Time flies like an arrow.

  Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

  Betweewo great powers—the Totto Land Kingdom and the Wover—retions remained retively peaceful despite occasional skirmishes between the Fallen Angel Pirates and Navy Headquarters.

  At the same time, the broader world underwent stant ge.

  Through a massive global recruitment effort, the Navy gradually enlisted numerous powerful individuals from the civilian popution, fast-trag two of them into the ranks of admirals a the full plement of three admirals. After five years of rebuilding, the Navy had finally regained most of its former strength.

  The tumultuous seas, ohrown into chaos by a series of naval defeats, were gradually stabilized uhe Navy's relentless crackdown. Meanwhile, a new geion of naval leaders—Sengoku the Buddha and Garp the Fist—rose to prominence, making a name for themselves across the Grand Line and striking fear into the hearts of tless pirates. At this moment, Navy Headquarters was experieng an unpreted peak in strength.

  However, the pirates’ power also grew steadily.

  In particur, the situation in the New World was quietly shifting.

  Beyond the Fallen Angel Pirates, led by El and firmly established as the dominant for the New World, the Rocks Pirates, under Rocks D. Xebec’s and, had risen to bee the seost formidable force. Additionally, a number of ambitious newers began to make their mark, springing up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.

  Notable among these were the Roger Pirates, led by Gol D. Roger, who preferred adventuring over vying for dominance, as well as the Flying Pirates led by Golden Lion Shiki, and the crews of Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and Captain John. Each of these groups dispyed remarkable strength, carving out small territories within the New World, quietly amassing power, and waiting for the right moment to act.

  Two years ago, in respoo the rapid rise of the Fallen Angel Pirates—who had expanded like a snowball and bee the "uned kings" of the New World—Rocks D. Xebec anized an alliance. Under his leadership, a coalition of ferocious and ambitious pirates—including Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and Captain John—gathered at Pirate Isnd Haosu. Together, they formally established the Rocks Pirates, creating a new, formidable force that could rival the Fallen Angel Pirates.

  The reason for this coalition was simple: the New World was only se. Over the past five years, as the Fallen Angel Pirates expanded relentlessly, they had seized trol of over half the New World’s territories, even while prioritizing the development of the Totto Land Kingdom. As the space for other pirates shrank, those seeking to grow stronger had no choice but to challehe Fallen Angel Pirates.

  However, the Fallen Angel Pirates were terrifyingly powerful.

  Their leader, Fallen Angel El, was a mysterious and unfathomable figure who hadn’t been seen in battle for five years. His subordinates included the Five Camities, the Eight Vajra Guardians, numerous formidable officers, and an enormous army—plete with the massive and unparalleled Homies Legion. Any single fa that attempted to front this New World overlord was doomed.

  Thus, uniting was not merely an option—it was a y.

  Over the years, tless pirates who sought to challehe dominance of the Fallen Angel Pirates were defeated before even catg a glimpse of Fallen Angel El. They were crushed by his subordihe Five Camities and the Eight Vajra Guardians. Even the once-mighty Rocks Pirates, after g with the Fallen Angel Pirates, were forced to retreat without El needing to take a. Fag the likes of the increasingly formidable "Blood Camity" Linlin and "Fire Camity" Afar alone was enough to make them withdraw.

  Driven by ambition and unwilling to cede, Rocks D. Xebeited other pirates to form a new alliao oppose the Fallen Angel Pirates.

  Under pressure from both the Fallen Angel Pirates and the Rocks Pirates, Fleet Admiral Hammons William issued a special directive, transferring the Navy Headquarters back to the newly built Marineford.

  In summary, while the three major powers—the Navy, the Fallen Angel Pirates, and the Rocks Pirates—varied in strength, none could be uimated. Together, they created a tripartite standoff that maintained a delicate bance across the Grand Line and the entire o. A single disruption could ripple through the entire world.

  Each side remained wary and vigint, creating a tealemate.

  …

  September 26, Year 1472 of the Sea dar

  Totto Land Kingdom, Whole Cake Isnd

  Whole Cake Isnd had undergone a dramatic transformation, expanding to more thaimes its previous size. A vast, beautiful, and bustling city was meticulously pnned and orderly in yout.

  From afar, the enormous pace stood majestically, exuding grandeur and magnifice. Large bridges extended from both ends of the isnd, reag far into the o, featuring wide roads and dual train tracks.

  "Choo-choo!"

  At the port's train station, a lootive billowed steam as it slowly departed—a testament to the kingdom's astounding development.

  Amidst this remarkable progress, the se shifted to a breathtaking sea of flowers.

  In the picturesque field, Linlin, Nef, Sally, Stussy, Lillian, Gerd, Tethys, and others stood together, enjoying the beautiful sery with radiant smiles. Children of various sizes, each with bck wings and bzing auras, pyed joyfully in the flower field. The mischievous group quickly turhe pristine flowers into a chaotic mess, elig a mix of helplessness and amusement from the women.

  "Mom, Thor is bullying me!"

  A young child with three eyes, around four or five years old and nearly two meters tall, fpped his wings and flew over to Lillian, a stunniy from the Three-Eye Tribe, pining tearfully.

  "Hmph, that's not true, Aunt Lillian!"

  Suddenly, a fsh of lightning appeared, revealing Thor, a child over five meters tall, gring at the three-eyed boy. "He always cheats! Even at rock-paper-scissors!"

  Thor puffed his cheeks and tinued, "I heard Father say you have innate Observation Haki that foresee the future, bined with your Three-Eye Tribe powers! How else could you wiime?"

  "I'm just luckier than you!" the three-eyed child retorted fidently but then looked away with a guilty expression, mumbling, "And when we race, you always cheat with your Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers!"

  "Even with my powers, I’m not as fast as your teleportation!" Thor tered, wide-eyed.

  "Humph, you’re both terrible!"

  A five-year-old girl resembling Gerd crossed her arms and pined, "You always bully those of us without special powers!"

  "Stupid Thor!" she shouted, running to Gerd and Linlin, hugging them. "Mom! Mom Linlin! Punish them—they’re being mean!"

  "Thor, don’t bully your younger siblings," Gerd scolded, lightly knog her eldest son on the head.

  "Ma-ma-ma-ma~ Be good, children. You must get along!" Linlin said with a smile.

  Now fully grown, Linlin was a stunningly beautiful woman. Over the past five years, she had blossomed iraordinary beauty. Her abdomen, however, was noticeably swollen, exaggerating her advanced pregnancy, likely eight or nine months along.

  It seemed her due date was just around the er.

  Bleam