Time was the most powerful force, and no one could resist its passage. Over the past few years, Dawn had grown from an infant into a... child...
At Marine Headquarters, the sun rose early, yet because it was located in the New World, the climate was unexpectedly not that hot.
At this time, about three years remained before the Great Pirate Era began.
Dawn had now spent a year and a half at Marine Headquarters. It was now Round Sea Calendar 1496.
As time passed, all kinds of major events continued to unfold.
While Dawn focused on his training, news spreading through the Marines made the atmosphere increasingly tense.
Dawn knew that before the Pirate King was born, the decisive battle between Golden Lion and Roger—the Battle of Edd Sea—was about to begin.
The atmosphere at Marine Headquarters was clearly no longer as relaxed as when Dawn had first joined the Marines. He could even feel the heaviness permeating the air.
Even the current Fleet Admiral, Kong, had temporarily stopped focusing on matters concerning the "Commander-in-Chief of the Entire Military" and personally took command at Marine Headquarters.
When an intelligence officer from the New World delivered the latest news to Marine Headquarters, an urgent sound like an air-raid siren rang throughout the base.
"Fleet Admiral Kong! Roger and Golden Lion have made contact on Edd Sea in the New World!"
As the alarm sounded, the intelligence officer's voice echoed through the ongoing Marine meeting.
"Look, our chance has come." Garp grinned broadly and burst into laughter at the news.
He rose to his feet, ready to set out. His impatient movements made it clear just how seriously he took this chance to continue pursuing Roger.
Garp was still middle-aged then, dressed in a black suit beneath a Vice Admiral's coat. He looked incomparably imposing.
His black hair and thick black beard showed that he was still at the peak of his prime.
Before Garp could take two steps outside, Fleet Admiral Kong's voice sounded beside him at just the right moment. "Stop, Garp. I'm not done talking."
Garp turned around and casually shut the door. "You may not be done talking, but I've already heard enough."
"Garp, stop right there!" Even with Kong's furious roar behind him and the door shutting, Garp continued on his way, leading his subordinates toward the alley where the warships were docked.
"Mr. Garp, you turned down another promotion, didn't you?"
"That's so cool." The young Aokiji, dressed in a blue uniform with his hands tucked into his pockets, followed behind Garp with a sigh. His usual lazy appearance was nowhere to be seen.
"If you want to live freely, you don't need such a high position." Garp grinned and turned to look to the side.
At that moment, Saul followed behind Tsuru with a sleepy expression, yawning.
"Little Tsuru, give me a ride after you set sail."
"The order to deploy hasn't come down yet. You'll wreck the ship right away. I don't want you aboard." Tsuru replied irritably.
"Don't say that. I'm definitely the one who's going to deal with Roger." Garp laughed.
"Garp, the matter with Golden Lion Shiki has been left to us. Go back already."
Sengoku stood with one hand on the ship's rail, shouting at Garp. Behind him stood the future Admiral Kizaru—Borsalino—wearing a Marine cap and a thoroughly lecherous expression.
Garp raised a hand in greeting and said excitedly to Sengoku, "Don't worry, you can have all the credit."
"That's not what I mean!!" Sengoku roared in exasperation.
"Ha ha ha ha!" It was obvious that getting to pursue his longtime rival Roger made Garp very happy.
"Oh? Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp are both setting out?" Yamakaji stood on deck with a cigar in his mouth, watching the scene alongside Mole.
"The opponent is Roger, after all. Mr. Garp can't just stand by." Mole could not help letting out that sigh.
After all, those two had been inseparable rivals ever since their youth.
Meanwhile, in the New World.
On Edd Sea, two of the three great pirates were meeting upon these waters.
"Captain Roger!!!!!"
"Our lives are what matter most! Let's just give in to Golden Lion first!!"
With his distinctive duck-like voice, Clown Buggy clutched his head as tears streamed from his eyes, his face filled with despair.
At this point, Clown Buggy had not yet adopted his later appearance. He merely wore a black hat, its outer edge ringed with a short strip of yellow leopard print.
"You've become impossible to kill no matter how many times you're cut. What does it matter?" the young Red-Hair in a Straw Hat said, trying to comfort him.
"I've got plenty of other weaknesses, idiot!"
Buggy looked panicked, as though his eyes might pop out at any moment. Turning to the ship's doctor, he asked hopefully, "Right, Mr. Crocus, how is the captain's condition?!"
As he spoke, Buggy rushed over to Crocus in a few quick steps. With tears in his eyes, he gestured with both hands. "If he's still not fit to fight, then hurry up and stop him as the doctor."
"Unfortunately, he's in top condition right now." Crocus casually spun the harpoon in his hand several times, then slung a spare spear across his back and made a few thrusting motions.
"Rayleigh~~"
Buggy let out his distinctive duck-like cry, but before he could reach Rayleigh, someone beside him grabbed him by his black hat.
"Give up. We've been with Roger for so long, yet we still couldn't persuade him."
"How could this be..."
"We have to trust Tom's Thousand Sunny. Roger doesn't have much time left," Rayleigh said, his voice inevitably turning lower by the end.
"How many times have I said this, Roger? We may have had plenty of grudges when we were young, but let's forget them.
"With the world-destroying weapons whose whereabouts you know, my forces, and the perfect plan I have spent years building, we can rule this world immediately."
Golden Lion stood at the bow of his ship, extending his right hand toward Roger in invitation.
"Become my right-hand man, Roger!"
"I'm not interested in ruling, Shiki. If you can't do what you want, then what's the point of being a pirate?"
Though Roger was gravely ill, he still appeared as proud and heroic as ever!
"No matter how much pressure you put on me, Golden Lion!! I refuse your proposal!" Facing forces dozens of times greater than his own, Roger still rejected Golden Lion without the slightest fear.
Behind him, Rayleigh and the others stood there. Though dozens of Golden Lion's ships surrounded them, there was not a trace of hesitation in their eyes. Every one of them even wore a smile.
"Captain, stop it already! Do you know the enemy has dozens of ships?" Clown Buggy clung to Roger's arm, tearful and distraught, only to be pulled away by Rayleigh.
"So you mean you want me to kill you right now, Roger!!" Golden Lion asked viciously.
"I mean I'll crush every last one of you!" Roger answered with a broad grin.
The great battle began!
Before you continue