As Teach returned to the New World, the prolonged conflict in the Golden Sea finally drew to a close after another month and a half of scattered battles, withdrawals, and final territorial stabilization.
With Jaya Island entering a relatively stable development phase, the major pirate forces that had been pressuring the Marines began to retreat in an orderly fashion. Each faction understood clearly that continuing the confrontation would no longer bring meaningful gains and would instead drain resources needed for their own expansion and consolidation.
Even Kaido, despite his nature, eventually withdrew with visible reluctance. He had no intention of remaining in a prolonged standoff against multiple Marine powerhouses without any tangible benefit. More importantly, every major pirate crew had been separated from its core base for too long, and even with capable executives managing affairs in their absence, leadership presence was still necessary to stabilize their territories.
With the end of the Golden Sea War and the broader escalation of the pirate era, the world entered its most chaotic peak yet. Pirate prestige surged to unprecedented heights, even overshadowing the authority of the World Government.
What many had once believed to be the rise of the Four Sea Emperors had instead become only another step in a far larger wave of upheaval.
On the other side, the World Government and the Marines fell into a historic low point. Their ability to project power across the seas weakened drastically, forcing them into a defensive stance just to maintain basic order. The seas were now filled with pirate ships moving freely, while Marine patrols had become sparse and fragmented.
The withdrawal of the major pirate forces allowed Sengoku and the remaining Marine leadership to finally breathe, even if only slightly. The war had ended, but its consequences were only beginning to surface.
Sengoku's voice was heavy as he issued the retreat order.
"Let's return to headquarters."
His arms trembled slightly as he spoke, the lingering vibration damage from Whitebeard's power still tearing through his body. Although he had endured the battlefield for a considerable time, the internal shockwaves had not fully dissipated, continuing to strain his bones and organs.
On the surface, Sengoku maintained his composure as Fleet Admiral, refusing to show weakness in front of his subordinates. However, beneath that calm expression, fractures had already spread through his skeletal structure, and internal bleeding persisted despite his Mythical Zoan recovery.
Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit was not something that could be endured lightly. Even Sengoku required several days of rest before his body could fully stabilize.
Sakazuki frowned slightly and asked, "What about the New World then?"
Sengoku exhaled slowly before answering.
"The Marine situation is worse than we expected. If this continues, we will collapse before we can reorganize. The New World can only be abandoned for now. Leave only G1. Everything else must be withdrawn."
He paused briefly, his expression tightening.
"We can no longer control the New World. Let those pirates tear each other apart."
Silence followed his words, heavy and unbroken. Even Sakazuki did not immediately respond.
Garp finally spoke after a moment, his tone more serious than usual.
"It's that bad?"
Sengoku did not look at him.
"When I left Marine Headquarters, we were already close to collapse. Now it is only worse."
The weight of those words settled across the deck.
Sakazuki remained silent, fists clenched but unmoving.
Sengoku continued in a lower voice.
"Right now, the Marines can only hold the entrance to the New World. That is already the limit."
He did not say more, but everyone understood what that meant.
The New World had been abandoned once again, fully returned to pirate control.
Garp scratched his head, his expression unusually restrained.
"So it really came to this…"
Sengoku did not respond.
The returning fleet soon established contact with Marine Headquarters through Den Den Mushi communication channels. Orders were transmitted quickly, prioritizing the stabilization of remaining forces and the urgent medical evacuation of Kong.
On the warship, several senior Marine officers activated the Visual Den Den Mushi system. The Golden Sea War had lasted too long and unfolded too rapidly for complete observation. Now they needed clarity on the decisive moments that had shaped the outcome.
The projection screen flickered to life.
The first segment displayed the arrival of CP0 units, followed immediately by the sudden emergence of Dark Emperor Teach. The battlefield shifted in an instant, pressure changing direction in a way even seasoned Marines could feel through the footage alone.
One by one, CP0 operatives were eliminated or incapacitated in rapid succession. The room remained silent as they watched.
Sengoku eventually spoke.
"Tsuru, Garp. You both witnessed that ability directly. How does it compare now?"
Tsuru narrowed her eyes slightly, reviewing her memory carefully.
"It has evolved significantly. The control is far more refined than before. The range is more dangerous as well. Once you enter its effective zone, you must assume you cannot escape it."
She paused briefly.
"And you cannot allow yourself to be drawn into its detonation timing. It is controlled entirely by him."
Several officers stiffened at that assessment.
Garp leaned back slightly before replying.
"It's strong. If I get caught in it directly, even I would have trouble breaking free."
His tone was casual, but the implication was anything but.
Sengoku glanced at him.
"That is already enough information."
The footage continued without pause.
Kong appeared next, intercepting Teach briefly before Shiki entered the battlefield. Their clash unfolded rapidly across multiple frames, each exchange carrying enough force to split terrain and distort sea currents.
Then came Dragon's appearance alongside CP0's highest level combatants. The battlefield expanded further, turning into a convergence of natural disasters and elite warfare.
At this point, several Marines exchanged looks in silence.
Garp suddenly raised his voice toward the screen.
"Oi, Dragon! You brat, I haven't seen you in years and you've gotten stronger!"
He scratched his head and laughed loudly.
"Don't let me catch you, I'll beat you up properly next time!"
The tone carried no real anger, only a strange familiarity that made the atmosphere slightly awkward.
Sengoku sighed quietly.
Tsuru did not react at all.
The footage moved on.
CP0's capabilities were analyzed quickly through observation, their strength acknowledged despite their losses. Even among Marines, their coordination and individual power were considered elite.
However, none of it compared to what came next.
The screen displayed Teach's Star of Destruction.
The battlefield vanished in an instant.
Entire formations were swallowed without resistance, the scale of destruction leaving even the observers visibly tense. Garp's expression finally turned serious, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the technique unfold.
No one spoke for a long moment.
Then came Kong's fall into the sea.
Kuzan's descent followed immediately, creating ice pathways under extreme pressure while carrying an incapacitated Kong through hostile conditions. Shiki's interference and Arest and Vulture's intervention briefly created an opening, but it was already clear what would happen next.
The moment Kuzan and Kong emerged from the sea surface, Teach was already there.
The ambush was precise.
Kuzan was struck first, forced into defense at point blank range. Kong's right arm was torn away in a single movement. A second strike pierced through his chest.
Garp's hand tightened slightly.
Sengoku did not move.
Kong's condition became fully visible through the footage.
Severe limb loss, chest penetration, and internal destruction caused by Haki intrusion. The injuries were catastrophic even for a Mythical Zoan user.
Tsuru spoke quietly.
"He is still alive because of sheer willpower."
The room fell silent again.
Finally, the footage ended.
No one immediately spoke.
The only sound was the faint mechanical hum of the Den Den Mushi system.
Sengoku eventually broke the silence.
"Return to Headquarters. Kong's condition takes priority."
No one objected.
The Marines understood clearly that the war had ended, but what remained was something far more unstable than battle.
It was the collapse that came after defeat.