The name of the alliance was finalized to be Avengers.
The Avengers were thus formed.
Composed of the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, and the Big Mom Pirates.
Their objective was simple: revenge.
Revenge against the Ninja Pirates.
However, the success of their revenge was uncertain.
Three days later, the trio announced their decision to the world, establishing the Avengers and actively recruiting members, proclaiming that anyone willing to join was welcome.
This reignited the slowly calming seas.
"As expected, these three wouldn't stay quiet. After suffering such a huge loss, they were definitely going to retaliate!" Someone remarked, having anticipated this news.
"I just didn't expect them to directly join forces and form an Avengers. What an interesting idea." Rayleigh, on Sabaody Archipelago, held the news report, an interesting expression on his face.
Just like in the original story, he had arrived at Sabaody.
"These are three of the world's most powerful pirates, individuals who almost became Emperors. Their alliance is truly frightening."
"But thankfully, their target is the Ninja Pirates. Once they deal with the Ninja Pirates, they'll disband. Otherwise, we'd be in for some tough times." A pirate spoke with relief, grateful that these three were destined to be incompatible in the long run.
"Deal with the Ninja Pirates? What nonsense are you spouting? There's no way they can handle the Ninja Pirates. They're more likely to be dealt with themselves!" Another retorted angrily, seemingly a devoted fan of the Ninja Pirates.
This was normal. Even among pirates, there were figures of admiration.
And the Ninja Pirates, who orchestrated that incident and established the Sage Shinobi Nation, were undoubtedly the most dazzling "stars" of the sea, figures capable of inciting widespread frenzy.
"But that's Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom!"
"That's the Fallen Angel and the man who broke the curse!"
The two argued, glaring at each other.
"Bastard, you wanna fight?!"
"Come on then, I'm not afraid of you?!"
Thus, a brawl erupted between two pirate crews in a certain harbor.
Witnessing this, the Marines on the island simply left without intervening.
Even though this was the South Blue, not the New World.
Before, they would have definitely intervened.
But now...
The previous incident had been too devastating for the Marines, a heavy blow that left them severely weakened.
The death of forty thousand elite Marines had resulted in the near-total loss of control over the Four Blues.
Of course, despite this, no pirate dared to actively provoke the Marines.
The saying held true: a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse.
No matter how badly the Marines were hit, their high-end combat power remained largely intact: Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, Kizaru, Aokiji...
As long as these individuals lived, the Marines remained an unprovokable force for ordinary pirates.
Marine Headquarters;
The current headquarters felt much emptier than a few months ago. The previously bustling Marines had vanished.
Only a few individuals could be seen occasionally, busy with their tasks.
"So, Whitebeard and the others intend to wage a direct war against the Ninja Pirates, seeking open revenge?" Sengoku looked at the intelligence report, appearing much older than a few months prior.
This wasn't merely a physical change, as his appearance hadn't altered drastically.
This aging stemmed from his heart.
The loss of so many Marines in the previous incident had deeply impacted him.
He was unlucky.
He wasn't supposed to shoulder this responsibility so soon, but because the previous Fleet Admiral Kong was killed by Hui with a single punch, he had to assume the role.
"When do they plan to confront the Ninja Pirates?" Garp spoke, appearing much more subdued than a few months ago.
Although he had witnessed countless deaths in his decades-long career as a Marine, the simultaneous loss of so many comrades had dealt a significant blow, leaving a scar on his soul.
"Garp, are you...?"
"I will join them and avenge the fallen Marines." Garp answered directly, intending to side with Whitebeard and the others.
As a Marine hero, such actions seemed inconsistent with his identity.
But one mustn't forget how Garp earned his title.
His title stemmed from the monumental achievement of joining forces with Roger to defeat the Rocks Pirates...
If even Roger could be an ally of his, why not Whitebeard and the others?
Sengoku fell silent upon hearing this, then spoke: "We still don't know the relationship between the Ninja Pirates and that person."
"If the Ninja Pirates are his force, your participation in their destruction might incur his wrath. And we cannot afford to bear his wrath." Sengoku's words were filled with the memory of the previous incident, the raid on Marine Headquarters, and that person.
The man known as God.
If not for that man, not only them, but even the World Government would have long since taken action against the Ninja Pirates. They wouldn't have waited until now.
But even the World Government feared that man.
Garp froze, then fell silent.
He also recalled the previous incident, that battle.
A battle where they were utterly crushed.
All the high-end combat power of the Marines, along with the World Government's known top fighters, had besieged a single person in that battle, yet still failed.
Everyone was defeated with a single punch, unable to even rise.
He, too, was severely injured by a single punch from that man.
That power was terrifying, unprecedented, unheard of.
If Tsuru hadn't sacrificed all their Devil Fruits in the end, the Marines might have ceased to exist.
"Damn it!!!"
Clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white, Garp felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
He trembled, then stood up and left.
Sengoku didn't stop him nor ask where he was going.
Because he knew Garp was going to train. He understood the frustration in Garp's heart.
Because he, too, felt frustrated.
He also wanted to train, to become stronger, to seek revenge against that man.
But he couldn't. He knew his own potential, knew that even with relentless training, he could never reach that man's level.
Therefore, he could only choose another path: to rebuild the Marines, to make them strong once more.
"The Ninja Pirates... God... What is happening to this world?"
After Garp left, Sengoku murmured in a daze.
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