The New World, a secret realm soaring into the clouds.
Several islands floated in mid-air, at the same altitude as the secret realm a thousand meters above.
These were all once the territories of Shiki the Golden Lion.
Later, after Roger's death and Shiki's imprisonment, when the New World was divided, Charlotte Linlin and Sakazuki exchanged territories, with eight islands filling the gaps.
There were also two islands with Marine branches.
However, the Marines had the Red Line Continent behind them.
Support arrived too quickly; just as they seized two islands, reinforcements arrived, and Shiki retreated.
Looking at these ten islands floating in mid-air, Shiki narrowed his eyes:
"That's about enough."
At this time, the secret realm, having been artificially accelerated in its growth, was devoid of human life. Dense hordes of giant beasts were crowded together, fighting.
The entire island's ecosystem was ruined, and the materials for subsequent creation were nowhere to be found. He had even disposed of the research team, including Dr. Indigo.
His time was running out, and he no longer harbored the thought of unifying the world.
What he wanted was to bring an extremely terrifying war to the world, and that would be enough...
Shiki raised his right hand, and the ground of the secret realm, from a hundred meters below the surface, began to split. It divided into ten large pieces that rose up.
Countless giant beasts on the crowded ground continuously fell into the sea a thousand meters below.
Shiki paid them no mind, and with another wave of his hand, these ten fragments, carrying the giant beasts, crashed onto the ten islands.
The giant beasts that landed on the islands surged out, driven by hunger, and set their sights on the people on the islands.
The strong individuals on the islands had already been dealt with by Shiki.
The remaining weak pirates, Marines, and civilians were all prey for these hungry giant beasts.
A sinister grin spread across Shiki's lips:
"Eat, eat."
"Once you've eaten your fill, plunge this world into disaster."
But before that, there was still one thing to do...
---
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The setting sun bled like blood, a terrifying red.
Buzz— hum— buzz—
"Alert! Alert!"
"The target is the Golden Lion!!!"
"The warships at the port have been seized by the Golden Lion!"
"Tend to the wounded!"
"Evacuate the port!!"
High above headquarters, a ship bearing the Golden Lion's pirate flag floated.
Several warships, listing and tilting, drifted below, with countless soldiers falling from them into the sea.
Fleet Admiral Kong burst out of the headquarters fortress, reaching the top of the fortress. Magellan and Zephyr also rushed from the academy.
The remaining few Vice Admirals kept a close eye on the situation above, on guard.
The assembled figures frowned. Fleet Admiral Kong's low voice spoke:
"Damn the Golden Lion, picking precisely the wrong time."
His gaze fixed on the Golden Lion's ship, a mere speck hundreds of meters in the sky.
At this moment, the few people at headquarters capable of instantaneous movement were all absent. The remaining were powerful in hand-to-hand combat, tasked with defending the base.
At this distance, by the time everyone reached him, the Golden Lion would have already fled.
Fleet Admiral Kong's fists glowed with dense, flowing Armament Haki, and he unleashed them upwards.
Like two black arrows, they shot towards the sky.
Zephyr, meanwhile, looked at the warships floating not far above the port:
"Let's first find a way to bring down these warships."
"Let's work together."
Magellan's eyes narrowed:
"What a troublesome ability."
As he spoke, he instantly vanished. Then, one Vice Admiral after another rushed towards the port.
High above, a thousand meters in the sky, the Golden Lion sensed the figures rushing towards the port and grinned:
"This is just the beginning."
His Conqueror's Haki, accompanied by his voice, spread throughout the entire headquarters. He floated in the air.
His legs, formed from two famous swords, swung downwards, unleashing two arrow-like golden slashes that clashed with Fleet Admiral Kong's attack.
Boom—
The collision generated a massive shockwave and white mist, spreading in mid-air.
Then, the Golden Lion waved his right hand downwards.
The listing warships in the sky plunged downwards, crashing towards the headquarters fortress.
He then turned, controlling his ship, and flew towards the Four Seas.
Higher in the sky, dozens of island fragments floated, following the Golden Lion's ship towards the Four Seas.
Ever since the Golden Lion had unleashed them onto the islands to hunt some time ago, these giant beasts, having devoured the residents, had not eaten for many days...
Marine Headquarters, the port.
Boom, boom, boom, boom—
The plunging warships were intercepted by many Vice Admirals, who held up the crashing bows and forcefully pushed them down onto the ground.
However, they inevitably smashed through some buildings and destroyed half the port.
On some of the warships were many soldiers who fell with them, their fates unknown.
"Tend to the wounded!"
"Hurry!!!"
Zephyr, lifting a massive warship, walked towards the port.
Boom—
As the warship entered the water, a surge of waves washed over the port.
Boom—
Magellan also lifted a warship and threw it into the sea:
"Wouldn't it have been better to just become a legend?"
"Damn pirate."
Zephyr's expression was grave:
"The Golden Lion, he just attacked Big Mom Pirates' territory a while ago."
"And now he's attacked Marine Headquarters. It's likely more than just establishing dominance."
"After years of preparation, he's finally ready to take revenge on the world, isn't he?"
Magellan also frowned:
"Regardless, let's prepare for full combat."
"Let's go to the Fleet Admiral's office first."
---
Fleet Admiral's Office.
Fleet Admiral Kong sat at the head of the table. Below him were Zephyr, Magellan, and several veteran Vice Admirals.
On Fleet Admiral Kong's desk sat the Den Den Moshis of Sakazuki, Sengoku, and Tsuru.
As for why Garp wasn't there... his mind wasn't suited for analysis; he could be assigned tasks when needed.
After Fleet Admiral Kong's adjutant reported the losses from the attack, Fleet Admiral Kong spoke:
"Everyone, share your thoughts."
Magellan shook his head:
"I can't figure it out. If the Golden Lion wants revenge."
"Why offend both sides?"
"Big Mom is also searching for him all over the world now."
"She wants to kill him."
Vice Admiral Tsuru's steady voice came from the Den Den Mushi on the left:
"Did he leave any message?"
Fleet Admiral Kong crossed his arms:
"He only said one thing: 'This is just the beginning.'"
Sengoku's voice, coming from the Den Den Mushi in the center, said:
"This guy, he wants revenge."
"But his target is unclear."
Fleet Admiral Kong tapped the table:
"This is the key issue."
"We don't know who his next target will be."
Sakazuki's voice suddenly came from the fiery red Den Den Mushi on the right:
"His direction of departure?"
Fleet Admiral Kong paused, then mused:
"It was towards the Four Seas."
Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice came through:
"I see."
Sengoku's voice chimed in:
"Is that so... it is fitting for that guy's character."
Sakazuki's voice also said:
"I'll go to the East Blue."
"Have residents of Loguetown evacuated temporarily, just in case."
---
South Blue, Operation Scour fleet.
Sakazuki, on a warship, hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He gave an order to Barret and Enel, then condensed a giant magma golden eagle and leaped onto it.
The wings and tail of the magma golden eagle spewed boundless heat and magma, soaring into the sky.
A fiery red light cut through the sky.
Like a shooting star, it flew towards the entrance of Reverse Mountain in the East Blue.