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In the second half of the Grand Line, across a vast stretch of open sea, an enormous pirate ship, towering like a floating mountain, rode the rhythm of the waves. On the main deck, a colossal man sat calmly upon an oversized chair.
His body was immense, broad-shouldered, and overwhelming. Simply sitting there, he gave the impression of a mountain that had come to life. Above his lips, a pair of distinctive white crescent mustaches curved upward like the horns of a crescent moon.
That unmistakable mustache alone was enough to proclaim his identity to the entire world.
He was Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, a King on equal footing with Golden Lion Shiki, and in truth, whispered to be even stronger.
At this moment, the man universally hailed as the world's strongest listened quietly to the news of the Golden Lion's massive mobilization. His deep-set eyes grew somber, and he muttered in his low, thunderous voice:
"Foolish man. Pride and arrogance… they will be the cause of your downfall, Shiki."
He lifted his gaze and stared toward the distant horizon, as though his vision could pierce the immense distance to silently witness the war that was coming.
Golden Lion's actions had shaken the world to its core. This man, one of the most formidable powers alive, not only possessed terrifying individual strength but also commanded a massive pirate army. Like a warlord-king, he had forged a great coalition of forces under his banner, enough combined might to vie for true dominion over the seas.
Beneath the Red Line, the Flying Pirates were surging with anticipation. Not one of them showed fear or hesitation; instead, their fighting spirit blazed higher than ever.
With a living legend leading their charge, their confidence was absolute.
Upon one of the floating islands, the Golden Lion himself stood suspended in the air, his eyes locked on the majestic, towering wall of the Red Line before him. His gaze was deep, calculating, and impossible to read.
He still hadn't given the order to attack. He hadn't shared his plan with anyone. What was going through his mind? No one could say.
But no one dared to dismiss him as a fool. A man who had risen to such heights in this ruthless world could not have done so without extraordinary courage and deep, ruthless cunning. Without both, he would have been swallowed by the tides of history long ago.
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, the atmosphere was tense, but far from panicked.
Fleet Admiral Kong's face was set in a grim mask of seriousness, yet there was no trace of fear, or the "nervousness" that Golden Lion boasted of inspiring.
If it had been Whitebeard approaching, perhaps even Kong would have felt a prick of dread. But the Golden Lion? No. Kong firmly believed he possessed the power to suppress this threat entirely.
What troubled him more was a logistical concern, how to minimize the destruction and the inevitable losses the coming battle would surely bring to the Marines.
"Sengoku, has Garp returned yet?"
Standing before the long strategy table, Kong's voice was a low, heavy rumble.
"He should be here any minute!"
Sengoku answered quickly, but internally, he couldn't help but seethe. At such a critical moment, his old friend was still missing! He had already contacted Garp via Den Den Mushi that morning and had thoroughly, and furiously, scolded him.
Hearing Sengoku's reply, Kong merely nodded.
A man capable of trading blows with Pirate King Gol D. Roger, Garp's strength was beyond question. With such a powerhouse present, the Marines' defenses would be absolutely unbreakable.
"Keep all units on full alert," Kong ordered gravely. "The Golden Lion could strike at any time. That mad beast, no one can ever predict his next move."
After issuing his final instructions to every branch commander, Kong turned and left the war room.
The Red Line itself stood like a wall touching the heavens, the greatest natural barrier in the world, cleanly dividing the two halves of the Grand Line.
To attack it head-on was a feat as difficult as climbing to heaven itself. Kong narrowed his eyes, curious to see what this legendary madman planned to do.
Stepping out of his office, he walked to the highest observation level and gazed out.
Following his line of sight lay a sprawling complex of military fortifications. At the forefront, beneath a vast gateway, stretched an inner harbor, its calm waters shimmering like a man-made sea.
That inner sea wasn't a natural feature; it had been excavated and constructed by Marine laborers at a tremendous cost in manpower and resources.
If the Marine bases scattered across the world were mighty citadels of defense and attack, then this, the Marine Headquarters Fortress, was the greatest among them all.
Massive artillery platforms lined the harbor in a continuous formation, their combined firepower forming an impenetrable wall of steel. At the very front stood the colossal Gates of Justice, soaring skyward as if to pierce the clouds, so vast that no human strength could ever hope to open or close them by hand.
Anyone foolish enough to force their way in would be greeted by a merciless bombardment from those cannons, the very definition of destruction.
And within these walls, there was more than just steel and stone, countless powerhouses stood ready to defend Marineford, making this the undisputed heart of Marine might.
"Golden Lion, you've severely underestimated the Marines!"
Kong's gaze turned razor-sharp as he clenched his fist tightly.
He had made up his mind, if the enemy dared to come, he would show them precisely how powerful the Marines truly were!
All across the world, every major power watched this enormous event with grave attention. Yet, surprisingly, the Golden Lion himself had made no further moves.
Time slipped by quietly. In the blink of an eye, six days had passed since Rojen arrived at Sabaody Archipelago.
The Red Line stretched endlessly across the world like a colossal crimson dragon, coiling around the blue planet, its head and tail meeting to divide the world cleanly into two halves. It was a gigantic scarlet mass, taller than any mountain on Earth, its surface rippling with ridges and peaks upon peaks. Few could survive atop this vast landmass, it was simply too high, too immense.
Only the Marines had managed to carve out a foothold there. They had chosen a lower region of the Red Line to build their Headquarters, connecting it directly to the sea, and had even opened up a new passage, the second route into the New World, the latter half of the Grand Line.
At this moment, about ten kilometers away from Marine Headquarters, a small wooden boat slowly drifted toward the majestic red continent.
"It's so tall!"
"You've got to be kidding, how are we supposed to climb that?"
"There's not a single handhold, and you can't see the top at all!"
The passengers on the boat gasped and whispered among themselves in awe.
Aboard that small wooden vessel was Rojen's crew.
After sailing for an entire day and night, they had finally reached the base of the Red Line. Since Marine Headquarters itself was too heavily fortified to approach directly, they had chosen a more discreet spot nearby.
"If we can climb straight up from here," Rojen said, studying a sea chart spread before him, "we'll emerge right in the heart of Marine Headquarters."
He tapped the point marking their current position at the base of the Red Line, then slid his finger upward about a centimeter, landing precisely where Marineford was located.
"Yeah, we can see that on the map," Jason muttered with a wry smile, "but the real question is, how exactly do we get up there?"
Rojen smiled faintly.
"We fly."
Jason's eyes instantly lit up.
The big bird again? he wondered. He knew his captain possessed all sorts of strange and mysterious abilities. The last time they had crossed the Calm Belt, it was thanks to Rojen's strange power to command the massive creatures.
Just then, another deep, confident voice cut through the discussion.
"Actually," said Crocodile, "if I use my ability, it's also entirely possible to climb up from here."
Trens's eyes widened with excitement.
"That's right! Crocodile's power, he can control the sand and earth of this continent. Sending us upward would be the easiest thing in the world!"
The three crewmates turned simultaneously to look at Crocodile, suddenly seeing a path forward where moments before there was only an insurmountable wall.
(End Of This Chapter)