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The days continued to rush by, and at last, the awaited day arrived.
In Marigoa, Imu sat on her empty throne with her legs crossed. Her royal black cloak draped down, failing to conceal the long, elegant lines of her legs.
Imu opened the manga volume, which seemed smaller than usual, with an interested expression. After all, the previous volume hadn't satisfied her curiosity. It felt like the Brynndi World arc was just filler, and the real story was this very arc.
"Could it be because Luffy was still in the middle of his two-year training?" Imu wondered to justify her feeling. However, after that, she focused on the first page. There was no chapter title, only the famous straw hat, covered in snow.
"The same last scene from the previous arc…" Imu whispered calmly.
…
In the manga world, snow was falling on the island of Luscaina, a wild island located north of the island of women, not far away. Luffy stood with a smile, staring at the straw hat that had been waiting for two years.
"Luffy!!" A female voice called out to him, urging him to hurry.
"Yeah, I'm coming!" Luffy responded quickly.
Two years had already passed since the Summit War, where the Marines and the Shichibukai faced off against the Whitebeard Pirates.
"That sure was quick…" Luffy grabbed his hat and shook off the accumulated snow.
"It's been two years already, huh…?" He said, turning around to where the massive beasts that had accompanied him during his training stood. A giant gorilla, a giant crocodile, a giant lion, and a smaller tiger.
"The ship is ready to sail! We can leave whenever you like!" Margaret informed Luffy.
"All right! Thanks!!"
"Worry not, Luffy… I've made sure the ship is stocked with all of your favorite foods! Qualities like these prove I will surely make a wonderful wife!" As usual, Hancock was lost in her dreams, but Luffy was quick to refuse.
"I'm not marrying you!! Thanks for the food!!"
"AAHHH…! So cruel, yet so divine…!" It seemed Hancock didn't take his rejection to heart at all. She added, after a moment,
"Since Rayleigh left half a year ago, I'm sure he's already at Sabaody, waiting for you impatiently!"
"I picked up all the basics in just a year and a half, after all…"
"Well, I guess this is goodbye to you guys and this place…" Luffy said, speaking to his fellow beasts.
At that moment, Luffy placed the straw hat back on his head after two years.
"Hey!!" Luffy glared at the beasts, who started to sweat.
"Look harder. These are my friends." He gestured towards the Kuja Pirates.
"Ahah… Wow."
"Looks like you're the undisputed boss of this island," Sandersonia said cheerfully, watching the scene unfold.
"Yeah, but since I've made friends with these guys, I haven't been able to eat any of them. Kinda sucks."
"They look pretty tasty, too…" Luffy's words made the beasts sweat even more.
Luffy's smile widened as he turned around, "Right! Let's get going!!"
…
"Hahaha! Fun…" Imu laughed in response to this opening scene, clearly pleased that Luffy had truly overcome Ace's death and regained his cheerful spirit.
"Are two years really enough to learn that much?"
Below the empty throne, the voice of Saint Ju Peter resonated in the main hall, curiosity filling his tone.
"Hmm, hmm, he said he learned all the basics in just a year and a half, which means he's refined what he learned in the last half year," Saint Nusjuro cleared his throat lightly as he spoke.
"A year and a half to learn all the basics… what an incredibly terrifying talent," Saint Saturn commented, praising Luffy's ability.
"Luscaina… should we erase it from the face of the earth? That way, Luffy won't have a perfect place to train in the future."
Saint Mars suggested with his eyes half-closed.
"And will Luffy truly follow the same path as in the manga? That's impossible, for sure," Saint Warcury seemed to mock Mars with his idea.
"Destroying future possibilities isn't a bad idea, but it's no longer necessary," Imu's calm voice rang out, causing the five elders to adjust their postures and sit respectfully.
"Let the Holy Knights search for Dragon… The time for zero hour is approaching. We cannot allow another Nika to be born into this world." Since Rob's appearance up until now… only now did Imu issue such an important order… she moved directly to prevent Luffy's birth in this world!
But this wasn't shocking to the five elders.
"Understood, my lord." The five elders bowed in response, accepting the decree as a divine command.
…
Far from Marigoa, in the Art Store at Ohara, the atmosphere was different. There was an electric charge in the air as customers gathered in large numbers inside the Art Store. The vast space within the store seemed insufficient.
This increased the workload on the store's goddesses. Unfortunately, they didn't receive any help from the other store goddesses since other art stores around the world were in a similar situation.
The arc of returning to the archipelago had readers already surpassing its exciting introduction.
Doflamingo sat relaxed, uninterested in the commotion around him, completely detached from reality and absorbed in the manga events.
"Fufu~ The ability to defeat a great pirate like Brynndi World definitely indicates your power's progress is no small feat… Let me guess, what's the number of my counterpart among the enemies you'll defeat one after another in your future journeys?"
Doffy was mentally prepared for his fall at the hands of Luffy.
There was no discomfort in his expression as he said this.
"Haha! I'd be happy to see that, I still remember how you laughed at me when my counterpart was defeated by Luffy in the Skypiea arc…" From the side, Enel spoke sarcastically, despite his laughter.
"Through the character of the older brother in the manga, Luffy will surely kick his ass…" This time, Rosinante spoke without any care for his brother's feelings.
…
"That sharp gaze… Look at the reaction of the beasts… He's already mastered his Conqueror's Haki." Issho said with a smile, watching the scene where Luffy scared the beasts on Luscaina Island.
"That's normal… Looks like he's fully matured," Mihawk nodded with a smile.
"I'm more interested in seeing how Zoro developed under my counterpart's guidance," Mihawk's smile showed his true reason for his interest.
"Ha, will he even make it to the archipelago? I doubt it, Yohohoho!" Brook's laugh echoed after hearing Zoro's name.
"He's definitely going to fail to make it, that's for sure… I wonder who will help him out? Perona, perhaps? Derishishishi!" Even Saul joined in mercilessly mocking Zoro.
"It seems like this arc is moving fast… Two years have already passed in the manga world, huh?" Clover smiled, ignoring the others' comments.
"Things are getting closer… I wonder how the events will develop from here toward the final war…"
Vegapunk spoke with a curious expression. Only a few people could see more than what the eye sees in the One Piece manga. Vegapunk was one of those people.
"That's still a long way off… For now, all you need to do is enjoy… One Piece manga has entered a new stage… The post-two-year training arc has officially begun."
Rob's voice sounded as he approached the group.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 875: Fish-Man Island Saga: Return to Sabaody Arc! (Part 2)
Chapter 876: Nami's Appearance Moves Hearts, but Political Change Is More Important!
Chapter 877: Who's the New Fleet Admiral?
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