The Cruel World! Gathering Forces! One Year Later

On the vast, plain-like top deck of the Calamity City.

Roa stood leisurely with his hands behind his back, looking every bit the composed master.

"Hehehe! Roa, since this is something you asked for yourself, then I won't show any mercy!"

Kaido, the elder brother whom Roa respected most, carried his spiked club, a strange smile on his lips, and looked down at Roa from his mountain-like height.

"Mother, Mother, Roa, you're not going to get angry because you got beaten up and suddenly unleash all your power, are you?"

Charlotte Linlin, carrying her large sword, chatted with great interest amidst her laughter.

"Bring it on, Big Brother Kaido, Linlin- nii!"

Roa spread his hands, smiling calmly, "With just the two of you, you shouldn't be able to push me to that point!"

"You brat, aren't you looking down on me a bit too much!"

Roaring, Charlotte Linlin stomped her foot so hard it left a deep footprint on the solid platform beneath her, and her massive body launched forward like a cannonball.

On Napoleon's raised greatsword, black and red Haki leaped up, tearing the air into a narrow and wide vacuum, Inazuma the dazzling sharpness rushed straight towards Roa's head.

"Then, let's begin!"

Roa grinned, his body appearing rather small compared to the two monsters, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, yet at this moment he unleashed astonishing speed.

The next instant, Roa and Charlotte Linlin's greatsword collided violently.

Roa's right fist was pitch black, with invisible fluctuations emanating from it.

Boom!!

The Haki Inazuma spread out like a spiderweb, accompanied by a gust of wind that instantly swept across the entire top deck.

In the earth-shattering collision, Charlotte Linlin's massive body staggered backward.

"What!!"

At this moment, the face of Aunt Linlin, whom Roa respected the most, was clearly one of astonishment and disbelief.

She certainly couldn't believe it!

Roa's strength is beyond question; even those monsters known as the Pirate Emperor before his return were utterly no match for him.

But that should be Roa when he's really serious!

That brat Roa, let them help him train.

He said that only in real, intense battles can the Haki evolve most rapidly.

In this world, the only person who can truly put Roa in a difficult position Imu.

Of course, it's impossible to actually find Imu to be a sparring partner.

So, Roa settled for second best and had the big shots in the alliance help him with his cultivation.

However, Roa, when he went all out, was simply too strong; even all of them combined couldn't defeat him.

Therefore, Roa said he wouldn't use his powers or Conqueror's Haki.

So at this moment, this brat is simply fighting using his body and Armament Haki!

Even so, in that instant of collision, Charlotte Linlin clearly felt that she had been put at a disadvantage!

Are you kidding me!

After undergoing the Lineage Factor implantation surgery, my strength should have already improved even further!

With even greater strength and physique, he shouldn't be at a disadvantage against Kaido or Shiki before they underwent the Lineage Factor implantation surgery!

Just how strong is that bastard Roa?!

Off the field, even the Golden Lion, who hadn't shown much interest in the training match, couldn't help but laugh out loud. "His Armament Haki isn't that outstanding, but what's with this physique?!"

"Kaido and Linlin are already natural monsters, but compared to this kid's physique, they're practically as weak as children!"

Even without using his abilities to transform into that terrifying monster form, Roa's human form was already excessively powerful!

"That's why I said,"

Roa chuckled lightly, "Those who are interested can all come at me together."

The value for going all out is just over two hundred.

Without using any special abilities, his Conqueror's Haki at full power would be roughly equivalent to the combined form of Imu's possessed form.

Even if Conqueror's Haki is disabled now, with this superhuman physique alone, he should be no less powerful than Big Brother Kaido or Shiki.

"Hehehe! Let's go!"

Kaido, laughing wildly, blue scales appearing on his body. The Haki Inazuma on his iron rod shot skyward impatiently, "Thunderclap Eight Trigrams!!"

"Hahaha! I'll join in the fun too!"

The Golden Lion had already charged forward, wielding two swords.

Roa's lips curled up. "That's more like it."

Thus, the righteous three-on-one battle began.

No matter how strong Roa's physical body was by nature, relying solely on Armament Haki and Observation Haki, he was still instantly overwhelmed when facing three top-tier experts simultaneously.

Charlotte Linlin is somewhat better off; she doesn't use Observation Haki to Future Sight, so Roa can easily predict her attacks.

However, Kaido and Golden Lion are different; both are powerful figures with no weaknesses, whose abilities Haki have all reached their peak.

Forget about using Observation Haki to Future Sight, they can even use Observation Haki Killer.

Almost instantly, Roa was sent flying by the two men.

But Roa laughed, "Hahaha! That's more like it!"

Without a sufficiently powerful opponent, without feeling enough pressure, how can Armament Haki and Observation Haki be transformed?

But.

That's not enough.

Roa only took a slight breath, and the shallow wounds left on him by Kaido and Golden Lion disappeared instantly.

There was no other way; absorbing the black energy healed his injuries—it was a passive ability. He couldn't just stop breathing forever, could he?

"Give me a few more!"

Even the Golden Lion couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement upon hearing this.

From this perspective, even just using Armament Haki, that bastard Roa could easily wear down the three of them!

"Brother Roa, can I come with you?"

Yamato, seemed eager to join in.

"Me too!"

Bonney also drew his large sword, his face equally beaming with excitement.

Since gaining her abilities, she hasn't had a proper, satisfying battle with anyone yet!

Before them, another figure had already launched himself forward.

"Go to hell!!"

Hancock, the wildcat that Roa had tamed, had a ferocious expression on her face and didn't hesitate to deliver a flying kick to Roa.

Haki Inazuma bolt crackled and leaped along her long, slender, snow-white leg, piercing the air in that instant, as the sharp high heel hurtled straight at Roa's head.

"Oh! Everyone should learn from Hancock!"

Roa nodded repeatedly with satisfaction, "That's more like it! How can my Haki blossom without the determination to kill me!"

"Hehehe! Then I won't be polite!"

"Hahaha! Then don't cry and beg for mercy!"

"Mother, Mother! Come on!!"

Boom!!

The earth shook violently.

Roa is taking a step back and reflecting.

Of course, he doesn't spend all his time meditating. Roa adheres to the principle of balancing work and rest, and after a few hours of practice, he will naturally relax.

And it was at this moment that someone called.

"Haha, Boss,"

Morgans' voice was laced with amusement, "That guy Dragon has abandoned the Revolutionary Army!"

"Oh?"

Roa, who was teasing Hancock, became interested and asked with a chuckle, "What's going on?"

"He left the Revolutionary Army headquarters with Sabo and Ivankov,"

Morgans said with a grin, "Before that, I also contacted other high-ranking officers of the Revolutionary Army —those high-ranking officers I considered trustworthy!"

"It seems like they're forming a new army!"

"Oh?"

Roa gently pinched Hancock's smooth, egg-like cheek. "The New Revolutionary Army? They've certainly got guts this time."

Knowing that the power of the Calamity Company had become as clinging to the Revolutionary Army as a leech, the only way to break free was to make a drastic decision.

"So, Boss, shall we fight?"

Morgans said, "The Dragon abandoned the Revolutionary Army, but the Revolutionary Army remains the Revolutionary Army; they will remain the hope of the West Blue and even the whole world."

It means that Dragon and his crew are no longer needed.

"How is the New Revolutionary Army?"

"Has it escaped our control?" Roa asked.

"Hey-hey,"

Morse's laughter suddenly turned lewd. "Like I said, half of the Revolutionary Army are among us."

"Dragon thought he could rid himself of us by gathering his most trusted officers, but, heh heh, he doesn't seem to realize that half of those officers he trusts are from our ranks!"

"In that case, it doesn't matter, just ignore it."

Roa said casually.

Morgans has done a really good job over the years; someone who infiltrated the Revolutionary Army has actually climbed to that level.

That's true, after all, they all started from the initial public offering (IPO) stage.

"Yes."

Morgans hung up the phone respectfully.

Since the boss had said so, he didn't really care.

Anyway, the so-called Revolutionary Army, the so-called rebellious dragons, are nothing more than stray dogs in front of the Boss. Whenever the Boss wants to, he can just kick them to death.

Just as he put down the Den Den Mushi, Hancock's cold voice came through his ear, "One day, you scum will pay the price for your arrogance!"

Although she didn't know the specifics, Hancock could tell from the conversation.

The world-renowned Revolutionary Army has also been infiltrated by Roa. Now, the leader of the Revolutionary Army has decided to cut off his arm to survive, but Roa, who knows everything, has no intention of doing anything.

"You still don't understand, Hancock,"

Roa simply smiled and pinched the woman's nose. "This world is very realistic, and very cruel."

"Those who are not favored by fate can never shake the world, no matter how hard they try!"

In this world, bloodline theory has to take a backseat; fatalism is the true underlying logic.

Abel's lineage is unmatched, and Loki and Harald need no further introduction, but they are still far from being able to shake this world.

Because they weren't chosen, even heroes like the captain or Roger couldn't change the world.

"Robin isn't, Shanks isn't. Fate didn't choose them; that was destined the moment they didn't eat the Rubber Fruit. Dragon is even less so; he's never even touched the truth of the world."

Roa chuckled and tapped Hancock's forehead with his finger. "While that might sound arrogant, they don't even deserve to be my enemy."

Well, we still need to take Níðhöggr, which Robin and his crew have, a little seriously.

Sigh, how could they have gotten away?

Hancock's eyes widened.

As time goes by, the world is indeed changing rapidly.

In the West Blue and North Blue, Roa's fleet is expanding rapidly.

Even though the Revolutionary Army in the North Blue and some patriots in the West Blue stood up to lead the people in resistance, these resistances were simply no match for the pirates.

Ultimately, it only brought about one tragedy after another.

Later on, almost no one dared to stand up and resist anymore.

Everyone in the world knows that the pirates have achieved a complete victory in the battle for control of the West Blue and the North Blue.

Roa is about to rule half the world, and the World Government is powerless to stop him.

Roa and Imu —these are the names of the two people standing at the pinnacle of this era, a world unprecedented in its true sense of being divided in two.

Anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that it won't be long before these two forces, each vying for a share of the world, erupt into a massive war with the entire globe at stake!

In preparation for this war, both sides began to continuously expand their forces.

The pirate alliances began recruiting large numbers of pirates.

After all, they were simply short-handed, and it was far beyond their capabilities to rule over the three vast seas of the North Blue New World and the West Blue.

However, anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that using pirates to control the occupied countries would lead to chaos on the Red Line.

Meanwhile, World Government have already taken action.

They drastically lowered the entry requirements for Heavenly Tribute, attracting many countries to become World Government Member States in one fell swoop.

Member.

At the same time, the Navy has launched a new round of large-scale recruitment worldwide. This time, the threshold is lower. Even if you have a criminal background, as long as it is not too outrageous and you are outstanding in strength, you can become a member of the righteous army.

Somewhere in the Paradise of the first half of the Grand Line.

In a certain country, in a certain city, at a noodle shop stall.

A blind man dressed in a purple kimono is quietly eating noodles.

People were talking loudly beside him.

"The World Government has actually been forced to this point! Even our country has become an Affiliated Nation!"

"That monster, Roa, is absolutely terrifying! I wonder if the World Government can win!"

"Isn't the navy conducting a massive recruitment drive? I heard they've even increased the number of Admiral; as long as you're strong enough, you can be appointed directly!"

"Admiral"

The blind man eating noodles stared into his pale eyes and smiled wryly, "Alas, one must always do something for this world."

What people don't know is that, in the shadows of the world, the World Government is also recruiting soldiers.

Regardless of character or past, as long as one possesses outstanding abilities, one has the opportunity to become a great knight of the gods!

A country in the South Blue.

"You are, Aramaki, right? Do you want to become one of the great Celestial Dragons?"

"Ah?"

As the two major powers began to expand, those with ulterior motives also did not stop.

East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.

"I'm sorry, Koshiro, we'll probably be stationed in this village for the time being."

"It's nothing, Mr. Dragon. I've heard about what happened. I didn't expect Roa to be this terrifying! But, is starting all over again really alright?"

"It's alright, all the people around the world persecuted by Roa and the World Government are our comrades!!"

A temporary naval base on the Red Line.

"This!"

Zephyr stared in astonishment, his eyes wide.

The young man before me exuded a wild and unrestrained spirit.

"That bastard Roa! I'll beat him up sooner or later! Two countries were destroyed because of him!"

Having grown up in the navy, the righteous young man was enraged by the news coming from the North Blue.

The Conqueror's Haki Awakening in anger!

"Luffy!"

Zephyr felt somewhat relieved.

Sure enough, this child possesses the qualities to become a strong person no less than Zhu Pu.

"Anger is pointless. Since that's not the case, let's become stronger, Luffy!"

Zephyr solemnly said, "Next step is to take the next step in cultivation!"

Since this kid has such talent, all I can do is guide him to a high level in the shortest possible time!

"Yes!"

The Deaf Great Voyage.

A large fleet was anchored near a deserted island.

Whitebeard sat on the shore, quietly drinking his wine.

He took all those Sphinx who were willing to go with him with him, plus a large number of affiliated pirate crews, and in the end, he had a fleet that was comparable in size to a mobile nation.

Maintaining a fleet like this is no easy feat.

Whitebeard is having a headache.

That is, at this time.

"Um?"

He looked up in astonishment, gazing at the horizon.

That's a dragon?

And just like that, more than a year passed in a blur.

It is currently the second half of the year 1519 in the Grand Line Calendar.