Hatred.
Rage.
Disappointment.
That was all Vinsmoke Judge felt.
The posters trembled in his hand.
Two faces.
Two failures.
Two sons—
Who dared to defy him.
His teeth clenched.
CRACK.
The table shattered under his fist.
"…I should've expected this…"
His voice was cold.
Controlled.
But burning.
"…especially after that tantrum…"
A pause.
"…when I disposed of that failure."
His eyes darkened.
"…Reiji…"
Behind him—
Laughter.
The other brothers.
Unbothered.
Cruel.
"…40 million?" one scoffed.
"…that's it?" another laughed.
"…pathetic."
They leaned back, relaxed.
Mocking.
"…they ran away just to be this weak?"
Judge said nothing.
But his silence—
Was heavier than their words.
Cut — East Blue
A peaceful village.
Warm.
Simple.
Alive.
Inside a small bar—
A boy sat alone.
Eating.
A lot.
A straw hat rested on his back.
A small scar under his eye.
Monkey D. Luffy hummed happily.
Mouth full.
"…mmfff… this is good…"
The door suddenly opened.
Makino rushed in.
Excited.
"Luffy!"
He looked up.
Still chewing.
"…huh?"
"Ace's bounty went up again!!"
Silence.
Then—
"NANIIII?!?!"
Food almost flew everywhere.
"…wait…"
He froze.
Thinking.
Hard.
"…he was worth… 15 thousand?"
A pause.
"…or million?"
He put a hand on his chin.
Still eating with the other.
Makino laughed softly.
"…look."
She handed him the poster.
Luffy swallowed everything at once.
GULP
He looked.
Eyes widening.
Turning into stars.
"SUGOIIII!!!"
A huge grin spread across his face.
"SHISHISHISHI!!"
"…Ace is amazing!!"
Cut — Grand Line Entrance
The sea was chaos.
Three days.
No rest.
No peace.
Storms.
Waves.
Unpredictable currents.
The crew was exhausted.
Destroyed.
Barely standing.
Except—
Two.
Portgas D. Ace stood at the front.
Grinning.
Full of energy.
"…THIS IS AWESOME!!"
And beside him—
Vinsmoke Reiji.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Like the storm meant nothing.
The rest of the crew?
Dead inside.
"…how are you two still alive…"
Deuce whispered.
"…they're not normal…"
Skull muttered.
"…I've accepted it…"
Mihal adjusted his hat.
Reiju smiled faintly.
"…me too."
Then—
A voice cut through the storm.
"ISLAND AHEAD!!"
Everyone froze.
Then—
Energy exploded.
"…WHERE?!"
"…I SEE IT—!!"
"…FOOD—!!"
Ace burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!! FINALLY!!"
"I'M STARVING!!"
Deuce snapped.
Throwing a crumpled paper ball at him.
"YOU ATE A THIRD OF OUR FOOD!!!"
"…HOW ARE YOU STILL HUNGRY?!"
Ace caught it.
Grinning.
"…talent?"
Silence.
Then—
Laughter.
Real.
Loud.
Alive.
Ahead—
Land.
Their first step—
Into the Grand Line.
None of them knew—
What was waiting.
But one thing was certain—
This was just the beginning.
Cut — The Island
Smoke.
Screams.
Fire spreading through wooden houses.
Small footsteps echoed through a ruined street.
A child ran.
Breathing heavily.
Crying.
"…mom…?"
No answer.
Bodies.
Everywhere.
The child's hands trembled.
Tears blurred everything.
"…why…?"
A loud explosion.
BOOM.
A house collapsed.
Laughter followed.
Cruel.
Loud.
Heartless.
Pirates.
The Cannon Arm Pirates.
Men covered in dirt, blood, and arrogance.
Looting.
Destroying.
Enjoying.
"…please… stop…" someone begged.
A gunshot.
Silence.
The child flinched.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Then—
He appeared.
The captain.
A man with a twisted grin.
A bounty of 35 million.
And where his arm should be—
A cannon.
Smoke still rising from it.
"…you people are annoying."
He sighed.
"…all this trouble… for a statue?"
Behind him—
A broken monument.
Cracked.
But still standing.
The statue of the island's first governor.
The man who once saved everyone.
"…we told you…"
An old man coughed, bleeding.
"…we would never give it to you…"
The captain's smile widened.
"…then die with it."
BOOM.
The cannon fired.
The old man disappeared in smoke and blood.
The pirates cheered.
"…HAHAHAHA!!"
"…that's what you get!!"
"…burn everything!!"
The child covered their ears.
Screaming.
Crying.
Shaking.
"…someone… help…"
Far away—
Beyond the smoke—
Beyond the screams—
A small, broken boat approached the island.
Laughing voices carried over the waves.
"…FOOD!!"
"…ISLAND!!"
"…FINALLY!!"
Unaware.
Or maybe—
Exactly where they needed to be.
To be continued. 🔥
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