New World, an island somewhere.
This was a lawless zone where pirates gathered in droves.
There were quite a few places like this in the New World.
After all, even the Marines, whose influence spread across the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, found it difficult to extend their reach into the New World, which was ruled by the Four Emperors.
As a result, many places beyond their jurisdiction naturally became lawless zones.
But with Akainu succeeding to the position of Fleet Admiral, this phenomenon, which had persisted for many years, might gradually begin to change.
At this moment.
The uneven buildings in the lawless zone were all engulfed in flames.
Billowing black smoke shot into the sky, blending into the gloomy heavens.
The streets, usually filled with noise and bustle, were now so quiet that only the sound of the flames remained.
Bodies drenched in blood lay scattered across the ground.
Firelight flickered over the corpses, radiating a deathly stillness.
A little farther away was the central area of the buildings.
There, countless corpses had been piled into a small mountain.
Atop the corpse mountain sat a burly man in a military uniform, with long blond hair.
This man was none other than Douglas Bullet, the Successor of the Demon.
"Interesting, interesting..."
Bullet held a newspaper in his hand, baring his teeth in a dangerous smile.
All around him, the flames rapidly consumed the oxygen.
The unbearable heat they created filled every corner.
Yet Bullet, sitting atop the corpse mountain, seemed completely unaffected.
In fact.
He was the one who had destroyed this lawless-zone stronghold.
The corpses piled into a small mountain, as well as those scattered throughout the streets as far as the eye could see, were also all his doing.
Those who were