At the midpoint of the Grand Line lies the Sabaody Archipelago—the final stop before the New World, and the closest island to Marine Headquarters. It's a convergence point for both infamous and rising pirates. Those whose bounties exceed 100 million berries are commonly dubbed "Supernovas." This time, eleven such Supernovas have gathered on Sabaody.
Their goal? To find a coating craftsman who can apply the special resin that enables ships to descend ten thousand meters beneath the sea—to Fishman Island. Only by this route can pirates enter the New World.
But this visit to the Sabaody Archipelago would be anything but uneventful. The catalyst for the chaos? The Straw Hat Pirates. They dared to defy the world's taboo—they struck a Celestial Dragon. This brazen act drew the wrath of none other than Admiral Kizaru.
After a grueling battle with one of the World Government's humanoid weapons—Pacifista PX-5—the Straw Hats soon encountered another: PX-0. And then, Admiral Kizaru himself arrived. The crew found themselves facing the greatest crisis of their journey thus far.
Zoro, the Supernova swordsman, was hit by Kizaru's beam of light. It drained him of all strength. Just as the admiral was about to deliver the killing blow, a legendary figure intervened—Silvers Rayleigh, the former right hand of the Pirate King, saved him in the nick of time.
Yet no one could have foreseen what happened next.
Bartholomew Kuma, the tyrant and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea aligned with the World Government, appeared. In the blink of an eye, he struck Zoro with his powers, sending him flying at unimaginable speed.
It is said that those hit by Kuma fly through the sky for three days and nights. Where they land, no one knows. And just like that, Zoro became the first to be separated from his crew.
But what Zoro himself didn't know was that, in that moment, a fragment of his consciousness was also blasted away. That wisp of awareness vanished into the void.
The legend of the Straw Hat Pirates fell into temporary silence.
That consciousness—Zoro's—disappeared from the world.
When Zoro next opened his eyes, he found himself falling from a tree. His instincts kicked in—he looked around. This was not Sabaody. He was surrounded by an unfamiliar primeval forest.
Then came the realization—something felt wrong with his body. He remembered the pain of Kizaru's attack: that beam of light that pierced flesh, that mind-splitting agony.
But when he examined himself, there were no wounds. None at all.
And his clothing—he was wearing robes that resembled those of the powerful mummy warrior he'd once fought on Thriller Bark. Why would he be dressed like this?
Even more troubling—his swords were gone.
"My swords… Where are they?!"
To a swordsman, the blade is not just a tool—it's a partner, an extension of the self. One of his swords was even a cherished heirloom tied to a childhood promise. How could it simply vanish?
"No… this isn't right."
He quickly scanned his body—and his heart sank. This wasn't his body. There were no familiar scars, no hardened muscle. He looked frail, almost skeletal.
"This isn't me! What the hell's going on?! I was just at Sabaody! How did it come to this?!"
Zoro was shaken to his core. He didn't understand what had happened. Nothing made sense.
"That damn Kuma sent me flying, but what is all this? Can I still find Luffy and the others? Are they still fighting him? I swore I wouldn't lose again, so why did I lose?! What the hell is going on?!"
Frustrated, Zoro punched a nearby tree again and again. He had no answers. Why was he here? Why had his body changed?
"This isn't the future I wanted!"
He took a deep breath. "Alright. Where is this place, anyway? What island am I even on?"
Zoro didn't despair. The situation was out of his control—but if he had been given this new body, then he would grow stronger in it. He still had one lifeline left: the Vivre Card.
"Right! The Vivre Card—where is it? As long as I have it, I can find the others!"
He remembered Rayleigh giving them each a piece. With it, he could track his crew. But then—disappointment. His Vivre Card had been kept in his haramaki. But this wasn't his usual outfit.
"Is fate really trying to keep me from finding them? Fine. But I'll show anyone who stands in my way that I will never retreat. If this is a second chance, then I'll treat it like a rebirth. Wait for me—I swear, next time we meet, I'll protect you all."
Though reluctant to accept it, Zoro knew he had no choice but to grow stronger. He didn't even know what world he'd landed in. If danger arose now, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
"First, I need to find someone. Figure out where I am. Is this even still the Grand Line?"
His immediate problem had been temporarily set aside. Now he needed answers. He no longer had the Vivre Card, and he didn't know where he was. He needed to ask someone—anyone. Something about this place felt… right. As if some force was calling to him.
He wandered through the forest and finally came upon a clear pool of water. He looked down—and saw a stranger's face.
A gentle, delicate face. Not the hardened, chiseled features he knew.
"This face… looks kinda like that curly-browed chef's. So this is what rebirth looks like, huh? That damn Kuma… next time I see him, I'm cutting him down!"
Zoro stared at the reflection, baffled. As far as he knew, only Bon Clay had the power to change appearances. Kuma's ability was still a mystery. All he could do now was assume he'd fallen victim to it—and been reborn.