In the New World, on an unknown sea.
Dark clouds rolled across the sky, pressing heavily down on the sea, and lightning tore through the firmament without warning, exploding in their ears.
Giant waves several meters high were whipped up by the gale, crashing violently onto the sea surface again and again, creating a deafening roar.
In this hellish expanse of sea capable of tearing any ship to shreds, a massive and chilling fleet was cleaving through the giant waves, advancing mightily forward.
Leading the way was a gigantic warship, several times the size of a standard Marine battleship.
The bow was carved with a ferocious dragon head, its eyes blood red and its fangs exposed, looking as if it might come alive and devour someone at any second.
The deck was densely packed with burly, fierce-looking pirates.
They stood bare-chested, letting the pouring rain wash over their bronzed muscles, roaring like beasts and wrestling with the raging sea with all their might.
"Hard to port! Hurry!"
"Tighten the main sail! Don't let the damn wind tear it apart!"
"Shipwright team! Go check the hull! That last hit was too violent, the keel might be cracked!"
The navigator stood on the tall crow's nest, his eyes fixed on the violently swaying compass and the soaked sea chart, issuing commands hoarsely.
Meanwhile, the shipwrights ran back and forth in the cabins below the deck, their tools—hammers, nails, and planks—never stopping for a moment.
Every ship flew the conspicuous skull flag of the Beasts Pirates, roaring toward the unknown distance like a herd of caged beasts unleashed into the storm.
At the very front of the gigantic warship's deck, three figures stood side-by-side, enduring the wind and rain.
King, the Wildfire, was clad in black leather, the flames on his back still blazing fiercely despite the torrential rain.
He stood with his arms crossed, watching the storm ahead impassively.
Queen, the Plague, bit down on a cigar that was nearly extinguished by the rain.
His massive body remained completely still on the deck as he hummed an odd, tuneless melody, occasionally complaining, "Seriously, this damn weather, my new hairstyle is ruined!"
Jack, the Drought, excitedly clenched his fists, radiating fanatical fighting spirit and scoffing at Queen's complaints.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward abruptly, and roared, "Report our current location immediately!"
"Yes! Lord Jack!"
A completely soaked pirate immediately rushed out of the cabin, his voice trembling with excitement: "We are about to enter the Fish-Man Island sea zone! Estimated arrival at the diving point is ten minutes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, another pirate ran over.
"Lord Jack! All ships prepare for coating! The coating craftsmen are all in position!"
"Good!"
Jack raised his head and let out a defiant roar toward the raging storm: "The Beasts Pirates have arrived! Let the winds and waves of the Fish-Man Island sea zone whip up for us!"
"Roar!!!"
The pirates on all the warships roared in unison, the sound wave—a mix of excitement and madness—momentarily drowning out the storm's thunder.
Before long, the fleet arrived before a massive whirlpool.
The whirlpool was over a kilometer in diameter, the seawater spinning wildly and emitting a low roar, as if an ancient behemoth beneath the sea had opened its massive, all-consuming maw.
"All ships, submerge in order!"
King issued the command coldly.
The gigantic warship immediately rushed toward the whirlpool, its hull instantly enveloped by a layer of transparent resin coating.
Boom!
The warship plunged headfirst into the whirlpool, the hull shaking violently before being completely swallowed by the seawater, disappearing from the surface.
Following suit, the second, third, and fourth ships... one warship after another, like dumplings dropping into a pot, rushed into the whirlpool and submerged into the deep sea ten thousand meters below.
In less than ten minutes, all hundred warships had vanished from the sea surface.
The storm raged on, but there was no longer any trace of the Beasts Pirates on the sea surface.
Just as the last warship disappeared.
Not far from the whirlpool, a large Marine ship slowly emerged from the storm.
On the deck, an officer wearing a Marine greatcoat watched the direction of the whirlpool through binoculars.
A few seconds later, he lowered the binoculars and said calmly, "Contact G1 Branch immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
The subordinate immediately picked up the den den mushi, his fingers stiff with tension.
New World, G1 Branch.
Inside the Vice Admiral's office, the ringing of the den den mushi was as urgent as a death knell.
"Buru buru—Buru buru—"
Behind the desk, a stern-faced Vice Admiral picked up the receiver.
"This is the Vice Admiral of G1 Branch. Speak."
"Report!" came a nearly distorted voice from the den den mushi.
"The Beasts Pirates... have submerged! They are expected to reach Fish-Man Island very soon!"
The Vice Admiral's pupils suddenly contracted.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately put down the receiver and picked up another emergency den den mushi.
"Connect me to the Fleet Admiral's office! Now! Immediately!"
Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Fleet Admiral's Office.
A subordinate answered the den den mushi, and after hearing the intelligence from the other side, his face visibly turned pale.
"The Beasts Pirates... really mobilized?"
His voice was shaking.
"Damn it! This intelligence must be reported to the Seat of Power immediately!"
He violently grabbed another dedicated den den mushi, his fingers trembling so much he could barely hold it.
"Buru buru—Buru buru—"
The den den mushi connected.
"Five Elders, I am the Fleet Admiral's Office subordinate! Emergency intelligence! The entire Beasts Pirates force has mobilized, submerged, and is targeting Fish-Man Island!"
The Seat of Power.
The Gorosei sat upright and stiffly, all looking toward Ian, who was seated at the head of the table, idly playing with a golden chess piece.
The intelligence relayed by the den den mushi seemed to freeze the air in the entire room.
However, Ian smiled.
He crossed his legs, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the sofa, and spoke leisurely: "Why are you all staring at This Young Master? After spending so many years in the Seat of Power, it's time for you old bones to get out and stretch."
As his words fell, the faces of the Gorosei changed dramatically.
Satan Saint cautiously leaned forward.
"Does the Young Master mean... all of us... must mobilize?"
"If all of us leave the Holy Land, then the safety of the Holy Land—"
Ian raised his hand and said flatly: "Having my mother guarding the Holy Land is enough. Your mission is to intercept the Beasts Pirates."
"I don't care what arrangements you make next."
"I only require that the Beasts Pirates—"
"Do not return."
Having spoken, Ian no longer hesitated, immediately stood up, and walked past the Gorosei.
When he reached the entrance of the Seat of Power, he suddenly turned back to look at the Gorosei, flashing a cruel smile.
"If This Young Master sees a single pirate from the Beasts Pirates appear at Marineford, you better be prepared for This Young Master to chop you down a hundred times!"
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