A full year had passed since the World Government officially announced the reformation of the Shichibukai system—the Seven Warlords of the Sea. At long last, all seven seats had been filled. The first was someone whose strength towered above the rest—"Hawk Eyes" Dracule Mihawk, the world's second strongest swordsman, and a lone wanderer feared across the Grand Line. In the original timeline, Mihawk was a solitary pirate hunter. But in this altered world, thanks to persistent persuasion from the true number one swordsman—Tachibana Kyūjō—Mihawk eventually agreed to raise his legendary black blade, Yoru, against the very pirates that once stood beyond the reach of justice. The second was perhaps the most shocking pick of all—Donquixote Doflamingo. Once a Celestial Dragon, later a criminal locked away in Impel Down Level 6, Doflamingo had seemed like a relic of a darker era. Even Kyūjō hadn't expected the Government to forgive him—not just him, but also his executives from the Donquixote Family. Fortunately, Kyūjō had taken precautions years earlier. Rather than handing over Sugar, the user of the dangerous Hobi Hobi no Mi, he had entrusted her to the Revolutionary Army under Monkey D. Dragon. There, she could be raised and reformed—not as a weapon, but as a future symbol of change. The third seat was filled by Gecko Moria, the user of Kage Kage no Mi, with a bounty of 320 million Berries. Though the number seemed impressive, his reputation had long plummeted. Ever since his crushing defeat at the hands of Kaido, Moria had lost not just his spirit—but also his mastery of all three types of Haki. He had become a shell of his former self, an old ghost adrift in the new era. Fourth was Jinbe, the proud warrior of the Fishman race, and a former high-ranking officer of the Sun Pirates. His bounty stood at 250 million Berries. But behind the scenes, Jinbe had long pledged quiet allegiance to Kyūjō. His adopted elder brother, Fisher Tiger, had also become a close ally within Kyūjō's inner circle. The fifth Shichibukai was Crocodile, wielder of the Suna Suna no Mi and known across the seas as the "Desert King." His bounty had stagnated at 81 million Berries. While his personal strength wasn't exactly overwhelming, his Devil Fruit was a large-scale, area-control weapon of mass destruction. For that reason alone, the World Government still saw value in keeping him close—though only as a strategic piece, not a true power. Sixth on the list was Enel—a former self-proclaimed god, now a pirate with a bounty of 150 million Berries. One year ago, Kyūjō had issued him a special mission: infiltrate the seas as a pirate and aim for a Shichibukai seat. Despite being underestimated as the "Thunder Kid," Enel was no weakling. With his Den Den no Mi—a Paramecia-type that allowed him to generate bio-electricity—he had grown into a terrifying close-combat fighter. If he wasn't the strongest among the Shichibukai, he was certainly among the top contenders. And most importantly—he was still young, with limitless potential. And thanks to Kyūjō's silent elimination of his strongest rival—Edward Weevil—the World Government had no choice but to approve Enel's candidacy. Finally, the seventh spot was the most contested of all. But in the end, the one who claimed it was none other than the Pirate Empress herself—Boa Hancock, wielder of the Mero Mero no Mi, and sovereign of Amazon Lily. Her bounty had climbed to 110 million Berries. In this restructured version of the Shichibukai, which came with legal status and worldwide recognition, competition had become fiercer than ever. Without either raw strength or political leverage, entry was impossible. Fortunately, Hancock and Enel had both received discreet support—from Kyūjō and a few well-placed allies within the Navy. Why did Kyūjō help Hancock and Moria? The answer was simple. Boa Hancock, once a slave of the Celestial Dragons, had escaped from the hellish chambers of Mariejois. Though her pride often made her seem cold, she was not cruel. From a Navy perspective, she was the ideal candidate—powerful, controllable, and symbolic. Gecko Moria, on the other hand, was a spent force. Now dwelling alone in the Florian Triangle, he posed no threat. But he fit the image of a "pirate puppet" perfectly—easy to watch, easy to discard. As for Bartholomew Kuma—the tyrant who had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Admirals—his fate had changed in this world. Thanks to Kyūjō's rise, Kuma was no longer needed. After all, when you have a Vice Admiral like Kyūjō—someone with power equal to a Yonko—why rely on unstable forces like Kuma? (Kyūjō's death in this world would occur long before the Elbaf Arc. From his perspective, Kuma's time had already passed.) One year into the Shichibukai system, the pirate world had shifted dramatically. The global power balance—the one envisioned by the Gorosei—had finally taken shape: The Three Great Forces: The Navy — The Shichibukai — The Yonko At least, that was how it looked on paper. But in the year 1516 of the Sea Calendar, the tides of power began to shift once more. In an event that shocked the New World, Red-Haired Shanks, captain of the Red-Haired Pirates, faced off against Kaido of the Beasts, ruler of Wano and self-proclaimed "Strongest Creature Alive." Their battle lasted three days and three nights. And in a moment that shook the heavens, Shanks unleashed a devastating Conqueror's Haki-infused technique—Divine Departure—and sent Kaido crashing into the sea. But Kaido… was Kaido. Despite falling into the ocean as a Devil Fruit user, the next morning, he reappeared in Wano—completely unharmed. He wasn't called "immortal" for nothing. Still, the fact remained: Shanks had defeated a Yonko. When Morgans broke the story in the World Economy News, the world went into an uproar. Everyone understood what this meant— A new Yonko had risen. And so, by the dawn of a new year, the world stood divided between six colossal forces: The Four Emperors (Yonko) of the New World, Newest update provıded by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚑𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚑𝙣𝙚𝙩 The Admirals of the Navy, And the two rising stars: Tachibana Kyūjō and Sakazuki (Akainu)—both terrifying enough to be called "the next generation of absolute justice." These six pillars now towered over the oceans of the world, staring one another down in silent tension. And Tachibana Kyūjō could already smell the smoke… of a war to come. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 🎉 Good News! 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