing.
They didn't execute a single pirate.
Ace, their primary target, escaped without a scratch.
Whitebeard, their biggest threat, survived and disappeared.
On top of that, the Marines suffered massive casualties. The damage to Marineford was severe, with entire sections of the base destroyed or burned. Morale among their ranks was low, and public confidence in the World Government began to waver.
Under pressure from growing criticism, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had no choice but to take responsibility. In the aftermath of the disaster, he officially stepped down from his position as Fleet Admiral.
What began as a show of power by the World Government ended up becoming a symbol of their greatest failure.
Another rumor that caught the attention of the world was the sudden appearance of Red-Haired Shanks and his pirate crew near Marineford during the peak of the war. This came as a complete surprise because Shanks was previously reported to be confronting the Emperor Kaido to prevent him from interfering in the conflict.
However, Shanks did not involve himself in the war. According to eyewitnesses, his ship was spotted approaching Marineford but left soon after receiving information that Whitebeard and his forces had successfully retreated from the battlefield. Though he caused no conflict, his brief and mysterious presence raised many questions among the public and within the Government itself.
Some began to speculate whether Shanks had a secret alliance or understanding with Whitebeard. While nothing has been confirmed, the timing of his appearance and withdrawal seemed far too convenient to be a coincidence. Analysts believe he may have intended to intervene only if things turned worse, or possibly to help prevent further bloodshed.
While the world was still trying to process that, another shocking event surfaced—one that further stained the pride of the World Government.
At the very start of the Marineford war, Marshal D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard, was officially announced as one of the new Shichibukai—the Seven Warlords of the Sea. However, instead of fulfilling his duties, he used the title and his temporary protection from the Government to commit a bold and treacherous act.
Blackbeard and his newly assembled pirate crew infiltrated Impel Down, the world's most secure prison, under the pretense of his Warlord status. The prison breach itself was unprecedented, but what shocked people more was that it happened while the Marines were fully occupied with the war against Whitebeard.
Fortunately, things did not go in Blackbeard's favor.
Chief Warden Magellan, enraged by the successful escape of Ace and several high-profile prisoners earlier, showed no mercy to the invading Blackbeard crew. Utilizing his poisonous powers to the fullest, Magellan unleashed his wrath upon the intruders. Every single member of the Blackbeard Pirates was swiftly apprehended, and reports suggest that Magellan nearly killed them all in the process.
Blackbeard himself was severely injured and, along with his crew, was thrown into the lowest level of Impel Down—Level 6—reserved only for the most dangerous criminals.
Despite this small victory, the incident sparked heated public debate over the current state of security in the world's strongest prison. Even though Blackbeard was caught, it exposed major flaws in the system. Some smaller, lesser-known pirates had also managed to escape during the chaos, including a once-forgotten pirate from East Blue—Buggy the Clown.
The World Government was heavily criticized.
People feared that if the prison's security continued to weaken, it might only be a matter of time before the most dangerous criminals in the world were roaming free again. Public confidence in the World Government dipped once more.
In response to the backlash, an emergency statement was issued: Impel Down would undergo a complete security overhaul. In addition to Chief Warden Magellan, six new Vice Chief Wardens would be appointed, each assigned to oversee one of the six prison levels. With this increased supervision, the World Government hoped to regain the people's trust and prevent any further breaches.
But even with these moves, trouble was far from over.
There were now two major power gaps within the World Government. The first was the empty seat of Fleet Admiral. After the failure of Marineford, Sengoku officially resigned, accepting responsibility for the disaster. In his place, he recommended Admiral Aokiji to become the next Fleet Admiral.
However, not everyone agreed with his proposal.
Many influential figures within the Government supported Admiral Akainu instead, citing his ruthless and uncompromising justice as necessary for this time of crisis. This disagreement sparked a deep rift.
Rumors began to circulate that Aokiji refused to serve under Akainu, believing their views of justice were fundamentally incompatible. In response, the two admirals reached a bold and decisive agreement: they would fight each other. The outcome of their duel would determine who would become the next Fleet Admiral.
The second major gap in the World Government's structure, following the Marineford War, was the weakened Warlord system. With three Warlords now effectively removed, the balance of power had shifted.
Firstly, Jinbe had publicly refused to comply with Government orders and was stripped of his title before the war even began.
Secondly, Blackbeard, who was only recently appointed, betrayed the Government by infiltrating Impel Down and was subsequently captured and imprisoned.
Lastly, Gekko Moria, the former Warlord, was reported to have been eliminated shortly after the war ended. Rumors swirled that he was quietly assassinated by agents of the Government to prevent future trouble.
This left three seats in the Shichibukai vacant.
In a surprising turn, whispers began to spread that the World Government was considering offering one of these seats to the most famous and rapidly rising Supernova—Monkey D. Zino. Sources close to Marine Headquarters claimed that this suggestion came directly from the Commander-in-Chief himself, Kong.
This unexpected move stirred up a new wave of public speculation and controversy. Some questioned the integrity and desperation of the Government. Why would they offer a position of such influence to someone who had openly defied them at Marineford and played a direct role in Whitebeard's escape?
Others saw it differently.
Some began to suspect that Zino was not what he appeared to be. Perhaps he was an undercover agent of the Marines or even the World Government, secretly working under deep cover, using piracy as a front. The fact that he seemed to appear and disappear from major events, and his uncanny ability to evade capture, only fueled the conspiracy theories.
Still, all of this remained speculation.
No one knew the truth about Zino—his origins, his motivations, or his allegiances. As much as people debated the possibilities, there was no official statement from the Government, nor any sign of Zino himself. After the war, he and his entire crew had vanished without a trace.
...
Spring Island.
Far away from the chaos of the Grand Line and the ruins of Marineford, a peaceful island in full bloom became the temporary refuge of the pirates who had escaped the war. Known as Spring Island, it was a land of vibrant flowers and warm breezes. For a few days, it served as a sanctuary for the Whitebeard Fleet and the Orcas.
During this time, Zino was preoccupied with organizing transport and safe routes for the various Whitebeard ships to leave the island. While he was busy handling that, the members of the Orcas seized the opportunity to grow stronger.
They turned to the Whitebeard Division Commanders—some of the most seasoned pirates in the world—to help them learn Haki. And their method of learning was simple: challenge them to a fight.
Fortunately, the Whitebeard Pirates were more than willing to test the strength of the crew who had helped save them at Marineford. Curiosity mixed with camaraderie, and the matches began.
Zoro faced Vista, the master swordsman of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Sanji took on Marco, the phoenix-like first division commander.
Gin clashed with the diamond-skinned Jozu.
Alvida challenged Kingdew.
Galdino stepped up against Curiel.
Kruz, surprisingly, sparred with Ace himself.
And in the most shocking match of all—Nami went and challenged Whitebeard.
The rest of the Orcas watched and learned from the sidelines, gaining valuable insight through observation.
Whitebeard, who initially doubted the rookies, was soon taken aback by their potential. He was especially surprised by Nami. Not only did she possess the same tremors power as him, but she also showed an innate understanding of it. Recognizing this, Whitebeard personally mentored her, teaching her how to control and refine the destructive power of the quake abilities.
As the days passed, progress was clear.
Zoro awakened his Armament Haki two days after his match with Vista.
Sanji, never one to fall behind, awakened his Haki on the third day.
Both Alvida and Gin also awakened theirs on the same day.
Galdino, unfortunately, still struggled, failing to break through despite his effort.
Kruz did not awaken Haki but advanced his space-tearing abilities thanks to his sparring sessions with Ace.
And Nami, under Whitebeard's personal guidance, grew more confident in using her quake powers.
Seeing their growth, Whitebeard couldn't help but nod in approval. Zino's ambition to become a Yonko no longer sounded like an arrogant dream. With a crew like this, it might just become a reality.