New World, Hachinosu.
Ever since the battle with the Whitebeard Pirates, the Blackbeard Pirates had suffered devastating losses.
However, this was not necessarily a bad thing for Blackbeard. Through this war, he had thoroughly united the Blackbeard Pirates into one cohesive force, becoming a genuine pirate admiral.
Moreover, regardless of how it had happened, killing Whitebeard—the world's strongest man—was enough to make him the New World's new emperor.
Thus, the crew members they had lost were quickly replaced.
What this world had no shortage of was greedy people.
With Kaido and Big Mom already setting off for Laugh Tale, Thunder God Enel and Red-Haired Shanks remaining still, and Whitebeard dead...
Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, a man who had not been particularly famous on the seas, suddenly rose to prominence. He became the most dazzling pirate on the seas and the first choice for the vast majority of pirates looking to pledge themselves to someone.
Every day, countless pirates poured into Hachinosu, hoping to become Blackbeard's subordinates.
Blackbeard accepted them all!
Just then, news of Sphinx Island's disappearance emerged, leaving Blackbeard deeply shaken.
When it came to intelligence, the Blackbeard Pirates—whose ranks contained all sorts of pirates from every walk of life—were not weak in the slightest.
He knew that this was power wielded by the Celestial Dragons.
That terrifying destructive force had startled even Blackbeard at the time.
"How did they survive!?"
"Even the Celestial Dragons' secret weapon was powerless against them!?"
While Teach was shocked, his thoughts raced.
"Looks like... it's time to demand the reward from the World Government for last time... And this time, perhaps I can demand an even greater reward..."
In the time that followed, the entire sea fell into a strange atmosphere.
Everyone was waiting for the appearance of the new Pirate King.