The world had changed. The seas were no longer the same chaotic battleground they once were. New powers had emerged, old alliances had shattered, and the balance of the world had shifted in ways we hadn't anticipated. But through it all, the Marines stood tall—our resolve unbroken, though scarred by the countless battles we had fought and the lives we had lost.
I had been promoted to Marshal of the Marines a decade ago, an honor I had never truly sought. But duty had called, and I had risen to the challenge. The title came with its own burdens, responsibilities that weighed heavily on my shoulders. The world was more divided than ever, and piracy had only grown in strength. But, as much as I wished for peace, I knew the reality of our situation. There was always another threat, another pirate crew to hunt down.
The news of Blackbeard's rise to power was the final nail in the coffin for many of the old power structures. His crew had grown, and his ambitions had only become more terrifying with each passing year. And yet, we had managed to keep him in check, striking when necessary and making sure his influence didn't spread further than it had already.
But that was all before the God Valley Incident, before the day everything changed.
Now, 20 years later, I stood in the war room of Marine Headquarters, looking out over the world map. I had lived through it all—Rocks' death, the rise of Blackbeard, the wars with the pirates, and the shifting of powers in the world. But I knew that time was running out. The forces that we had been fighting all these years weren't the same as before. The world was evolving, and we had to adapt with it.
The door to the war room creaked open behind me, and I turned to see who had entered. It was Kong, older but still as imposing as ever. His face, though weathered by time, still held the sharpness that had made him such a formidable force in his prime.
"You've been thinking about the future again, haven't you?" Kong's voice was low, but the concern in his eyes was palpable.
I nodded, not turning away from the map. "The world's changing too quickly. Blackbeard's growing more dangerous, and the pirates are beginning to consolidate their power. I'm not sure how much longer we can hold them off."
Kong stepped forward, placing a hand on the back of a chair. "We've held the line for decades, Gojo. But you're right. The tides are turning. And I don't think we'll be able to stop the next wave if we don't act quickly."
I sighed, my gaze turning to the old, faded portraits of those who had come before me—Sengoku, Garp, Zefa… people who had been my mentors, my friends. All of them were gone now, their places taken by the new generation of Marines who had risen in our wake. Some were more ruthless, others more idealistic. But one thing remained constant: the Marines' mission to protect the world from the chaos of piracy.
"And what about the others?" I asked, turning back to Kong. "The remaining threats? Rocks' old commanders and the forces still loyal to him? We've barely scratched the surface with Blackbeard."
Kong's face darkened. "Rocks may be dead, but his influence is far from gone. There are remnants of his old empire, groups that still answer to his name. And there are new threats emerging every day. The sea isn't as calm as it appears."
I paused, the weight of his words settling in. The pirate era had never truly ended. It had only evolved. And now, the next generation of pirates—more ruthless, more cunning, more powerful—was rising to challenge the Marines. It was only a matter of time before the next storm hit.
"Then what do we do?" I asked, my voice low but resolute.
"We adapt," Kong replied, his voice steady. "We continue what we've always done: fight for the world. But we need new strategies. New alliances. We need to take the fight to them before they can do it to us."
I looked down at the map once more. The stakes had never been higher. The old guard was gone, and the future was uncertain. But one thing was clear—if I was going to lead the Marines into the next era, I couldn't do it alone. I would need new allies, new tactics, and a new vision for what the Marines could become.
As I looked at the faces of the Marines who had stood by my side all these years, I knew what had to be done. The battle for the future of the world was far from over. But as long as I drew breath, I would fight to the very end.
The storm was coming.
And I would be ready.