"Pururururu... kacha!"
The Den Den Mushi's frantic, pitch-shifting ringtone sounded for the third time before it was finally answered.
"Boa Hancock! Where in the world are you?!"
"The public execution begins tomorrow! All the Warlords of the Sea must be present! This is an order from the World Government!"
"Of the current Warlords, you are the only one who hasn't arrived! Do you still want to keep your title or not?!"
The burning urgency in the voice practically threatened to spew fire from the Den Den Mushi's mouth.
However, Sengoku had no idea that the Boa Hancock of this moment couldn't care less about the title of Warlord.
She simply stood quietly behind Yang Yi, like the most loyal of handmaidens, awaiting her master's command.
She cast a cold glance at the Den Den Mushi that was still chattering away, only giving a languid reply after Yang Yi gave a slight nod.
"Understood. You will see me tomorrow."
With that, she didn't even give the other party a chance to respond, unilaterally hanging up the call.
On the other end of the line, at Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku gripped the receiver, almost unable to resist the urge to smash the Den Den Mushi in front of him to pieces.
"Damn it! I knew this bunch of Warlords was unreliable!"
...
The Kuja Pirates' ship slowly sailed out of the port.
Yang Yi stood at the bow with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering gently in the sea breeze.
The entire vessel moved rapidly forward without any source of propulsion.
The waters beneath their feet were the treacherous Calm Belt, which should have been a nesting ground for Sea Kings.
But right now, not a single Sea King dared to approach this ship.
Deep beneath the sea, those massive shadows that could normally capsize islands were diving into even deeper trenches, curling up their bodies and not daring to leak even a trace of their presence.
The entire Calm Belt was unprecedentedly quiet.
On the deck, Lu Mingfei stretched lazily. Fine, black-red arcs of electricity occasionally flashed across the surface of his body, emitting soft *crackle* sounds.
"Boss, my hands are soft from grinding mobs these past few days. I can finally spar with some real people," he complained out of sheer boredom. "I haven't even gotten to test out the effects of my Ten Billion Volt: Thunder God yet."
Chu Zihang stood silently by the ship's rail, looking down as he felt the magma and Yanling power interacting and fusing within his body.
During this fusion process, his body would occasionally transform uncontrollably into boiling magma or the scorching Lord of Fire, radiating an intense heat that slightly distorted the surrounding air.
He was merging two completely different, yet equally overbearing powers within him.
Erii was the happiest of them all.
She had chosen the "Slip-Slip Fruit" and was currently sliding endlessly across the deck, having the time of her life.
As the ship cut through the waves, the group thought of the impending war, and a surge of heroic spirit couldn't help but rise in their hearts.
Immediately after, an invisible, majestic aura radiated from the group.
The unique Conqueror's Haki of Lu Mingfei, Chu Zihang, Xia Mi, Old Tang, and the others intertwined, seemingly enveloping the entire Calm Belt.
The News Coos in the sky were knocked unconscious, and all the Sea Kings in the water floated up with their white bellies facing the sky.
...
The scene shifted.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
A hundred thousand Marine elites were gathered in the plaza. Dressed in white Marine uniforms and holding polished swords, the atmosphere was filled with a chilling intent to kill.
The cold word "Justice" was engraved in every corner.
The civilians of the entire Marine Headquarters had long been evacuated; this place had already become a fortress of war.
Above the execution platform, three massive thrones stood side by side.
The languid Aokiji, the hot-tempered Akainu, and the wretched Kizaru—three completely different auras. These were the Marines' highest military forces, the Three Marine Admirals.
Below them, the five members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—"Hawk-Eye" Mihawk, "Heavenly Yaksha" Doflamingo, "Gecko" Moria, and "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma—had all arrived, each occupying a spot with their own hidden thoughts.
On the execution platform, Fleet Admiral "Sengoku the Buddha" stood looking out at the distant sea, his brows tightly furrowed.
He glanced at the lineup of the Warlords and noticed that single vacant seat, letting out a cold snort in his heart.
Boa Hancock hadn't come! To think she dared to show such contempt for the majesty of the Marines and the World Government.
He had already decided that no matter the outcome of this battle, he would immediately strip her of her Warlord title once it was over.
Right at that moment, the broadcast Den Den Mushi scattered across the world opened their eyes in unison.
From the pampered Celestial Dragons in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise who treated human lives like dirt, to the ordinary citizens hustling for a living in the corners of the Four Blues.
Countless pairs of eyes focused on Marineford at this very moment, waiting for this battle of the century that would be enough to change the world's landscape.
...
On the distant sea, the ship was still sailing.
He glanced at Luffy, who was currently bouncing up and down beside him in extreme excitement, and chuckled softly.
"Stop jumping around here. If you're bored, go fish for a while."
But right now, Luffy clearly couldn't calm down enough to go fishing.
"Boss Yang Yi, when are we going to get there?!" It was obvious he couldn't wait to go save Ace.
Yang Yi patted his shoulder. "Don't rush, I'll definitely make sure you make it in time."
"Besides, the main character always has to make a grand finale entrance."
"Before that, we're going to pick up a few special 'spectators'."
Yang Yi snapped his fingers.
As the crisp sound fell, the Kuja warship's speed sharply increased.
It swiftly headed toward the Great Underwater Prison.
...
Great Underwater Prison, Impel Down, Level 6, Infinite Hell.
"Knight of the Sea" Jinbe sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in meditation, yet his brow was filled with worry for Ace's safety.
Meanwhile, down in Level 1, "Buggy the Clown" was lying sprawled out on the floor. Although he was already asleep, he kept sticking his tongue out to dissipate the heat.
Drooling, he was dreaming of becoming one of the "Yonko," stepping on Red-Haired Shanks, and finally ascending to the throne of Pirate King to claim the great treasure, the One Piece.
"Hehehe... Shanks, you red-haired bastard, witness the greatness of the great God Buggy!"
In the next moment, he was sent flying by a punch from Shanks.
Buggy jolted violently, waking up from his sweet dream.
He instinctively wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, then slapped himself hard across the face.
"Damn it! It must be because the food here is so terrible that I'm having these daydreams!"
"I, the great God Buggy, must find a way to break out of this prison!"
...
At Marineford, the time of execution was drawing closer by the minute and second.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire world, "Fire Fist" Ace was escorted onto the execution platform by two towering Marines.
His expression was resolute, calmly facing the gazes of the hundred thousand Marines and the world's top powerhouses below without a trace of fear.
Sengoku stepped forward, picked up a massive megaphone Den Den Mushi, and took a deep breath.
His next words would become the explosive that would detonate this era.
"'Fire Fist' Portgas D. Ace!"
Sengoku's voice spread to every corner of the world through the Den Den Mushi.
"Today, we are going to publicly execute you right here!"
"Today, I have an important matter to announce to everyone."
Sengoku cast his gaze toward the Marines below the platform.
"Ace, state your father's name!"
"My father is Whitebeard!"
"Wrong!" Sengoku directly retorted, wanting to force Ace to say that name.
Ace's face twisted into a fierce scowl.
"There's nothing wrong about it! My only father is Whitebeard!"
Sengoku stood on the execution platform, his gaze sweeping across all the broadcast Den Den Mushi, and finally spoke that name in front of the worldwide live broadcast.
"Your father is—"
"The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"