Two years passed, and the era had changed.

In the windless zone, on a solitary island, a yacht lay anchored in an inconspicuous spot.

Primeval forests, strange colossal beasts, jagged mountain paths.

Boom... boom...

A towering volcano, wreathed in thin smoke, stood eternally on the island, immense and unyielding.

From above, peering into the irregularly round crater, dark red magma bubbled and seethed, instilling dread in any who gazed upon it.

Yet at that moment, beside the magma, refracted through its glow, one could see a peculiar bird standing motionless with closed eyes.

Its entire body gleamed gold, a crown on its head, radiating a savage, violent aura.

Most astonishing of all, this raptor had three legs—though one seemed ethereal, nearly invisible unless scrutinized.

Its eyes opened—bright and spirited.

Tap... tap...

The great bird stirred, strolling nonchalantly toward the magma, then waded into it, immersing itself at the very edge, a sight both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

Screeching suddenly, a golden monkey appeared, clutching a shriveled Den Den Mushi in its hand, looking markedly disgruntled.

"Take the call," the giant bird said, voice echoing with human clarity, still basking in the magma.

"Screech... Hello, this is Little Gold," the monkey replied, rolling its eyes before pressing the Den Den Mushi.

"You bastard Xuan Ye, get back here immediately!" The Den Den Mushi's face contorted in fury, eyes wide with rage.

"Admiral Sengoku, what is it? I’m in the midst of chasing pirates," the bird replied coolly from the magma.

"Chasing pirates? It's been two years—have you chased yourself away? Get back to Marineford at once!" the Den Den Mushi roared again.

"I’ll return in ten days."

"No! You must be here in five."

"What’s happened?" the giant bird asked, growing impatient.

"Marshal Kong is leaving, promoted to Supreme Commander of the entire military."

"Oh," the bird replied indifferently.

"Within five days. And this time, you’d best bring in some pirates of real consequence. Don’t tell me you plan to remain a Rear Admiral forever!"

"In that case, give me ten days. I’ll go out and apprehend a few major pirates," the bird mused, as if deciding it was time to act.

"Just get moving!" With a slam, Sengoku hung up furiously.

"It's time to step into the world again. After hiding my abilities so long, I wonder if anyone even remembers my existence." Rising, magma cascading from his form, the giant bird transformed into a man—lean, powerful, yet wiry.

"Let’s go. It’s time to bring some excitement to this world." With a flicker of flame, he vanished, leaving only the churning magma behind.

"Wait for me!" the golden monkey cried, a beam of golden light shooting skyward.

Moments later, on the windless sea, a boat blazed across the surface like a fiery storm.

Standing atop the vessel, fire erupting beneath his feet, Xuan Ye pondered.

"Monkey, any news updates?"

"Screech... No idea," the golden monkey replied, sprawled on a deck chair, sunbathing as if he owned the world.

"What about the newspapers I told you to collect?" Xuan Ye’s face darkened—this monkey was getting lazier by the day.

"Over there," the monkey replied, sunglasses perched on its nose, pointing with a furry finger.

Ignoring the monkey’s antics, Xuan Ye fetched the newspaper and skimmed the latest headlines.

"The Beasts Pirates defeated by Whitebeard!"

"Charlotte Linlin kills the five-hundred-million bounty demon Arote Tenma and seizes Cake Island?"

"Tyrant Kuma destroys a kingdom!"

"World Destroyer Bundy Waldo, bounty five hundred million Berries, annihilates a nation in the North Sea—heinous crimes."

And so on—event after event from the past two years. Ever since the Pirate King’s death, countless commoners and ambitious souls had turned pirate, running rampant across the seas.

"What a chaotic age," Xuan Ye murmured, setting the paper aside and gazing out over the boundless ocean. "Perhaps it’s time I played at being an Admiral myself."

"Let’s make the World Destroyer in the North Sea our first target," he decided, tossing aside the paper and setting his sights on the man with the five-hundred-million bounty.

"Get up and take the helm. We’re heading straight for the North Sea," he said, brandishing a log pose, giving the lazy monkey a kick.

"Screech... What a bother," the monkey grumbled, yawning as it reluctantly rose.

In a blink, the boat vanished over the horizon.

The North Sea, when compared with the other three seas, ranked among the top three in strength.

For decades past, a certain power had ruled the North Sea under the very nose of the World Government.

That was the Vinsmoke family—once a kingdom, renowned for its scientific prowess and formidable might.

Though now fallen from their pedestal, they remained a dominant force in the North Sea.

Yet recently, a pirate crew had brazenly destroyed a kingdom under Vinsmoke rule.

It was an affront that Vinsmoke Judge, the family’s supreme authority, would never tolerate.

In the Mint Sea of the North, two enormous warships now faced off.

One was a steel-clad vessel, bristling with weaponry—clearly modified.

The other belonged to a pirate crew led by none other than the infamous World Destroyer, Bundy Waldo.

"Bundy Waldo, why did you destroy my vassal state? Are you not afraid of the Vinsmoke family?" Judge thundered.

Wearing a metal helmet, sporting a small mustache and flowing golden hair, a tall man in an orange cloak gripped a long spear, his face contorted with rage.

Behind him stood a legion—identical soldiers, an army of staggering might.

"Hmph. Vinsmoke? Never heard of them," scoffed Waldo from amidst a throng of pirates, a man in his thirties whose disdain for Judge was palpable.

At this time, Waldo had not yet suffered the betrayals that would come—he stood at the height of his power.

"Boss is unbeatable! Let’s crush this so-called Vinsmoke family and claim the North Sea!"

"We’ll find the Pirate King’s treasure and dominate the world!"

The mob of bloodthirsty pirates brandished their weapons, savage and merciless.

"Fool! In the North Sea, the Vinsmoke family reigns supreme. You’re just a petty pirate—ignorant of death," Judge snapped.

"Germa Army, destroy this pirate crew! Show them what it means to cross the Vinsmoke family!" Judge barked, weapon raised. With a gesture, a barrage of artillery roared forth.

"Men! Show this Vinsmoke family the might of our pirates!"

With a roar, the two massive ships closed in—cold, unfeeling soldiers versus bloodthirsty pirates; ice and fire clashing headlong.

Blood sprayed, limbs flew, screams and curses filled the air—human depravity laid bare in all its brutality.

Bang!

Two terrifying shockwaves collided—Judge and Waldo crashed together, obliterating pirates and soldiers alike near them. Blood and viscera rained down, a gruesome carnage.

"Momo: Tenfold Speed!"

With a roar, the deck split as Waldo lunged like a tiger, fist tearing through the air with such force that Judge’s pupils contracted in alarm.

Clang!

Judge’s spear quivered, his hands numbed by the impact, and he was sent flying.

"Momo Fruit or not, science is invincible," Judge declared, rising to his feet and brandishing a pistol unlike any other, its aura enough to make Waldo hesitate.

"Die!"

A beam of red laser shot forth in an instant.

"Momo: Shield!"

Countless scarlet rays scattered like a goddess’s dance, indiscriminately annihilating everyone aboard.

......

Taking the train to Zhejiang, no chapters in reserve, only one per day—scheduled releases. Sorry, everyone.