The Grand Line crossed the Red Line in a perfect crucifix, slicing the world's oceans into four.
On either side of the New World lay the North Blue and West Blue.
For ordinary sailors, traveling from the New World to the West Blue was a logistical nightmare—impossible without proper routes.
For the Rocks Pirates, however? Child's play.
Their flagship, Xebec's Blade, rose from the sea itself under Shiki's Float-Float Fruit, soaring straight over the Calm Belt, racing toward God Valley.
To reach the Celestial Dragons' Hunting Festival in time, Shiki poured every ounce of power into his fruit.
Two days later—
They arrived.
God Valley, West Blue
Two cliffs, carved like blades by the gods, stabbed into the clouds.
Around the island, hundreds of Marine warships sat in a blockade.
Their duty: seal off the island—let no prey escape.
The "game" would last three weeks.
By the end, not a single native would remain alive.
Eastern Shore, God Valley
On the deck of a Marine ship, an officer peered through binoculars.
Screams echoed faintly from the island interior.
"It's started... the Celestial Dragons' little game."
He sighed. "Do we really need this many ships? No one ever gets out alive."
Vice Admiral Harvey grunted. "Three years ago, the last 'hunt' was in the Kingdom of Tidal Sound. A few escaped."
"Escaped!?" The officer blinked. "But how could anyone slip through this kind of blockade?"
"One of our own—" Harvey's tone turned cold, remembering.
"A Rear Admiral with too much compassion. Let the 'rabbits' go... including the princess of Tidal Sound. Nearly cost us everything."
"What happened to him?"
"What do you think?" Harvey smacked the man's head. "Eyes on the sea, not the forest! Watch the coastline, damn it!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The officer turned his scope—no issues on the beach—then scanned the open sea.
Suddenly—
His face went pale.
"V-Vice Admiral! A ship—pirate flag! It's the Rocks Pirates!"
"What!?"
Harvey snatched the binoculars.
There it was: a massive ship, sails stretched full, bearing down on God Valley.
"Rocks Pirates! Why are they in the West Blue!?"
He grabbed a Den Den Mushi, shouting into it:
"All units—combat readiness! This is not a drill!"
Aboard the Xebec's Blade
"They've spotted us already?"
Rocks stood on the figurehead, grinning toward the eastern coast, where Marine warships were already turning their cannons.
"Gwahahahaha! Boys—let's make some noise!"
The cannon barrage came first.
Dozens of battleships fired in unison—hundreds of shells howled across the sky.
"Gurararara! Talk about a loud welcome!"
Whitebeard strode to the bow, raising a fist thicker than a barrel.
Muscles bulged—and he slammed his punch into the air itself.
CRACK!
The atmosphere fractured like glass.
Every incoming shell detonated midair, bursting into a rain of fiery blossoms.
"Jihahahaha! The ships are mine!" Shiki laughed, rising into the air and diving straight for the fleet.
Charlotte Linlin clicked her tongue. "That bastard just wants to hog the loot! Zeus!"
A thundercloud rolled beneath her feet, lifting her skyward. "Let's go!"
"Yes, Mama!"
She streaked toward the island's center in a storm of lightning.
"Being able to fly must be nice," Stussy murmured, watching them soar.
Dimon, hands in his coat pockets, leaned lazily on the rail. "I can fly, you know. Want a lift?"
"Oh my~ how considerate. But I'll pass. Let them clear out the small fry first."
Gloriosa stretched her arm; the snake coiled around it stiffened—morphing into a living bow.
Her eyes narrowed.
"No need to fly. Long-range work's my specialty."
She drew—and the Haki-blackened arrow streaked through the air, piercing a battleship dead-center.
The ensuing explosion sent fire roaring skyward.
"...That's not an arrow. That's a cannon." Dimon thought flatly.
Within minutes, the eastern shore fell.
Inside God Valley
A mob of chained "rabbits"—human slaves—sprinted for their lives, tripping, crawling, but never stopping.
Behind them loomed something monstrous.
A flash of steel—
A figure darted through the fleeing crowd.
A heartbeat later, every runner froze mid-step.
Thin fountains of blood sprayed upward—then silence.
The killing was caught on a surveillance Den Den Mushi, and the host's voice rang out island-wide:
"Oooh! Unbelievable! Saint Greenglass already racks up 100,000 points!"
"Who can stop him from claiming the grand prize!? Let's check who's second—!"
Greenglass didn't care. He flicked blood from his rapier, turning his gaze toward the booming coast.
The east roared with explosions.
Extending his Observation Haki, he scanned the battlefield like a spreading web.
"...Rocks Pirates?" he muttered.
Then—
His senses screamed.
A shadow fell behind him.
He turned.
A black-red aura crackled around the newcomer like thunder.
"Rocks...!" Greenglass hissed, blade up.
Rocks tilted his head until his neck cracked. Slowly, he drew his weapon.
"What you stole—where is it?"
The sea burned.
Dozens of Marine ships sank in flames.
Dimon landed last, strolling ashore like a man out for a walk.
The others were already deep inland—except Stussy.
"You're not joining the slaughter?" he asked.
"I'm just a scientist," she said sweetly. "No combat power at all. You'll protect me, won't you~?"
"Yeah, yeah. Stick close."
Why bother protecting the immortal? he thought. Can't die anyway.
The pair moved leisurely toward the island's center.
Atop a ridge overlooking the woods, an old man leaned on his cane—one of the Five Elders, Saint Saturn.
His cold gaze fixed on Dimon.
"So... you're the brewer.
Dimon."
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