The New World, the Whole Cake Island defensive line.
Early morning.
Sakazuki stood on the island's mountaintop, gazing into the distance.
Not a trace of light shone in the pitch-black sky. Endless darkness shrouded heaven and earth, and many had been unable to sleep the night before.
The last darkness before dawn was unbearably oppressive, the hardest stretch to endure...
Whoosh-
Carol appeared.
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
He held out two transparent containers, each holding a Devil Fruit.
Sakazuki took the containers and raised them before his eyes. Turning them slightly in his hands, he looked at the golden and emerald-green Devil Fruits and chuckled.
"The last two loose cannons are gone, too..."
This world did not need so many powerful figures. Once the war ended, two or three capable of keeping the world subdued would be enough.
All the other powerful figures, whether out in the open or lurking in the shadows, would be thoroughly eliminated. Restrictions would only be lifted once this world had been remade as Sakazuki wanted.
"Prepare to welcome the dawn..."
The New World, the Whole Cake Island defensive line.
Morning.
In the vast conference room where yesterday's meeting had taken place, Sakazuki sat alone at the head of the table, leaning back with his arms folded and his eyes closed.
Time ticked by. Footsteps arrived outside one after another, their owners waiting beyond the door.
The hands of the pocket watch reached eight.
Carol entered and walked over to Sakazuki, lowering his head to report.
"Fleet Admiral, everyone is here."
Sakazuki gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment and slowly opened his eyes.
He picked up the cap on the table, rose, and put it on as he headed outside, with Carol close behind.
He stepped through the doors Carol had opened.
Boundless light filled