"What a wonderful memory..."
Come to think of it, that had been forty years ago.
Austin sat high in the sky, looking through this album of photos meant for an old man in another world. This, too, had been his youth.
In his twenties, young and full of vigor, after his strength had caught up to his first captain, Roger, he had met his second captain, Rocks, who had been stronger than him.
And now...
They had all passed away.
Austin looked into the distance.
Had the Old Era truly passed away?
The Rocks Pirates, the greatest symbol of the Old Era—by now, more than half of its captains had already died.
Rocks had died at God Valley. Newgate had fallen in battle. Shiki had fallen in battle. John was dead. Ochoku was dead...
The only two who could still be considered alive were Big Mom and Kaido.
Even those two would be defeated by brats of the New Era in the not-too-distant future.
And what about the Roger Pirates?
Captain Roger had been publicly executed. The official crew members had either retired or passed away. Only three former child apprentices remained active on the seas.
Two of them could not even be considered remnants of the Old Era.
Shanks and Buggy were still popular contenders for the Great Treasure in the New Era.
When he put it that way...
Austin looked at the photo album in his hands. Young Austin and Roger had their arms around each other's shoulders as they drank, while Rocks led Austin off toward God Valley...
"Gulp, gulp—"
"Am I about to become the only remaining remnant among the overlords of the Old Era?"
"So be it..."
Austin patted Seagull King's back.
"Let's go see some old friends."
New World, Totto Land.
Whole Cake