The year 1495 of the sea circle calendar was destined to go down in history.
That year, the gears of fate began turning faster, and the tide of the era swept across the entire Grand Line.
At the start of the year, the rising Marine star, "Heavenquake" Gern, suffered defeat in a fierce battle with Roger. Their clash showed the world the true strength of the future Pirate King.
It also made Gern understand the gap between himself and those of king-class strength.
Yet fate had an ironic twist in store: a few months later, that very same defeated man indirectly saved the Roger Pirates.
In Edd War, faced with encirclement by the massive fleet led by Golden Lion Shiki,
the earth-shaking tsunami Gern unleashed became the turning point that let Roger escape certain doom.
This epic battle, later known as the [Edd War], completely reshaped the balance of power in the New World.
The Flying Pirates, whose might had once shaken the Four Blues, suffered devastating losses in that battle.
Golden Lion himself sustained a severe head injury, tumbling from his place at the pinnacle of power among the three legendary pirates.
In the latter half of that same year, the Roger Pirates continued their adventure.
They seized a crucial Poneglyph from the young Charlotte Linlin, but had no one who could decipher its secrets.
This dilemma turned Roger's attention toward the Kozuki Clan of Wano Country, and he began setting his sights on Kozuki Oden of the Whitebeard Pirates!
Meanwhile, aboard the ship, "Devil's Heir" Bullet's convictions crumbled when he learned that Roger had a terminal illness and little time left.
Convinced that he would never defeat Roger in his lifetime, he issued one final challenge on Kuya Island.
After losing that challenge, he officially left the crew,