Grand Line, paradise.
The waves on the expansive sea undulated, and a pirate ship sailed leisurely. A black-and-white-striped flag adorned with a skull and crossbones flew proudly on the sturdy mast. Behind the skull, a flowing mane accentuated a scar that stretched from the upper right to the lower left, giving it a particularly fierce appearance.
"Captain! We're nearing the Sabaody Archipelago, and the New World lies just ahead!"
On the deck of the pirate ship, a cluster of pirates sat on the ground. In the center sat a colossal man, standing at a towering 3 meters. His head was transparent, revealing a fierce countenance with a massive scar slashing across his face. The shape of the scar was peculiar, resembling a combination of a sword wound and something akin to an axe gash.
"Hey! In the New World, there are Sanko ruling the seas. Perhaps our captain is the Yonko!"
"Yes, we are destined to become the Pirate King!"
The pirates engaged in fervent discussion about their aspirations for the future.
Wealth! Fame! Power!
This is what the pirates are pursuing, and it's also the lure that Roger dangled!
"Let's contemplate how to handle the Vice Admiral stationed in Sabaody!"
In the midst of their animated discussion, an untimely voice interrupted, instantly quelling the fervor as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on everyone's heads, rendering the scene silent.
"Explain it thoroughly! Kako!"
The captain, who had remained silent for a while, broke the awkward silence. Kako, the vice-captain of the pirate group, handled intelligence matters. His exceptional resourcefulness and composed demeanor had earned him deep respect from everyone on the ship. Naturally, the captain dared not ignore his words.
"The Sabaody Archipelago used to be patrolled by Rear Admirals, but their limited strength was insufficient for Sabaody's control. As a result, Marines mostly confined themselves to areas 60 to 69, leaving areas 1 to 29 as a haven for pirates. It's deemed a lawless zone, where various crimes run rampant. As long as we don't provoke the Celestial Dragons, Marines tend to turn a blind eye to us."
"But," all the pirates instinctively held their breath, and even the captain adopted an attentive expression. Kako nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Some time ago, a Marine Vice Admiral was deployed to Sabaody..."
"He's just a Vice Admiral, isn't he? Our captain is a pirate supernova with a bounty of 110 million Berries!"
Someone promptly retorted, even offering a bit of flattery.
Kako lifted his gaze and silently noted the appearance of the one who spoke, "Don't underestimate the Marine Vice Admiral. Despite the captain's strength, at the moment, we can only flee for our lives in front of the Vice Admiral."
"If it's an ordinary Vice Admiral, we might be fine. While we can't beat them, escaping should still be within our reach."
"And that man single-handedly apprehended Shichibukai Crocodile even before the recruitment," Kako spoke with a trace of fear in his eyes. "After arriving at Sabaody, he cleared out the criminals and completely uprooted the lawless zone!"
"I fear entering the New World this time may pose some considerable challenges for us!"
Hearing this, the captain, who had been sitting cross-legged, abruptly stood up. His towering, 3-meter-tall frame almost obscured everyone's view. His fierce countenance grinned, and a surge of malevolent energy emanated from him.
"It's just a Vice Admiral! I'm Sanchez!"
...
"Hey! Captain, at this rate, you're going to devour all the food on our ship alone!"
Near the waters of Sabaody, a pirate ship sails towards the New World. The hull is painted in the infamous Barbie pink, and even the deck follows suit with a pink hue.
Seated on the expansive deck was a figure exuding a majestic aura, with long hair cascading over his shoulders. His robust arms reached out to the dining table before him, adorned with sizable heaps of meat.
Adjacent to the dining table stands a woman donning a chef's hat and a pristine white chef's uniform that loosely hangs over her form. Why do we say "hangs"? Well, it's genuinely due to the exaggerated physique of her. The two ample bulges in front of her nearly burst the loose attire, and a delicate glimpse of cleavage is discernible through the trembling fasteners.
The woman, attired as a chef, wore a dissatisfied expression as she observed the... rather female-looking man in front of the table, her hands resting on her hips in apparent disapproval.
"Hmm~ Carmena, who told you that your cooking skills are so excellent? Besides, it's not my fault. That's just how Devil Fruit abilities work!"
Upon hearing this, the captain swiftly lodged a complaint, her beautiful face adorned with an expression of lament, but as her eyes descended, any sense of pity seemed impossible to summon.
"Alright... we're almost at Sabaody anyway, so we can restock supplies then."
The cook, referred to as Carmena by the captain, promptly offered soothing words, her eyes reflecting a tender expression of affection.
"Let me tell you, Carmena, you're the best to me~"
...
A straightforward pirate ship with an unusual flag. It bears only a long and slender Western sword, with a skull embellishment adorning the hilt. The hull is remarkably slender, akin to... a sharp blade!
At the bow of the ship, a man of moderate build sat cross-legged, a peculiar Western sword resting on his leg. The man handled it with great care, steadying his right hand while delicately wiping the sword's body with a cotton ball held in his left hand.
"How much longer until we reach Sabaody Archipelago?"
The man, seemingly aware of the movements around him, asked softly without averting his gaze from the Western sword in his hand.
"It's approaching soon, probably within a day or two."
At some point, a tall individual had positioned himself behind the man. However, the man engrossed in cleaning his sword remained completely oblivious to the presence of the person behind him.
Because he is the pirate supernova with a bounty of 100 million Berries – Matt Glennon!
"I heard there's a Vice Admiral in Sabaody?"
Glennon pressed on with his questioning.
"Yes."
"And he is a great swordsman?"
"Captain, are you trying to..."
When the tall man noticed the keen interest on Glennon's face, an unsettling feeling trembled through him, and a foreboding premonition took hold.
"Yes, I sense that my swordsmanship hasn't progressed in a while. I want to gauge the gap between myself and a great swordsman!"
A fervent gleam ignited in Glennon's eyes, and even the pace of wiping the sword in his hand unconsciously slowed down.
'Madman!'
At this moment, the sole thought echoing in the mind of the tall man was that.
...
Almost simultaneously, the pirate supernovas nearing Sabaody Archipelago all received information about the area. However, not a single one hesitated or retreated. Perhaps... this is the enigmatic confidence that defines pirates!
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