Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Five Years, Three Major Powers
Time flies like an arrow.
Five years passed in the blink of an eye.
Between the two great powers—the Totto Land Kingdom and the World Government—relations remained relatively peaceful despite occasional skirmishes between the Fallen Angel Pirates and Navy Headquarters.
At the same time, the broader world underwent constant change.
Through a massive global recruitment effort, the Navy gradually enlisted numerous powerful individuals from the civilian population, fast-tracking two of them into the ranks of admirals and restoring the full complement of three admirals. After five years of rebuilding, the Navy had finally regained most of its former strength.
The tumultuous seas, once thrown into chaos by a series of naval defeats, were gradually stabilized under the Navy's relentless crackdown. Meanwhile, a new generation of naval leaders—Sengoku the Buddha and Garp the Fist—rose to prominence, making a name for themselves across the Grand Line and striking fear into the hearts of countless pirates. At this moment, Navy Headquarters was experiencing an unprecedented peak in strength.
However, the pirates' power also grew steadily.
In particular, the situation in the New World was quietly shifting.
Beyond the Fallen Angel Pirates, led by El and firmly established as the dominant force in the New World, the Rocks Pirates, under Rocks D. Xebec's command, had risen to become the second most formidable force. Additionally, a number of ambitious newcomers began to make their mark, springing up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.
Notable among these were the Roger Pirates, led by Gol D. Roger, who preferred adventuring over vying for dominance, as well as the Flying Pirates led by Golden Lion Shiki, and the crews of Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and Captain John. Each of these groups displayed remarkable strength, carving out small territories within the New World, quietly amassing power, and waiting for the right moment to act.
Two years ago, in response to the rapid rise of the Fallen Angel Pirates—who had expanded like a snowball and become the "uncrowned kings" of the New World—Rocks D. Xebec organized an alliance. Under his leadership, a coalition of ferocious and ambitious pirates—including Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and Captain John—gathered at Pirate Island Hachinosu. Together, they formally established the Rocks Pirates, creating a new, formidable force that could rival the Fallen Angel Pirates.
The reason for this coalition was simple: the New World was only so large. Over the past five years, as the Fallen Angel Pirates expanded relentlessly, they had seized control of over half the New World's territories, even while prioritizing the development of the Totto Land Kingdom. As the space for other pirates shrank, those seeking to grow stronger had no choice but to challenge the Fallen Angel Pirates.
However, the Fallen Angel Pirates were terrifyingly powerful.
Their leader, Fallen Angel El, was a mysterious and unfathomable figure who hadn't been seen in battle for five years. His subordinates included the Five Calamities, the Eight Vajra Guardians, numerous formidable officers, and an enormous army—complete with the massive and unparalleled Homies Legion. Any single faction that attempted to confront this New World overlord was doomed.
Thus, uniting was not merely an option—it was a necessity.
Over the years, countless pirates who sought to challenge the dominance of the Fallen Angel Pirates were defeated before even catching a glimpse of Fallen Angel El. They were crushed by his subordinates—the Five Calamities and the Eight Vajra Guardians. Even the once-mighty Rocks Pirates, after clashing with the Fallen Angel Pirates, were forced to retreat without El needing to take action. Facing the likes of the increasingly formidable "Blood Calamity" Linlin and "Fire Calamity" Afar alone was enough to make them withdraw.
Driven by ambition and unwilling to concede, Rocks D. Xebec united other pirates to form a new alliance to oppose the Fallen Angel Pirates.
Under pressure from both the Fallen Angel Pirates and the Rocks Pirates, Fleet Admiral Hammons William issued a special directive, transferring the Navy Headquarters back to the newly built Marineford.
In summary, while the three major powers—the Navy, the Fallen Angel Pirates, and the Rocks Pirates—varied in strength, none could be underestimated. Together, they created a tripartite standoff that maintained a delicate balance across the Grand Line and the entire ocean. A single disruption could ripple through the entire world.
Each side remained wary and vigilant, creating a tense stalemate.
…
September 26, Year 1472 of the Sea Calendar
Totto Land Kingdom, Whole Cake Island
Whole Cake Island had undergone a dramatic transformation, expanding to more than ten times its previous size. A vast, beautiful, and bustling city was meticulously planned and orderly in layout.
From afar, the enormous palace stood majestically, exuding grandeur and magnificence. Large bridges extended from both ends of the island, reaching far into the ocean, featuring wide roads and dual train tracks.
"Choo-choo!"
At the port's train station, a locomotive billowed steam as it slowly departed—a testament to the kingdom's astounding development.
Amidst this remarkable progress, the scene shifted to a breathtaking sea of flowers.
In the picturesque field, Linlin, Nef, Sally, Stussy, Lillian, Gerd, Tethys, and others stood together, enjoying the beautiful scenery with radiant smiles. Children of various sizes, each with black wings and blazing auras, played joyfully in the flower field. The mischievous group quickly turned the pristine flowers into a chaotic mess, eliciting a mix of helplessness and amusement from the women.
"Mom, Thor is bullying me!"
A young child with three eyes, around four or five years old and nearly two meters tall, flapped his wings and flew over to Lillian, a stunning beauty from the Three-Eye Tribe, complaining tearfully.
"Hmph, that's not true, Aunt Lillian!"
Suddenly, a flash of lightning appeared, revealing Thor, a child over five meters tall, glaring at the three-eyed boy. "He always cheats! Even at rock-paper-scissors!"
Thor puffed his cheeks and continued, "I heard Father say you have innate Observation Haki that can foresee the future, combined with your Three-Eye Tribe powers! How else could you win every time?"
"I'm just luckier than you!" the three-eyed child retorted confidently but then looked away with a guilty expression, mumbling, "And when we race, you always cheat with your Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers!"
"Even with my powers, I'm not as fast as your teleportation!" Thor countered, wide-eyed.
"Humph, you're both terrible!"
A five-year-old girl resembling Gerd crossed her arms and complained, "You always bully those of us without special powers!"
"Stupid Thor!" she shouted, running to Gerd and Linlin, hugging them. "Mom! Mom Linlin! Punish them—they're being mean!"
"Thor, don't bully your younger siblings," Gerd scolded, lightly knocking her eldest son on the head.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma~ Be good, children. You must get along!" Linlin said with a smile.
Now fully grown, Linlin was a stunningly beautiful woman. Over the past five years, she had blossomed into extraordinary beauty. Her abdomen, however, was noticeably swollen, exaggerating her advanced pregnancy, likely eight or nine months along.
It seemed her due date was just around the corner.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!