The Going Merry glided smoothly across the waves and finally arrived at Whiskey Peak.
Jack knew this place well, a pirate island, full of danger and the citizen here is all pirates. Still, he couldn't help but look forward to the fun that awaited them.
"Land ho!" Usopp shouted, pointing dramatically.
Luffy leaned over the figurehead, grinning from ear to ear. "Waaah! Finally, we made it! The first island of the Grand Line!"
Nami's eyes gleamed. "Whiskey Peak… I need to draw map of this island."
"I never thought I'd actually sail the Grand Line one day," commented Nojiko.
"Arghhh! My first adventure as an official Straw Hat Pirate!" Bartolomeo cried, practically bouncing with excitement.
But Jack wasn't smiling. He leaned against the railing, scanning the island with narrowed eyes. "What do you think of this place, Dragon-san?"
Dragon stood beside him, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "It feels normal. This is my third visit to this island."
"Huh, I thought you'd been here plenty of times," said Jack.
"My time as a Marine was short," Dragon replied calmly. "And this place… it's full of pirates."
Meanwhile, on the island
After learning that Dragon and Luffy were father and son, Morgans couldn't resist chasing the story. The news-hungry journalist followed the Straw Hat Pirates' trail and soon arrived at Whiskey Peak.
He adjusted his hat, wings twitching with excitement, and aimed his camera toward the Going Merry. Through his lens, he spotted Dragon walking beside his son, Monkey D. Luffy.
"Kweh-heh-heh! The legendary Straw Hat Pirates… Monkey D. Luffy, son of Dragon, grandson of Garp!" Morgans cackled, snapping pictures rapidly. "This headline will sell a billion copies! And with the Revolutionary leader himself spotted beside him..... oh, this is history in the making!"
At the port, a different ship had already docked — unmistakably, it was the Bonney Pirates.
Jewelry Bonney sat lazily on a barrel, chewing food with mild irritation. "Tch… so the Dragon, leader of the Revolutionaries, really came here."
One of her crewmen asked nervously, "You think he's dangerous, Captain?"
Bonney smirked. "Dangerous? Maybe. But only through him can I find my father."
Not far from the coast, a Revolutionary Army ship emerged from the mist.
Sabo stood at the bow, the wind tugging at his coat. His eyes were sharp but soft — filled with a mixture of longing and excitement.
"Luffy…" he murmured. "I hope I get to see you here."
Koala stood beside him, concern written on her face. "Commander, are you sure this is a good idea? If the World Government's agents find out we're here..."
"They probably already know," Sabo interrupted with a faint smile. "We can track their route just by studying the map. That's why we need to move fast. Dragon should be here too, and if anything happens, we'll back him up."
Hack nodded grimly. "We'll deploy scouts. The Revolutionary Army cannot afford to lose both father and son in one place."
At sea — aboard a Marine fleet
Beyond the horizon, a massive Marine formation cut through the wave, five warships, sailing straight toward Whiskey Peak.
At the helm stood Admiral Akainu. Behind him were two figures who clearly didn't belong among Marines. It is Celestial Dragons, members of the Holy Knights themselves. Their presence made even Vice Admirals stand stiff and silent.
They were Saint Figarland Garling and Saint Shamrock, sent personally by Imu to aid Akainu in eliminating Dragon and capturing his son, Monkey D. Luffy.
Earlier, in Mariejois
Inside Pangaea Castle, Imu had summoned the Five Elders. The decision was made, Dragon and his son would both be dealt with.
"Akainu," said Saint Saturn slowly, "go to Whiskey Peak. Capture Monkey D. Luffy, and kill Dragon."
Akainu stood before them, jaw tight, fists clenched. "Finally… because of that useless Garp, we've been soft for too long."
"Remember," added Saturn, "failure is not an option. We will send two of our Holy Knights to assist you."
From the shadowed corridor, two figures stepped into the light... Saint Figarland Garling, Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights and Saint Shamrock, whose resemblance to Red-Haired Shanks was unmistakable.
Garling, Shanks's father carried himself with cold authority, while Shamrock, his twin brother, adjusted his gloves while looking down at Akainu..
Saint Garling silver hair shimmered under the grand hall light. "You Marines have been too lenient. The blood of 'D' spreads like a disease, infecting the lower world."
Shamrock scoffed. "Don't slow us down. We're not here to babysit Marines."
Akainu glare burned like molten rock. "The Marines don't need Celestial Dragons meddling in warfare. I can handle Dragon and his brat myself."
"How dare you!" barked Mars. "Do you want your position stripped from you?"
Akainu sneered. "Go ahead. Do you think I'm afraid?"
Garling stepped forward, voice dripping with disdain. "You will obey the will of the Celestial Dragons, Admiral. You are just a dog. Remember your place."
The temperature in the chamber rose sharply as faint wisps of magma coiled around Akainu's fists. "My place," he growled, "is delivering justice."
"Enough," Saturn voice cut through the tension. "Both of you have your orders. Eliminate Dragon. Capture his son alive if possible, dead if necessary."
Garling turned, his cloak billowing. "Then it's settled. We sail within the hour."
Present Time - aboard the Marine ship
The fleet now approached Whiskey Peak, where both the Revolutionary ship and the Straw Hat Pirates had arrived.
"Set formation!" Akainu voice roared across the decks. "Surround Whiskey Peak from the north and east! No one leaves that island not Dragon, not Straw Hat Luffy, not a single Revolutionary!"
Three Vice Admirals saluted in unison as the sea trembled under the might of Marine engines.
This was a classified mission, unknown even to Sengoku or the other Admirals, a direct order from the Five Elders.
Saint Figarland stood at the helm, arms crossed. "Let's see if the blood of D truly burns as fiercely as his." He remembered the name Rocks D. Xebec who had once hurting him.
Saint Shamrock smirked faintly, her tone sharp as steel. "So is this Dragon really troublesome like rumor said."
Akainu jaw tightened as magma flared around his shoulders. "This time," he said, "justice will not fail."
The fleet surged forward, three powers of the world converging on Whiskey Peak, where everything itself waited to ignite.
High above, hidden in the clouds, another figure observed quietly from a hovering slab of stone.
Bartholomew Kuma watched the scene below. He had come to meet Dragon, but what he saw made his heart stir.
"So… the boy really has grown," he murmured, his mechanical hand tightening. "And Jewelry Bonney… she's there too."
For a moment, his gaze softened ,a flicker of human warmth shining through the steel.
"I can't interfere," he whispered. "Not yet. But I'll be watching… from the shadows."
.....
GOOD NEWS: From today onwards I have upgraded word count from 1000 words to 2000 words. You can check the new format on chapter 58 onwards.
BAD NEWS: Because of this, the chapter would be updated 3 chapter perweek.
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Author Notes: There is 10 advanced chapter on my patreon.
-patreon.com/zorojurown