The Marineford War had ended in an oppressive silence, but its echoes soon roared across the seas like an unleashed tempest. Newspapers, carried by industrious seagulls, rained down on every island, from remote villages to the bustling cities of the New World. Bold, screaming headlines declared the news: "Marines Triumph! Whitebeard, One of the Four Emperors, Dead!"
The details followed, recounting the titanic battle, the fall of a sea titan, and the miraculous survival of Portgas D. Ace, saved by the unexpected intervention of Monkey D. Luffy and Red-Haired Shanks, who stepped in to halt the conflict.
Within hours, the world reeled from the announcement. The Marines, despite staggering losses—thousands of soldiers fallen, ships reduced to ash, and a base in ruins—claimed victory. Whitebeard's death, the man dubbed "the strongest in the world," was a dazzling testament to their might. But the victory tasted bitter. The fragile balance of power that governed the seas—the Marines, the Four Emperors, and the Seven Warlords—had shattered, ushering in imminent chaos.
At the Marines' temporary headquarters, set up on a neighboring island after Marineford's destruction, Sengoku briefed the senior officers. His face, lined with exhaustion and frustration, betrayed the doubts gnawing at him. Yes, they'd taken down Whitebeard, but at what cost? The human toll was immense, and Shanks' interference had prevented a total wipeout of the pirates. Worse still, Ace's escape—the son of the Pirate King and Whitebeard's adopted heir—sent a dangerous message: the Marines weren't invincible.
Akainu, seated off to the side, nursed his wounds with a sneer of disdain. "We won," he growled, cutting off a vice admiral tallying the losses. "Whitebeard's dead. Pirates will tremble before absolute justice." But even he knew this victory was incomplete. Teach, now Blackbeard, had seized Whitebeard's territories amid the chaos, and his rapid rise threatened to fill the void left by Newgate.
From Mariejois, the World Government ordered a massive propaganda campaign. Newspapers were to emphasize the Marines' resounding triumph, downplay the losses, and hail Akainu and Sengoku as the architects of this feat. Behind closed doors, though, the Five Elders fretted. The balance of the three great powers—Marines, Emperors, Warlords—lay in ruins. The remaining Emperors, Kaido and Big Mom, wouldn't sit idle, and Teach's ascent added an unpredictable wildcard. As for the Warlords, their system had just taken a major hit.
Days after the war, an official announcement rocked the world: the Seven Warlords system had been overhauled. Dracule Mihawk and Boa Hancock were stripped of their titles. Mihawk, for defying Akainu and implicitly supporting the pirates during the battle—his role in Whitebeard's death conveniently hushed up—was now deemed a direct threat. Hancock had openly shielded Luffy, breaking her pact with the Government. Jinbe, who'd sided with Whitebeard, and Teach, who'd betrayed the Marines by orchestrating the chaos, were also struck from the roster.
To fill the gaps, new Warlords were appointed. Edward Weevil, a hulking man claiming to be Whitebeard's son, was instated despite doubts about his lineage—his brute strength alone justified his spot. Buggy the Clown, whose reputation had ballooned from accidental exploits at Marineford and his Impel Down breakout, received an invitation too, to widespread astonishment. The remaining slots stayed vacant, a sign the Government struggled to stabilize this once-crucial institution.
With the war, the bounties of key players skyrocketed, reflecting their roles in this historic turning point. Freshly printed wanted posters spread across the seas, sparking reactions from terror to awe.
Dracule Mihawk: His bounty soared to a staggering 4 billion Berries, a figure unheard of for anyone outside the Emperors. His display of power against Akainu and Whitebeard made him a top target. The World Government saw him as a threat on par with any Emperor.
Monkey D. Luffy: After infiltrating Marineford, freeing Ace, and surviving the admirals' onslaught, his bounty jumped to 1 billion Berries.
Portgas D. Ace: Barely revived thanks to Shanks, his bounty climbed to 1.5 billion Berries. His survival and status as Roger's son bolstered his aura, though he still bore the physical and emotional scars of the battle.
Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard): With the theft of Whitebeard's territories and his self-proclaimed rise as an Emperor, his bounty hit 2.5 billion Berries. His crew, bolstered by Impel Down's criminals, was now a feared force.
Jinbe: For betraying the Warlords and backing Luffy, his bounty rose to 800 million Berries—a clear warning to any who'd defy the Marines.
Other bounties shifted too: Marco the Phoenix, now leading Whitebeard's remnants, saw his reach 2 billion Berries, while commanders like Vista and Joz received hefty boosts. Even Buggy, despite his clownish status, snagged a 500 million Berry bounty—fueled by his inflated legend—before it froze upon becoming a Warlord.
The common folk reacted with a mix of fear and disbelief.
In East Blue taverns, people shuddered at the thought of the Emperors exploiting Whitebeard's absence to expand their domains. "If the Marines struggled this much with one Emperor, what happens if Kaido or Big Mom make a move?" they whispered in Loguetown. In Alabasta, some mourned Whitebeard, seen as a protector of small nations against tyrants. In Government-controlled islands, citizens cheered the Marines, waving newspapers like trophies, convinced "justice" had prevailed.
The Worst Generation, those bold rookies who'd emerged pre-war, watched with a blend of ambition and caution.
Trafalgar Law, aboard his submarine in the New World, studied the bounties with a calculating smile. "The One Piece is real, huh? Interesting… That opens doors."
Eustass Kid, furious at missing Marineford, smashed a table upon hearing of Luffy's rise. "That damn Straw Hat's stealing my spotlight!" he roared.
Basil Hawkins, reading his cards, foresaw upheaval: "Ninety percent chance of chaos."
Kaido, in his Wano stronghold, let out a booming laugh as he read the news. Whitebeard's death, a rival he'd respected, left him torn between satisfaction and frustration—he'd missed a final clash. "Teach, that rat, took his lands? Hmph… Let the weak kill each other. I'll be the one ruling this world!" he bellowed, ordering his Beasts Pirates to gear up for an offensive. An Emperor's fall was a chance to expand, and Kaido wouldn't let it slip.
Big Mom, on Whole Cake Island, cackled while devouring a gargantuan cake. "Mamahaha! Newgate's dead, and Teach thinks he can take his place? What a joke!" She was already eyeing Whitebeard's territories, sending spies to probe the gaps left by his absence. But Mihawk's mention of the One Piece made her squint. "That damned swordsman… If he gets near my treasure, I'll crush him!" she swore, her Conqueror's Haki rattling her children around her.
Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army, received the news in his secret Baltigo headquarters. Sitting in the shadows, he unfolded the paper, his eyes lingering on photos of Luffy and Ace. A rare smile brushed his lips—his son had survived, and the Marines were weakened. But his face grew stern as he read on. "Whitebeard dead, Teach rising, and the One Piece…" he murmured. He stood, his coat snapping in the breeze. "This is it. The Government's vulnerable. Sabo, ready the troops. We strike soon." For Dragon, this war wasn't an end but an opening—a crack in the world order he intended to exploit.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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