Chapter 263: The Calm Before the Storm
After Mio returned to Crow Island, two years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Two years—neither particularly long nor short—were enough to shift the tides of the New World.
These two years were filled with chaos and bloodshed, as battles erupted without pause. The struggle for supremacy never ceased.
Originally, the conflict between Charlotte and Saiya seemed inevitable two years ago. But then, two formidable new figures rose to prominence, shaking the foundations of the New World and making their mark with unmatched strength.
One of them was Taros, who clashed with Admiral Akainu in the New World just a year ago. Their battle ended in a stalemate, and Taros's bounty soared to 1 billion berries.
The other was Qiongqi—an enigma to most. Few knew he was a core member of the Black Crow. After setting out to sea, Qiongqi formed the Disaster Pirates and earned fame following a brutal confrontation with Aokiji. In that battle, he left the admiral severely injured while sustaining only minor wounds himself.
His bounty skyrocketed to 1.5 billion berries.
The rise of Taros and Qiongqi forced figures like Charlotte into silence. With two powerful contenders suddenly in the game, any reckless action might open a path for these new titans to seize control. Thus, everyone waited, tensions smoldering beneath the surface.
For now, Whitebeard remained the sole emperor of the New World.
Meanwhile, on Crow Island, silence and focused growth reigned.
In the past two years, all Black Crow members—Robin included—dedicated themselves to rigorous training. Mio was no exception. Only Asuka occasionally ventured out, hunting pirates as a form of live combat training.