The Red Line loomed before them — an endless wall of crimson stone that cut the world in two.
Clouds swirled around its peak, thunder rumbling like the growl of something ancient and alive.
The Oro Jackson rested in the shadows of that cliff, its sails furled, its flag swaying in a wind that smelled of rain and smoke.
The sea was unnaturally still.
Ada stood at the bow, her dress whipping in the rising wind. Her eyes were fixed on the heavens above — where the Holy Land waited, gleaming faintly through the storm.
Behind her, her crew waited — tense, silent, ready.
"Three thousand meters of stone," Lilith murmured, scanning the cliff through her goggles. "And enough voltage to fry a fleet. You're really planning to scale that?"
Ada didn't turn. "Not scale," she said softly. "Ascend."
Fisher Tiger's gills pulsed as he gazed upward. "That's a long way up," he muttered, voice low but steady. "Even longer way down."
Bullet cracked his neck. "Then let's make sure we don't fall."
Okiku held her katana close to her chest, her usually calm eyes hard. "The heavens themselves won't forgive this…"
Mihawk's gaze was fixed high, cold and sharp. "Then let's show them that forgiveness is overrated."
Lilith adjusted the strap across her shoulder, tightening the denden mushi lens attached to her chestplate. "Recording system online," she said briskly. "Captain, the moment we rise, everything will be stored for Morgan's transmission."
Perona floated near the mast, clutching her umbrella. "You're really doing this, huh…?" she whispered. "You're actually going to war with the World Government."
Ada didn't look back. "They're not gods," she said quietly. "They're parasites who built heaven out of other people's bones."
She turned then — her gaze sweeping over her crew.
"Hiyori, Perona," she said firmly. "You stay here with the ship. If the slaves reach this level, you protect them and guide them out. Do not leave the bay. Understood?"
Perona blinked. "What? No way! I can fight—"
Ada's tone softened. "You can help in a better way. The moment the slaves begin escaping, you and Hiyori open the path to the ship. Guard it with your life. No one gets left behind."
Hiyori bowed deeply. "Yes, Captain."
Perona puffed her cheeks but nodded. "Fine. But if anyone touches my ghosts, they'll regret it."
Ada's lips curved faintly. "Good girl."
Perona pouted, but the determination in Ada's eyes silenced her. "Fine," she said finally. "But if you die, I'm haunting everyone."
Ada smiled faintly. "Then make sure I don't."
She turned toward the Red Line again.
"Everyone ready?"
Mihawk nodded once.
Bullet cracked his neck.
Lilith adjusted her headset.
Fisher Tiger adjusted his spear.
Okiku positioned her blade.
Then she turned to Enel. "You know what to do."
The lightning man smirked. "Oh, I've been waiting for you to say that."
He raised his hands to the sky.
The storm answered him.
Bolts danced along his arms, weaving together until the air itself shimmered with light. The clouds above darkened, gathering into a spiraling crown. A low hum spread across the sea — the sound of thunder gathering its breath.
Enel's eyes glowed gold.
"Raigō Ascent," he murmured.
And then the world exploded with light.
A pillar of lightning erupted from the deck of the Oro Jackson, spearing straight up the Red Line.
The ship shuddered, waves splitting outward as the energy expanded.
For an instant, everything vanished in white.
When it cleared, Ada and her crew were no longer on the deck.
They were rising.
The lightning carried them, weightless, through clouds and rain, their bodies outlined in blue-white radiance. The Red Line streaked past beneath them — stone turning to blur, sea to mist.
Lilith's machines whirred, recording every second. Sparks crackled across her lenses.
"This is—this is incredible!" she shouted over the roar. "The energy output is stable! We're moving faster than sound!"
"Keep your focus," Mihawk called, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Ada stood at the center of the storm, her dress billowing in the electric wind. Then the Den Den Mushi on her wrist clicked to life.
Dragon's voice came through, low and strained.
"You're already moving."
Ada smiled slightly. "You sound surprised."
"You've left me little room for surprise, Ada. I have ships stationed below the Holy Land. If your assault succeeds, they'll receive the freed slaves."
"Good," she replied. "Keep them safe. They'll be the first souls to breathe free air in centuries."
There was a pause on the line.
"If you do this," Dragon said quietly, "there's no turning back. The World Government will declare total war on you."
Ada's expression hardened.
"Then the world will finally start moving forward."
The line went silent.
Lightning roared again. Then her voice cut through the thunder — calm, unflinching.
"Record this," she said.
Lilith nodded, stabilizing the feed.
Ada looked forward — into the blinding horizon — and began to speak.
"World Government," she said, her tone low but clear. "You built your heaven on top of the world, and called it justice."
Her words echoed through the crackling storm.
"You burned knowledge. You caged the innocent. You sold the seas to your nobles and called it order."
The lightning flared brighter, outlining her silhouette like a living flame.
"You invaded Fishman Island — my territory — and kidnapped their people snd forced them into slavery. You called them lesser life. You called yourself gods."
Her eyes narrowed, voice rising.
"So hear me now, from the world below."
She raised her hand, the mark of her Pierce-Pierce Fruit glowing faintly through her glove.
"We're coming to take it all back."
The lightning surged higher, turning the sky to gold.
Lilith's denden mushi blinked red, confirming recording lock.
Ada's voice, cutting through the storm, continued.
"Let this message reach every sea. Let them see your heaven burn."
She lowered her hand.
And with that, the lightning carried them into the clouds.
————————-
Marie Geoise — The Holy Land
Alarms blared through the halls of the Celestial capital.
Marines rushed through the corridors, rifles clutched tight.
The horizon was split in two — a column of light rising from the ocean, climbing straight toward the Red Line.
"What the hell is that?!"
"It's coming from below! Some kind of beam!"
"Report to Command — now!"
A vice admiral stumbled onto the communications floor, face pale. "We're receiving massive energy spikes from the base of the Red Line! It's—it's her!"
The room went silent.
"Her…?"
"The First Emeperor Nyx D. Ada!"
Panic erupted.
Outside, the heavens trembled. The clouds split open as the lightning tore upward, scorching the sky.
Every soldier on the walls could see it — a storm pillar racing straight toward them.
"Activate the Cannons! NOW!"
The cannons fired — beams of energy streaking down the cliffside — but they only struck lightning, scattering harmlessly.
Then they saw it. Seven figures rising through the thunder, haloed in light.
Ada in front, dres billowing, eyes blazing crimson.
Behind her — Mihawk, sword unsheathed, the reflection of heaven in his blade.
Bullet, his muscles coiled like steel, grinning like a demon set free.
Fisher Tiger, the fury of the sea in his veins.
Enel, laughing quietly as arcs of thunder crawled along his arms.
Okiku, steady as a drawn blade.
And Lilith — her lens glowing red, recording it all.
"Impossible…" a marine whispered. "They're—climbing the Red Line."
"They're not climbing," another murmured. "They're ascending."
———————
Back in the Sky
Enel's power surged again.
The lightning carved a path through the clouds, revealing the shining domes and golden towers of Marie Geoise above.
"There," Lilith breathed. "The gates of the gods."
Bullet's grin widened. "Time to knock."
Ada raised her hand, her powers crackling around her fingertips. "Hold steady."
The storm roared.
Thunder rolled.
And then — silence.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Ada looked down — at the vast sea below, where millions of lives lived under the weight of that sacred tyranny. Then she looked up — toward the shining city of the so-called gods.
Her voice came quiet but clear, carried by the wind and lightning.
"They built their heaven on the backs of slaves. Let's see how it burns."
Lightning exploded upward — a colossal column that split the sky clean open.
—————————-
Within Marine Headquarters
The command center erupted into chaos.
Den Den Mushi across the world crackled to life with emergency signals.
"This is Marine Command! All stations, prepare for high alert! The First Emperor of the Sea, Nyx D. Ada, is ascending the Red Line!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku froze mid-sentence, staring at the live report.
"She's really doing it…"
Beside him, Garp's face was grim. "That woman never bluffs."
Tsuru sighed, folding her arms. "And when she makes a promise… she keeps it."
Sengoku then slammed his fist on the table. "Deploy the Admirals immediately!"
Tsuru's voice cut through the shouting. "All hands to the Red Line. Evacuate all nobles and non-combatants from Mariejois!"
A rear admiral stammered, "B-but ma'am, the Holy Land's defenses—"
"Won't matter!" Sengoku barked. "You've seen what she can do! MOVE!"
————————-
At the Top of the Red Line — Holy Land Gates
Celestial Dragons screamed as the thunder drew closer. Servants ran, tripping over gold and chains.
CP0 agents assembled in rows before the gate, masks glinting white. The God's Knights stood behind them, silent and unmoving, their armor shining like mirrors.
Above them, three presences stirred — the Admirals.
Akainu clenched his fists, smoke curling from his arms. "If she dares set foot here, I'll burn her where she stands."
Kizaru tilted his head, eyes half-lidded. "She's quite fast, ne~. Wonder if we'll even get a chance to see her face before everything explodes."
Aokiji exhaled, ice mist forming in the air. "Doesn't matter if we see her or not. The world will."
The storm peaked.
From below came a blinding surge of light. The clouds above Marie Geoise burst open.
A beam of lightning pierced the heavens — and through it, they came.
They landed hard.
The air cracked with thunder as Ada's crew hit the marble ground of Marie Geoise. Lightning carved through the clouds, setting the sky ablaze.
Ada stood at the front, dress scorched, hair whipped by the wind. She raised her eyes toward the gleaming towers of the Holy Land — gold spires, white domes, symbols of false divinity.
Lilith steadied the recorder, capturing Ada's gaze.
Ada stood at the front, the wind tugging at her hair. Her eyes were cold. Her voice low.
"This is where their gods fall."
The others drew their weapons.
And behind them, the sky burned gold with lightning.
The invasion of the Holy Land had begun.