An unknown island in the East Blue.
A booming roar echoed through the mountains and forests as huge boulders were pierced and shattered.
Two months had passed since Dar destroyed the 758 Marine Base.
It had taken Dar a month of sailing to travel from the West Blue, across the edge of the Calm Belt, and arrive in the East Blue.
Upon arrival, he had disbanded the group of underlings he had recruited in Maple Leaf Village.
Those people were too weak and couldn’t cook well, making them useless to keep around.
Along the way, he had seen his own wanted poster, and Dar was still quite shocked; he had only destroyed a branch base, yet he was given a bounty of 120 million.
As expected, he was just too outstanding—powerful and handsome.
He had reached a height most pirates couldn’t achieve in a lifetime just after becoming a pirate.
What Dar didn’t know was that the reason for such a high bounty was the consideration that he might possess an unknown Devil Fruit, and one that was likely awakened.
For Marineford, Dar was far less attractive than his fruit ability; after all, some fruit abilities were too heaven-defying, and as a massive military organization, they placed great importance on gathering intelligence.
Dar was satisfied with his bounty, but what was up with that damn name?
Carved Fur Dahl?
Dar secretly vowed that if he ever had the chance, he would carve the words “Carved Fur” onto Morgans’ face.
After arriving in the East Blue, since he hadn’t received news of Pirate King Roger’s execution, Dar simply practiced his skills on a Sky Island not far from Loguetown.
“Finger Pistol.”
A vacuum bullet coated in Armament Haki shot instantly from Dar’s fingertip.
After piercing through several huge ancient trees as thick as a man’s embrace, it struck the distant mountain wall, kicking up a cloud of dense smoke and dust.
During this month, Dar had only practiced the “Finger Pistol” technique; he seemed extremely compatible with this move.
After seeing Base Commander Newt use it that day, he managed to pull it off on his first attempt, and now, after a month of diligent practice, he used it with ease.
Dar had tried to imitate the “Shave” and “Tempest Kick” he saw that day, but he always felt something was missing and could never succeed.
Dar could only comfort himself: As the saying goes, mastery of one skill is enough to get by.
Even if he wasn’t as good as Frieza, who could destroy a planet with one finger, it wouldn’t be bad if he could train his Finger Pistol to be like Kizaru’s Yasakani no Magatama.
Dar’s arm muscles bulged suddenly as he placed his hands at his waist, forming them into the shape of guns.
He concentrated massive power into his index fingers and shouted in a chuunibyou manner.
“Namu Gatling Technique!”
“Da da da da da da…”
Dar’s fingers were like the barrels of a violent heavy Gatling gun, crazily firing vacuum bullets.
Wherever his fingers pointed, giant trees toppled and rocks shattered.
“Da da da da da da…”
Dar practiced for several hours as if tireless, only stopping his training when his stomach let out a “grumbling” sound.
Although this island had no traces of human habitation, it was home to many fierce beasts, which became Dar’s natural food reservoir.
Dar went deep into the forest and hunted a giant wild ox the size of an elephant.
He took a long sword from the system space—this was obtained while looting the 758 Marine Base; it wasn’t a famous blade, but it was enough for Dar.
He skillfully processed the ox carcass, throwing away the unappetizing innards and head, and only stored the large chunks of meat into his storage space.
He arrived at the sandy beach and set up a barbecue grill.
High-end ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods.
The charcoal crackled, and the fresh wild beef gradually turned charred and golden on the grill.
The fat melted and dripped, making a sizzling, tempting sound.
He took seasonings from the system storage space and sprinkled them evenly over the steak.
A mouth-watering aroma of meat wafted over.
He picked up a piece of the delicious-looking barbecue, put it in his mouth, and took out beer from the system space, downing a bottle with a “glug, glug, glug.”
Dar squinted his eyes in enjoyment and couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Barbecue with alcohol, the gods won’t leave.”
Just as Dar was tucking in, a News Coo flew over the sky.
Dar skillfully took out a coin from the system space and flicked it with his finger, landing it precisely in the News Coo’s money bag.
The next second, a newspaper drifted down from the sky.
He reached out to catch the newspaper, scanned the front-page headline, and an excited look appeared on his face.
The entire page of the newspaper was occupied by a shocking piece of news:
Pirate King Gol D.
Roger was successfully captured by the Marine hero Garp on Baterilla Island in the West Blue and would be executed in Loguetown in the East Blue in one month.
Seeing this line, Dar jumped up in excitement and couldn’t help but hum a song.
“Waited so long, finally waited until today; hoped for so long, finally going to realize the dream.”
…
One month later.
Loguetown, known as the “City of Beginnings and Endings.”
Today, the central square was packed with people, overflowing.
Pirates, civilians, officials, and reporters from all over the world gathered here.
Everyone’s gaze fell upon the towering execution platform in the center of the square.
The World Government and the Marines had carefully deployed their defenses, just to execute Pirate King Roger publicly to deter the ambitions of pirates across the sea.
On the execution platform, that legendary man—Gol D.
Roger—had his hands locked tight by shackles, but he showed no trace of embarrassment or fear.
He sat cross-legged, looking up at the clear blue sky of the East Blue, a free and easy smile even hanging on the corner of his mouth.
Dar blended into the restless crowd, restraining his aura and hiding himself without any flaws.
Looking at Pirate King Roger on the platform, Dar couldn’t help but think, if he went up and punched Roger now, wouldn’t his Armament Haki increase by a large chunk?
Of course, that was just a thought.
In this situation, with the importance the World Government and the Marines placed on Roger, who knew how many experts were here to hold the fort?
He was certain that Garp, Sengoku, and the God’s Knights were definitely here.
With his current stature, daring to cause trouble would definitely get him killed.
Actually, regarding Pirate King Roger, Dar found it hard to understand his actions.
If he was doing it for the people, then the act of starting the Great Pirate Era caused more ordinary civilians to suffer from pirate raids.
If it was to overthrow the World Government, then he should have been like Monkey D.
Dragon, establishing a revolutionary army to fight against the World Government.
He could even have shouted the declaration: “Are kings and nobles born with higher status?”
Dar felt that Roger’s approach was more like raising insects, and the New World was his insect-raising ground.
After he started the Great Pirate Era, all the potential insects in the world would charge into the insect-raising ground desperately, killing each other until the strongest one emerged.
Dar guessed that perhaps the strength of Imu, the King of the World, had already reached a height that could not be shaken by numbers, and one must have transcendent individual strength to win.
It might also have something to do with the secret Roger discovered on the final island.
Dar only thought about these things occasionally and didn’t care much.
He didn’t have any great ambitions after coming to this world.
“Hey, Pirate King.”
Someone in the crowd shouted, or perhaps it was a plant arranged by Pirate King Roger in advance.
“Where did you put all the treasures?”
“That legendary Great Treasure.”
“One Piece~ Ah!”
Pirate King Roger, who was about to be executed, had no fear of his impending death and looked up at the azure sky.
“Hahahaha!”
“You mean my treasure?”
“You rascals, I put all my treasures there.
If you want it, go and get it; go and find it.”
“Shut up.”
Two executioners thrust sharp bayonets into Pirate King Roger’s chest.
Blood stained the execution platform red.
The whole scene fell into deathly silence instantly.
Everyone stood frozen in place, as if time had solidified.
But just a moment later, earth-shattering shouts and roars erupted!
“One Piece!!”
“I’m going to find the treasure!!”
“Set sail!
I want to set sail!!”
The fanatical wave swept through Loguetown, swept through the East Blue, and swept through the entire sea.
The Great Pirate Era officially began.