436-440

Chapter 436 – A World in Turmoil 

Throughout history, how many people have truly escaped the grasp of a Marine Admiral? 

Very few. 

But today—they pulled it off. 

"Hehehe, as expected of the Captain!" 

The bootlicker Caribou slithered over, face full of flattery. 

"Captain, you're amazing! You went toe-to-toe with an Admiral and didn’t even fall behind. You’re totally my role model!" 

The same went for the lion-headed Dorgas, who quickly joined in, not wanting to be outdone. 

"Alright, enough with the praise for now. Save it for later—we need to get out of here first!" 

Yoru knew the truth. 

The only reason they got away was because they caught the Marines completely off guard. 

But once Fujitora gets serious... 

They wouldn’t be able to escape without paying a steep price—maybe even losing someone in the process. 

"Damn that Lightning Reaper... We were this close to catching him!" Onigumo and Momousagi were both fuming with frustration and unwillingness to accept the outcome. 

An Admiral was already on the scene. Just a bit more, and they could’ve brought that dangerous bastard Yoru to justice—one less threat in the world. 

On Onigashima— 

"Ka ka ka! Now that’s the Lightning Reaper I had my eye on!" Drunken and ecstatic, Kaidō burst into laughter. 

"Not even an Admiral could bring him down, and there were multiple powerful Vice Admirals backing him up. That rookie... he’s terrifyingly strong!" 

In another sea— An old man with a white beard and bright, alert eyes looked out over the waves. 

The Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh. 

"For someone to take on that kind of force and come out alive... Could it be? Will the Lightning Reaper become the next Yonko, after Whitebeard?" 

Across the world, rumors and whispers surged like waves: 

"How can the Lightning Reaper be this strong? Is he really going to be the next Yonko!?" 

Yoru's actions shook the world to its core. 

And naturally— 

The growing power of pirates sparked deeper fear and uncertainty around the globe. 

The world’s balance, once fragile but stable, was now cracking apart from the shock of this seemingly small but enormously influential battle. 

Marine Headquarters – 

"What the hell were you doing, Isshō?!" 

Sakazuki (Akainu) was absolutely furious. 

"You took an elite squad out there and still couldn’t bring down the Lightning Pirates? Is this how a Marine Admiral protects peace on the seas!?" 

"With failure like this, what are the people supposed to think of us? How can the Navy maintain its authority?" 

Fujitora: "..." 

"Say something! Are you just going to stay silent? Do you still even want the Admiral title?!" 

Still, Fujitora remained silent. 

"GRRHH!!" 

Veins bulged on Sakazuki's forehead. His clenched fist flared with sparks, magma bubbling from his hand, making the room’s temperature spike dangerously. 

"...Forget it. Get out!" 

Sakazuki finally gave up. Fujitora wasn’t going to give him what he wanted—no matter how loud he got. 

As for stripping Fujitora of his Admiral title? 

Impossible. 

Where was he going to find another top-tier powerhouse like him? 

They didn’t exactly grow on trees. 

Not long after... 

A new wave of bounty posters spread across the world! 

• Yoru, the Lightning Reaper – Captain of the Lightning Pirates 💰 Bounty: 2,234,000,000 Berries 

• Nous, the Thunderbird 💰 Bounty: 978,000,000 Berries 

• Jesus Burgess, the Champion of Combat 💰 Bounty: 700,000,000 Berries 

• Ruri, the Queen of Darkness 💰 Bounty: 563,000,000 Berries 

• Dorgas, the Lion of the Sea – Captain of the subordinate Lion Pirates (Supernova) 💰 Bounty: 300,000,000 Berries 

• Black Blade Zack – Swordsman of the Lion Pirates 💰 Bounty: 147,000,000 Berries 

• Caribou, the “Wet-Haired” – Subordinate crew of the Lightning Pirates (Supernova) 💰 Bounty: 270,000,000 Berries 

• Coribou – Caribou’s brother, also a Supernova 💰 Bounty: 200,000,000 Berries 

And the list went on... 

Chapter 437: The Beasts Pirates — Annihilated 

A massive new pirate crew, nearly strong enough to rival a Yonkō, suddenly emerged onto the world stage. 

In that moment... 

The world was struck by fear. People everywhere trembled, overcome by a sense that doomsday had arrived. 

“So many pirates with bounties over 100 million... What the hell are the Marines doing?! The Lightning Killer was doing fine as a Shichibukai! Why did you revoke his title? Happy now?!” 

“Do the Marines even have brains?! Which idiot came up with that decision?! Are you trying to throw us civilians into chaos on purpose?!” 

“Damn Marines, all of you are useless garbage!!” 

The sea was filled with outrage. Public anger came crashing in like a tidal wave, almost drowning the Marines in a storm of criticism. 

Then came shocking news: 

“Worldwide Breaking News! Shichibukai member and Gura Gura no Mi user, Droba Andes, has been killed by a mysterious individual! His Devil Fruit has been recovered!” 

If the Lightning Killer Yoru escaping from a Marine Admiral had already sent waves of panic across the world... 

Then— Droba Andes, who had replaced Yoru as a Shichibukai, being killed so suddenly by a mysterious figure— 

That pushed the world’s fear to the breaking point. 

The balance of power had completely collapsed. Global chaos was now inevitable! 

But then another series of headlines dropped: 

“Marine Hero Garp leads the charge and severely injures the Beasts Pirates in the waters near Onigashima!” “Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru orchestrate a brilliant takedown of the Beasts Pirates!” “Lightning Killer Yoru reinstated as Shichibukai!” 

People didn’t know how to process all this at once. 

“Wait… The Beasts Pirates are gone?” “Yoru’s back as a Shichibukai?” 

“Ohhh! This is amazing!” “Hahaha! Long live the Marines!” 

People burst into cheers, singing and dancing in the streets. 

They suddenly felt like they were safe again—like order had returned. 

But then... 

“Something’s off…” “Why does this feel like a setup? Like some grand conspiracy is at play?” “Wait wait wait, the World Government just decided to bring Yoru back like it’s nothing? Are they serious?” 

Major players across the Grand Line all felt an eerie chill crawl up their spines. 

They weren’t fools. It didn’t take long for them to piece it together. 

“They actually took out the Beasts Pirates in complete silence…” “They struck while two of the All-Stars were away trying to recruit Yoru—the Lightning Killer!” “Such a brilliant trap… what a calculated move!” 

Everyone had to admit it—this was a masterstroke by the World Government. 

“BASTAAAARDS!!!” 

Somewhere on the sea, Queen—still en route—completely lost it upon hearing the news. 

“Damn those Gorōsei! So despicable!” 

He cursed furiously. With their base now stolen out from under them, what future did they have left? 

“Oi oi oi... you two. Time to come with us to Impel Down.” 

“I might be blind, but I’d appreciate it if you both came along peacefully.” 

Suddenly, Kizaru and Fujitora appeared with a massive Marine force, surrounding Queen and King. 

There was no hope of escape. Against two Admirals, only a Yonkō-level force could possibly slip away. 

Queen and King just weren’t on that level. 

And with that— The main force of the Beasts Pirates was completely wiped out. 

Pirates across the seas were shaken. 

Even emperors of the sea—Yonkō—could fall. 

Morale shattered. Arrogance humbled. A chilling new reality had set in. 

Chapter 438 – The Era Runs Wild 

The Marines were far too dominant now. Most pirates figured it was best to lay low for the time being. 

Even Kaidō, the so-called “Strongest Creature,” had been captured. 

If anyone else kept acting recklessly, they probably wouldn’t end up any better. 

“What a terrifying scheme... Gorōsei. But by doing this, you’ve still upset the balance of the world. The Shichibukai's golden age is likely coming to an end.” 

“Ma ma ma... it really sends chills down my spine.” 

The two remaining Yonkō—Shanks the Red-Haired and Big Mom Charlotte Linlin—spoke with gravity. 

The world’s power structure was shifting faster than even they had expected, and far more chaotically. 

Things were rapidly spinning out of control, far beyond anyone’s predictions. 

“Tch. Captain, we were just used like pawns. It’s seriously pissing me off.” 

“Captain, are we really going to accept the Shichibukai title again?” 

Aboard the Mandefus, flagship of the Lightning Pirates, Nous and Burgess asked their captain. 

“Shichibukai?” 

Yoru laughed. 

“Why would I want that? The balance of the world is already collapsing. The Shichibukai system being abolished is only a matter of time.” 

“One of the Yonkō crews has been wiped out. What we should be after is the treasure they left behind, right?” 

“If we want to get our hands on the Poneglyph in Big Mom’s possession, we’ll need serious power.” 

Yoru licked his lips. 

“Nous, Burgess, Ruri, Dogs, Caribou—go. However big a slice of the cake you can carve out is entirely up to you.” 

Yoru never saw himself as a good guy. Kaidō had fallen, and there was no reason not to covet his territory. 

All he lacked now were the Road Poneglyphs scattered across the New World. Once he had them, he could reach Raftel—and solve the mystery that would finally let him return to the Naruto world. 

“Understood!” 

Everyone grinned and headed off in their own ships, sailing toward different seas. 

“Fleet Admiral, the Lightning Reaper has declined the Shichibukai position!” 

“In addition, he’s begun spreading his forces toward Kaidō’s former territory. His power will grow even more after this.” 

At Marine HQ, a Rear Admiral delivered the report. 

“I knew it. That guy would never agree to become one of the Shichibukai,” 

grumbled Sakazuki (Akainu), voice low and unreadable. 

“You’re dismissed. Tell Garp and Sengoku to keep an eye on Big Mom. Under no circumstances can she be allowed to join the land grab over Kaidō’s territory!” 

“Also—send Kizaru to the Lightning Reaper’s current location. He’s vulnerable right now, and it’s the perfect chance to eliminate him!” 

“And Fujitora—have him lead troops to monitor the New Whitebeard Pirates. If they use this opportunity to grow, they’ll become another major threat!” 

Sakazuki raised his head, his eyes sharp as blades. 

“I will not allow another Yonkō to rise. Two? That’s absolutely out of the question.” 

Right now, only two factions had the strength to become the next Yonkō: 

The Lightning Pirates and the New Whitebeard Pirates. 

Sakazuki’s goal was simple—make sure neither of them reached Yonkō level. 

He’d rather let smaller pirate crews rise up than let Yoru or Marco gain that much ground. 

After all, a young tiger growing into a beast was a far greater threat than a piglet growing into a pig. 

“Yes, sir!” 

The Rear Admiral saluted and withdrew. 

Sakazuki clenched his cigarette between his teeth and murmured: 

“With another wielder of the Gura Gura no Mi joining our side... the day of peace for the seas is finally drawing near.” 

Chapter 439: Time to Go Big 

“What a stormy, turbulent era this has become…” “I’m getting old. Might as well sit back and watch how the tides shift.” 

At the Sabaody Archipelago, a silver-haired old man in glasses sat atop a rooftop, sipping from his glass and muttering to himself. 

“Fufufu… What a beautiful age this is!” 

In Dressrosa, Ten'yasha Doflamingo grinned with twisted glee, his eyes alight with excitement. 

“Heh heh heh… This era isn’t half bad.” “In fact, why not stir the storm even more?” 

Meanwhile, on a remote island, one of the Big Mom Pirates’ top fighters—one of the Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Cracker—lay in a pool of his own blood, staring up in disbelief at the man before him. 

What he just heard had shaken him to the core. 

“So this is the strength of Charlotte Linlin’s son? Pathetic.” 

The man turned around, dressed in a sharp black military uniform. His chiseled features and aura exuded a suffocating level of Haoshoku Haki. 

It was none other than the "Demon Heir" — Douglas Bullet! 

“Wanna come crash Big Mom’s house with me?” 

Beside him, a young man with a carefree smile posed the question—none other than Yoru, the Lightning Killer. 

“Hahaha… You’re insane…” 

Bullet chuckled, eyes gleaming. 

“But I like it. I’d expect nothing less from you, Yoru!” 

Who was Douglas Bullet? A man who feared neither gods nor kings. Even without Yoru, he’d charge into Big Mom’s territory on his own just for the thrill of it. 

“You… won’t get away with this…” 

Cracker muttered weakly, eyes filled with dread. 

“Dead men don’t get to talk.” 

With one clean swing of his blade, Yoru finished Cracker off. 

“Alright then. Let’s set sail.” 

Yoru turned to Bullet, inviting him aboard the Mandervus. Then, calmly, he claimed Cracker’s Devil Fruit for himself. 

“Big Mom, don’t disappoint me now.” 

Naturally, Bullet didn’t hesitate for a second. He boarded the Mandervus, and the two set off—straight for Whole Cake Island! 

When Kizaru caught wind of what had just happened—even he, usually so flippant and laid-back, turned serious. 

Yoru and Bullet… 

These two were barely any weaker than the Yonkō themselves. 

Or maybe… they were Yonkō in all but name. 

Their alliance wasn’t just bad news—it was a nightmare. Even if they were targeting another Yonkō like Big Mom… 

“What a terrifying bunch…” 

Kizaru immediately reported to Sakazuki (Akainu), who didn't dare sit on the matter. Reinforcements were dispatched at once. 

The plan was clear: 

Let Bullet and Yoru clash with Big Mom. And once all sides were exhausted, strike fast and finish them off. 

Because if they got away—after defeating two different Yonkō crews—pirates from all over the world would rally behind them in droves. 

And that... would spell disaster. 

Aboard the Mandervus, on the way to Totto Land... 

“Charging into Big Mom’s main base head-on isn’t the best move. I’ve got a plan—interested?” 

Yoru asked with a sly grin, eyes sparkling with confidence. 

“Let’s hear it. But if it sounds too soft, don’t blame me for laughing in your face.” 

Bullet bared his teeth in a dangerous smile. 

“Charlotte Linlin… has a certain weakness.” 

Yoru leaned in, starting to explain the scheme. 

“A Yonkō… going berserk over something like that?” “Ridiculous.” “Someone like that is ruling this sea? The so-called heroes of this era are a joke.” 

Bullet scoffed coldly. 

Chapter 440 – Arrival at Totto Land 

Yoru said calmly, 

“There are two people under Charlotte Linlin who’ll be a bit of a problem.” 

“One is her second son—Charlotte Katakuri, a Paramecia Special Type Mochi Mochi no Mi user, and the top of the Sweet Commanders.” 

“The other is her 19th son—Charlotte Mont-d'Or, who has the Buku Buku no Mi (Book-Book Fruit).” 

“If you run into either of them, deal with them first. Otherwise, they could mess up our entire plan.” 

Barrett grinned wickedly. 

“If it were anyone but you saying this, I’d have already tossed them into the sea.” 

“I’m honored,” Yoru replied, putting on an exaggeratedly humble face. 

“Then I’ll leave it to you to attract attention up front—I’ll sneak in and find Big Mom’s weakness.” 

Inwardly, he thought: 

This might be the perfect chance to snatch the Road Poneglyph from her hands. Maybe it won’t be as hard as I thought. 

Yoru had a strong hunch. 

Now that Kaidō had been taken down, the Navy would definitely tighten surveillance on Big Mom. 

So now it was a race—between him and the Navy. 

If he moved fast enough, he could stir up chaos in Totto Land, grab what he needed, and slip away before things settled—leaving the Marines to deal with an enraged Big Mom. 

“This guy’s terrifying... Even more dangerous than the Yonkō.” 

That was Garp and Sengoku’s reaction upon learning from Kizaru that Yoru had headed to Totto Land, Big Mom’s territory. 

Their expressions grew incredibly grim. 

Half of the current chaos sweeping the seas could be traced directly back to Yoru. 

The original plan had been simple: Take down Kaidō and the Beasts Pirates, then restore stability. 

From there, they’d handle the aftermath, increase Marine authority, and use the momentum to suppress piracy. 

But clearly… 

Yoru wasn’t about to let that happen. 

He wanted the seas in complete disarray. 

Even Garp, as seasoned as he was, felt a chill when he thought about how fast Yoru’s strength had been growing. 

Totto Land! 

“No—It’s him! The Devil’s Heir! Retreat! Fall back—!” 

Aboard the Mandefus, Barrett tore through Totto Land like a one-man wrecking crew. 

A raging beast, completely unstoppable. 

Former Sweet Commander Snack? Crushed in two punches. 

Elite fighter Opera? Knocked out in three. 

Oven and Daifuku? Down and unconscious in under 20 seconds. 

Barrett was just too strong. Without the full force of all three Sweet Commanders, no one could stand in his way. 

He wasn’t just powerful—he was devastating. 

“A Yonkō crew with only trash like this under her?” 

Barrett didn’t just charge in—he hunted. 

Wherever he passed, islands were shattered, fires burned, and war erupted. 

Soon, he reached the main island—Whole Cake Island. 

There, Katakuri, Perospero, and Smoothie arrived at the port, ready to confront him. 

“Fighting him feels like facing Mama herself…” 

Even Katakuri had to admit it, a rare moment of awe. 

Barrett’s strength was overwhelming—even he, the strongest of Big Mom’s children, could feel the gap. 

But it made sense. 

This wasn’t the Barrett fresh out of Impel Down, half-dead and weakened. 

This was full-power Barrett. 

His strength now stood just beneath the level of a Yonkō. Even Yoru couldn’t match him anymore. 

And not even a Yonkō could easily take him down.