Outside the New World, in the waters surrounding Peach Garden, dozens of colossal ships cut through the waves as they advanced toward the island.
These were neither warships nor pirate vessels.
Each sail bore a striking emblem, a fierce skull layered over the seagull insignia of the Marines, an unmistakable symbol recognized across the seas.
The flag of the NEO Navy.
Rows of men stood across every ship, disciplined and unmoving in black uniforms, the same insignia marked across their backs.
At the front of the fleet sailed a gigantic flagship.
On its deck stood three figures.
Ain, Zephyr, and Binz.
Ain lowered the newspaper in her hand and looked ahead.
"Teacher Zephyr, Peach Garden is right up ahead."
At the horizon, a dark silhouette rose where the sea met the sky.
Peach Garden.
Zephyr narrowed his eyes, then turned toward his two disciples.
"Binz, Ain, stay here with the men. I'll head there first."
Binz rejected it instantly.
"No, Teacher Zephyr. We can't let you go alone."
Ain stepped forward as well.
"Peach Garden belongs to the Ion Pirates. They're unlike any pirate crew we've ever dealt with."
Neither of them hesitated.
This time was different.
They were not confronting ordinary pirates.
They were approaching the one force in the world capable of standing against the World Government.
The Ion Pirates.
At their center stood Rolan.
The man recognized as the strongest alive.
At Marineford, he killed an Admiral as casually as crushing an insect. That alone was enough to prove how monstrous his strength was.
No one in the world underestimated him.
To the NEO Navy, Zephyr was more than a commander.
He was their foundation.
Their soul.
If anything happened to him, everything they built would collapse.
And to Ain and Binz, he was family.
How could they allow him to walk into danger alone?
Even if this was not a battle.
Even if this was only a meeting.
Who could say what kind of man Rolan truly was?
A monster did not need to bare fangs to be dangerous.
Zephyr looked at the concern on their faces and laughed.
"We're not going there to fight. What are you two so worried about?"
He grinned.
"Besides, I'm not that old yet."
"Teacher!"
"Teacher Zephyr!"
His expression turned firm.
"You two stay here and wait."
His voice carried unquestionable authority.
"If I return, this operation succeeds."
He paused.
"If I haven't returned by nightfall, take the NEO Navy and leave these waters."
Before they could answer, he kicked off the deck.
Moonwalk.
His figure shot into the sky.
"Teacher Zephyr!"
Ain moved to pursue him.
Then his voice came from ahead.
"Ain, stand down. That is an order."
She froze.
"If Peach Garden means to kill me, you coming changes nothing except adding another sacrifice."
His tone softened.
"The NEO Navy was built by all of us. Lead them out safely."
Ain clenched her fists, but stepped back.
Binz exhaled.
"We should follow orders."
Ain stared toward Peach Garden, unease in her eyes.
"Big Brother Binz… if Teacher Zephyr doesn't return…"
Binz immediately understood.
His expression hardened.
"What are you planning?"
Silence.
He already knew.
If Zephyr fell, Ain would throw herself into Peach Garden even if it meant death.
And against the Ion Pirates, that would be suicide.
Every officer aboard Rolan's crew was a monster.
Any one of them could contend with top Marine forces.
The NEO Navy could not challenge enemies like that.
Binz sighed.
Then acted.
Green vines erupted across the deck.
They coiled around Ain in an instant.
"What are you doing?!"
She struggled against the restraints.
Binz avoided her glare.
"I know you too well."
He tightened the vines enough to keep her in place.
"When you calm down, I'll release you."
Ain tried using her Devil Fruit ability, but Binz had already restrained her hands in a way that prevented it.
After several failed attempts, she stopped struggling.
Her eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
Silently praying.
Meanwhile, Zephyr had already reached the outer island of Peach Garden.
He descended from the sky.
"Hey!"
His voice echoed toward the shore.
"This is Peach Garden, right? Tell Rolan to come out."
The guards stationed there reacted instantly.
Weapons were raised.
Eyes sharpened.
"State your identity!"
Zephyr glanced over them and inwardly nodded.
Even ordinary guards possessed Armament Haki.
The defenses of Peach Garden were far beyond rumor.
Then his expression shifted.
Around the island, he sensed something strange.
An invisible barrier surrounded Peach Garden.
Even his Observation Haki was obstructed.
Interesting.
One of the guard captains stepped forward.
"If you are a guest, you would have arrived as one."
His gaze hardened.
"But you do not look like a guest."
Zephyr smirked.
"So this is how Peach Garden welcomes visitors?"
The guards did not lower their weapons.
Tension thickened across the shore.
And then.
A pressure descended.
Heavy.
Silent.
Terrifying.
Even Zephyr's eyes narrowed.
Someone was coming.