New World, an uninhabited island, Rusukaina.

This island is a paradise for beasts and a trial ground for the strong.

“Ha… Ha… Ha…”

A young man wearing a Straw Hat, stripped to the waist, was engaged in a primal hand-to-hand combat with a giant elephant the size of a small mountain!

It was none other than Straw Hat, Monkey D. Luffy!

Under the guidance of Rayleigh, he had been training alone on this island for nearly two months!

At this very moment, Luffy had no idea that the world outside the island had completely changed!

And Rayleigh, for the purpose of protecting him, had not informed Luffy that Yechuan and Red-haired were enemies, nor that his companions had been lured away by Yechuan.

“Armament Haki: Hardening!”

Luffy's fist was instantly covered in a layer of paint black luster, slamming heavily onto the giant elephant's tusk!

Boom—!!!

The incredibly hard tusk snapped!

And just then, Luffy's recently mastered Observation Haki suddenly surged!

He could clearly feel a terrifying aura, as unfathomable as the ocean, approaching the island at an extremely fast speed!

This aura was ten thousand times stronger than any beast on the island!

However, when Luffy clearly saw the pirate ship slowly approaching the shore, and the familiar figure at the bow, the vigilance on his face instantly turned into ecstasy!

“Shanks—!!!!”

He let out a childlike cry of excitement, sprinting towards that man!

“Hahahaha! Luffy! You’ve grown up!”

Red-Haired Shanks looked at the young man before him, who had shed his immaturity and become incredibly reliable, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

The two, reunited after a long separation, like the closest of family, set up a bonfire on the beach, sharing wine and chatting about their experiences over the years.

“Oh, right, Shanks!”

Luffy took a big gulp of wine and asked curiously:

“Where are my companions? Zoro, Nami, Sanji… Do you have any news of them?”

Ever since his companions were sent flying by Kuma on Sabaody Archipelago, Luffy had not heard any news of them.

Although he believed they would be safe, he couldn't help but worry.

“Oh, them…”

A playful smile appeared on Shanks' face, and he slowly said in a seemingly casual tone:

“I heard some news.”

“They’re doing much better than you are now.”

“They’re serving under a man named Senju Yechuan.”

The smile on Luffy's face instantly froze.

“Senju Yechuan?”

He chewed on the name, and then a towering rage erupted from his eyes!

“It’s that bastard!!!”

He remembered!

That man who fought Enel with them on Sky Island!

He had thought he would be a trustworthy good person, like Shanks!

But he never expected… “It was him! It was him who captured Ace! And handed him over to the Marines!”

“It was also him! Who deceived my companions! And stole them away from me!”

Luffy suddenly stood up and punched the nearby rock, shattering it to pieces!

“Unforgivable… Absolutely unforgivable!!!”

“I know.”

Shanks looked at Luffy, who was ignited by anger, and slowly stood up.

“So, Luffy.”

“Do you want to gain the power to get revenge on him?”

“Of course, I do!”

“Very good.”

Shanks walked up to him, extended his hand, and gently placed it on his head.

“Then, listen to the voice of your heart, Luffy.”

“Don’t try to imitate rubber anymore.”

“Listen to the drumming of your heart.”

“Become what you are destined to be!”

“Become the… who brings smiles to the whole world.”

“Sun God Nika!”

Boom—!!!!

Shanks' words, like a spell, instantly broke the shackles that had slumbered within Luffy for eight hundred years!

“The drums of liberation…”

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Luffy's heart began to beat wildly, uncontrollably, with a joyful and peculiar rhythm!

White steam, like clouds, billowed from his body, completely enveloping him!

His hair, his clothes, all turned pure white within this white steam!

When the steam dissipated, a completely new existence appeared before Shanks!

He had long white hair that burned like flames, a feathered cloak like auspicious clouds around his neck, and a bright, innocent, and free smile on his face!

The Warrior of Liberation, Sun God Nika—Awakened!

“Yahahaha! I feel my body filled with power!”

After awakening, Luffy, like a child with a new toy, excitedly jumped around on the beach!

His body was no longer just rubber, but possessed the cartoon-like ability to turn imagination into reality!

With a casual grab, the sand beneath his feet turned into a soft trampoline!

With a forceful blow, his body transformed into a giant balloon!

“Very good…”

Shanks looked at this scene, a satisfied smile on his face.

He knew that the chess piece he had been waiting for for many years had finally matured.

Although the appearance of Senju Yechuan had forced his plan to be brought forward.

But… “This is also good.”

Shanks' eyes gleamed with a cold light.

“Let these two have a good fight on this vast sea.”

“No matter who loses or wins… the ultimate victor will only be me…” Meanwhile, at the Marines G-1 Branch, at the junction of the New World and the first half of the Grand Line.

This place had completely transformed into a fortress of war!

Thousands of Marines warships, like a Great Wall of steel, blockaded this sea area impenetrably!

Over two hundred thousand Marines elites were summoned from all over the world, and determination was etched on every person's face!

The newly appointed Fleet Admiral Akainu stood at the highest point of the fortress, overlooking the vast fleet he had personally assembled, his gaze solemn.

“The scale of this will far exceed the Summit War.”

Beside him, two legends who should have long retired also reappeared here.

Marines Hero, Garp the Fist.

Former Fleet Admiral, Warring States Period the Buddha.

“Sakazuki.”

Garp looked at the dense fleet below, his voice heavy.

“Does it really have to come to this?”

“We have no choice, Vice Admiral Garp.”

“The threat of Senju Yechuan has far exceeded any pirate before!”

“If he is not completely stopped here, the entire world will be overturned by him!”

Just then, a Marines general rushed over, a hint of surprise on his face.

“Report, Fleet Admiral! The remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco the Phoenix, request to join us!”

“What?!”

Akainu was stunned at first, then a cruel smile appeared on his face.

“Good!”

He could feel that this time, luck finally seemed to be on the Marines's side!