MMB Chapter 2080, "The End of the Great Pirate Era," gives new meaning to the "Will of D.
Chapter 2080, "The End of the Great Pirate Era," gives new meaning to the "Will of D.
Chapter 2080, "The End of the Great Pirate Era," gives new meaning to the "Will of D."
Under the influence of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, the subconscious of everyone in the world was connected, and Ace's commands were branded into the soul of every life.
Resistance? Conflict? Not at all.
Under the power of Infinite Tsukuyomi, these emotions were transformed into an understanding, acceptance, and yearning for the new order before they even began to sprout.
Although people do not lose themselves and retain their individual personalities, memories, and emotions, they will wholeheartedly accept the path that Ace pointed out and regard it as the only reasonable and correct future.
Navy, pirates, revolutionary army, remnants of the World Government, various kingdoms, different races. All the forces and individuals who were once hostile, suspicious, and in conflict achieved unprecedented harmony under the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Therefore, the subsequent "transformation" became a natural progression.
Under Ace's planning, a highly intelligent global governance and production system was rapidly established.
Ubiquitous surveillance and communication networks, efficient and clean intelligent administrative systems, global production allocation based on resource endowment and population distribution, and universal welfare guarantees centered on education and healthcare;
There is also systematic research and controlled application of supernatural powers such as Devil Fruits, and prevention and control of threats such as harsh climates and Sea Kings.
Once divided islands and nations have been connected into a cohesive whole by efficient shipping, air transport, and undersea tunnels.
The Red Earth was systematically transformed, and a monument symbolizing rebirth was erected on the ruins of Mary Geoise.
Fishman Island was moved to a location near the sunniest sea, where fishmen and mermaids truly bask in the sunlight on an equal footing; Skypiea, Wano Country, Zou—all the former secret realms and isolated islands have been integrated into this new planetary community called the "Azure Alliance".
Artificial intelligence has taken over most repetitive and computational management tasks, minimizing social operating costs and optimizing resource allocation to an unprecedented degree.
Human beings, freed from the pressures of survival, class oppression, and meaningless internal conflicts, can devote more energy to scientific research, artistic creation, and self-realization.
Devil Fruit users became specialized technical talents, and the Haki training system was standardized and scientific, becoming a popular course to enhance individual qualities.
Of course, this is not a flawless utopia.
The complexity of human nature, individual differences, and the risk of ideological rigidity that may arise under "absolute consensus" are all issues that Ace and the AI assisting him need to continuously observe and fine-tune.
However, compared to the old world where pirates roamed freely, Celestial Dragons wielded power and countless civilians struggled to survive, the current "Azure Alliance" is a dreamlike ideal world.
The Great Pirate Era is now a distant page in history books; now, we live in a new era of peace and development, of exploration and creation.
Ace: "The thoughts of everyone in the world are linked. I can clearly convey my ideas, guide their will, and eliminate deep-rooted prejudices, hatred, and inertia."
Ace: "There's no need to spend time educating, persuading, or fighting against the backlash from the old forces. We just need to push things forward according to the pre-established plan."
Ace: "The work of dismantling the barriers of the doldrums, replanning shipping routes and trade networks, establishing alliances based on equality, promoting widespread education, developing science and technology, redistributing resources, and addressing historical issues has been supported by the whole world."
Ace: "Now, I can truly say that I have ended the Great Pirate Era."
At this moment, Ace was filled with emotion.
He initially joined the chat group, and after learning about the future, he gave up becoming a pirate and also gave up joining the Whitebeard Pirates.
He exchanged for the chakra system, cultivated the seeds of the Divine Tree, and wanted to become the "Ancestor of Chakra" in the One Piece world, using the power system from another world to end the "Great Pirate Era" and usher in a brand new "Chakra Era".
But ideals will always change under the test of reality.
As he cultivated chakra and gradually accumulated power, he saw not only the brutality of pirates and the distortion of the world, but also ordinary people struggling under this distortion.
Those commoners who were robbed by pirates, exploited by nobles, lost their homes, and were displaced; those who heard his name in despair and rushed to him as if grasping at a straw, their eyes rekindling with hope.
Those children and elderly people who, for the first time under his protection, were able to live and work in peace and contentment, and whose faces showed genuine smiles.
There are more and more people like this.
They followed not only Ace's power, but also the order and protection he represented.
Ace's dream, without him even realizing it, gradually shifted from "becoming the progenitor of chakra and ushering in a new era" to a more practical goal: "to make this world peaceful and to allow these people to live happily."
He realized more and more clearly that the Great Pirate Era, which his father Gol D. Roger had started, was a huge mistake.
Even before the Great Pirate Era, this sea was chaotic, with oppression and war never ceasing.
But Roger's words were like igniting tinder that had been sitting for a thousand years, pushing the concept of "pirates" and the chaos, violence, and contempt for order they represented to an unprecedented climax.
Countless people, each with their own purpose—treasure hunting, freedom, ambition—rush to the sea; but those who pay the heaviest price are always the ordinary people who are least able to resist.
Freedom and dreams should not come at the cost of the blood and tears of innocent people.
The pirate era is a mistake.
The very existence of most pirates is a mistake built on plunder and harm.
The old world order that Im and the Five Elders upheld, which was based on the privileges of the "Celestial Dragons," was also wrong; it was another, more deeply rooted form of oppression.
What Ace did was to correct both of these huge mistakes single-handedly.
He ended the Great Pirate Era, which was dominated by plunder and chaos, and destroyed the old World Government, which was based on privilege and injustice.
The new order he established may be far from perfect and will inevitably face new challenges, but at least it provides the vast majority of people on this planet with a starting point away from killing and oppression.
He completed the "end" of his father's life and personally opened a brand new chapter for the world.
At this moment, Ace may finally be able to face the title that once held such a complex meaning for him, and in his own way, give the "Will of D" a completely new meaning.
It's not Destiny, nor Dream, but Development, it's Dawn.
As his thoughts drifted away, Ace couldn't help but recall his less-than-pleasant conversation with his grandfather, Monkey D. Garp.
When Garp learned that he was the mastermind behind that force and wanted to embark on a path that would overturn the entire world order, he did not believe what he said, but instead wanted to wake up his rebellious grandson.
For Garp at the time, the Navy might not have been good enough, being controlled by those damned Celestial Dragons and the Five Elders, and also harboring filth within itself.
But it exists. It is at least a banner, a set of rules, which can maintain basic order in most places, make pirates think twice, and give civilians a place to cry out and seek a little bit of protection most of the time.
Something is better than nothing.
Smashing everything sounds satisfying, but what will fill the void left behind?
Chaos and disorder will only lead to the deaths of more innocent people.
At that time, although Ace had the knowledge and power from the chat group as his confidence, he could not refute his grandfather's words.
Because under "normal" logic, Grandpa is right.
Who would believe that a teenager could gain the power to overturn the world in just a few years?
Who could have predicted that "Infinite Tsukuyomi," a "genjutsu" completely beyond the comprehension of the One Piece world, could directly affect the collective consciousness?
Who can truly understand the terrifying power and resources that Im, who has lived for eight hundred years and is hidden behind the Void Throne, and the World Government under his command possess?
Karp's concerns are based on his understanding of the world.
He knew of Im's existence, some of the truth about the Ancient Weapons, and the secret of the Celestial Dragons' national treasure.
In his view, challenging the world government is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, and even if successful, it will most likely bring a longer period of darkness.
"Grandpa, believe me."
That was all Ace could say at the time, his eyes resolute, but he couldn't explain any further.
But now, he sees the world that Ace wanted to change.
The navy has now been reorganized into the "Blue Alliance Defense Force," and its mission has shifted from upholding privileges to protecting the peaceful development achievements of all citizens.
The faces of the people were no longer filled with fear and numbness, but with hope and peace.
The last time I saw him, he was picking his nose and yelling, "You little rascal, you did a pretty good job," before secretly wiping away tears.
A smile appeared on Ace's lips.
I've never seen that expression before.
An ordinary group owner: "The Great Pirate Era has come to an end."
Su Yunqing couldn't help but sigh when she saw Ace's words.
I still remember how shy Ace was when he first joined the chat group, and how he spoke to them with politeness and respect.
Ace gave up being a pirate because of their advice, and instead chose to plant the Divine Tree to bring chakra to the pirate world, thus ending Roger's Great Pirate Era.
Now, he has accomplished what he wanted to do, which also marks the end of an era.
Although the disappearance of pirates is not something to regret, and the adventures that should exist continue, Su Yunqing felt a little sentimental, perhaps because of the memory of the "One Piece" series itself.
Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Marvel, Battle Through the Heavens, Sword Art Online. One after another, worlds that once only existed on the pages of books began to deviate from their original paths and blossom into entirely new forms because of the existence of chat groups and the addition of group members.
Minato Namikaze established the Shinobi World Alliance, achieving true peace; Madara Uchiha controlled everyone with the Infinite Tsukuyomi, established an empire, and began exploring the stars.
Aizen killed Yhwach and became the ruler of the three worlds; Ichigo Kurosaki lived the life of an ordinary person.
While becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, Tony did not give up on technological research; Xiao Yan became a Dou Di early on, and the three-year agreement no longer existed.
Kayaba Akihiko is about to unleash a "supernatural" storm in his own world.
Before we knew it, so much time had passed.
The number of members in the chat group has increased so much from just a handful at the beginning.
The lighting up of each new avatar represents the connection to a new world, the start of a new story, and also means that more timelines are undergoing unpredictable shifts.
As the chat group owner, Su Yunqing, who had a near-eternal lifespan thanks to the chat group, should have been indifferent to the passage of time.
She possesses an endless future and can witness the birth, death, and changes of countless worlds.
In theory, she shouldn't have felt too much emotional turmoil over the changes in the world over these "short" years.
But ultimately, she was an audience member of those stories, a "witness" to those worlds.
Now, however, she has become a participant, and even, to some extent, a fellow traveler with the "change-makers."
This shift in identity made it impossible for her to view everything with a completely detached, godlike perspective.
Seeing familiar plots rewritten and familiar characters heading towards different fates, especially when someone like Ace accomplished such a great feat, the emotions stemming from memories of the "past" stirred up ripples in her heart.
In the future, the world will be increasingly connected through chat groups, bringing about more and more astonishing changes.
And she will always sit here, watching, listening, and participating in the endless stories of the myriad realms.
Whitebeard: "Kurararara! Well done, Ace!"
Whitebeard: "Compared to your unreliable old man and me, this old fellow who only knows how to drift at sea, you're much better. Well done, my son!"
Edward Newgate, with a white beard.
Although Whitebeard and Ace were not from the same world, to Whitebeard, Ace was his son, even if they were from another world.
He also made no secret of his admiration for Ace's achievements, even comparing himself to Roger to highlight the greatness of what Ace had done.
As a ruler who has dominated the seas for decades and one of the "Four Emperors" of the New World, Whitebeard understands the cruelty and chaos of the seas better than anyone else, and he also knows how luxurious the dream of "peace" is in this world.
What he sought was family, and he was not a pacifist. His existence was like a natural disaster, part of the old order, and even a symbol.
He never imagined, nor could he possibly build, a peaceful world like the one Ace created.
But this did not prevent him from feeling genuinely proud that Ace, the "son" he acknowledged, had accomplished such a tremendous feat.
This is the joy a father feels when he sees his son surpass him and embark on a bright future.
However, for Whitebeard, no matter what path Ace chose, he would feel happy and proud.
Because Ace is his son.