Chapter 99 99: Ripples Across the World!
The sun shone brightly as the salty sea breeze carried the scent of freedom across the ocean.
White seagulls flew through the sky—
the tireless messengers of the sea, delivering newspapers across the world.
"W-Wait… what is going on here?!"
A man stared at the newspaper in his hands, disbelief written across his face.
He recognized every word on the page.
But when he read them together…
It all sounded absurd.
Is this a newspaper… or some kind of fantasy novel?!
HEADLINES
"Two Admirals Appear at Sabaody Archipelago—The Truth Behind the Incident!"
"Celestial Dragon Killed! Culprit Still at Large!"
"A Young Pirate Challenges Divine Authority!"
"Straw Hat Pirates Crowned the Fifth Emperor of the Sea—Battle Record Verified!"
The entire paper was filled with reports about the Sabaody incident.
At the end, Big News Morgans strongly declared that the Straw Hat Pirates should be recognized as the "Fifth Emperor of the Sea."
It was like dropping a torpedo into deep water.
The entire world erupted.
"Just what are the Marines doing?!"
"Why is there suddenly another Emperor of the Sea?!"
Panic spread among civilians everywhere.
Many cursed the Marines' incompetence.
"Hahaha! Marine Admirals? What a joke!"
On a pirate ship, a nameless captain laughed wildly while holding a long sword.
"The Marines keep getting weaker!"
"Marine Admirals? Emperors of the Sea? They're nothing before me!"
"The One Piece will definitely be mine!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Only you are worthy of becoming the Pirate King!"
His crew quickly began flattering him.
The pirate captain puffed up with pride.
"Boss! B-Boss!!"
"There's a huge Marine warship approaching!"
A lookout shouted in panic.
"Afraid of a mere warship?"
"Bring us closer!"
The pirate captain waved his sword arrogantly.
Then—
He saw the most terrifying sight of his life.
The sky turned crimson red.
Several gigantic meteors of magma fell from the heavens.
On the warship—
Admiral Akainu stood at the bow, a cigar between his lips.
His voice was icy cold.
"Trash of the seas."
Dressrosa — Royal Palace
"Fufufufu…"
"A brat killed a Celestial Dragon?"
"Escaped from Admirals?"
"And now he's the Fifth Emperor of the Sea?"
Donquixote Doflamingo, wearing his pink feather coat, crushed the newspaper in his hand.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
"What kind of joke is this?!"
"Do you think the position of a Yonko is something some brat can touch?"
"That Morgans… has he completely thrown away his conscience for the sake of headlines?!"
Knock. Knock.
A man with a runny nose and a cane entered the room.
"Doffy… the Marines have sent someone."
"Oh?"
Doflamingo grinned wickedly and walked forward with his hands in his pockets.
"Then let me see it…"
"The storm of the new era!"
"Fufufufu!"
Amazon Lily — Kuja Palace
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, sat elegantly upon her throne.
Her long black hair flowed down her back.
Her deep blue eyes were cold and proud.
Snake-shaped golden earrings swayed beside her cheeks.
Her long, flawless legs rested casually against her giant snake companion Salome.
The Kuja warriors gazed at her with admiration.
"Snake Princess…"
"Do you understand what you're doing?"
Elder Nyon (Gloriosa) stood before her.
She was small, wrinkled, and elderly, leaning on a snake-shaped cane.
"Did you forget how to address me?"
Hancock's voice was filled with arrogant disdain.
"S-Snake Princess…!"
Nyon sighed.
"Snake Princess, if I'm not mistaken, that Marine warship outside the island is here with an invitation to war."
"That's correct."
"It's an invitation to battle."
"Then why refuse?"
"With your strength, you won't die."
Nyon tried to persuade her.
Hancock brushed her hair lightly, her blue eyes suddenly looking pitiful.
"But… I'm afraid."
The Kuja warriors instantly melted with affection.
"So cute…!"
Even Nyon almost fell for it.
Hancock's beauty was overwhelming—regardless of gender or species.
"No!"
Nyon shook her head violently.
"Snake Princess, you must go!"
"Only by holding the title of Warlord of the Sea can you protect this country!"
"The Marines are not what they used to be."
"If you continue this stubbornness…"
"Amazon Lily will be destroyed with you!"
"Ever since the Celestial Dragon was killed at Sabaody—"
"What did you say?!"
Hancock instantly appeared before her.
Her voice trembled with shock—
And a hint of excitement.
"Someone killed a Celestial Dragon?!"
Nyon handed her the newspaper.
"The Marines are like a starving lion right now—"
BANG!
Hancock kicked Nyon out the window.
The old woman crashed through the glass and fell from the palace.
"S-Snake Princess! How could you treat an old lady like that?!"
Hancock flicked her hair elegantly.
"It was an accident."
The Kuja warriors nodded enthusiastically.
"That happens!"
"Totally understandable!"
Hancock then dismissed everyone.
"Leave."
When she finally opened the newspaper—
A figure filled the front page.
A young man who looked like a demon god.
Messy black hair fluttered in the wind.
A straw hat tilted across his head.
Scarlet eyes shone with fierce determination.
Black-red lightning crackled around him.
The headline read:
"Godslayer — The Fifth Emperor of the Sea — Straw Hat Luffy."
"…Luffy."
Boa Hancock stared at the image.
For the first time—
A man caught her attention.
Her long legs trembled slightly.
"Is there truly someone in this world…"
"…who dares to kill the so-called gods?"
New World — Onigashima
"Worororororo!!"
"Fifth Emperor?"
"Straw Hat brat?"
Kaido laughed thunderously.
His massive body loomed like a mountain.
Black hair flowed down his back, and dragon horns curved from his head.
A huge cross-shaped scar marked his abdomen.
He lifted a sake gourd and drank deeply.
"Come then, brat!"
"Come to the New World…"
"…and try to kill me!"
His thunderous laughter echoed across Onigashima.
Dark clouds gathered instantly overhead.
Lightning roared across the sky.
Whole Cake Island — Totto Land
The Yonko Charlotte Linlin sat upon her throne.
Her enormous body loomed over the palace.
Pink hair curled wildly around her shoulders.
Her bloodshot eyes stared intensely.
Beside her stood:
PerosperoThe Sweet Commanders
"Mamama!"
"So you're saying…"
"That Straw Hat brat now has the power to threaten us?"
"My dear son… Katakuri?"
Linlin shoved her hand into a gigantic cake beside her and stuffed it into her mouth.
Black-red lightning crackled around her.
The palace trembled.
"M-Mother!"
Smoothie quickly tried to explain.
"Brother Katakuri didn't mean that!"
The overwhelming Conqueror's Haki crushed everyone present.
Everyone except—
Katakuri.
He slowly raised his head.
His red eyes were calm.
"Mother."
"My Observation Haki tells me…"
"If we clash with Straw Hat Luffy…"
"…something extremely terrifying will happen."
Linlin stared at him for a moment.
Then suddenly laughed.
"Mamama!"
"As expected of my proudest son!"
"So tell me…"
"What terrible thing will happen?"
Katakuri frowned.
Then slowly shook his head.
"I cannot see that far into the future."
"How disappointing."
Linlin grinned.
"But an eighteen-year-old who has already reached this level…"
"Don't you think his genes must be very strong?"
Everyone's hearts sank.
"I no longer have the chance."
"So…"
"Smoothie."
"I'm sure you'll help your mother, won't you?"
Smoothie glanced nervously toward Katakuri.
He subtly shook his head.
Agree for now. Adapt later.
Smoothie knelt.
"Yes."
"I exist to serve the family."
"Mamama!"
"Now that's a proper child of the Charlotte Family!"
Egghead Island
A futuristic island of silver metal floated above the sea.
Angular structures glowed with blue-purple electricity.
Machines hummed with cold, advanced technology.
Deep within a laboratory—
A large man opened his eyes and slowly sat up.
Before him stood a strange scientist.
White hair.
Red cheeks.
An apple-shaped antenna on his head.
A long tongue hanging down his chin.
The logo "SSG" printed on his coat.
It was Dr. Vegapunk.
"Thank you… Vegapunk."
The man spoke gently.
It was Bartholomew Kuma.
Vegapunk sighed.
"Kuma… why do this?"
"Even if you helped them…"
"They may never thank you."
Kuma smiled softly.
"That doesn't matter."
"As long as they live…"
"There is still hope in this world."
Vegapunk remembered the moment Kuma arrived.
His body had been completely destroyed.
He had been on the brink of death.
"Vegapunk…"
"I saw him."
"…I saw Nika."
Vegapunk froze.
Hope shone brightly in Kuma's eyes.
Vegapunk thought silently:
Kuma…
When you run endlessly in pursuit of Nika…
You yourself have already become someone's Nika.
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