Watching Roger's Execution at the Start

"Good. Now let's discuss the battle plan!"

On a massive three-masted sailing ship, a fearsome pirate flag hung from a thick mast. Its emblem was a skull, but not a human one—it looked more like a bear's. A huge scar slashed across it, making it all the more menacing.

Any pirate in the New World would have recognized it as the Savage Bear, flagship of the Savage Bear Pirates, a member of the Pirate Alliance!

Aboard the Savage Bear...

Francis sat in a cushioned office chair, alone. Half his body was hidden in shadow. In his hands were an ordinary Den Den Mushi and a white anti-eavesdropping Den Den Mushi.

... Brrring, brrring...

"Hey, Francis! How's it going? I've been keeping the Drought position open for you!" As the call connected, the Den Den Mushi's face changed, sprouting two strange horns.

"Don't worry. Everything's going smoothly, Lord Kaido."

Francis answered calmly.

"Good..."

Click. The call ended. Francis showed no irritation. He kept working, and the Den Den Mushi rang again.

Brrring, brrring...

"How is it?"

"My lord, everything's going smoothly. Thanks to that rising Marine star, I'll be able to infiltrate the Beasts Pirates when this is over..."

"Excellent. Don't waste the Ancient Zoan Bear-Bear Fruit we gave you. Once your undercover mission is done, you can join CP0 directly. Don't get exposed. You know what happens if you fail..."

"Yes!"

Click... The Den Den Mushi hung up once more.

A Storm Was Coming

New World, G-5 Base harbor.

A massive standard-issue Marine warship was docked in the harbor. Some thousand Marines stood in neat ranks on its deck, led by a smiling Rear Admiral Tokikake.

Atlas stood on the dock, watching Tokikake, who was looking as lively as ever, and greeted him with a smile.

Vice Admiral Tsuru had assigned Atlas to welcome the reinforcements sent from Headquarters. Gion was supposed to come too, but when she heard Tokikake would be arriving, she found an excuse to slip away, leaving Atlas to suffer through it alone.

"Hey, Atlas! Where's Miss Gion? I was going to make my ninety-ninth confession to her."

Tokikake looked around the dock and found only Atlas. His disappointment was plain.

"Ah... Rear Admiral Gion had something come up, so I'm here on my own." Atlas's explanation sounded strained. He could hardly say she had run off just to avoid Tokikake.

"By the way, didn't Vice Admiral Tsuru say Vice Admiral Kuzan was coming to support us in the New World too? Where is he?" Atlas was puzzled. He had been talking to Tokikake for a while, yet Kuzan still had not disembarked.

"Vice Admiral Kuzan..."

Tokikake had barely begun when a languid voice drifted over from farther down the harbor. "Oh, sorry, Kanos. Didn't mean to keep you waiting!"

Atlas turned toward the voice. Kuzan was cycling slowly across the sea, wearing a Marine justice coat over a white suit and dark blue shirt. A narrow strip of ice formed beneath his tires as they rolled. His eyelids drooped, and he kept yawning as though he might fall asleep at any moment.

"Vice Admiral Kuzan!"

Atlas snapped to attention and gave a crisp salute.

Kuzan casually put his bicycle away and handed it to a nearby Marine. He waved to Atlas, then headed straight for Garp's Office.

"Well then, Kanos. Let's go. The wind's about to pick up!"

Wano Country, Onigashima.

"Brother Kaido, should the Beasts Pirates get involved in the coming war in the New World? We could make it even more chaotic!"

Wildfire King was a burly man dressed entirely in black, his face covered as well. Flames streamed from the great wings on his back, and a long sword hung at his waist. His only exposed eye rested on Kaido, who was guzzling liquor.

"No need. We'll watch the fire from across the river. But I'm going to stir things up myself. Only a fight at that level gets me excited anymore! Hahahaha!"

Kaido drained his gourd. Clear liquor ran down his beard and dripped onto the floor, its steady patter echoing through the room beneath his triumphant laughter.

Aboard the Moby Dick.

"Pops, the Marines have been moving more and more often. They're gathering huge numbers in the New World. Are they planning to come after us at any cost?" Worry creased Marco's brow. He did not fear the Marines, nor did he have any ambition to become Pirate King. He only wanted to keep living alongside Pops. If Pops became Pirate King, all the better.

"Marco, don't worry so much. The World Government would be the first to object if the Marines tried to clear out the New World. And the other pirates here won't roll over. If the Marines try to bite into this, they're liable to break their teeth!"

Vista, standing nearby, had the World Government's measure. The Five Elders would never sit by while the Marines grew too powerful—or were weakened too severely. They wanted only one thing: balance.

To the Five Elders, the whole world was a chessboard. As the players, they had to keep the major powers in balance so the World Government's rule would remain secure.

"Gurararara! Marco, Vista's right. Don't worry. I'm... Whitebeard!"

New World, G-5 Base, Staff Office.

Every senior officer currently stationed at G-5 Base had gathered in the small office.

Atlas was among them. Though he held only the rank of Commodore, everyone present had acknowledged his strength. That made him a senior officer of sorts.

Vice Admiral Tsuru sat straight-backed behind her desk. Akainu and Kuzan, the two Admiral candidates who currently held the rank of Headquarters Vice Admiral, sat in the guest chairs on either side. Garp stood beside Tsuru, crunching donuts and spraying crumbs across her desk.

"Good. Everyone's here. I'll go over the assignments and arrangements for the coming battle."

Vice Admiral Tsuru surveyed the room, tuned out Garp's chewing, and began to speak.

"Garp, Sakazuki, Tokikake, Gion—you'll take a portion of our forces to intercept the Whitebeard Pirates. You'll also need to watch for Kaido causing trouble on the battlefield. Your combined strength should be enough."

"Kuzan, you and Atlas will lead another force to the Totto Land Waters. According to Cipher Pol's intelligence, the Pirate Alliance is targeting the Big Mom Pirates. If Big Mom's side starts losing, seize the chance to wipe them out, then strike the Pirate Alliance."

"Of course, the Pirate Alliance is far more likely to lose. Totto Land's intelligence network is not to be underestimated. In that case, just crush the so-called Pirate Alliance afterward."

"As for Kaido's Beasts Pirates, I doubt they'll show up. Kaido knows Wano Country's position makes an attack difficult, and that the Marines won't go looking for a costly fight there. We don't need to assign forces to them, but I'll arrange for someone to keep watch."

"Ahahaha, Vice Admiral Tsuru, don't worry. Not a single pirate in that Pirate Alliance will get away." Kuzan shed his sleepy look and made the promise with complete confidence.

Across the New World, the Big Mom Pirates and pirate crews great and small sensed that something was different. Countless pirates were preparing in secret, eager to claim a share of the war that was about to overturn the world's balance of power.

The winds of a new era were about to sweep into the New World!

Outbreak

January 1506, Sea Circle Calendar. New World, Totto Land Waters.

The enormous Queen Mama Chanter lay at anchor, rocking gently with the swell. Its strange figurehead sang softly. Pirate ships of every size surrounded it, all flying the distinctive flag of a skull with red lips and a beckoning hand.

Aboard the Queen Mama Chanter...

Big Mom had recently given birth to her seventy-fifth child, yet she showed none of the weakness an ordinary woman would. She kept rolling up tablecloths and tipping all the desserts they held into her mouth. Servants on either side swiftly replaced each emptied spread, over and over again.

"Mama, the Sea Slugs sent back images. The Pirate Alliance's fleet has entered the Totto Land Waters."

It was Perospero again. He did not dare disturb Big Mom while she ate; if her Hunger Pangs struck, all of Totto Land might be destroyed. But the situation was too urgent. He had no choice but to report it.

"Hmm? What did you say?"

Big Mom stopped eating at once. Her huge, bloodshot eyes fixed on Perospero. Corrosive drool dripped from her mouth, which stretched almost to her ears. If he failed to explain himself, she looked ready to swallow him whole.

"M-Mama, that so-called Pirate Alliance has invaded the Totto Land Waters. It seems... it seems they've made us their target."

Perospero swallowed hard and spoke with care. Under Big Mom's stare, cold sweat kept beading on his forehead.

"Mamamama! Those worthless fools dare set their sights on my Totto Land? They really do underestimate me!"

"Perospero, gather the fleet with Katakuri. I'm going to wipe them out myself. They think I'm... an easy target!"

"But... Mama, you've only just given birth. I'm afraid..." Perospero was worried. Big Mom was the heart of the crew. Without her, he and the others could hardly call themselves pirate overlords.

"Hmm? Are you telling me what to do, Perospero? You're only my son. Know your place!"

Big Mom's face darkened, and the force of her long-held authority bore down on him. Perospero's back nearly soaked through with sweat. He hurriedly nodded and agreed.

At the edge of the Totto Land Waters.

Four distinctive ships sailed into the dreamlike sea. Their savage figureheads looked utterly out of place. The Pirate Alliance's four crews, followed by their subordinate pirates, had entered the Big Mom Pirates' territory and challenged the New World overlord without warning!

Excitement and gravity mingled on the four captains' faces. Soon, they seemed to believe, they would rule the New World—and perhaps even have a shot at the Pirate King's throne.

"Mamamama! You four small fry think I'm an easy target? That really... gets on my nerves!"

Before they could celebrate for long, Big Mom arrived. She stood at the bow of the Queen Mama Chanter with Napoleon, her massive sword, in hand. Zeus and Prometheus, the two Homies who commanded lightning and fire, hovered on either side of her.

"Hehehe! Old woman, your era is over. There's no ship for you in the new one. Time to get off and make room for us youngsters!"

The grim-faced Lakeham stepped forward without a trace of fear and threw Big Mom's words back at her.

"Mamamama! What an ungrateful pack of fools! Katakuri, bring me that man's head!"

"Yes, Mama!"

"Hehehehe! Yermak, you and Francis keep Big Mom occupied. I'll take Katakuri!"

Lakeham spoke with utter confidence. He had eaten the Paramecia Blood-Blood Fruit and could manipulate the blood inside his enemies. He could also speed up his own blood flow to enhance his fighting ability. He had already achieved Awakening and had no fear of Katakuri.

Damn it!

Yermak and Francis cursed inwardly at the same time. They knew Katakuri and Big Mom were nowhere near the same level. But Lakeham had seized the initiative and maneuvered them into this. Now they had no choice but to face her.

"Mamamama! They're looking down on me!"

Big Mom was so furious at Lakeham's words that she laughed. A strange cackle poured from her enormous mouth, and an invisible wave spread from her toward the Pirate Alliance!

Conqueror's Haki!

Time seemed to freeze across the sea. Pirates who had been shouting moments before fell silent. Their eyes went vacant, their mouths hung half-open, and they collapsed unconscious as though their souls had been pulled from their bodies.

"C-Conqueror's Haki!"

"God! What kind of monster has Conqueror's Haki that terrifying?"

"We're supposed to fight a monster like that? We'd be marching to our deaths!"

"Captain, let's retreat! We can't stand against the Big Mom Pirates!"

Those who had barely remained conscious under Big Mom's Conqueror's Haki shook so badly their legs threatened to give way. Every hair stood on end. Like startled kittens, they had lost almost all their courage.

"What are you panicking for? She's just an old woman! It's only Conqueror's Haki!"

The captains shouted their crews into order, though they were uneasy themselves. Three of the four, all but Francis, possessed Conqueror's Haki. But beside Big Mom's, theirs were candles flickering in the wind.

"Everyone, attack! Blood Scythe!"

Lakeham could wait no longer. He activated his fruit ability and charged Katakuri. The other three found their respective opponents and engaged them. He knew that if they delayed any longer, their side would be routed completely.

"Mamamama! Zeus! Lightning!"

"Yes, Mama!"

Zeus, floating in midair, suddenly turned vicious. His entire body went black, and a gigantic pillar of lightning fell without warning, carrying the dreadful force of a natural disaster!

"Cloud-Cloud: Thundercloud!"

Yermak had eaten the Logia Cloud-Cloud Fruit and did not fear Zeus's attack. He and Francis knew Lakeham had not sent them against Big Mom merely to set them up. They were well aware that Charlotte Linlin, the greatest threat on the battlefield, possessed three powerful Homies.

Yermak's Cloud-Cloud Fruit neutralized Big Mom's Zeus. Francis, meanwhile, had eaten the Ancient Zoan Bear-Bear Fruit, Savage Bear Form, and was already close to Awakening. No one there could match his ability to take a beating. The two of them were the best choice to hold Big Mom off.

You Shall Not Pass

By the time Kuzan and Atlas arrived in the Totto Land Waters, the Big Mom Pirates and the Pirate Alliance were locked in fierce battle.

Cannon fire and fighting rang across the sea. Smoke hung over waters stained red with blood. Across the battlefield, though, the Big Mom Pirates had the Pirate Alliance on the defensive.

Big Mom alone was more than they could handle, even though she had only just given birth.

Yermak and Francis, fighting to keep Big Mom occupied, were suffering most of all. They could barely withstand her. Her terrifying Iron Balloon physique left them at a loss, and the two Homies at her side gave her attacks that could sweep across a wide area.

"What a crazy old woman!"