The sea around God Valley began to churn.
From the distant horizon, ships appeared—dozens at first, then more, their black flags snapping violently in the wind as they cut through the waves toward the island.
Pirates.
Infamous ones.
The rumor of the treasures had spread far and wide, and now the underworld itself was converging on the island.
At the very front of the approaching fleet sailed the most dangerous crew of all.
The Rocks Pirates.
Marine warships moved to intercept them, cannons roaring as they opened fire.
Shells screamed across the water.
But it did nothing.
The pirate ships pushed forward without slowing, the explosions barely scratching the monsters standing on their decks.
Then a voice thundered across the battlefield.
The captain's voice.
Though he remained unseen, the sheer force of his presence seemed to echo across the sea.
Don't bother with those Navy dogs! Rocks Pirates! Follow me!
With that command, several figures launched themselves from the flagship, leaping through the air and crashing down onto the shores of God Valley.
The first landed with a feral grin stretching across his face.
His hair was absurdly long, flowing wildly behind him as he licked his lips like a predator that had just found prey. His features carried a striking resemblance to another man currently racing toward the island.
For very good reason.
This was Portgas D. Hirito.
He carried a terrifying epithet.
The Bloody Wolf.
Whenever he stepped onto an island, slaughter followed—and the bodies he left behind often looked as though they hadn't been killed by a human at all.
Hirito: Oh, this is gonna be a blast! I wonder if there's going to be anyone fun to kill.
Another figure dropped heavily beside him.
The sheer presence of the man made the ground seem to tremble.
Edward Newgate.
The man who would one day be known across the world as Whitebeard.
Whitebeard: What was that, Rocks?! You think you can order me around?! Go to hell!
Sitting casually on his shoulder was a woman with sharp eyes and an elegant smile.
She looked exactly the same as she did in the present day on Egghead.
Stussy.
Stussy: Oh, stop it, Newgate. Not now.
Another woman stood nearby, giving Stussy a sharp side-eye.
She was strikingly beautiful, long hair flowing behind her while a snake curled around her shoulders. Her presence carried the unmistakable aura of Amazon Lily.
This was Gloriosa.
A former empress of Amazon Lily.
A former captain of the Kuja Pirates.
Why she had left that life behind was unclear—but rumors suggested she had fallen in love.
Gloriosa: Planning to do something today, Stussy?
