The New World, high altitude.
The Eclipse tore through layer after layer of cumulonimbus clouds, its deep black hull sliding silently above the cloud sea.
The vector thrusters beneath the ship maintained low-power operation, their exhaust flames swallowed by the cloud banks, leaving only a faint black scar across the high sky.
On deck, the wind was cold.
Ace stood at the bow, his dark red coat snapping in the gale.
Half a year ago, the Eclipse had vanished from the New World's sight.
Half a year later, it had returned.
But this time, Ace wasn't in a hurry to descend to the sea.
Carina leaned against the bow's edge, holding several freshly compiled intelligence reports.
"That black ship sighting report has probably already reached Marineford."
Her tone was casual, no real tension in it.
"Given the current situation, they won't move against us lightly."
Sabo stood nearby, the Flame Dragon Staff held in its dark red pole form, fine pink dragon-scale patterns rippling across its surface.
"Are the conditions from Saturn actually holding?""
Carina nodded.
"At the very least, until the World Government commits to mobilizing admirals, vice admirals, CP0, and all the Warlords, the Navy will do everything it can to avoid us."
"Warlod perks without the obligations."She smiled.."
"No. This is exactly the kind of treatment an Emperor crew deserves."
Ace grinned.
"The Four Emperors have been running loose in the New World for years, and the Navy hasn't chased them every single day.""
"Now it's our turn. That's all."
Sabo tipped his hat lower, his tone level.
"Then let's not give away our route too early."
"Let's get a clear picture of what the New World has turned into these last six months."
Ace opened his mouth to answer, then stopped.
His gaze passed through the clouds, toward the distant sea.
In that instant, the wind around them seemed to fall quieter.
An immensely heavy sound, ancient and slow, rose from somewhere in the world.
Not a human voice.
Not the roar of an ordinary Sea King, either.
The sound was like a mountain sighing.
Ace closed his eyes.
The sound grew clearer.
Heavy.
Wary.
Alone.
And a pain pressed down by too much time.
Sabo caught the shift in him and stepped forward half a pace.
"Ace?"
Ace opened his eyes.
"Something is speaking.""
Carina's expression sharpened.
"Enemy?"
"No."
Ace shook his head.
"Not an enemy."
He paused, searching for the right words.
"It's like a living island."
A beat of silence passed over the deck.
Enel sat by the mast, eyes closed, turning an apple in his hand.
His Mantra spread outward with the lightning.
After a moment, he frowned.
"This god can't hear the voice you're talking about."
"But there is definitely something in that direction."
He opened his eyes, a flash of lightning in his pupils.
"The life signature is absurdly huge."
Everyone turned to look where Ace was staring.
At the far edge of the high cloud layer, a colossal shadow, so blurred it nearly melted into the horizon, was moving slowly.
At first, it looked like a mountain drifting on the sea.
Then the Eclipse pushed forward and the wind tore a corner of the clouds open. For one clear moment, the shadow's outline resolved.
Four legs so long they plunged into the sea.
A back that seemed to carry forests and mountains on its shoulders.
Chopper leaned on the railing, his eyes going wider by the second.
"Tha-that's not an island...""
Bepo said nothing.
He stood at the ship's side, staring dumbly at that giant elephant bearing forests and towns on its back, his paws slowly clenching.
Shachi glanced at him.
"Bepo?"
Bepo's voice was very quiet.
"...ou."
Pengin froze.
"You know that place?""
Bepo kept his head down, his ears trembling faintly.
"Sorry."
"That's... my home."
Buggy's head floated over from the side and stared at that distant vast shadow for several seconds.
Then, as if something had clicked, his face shifted.
"Hhey, hey, wait, isn't that Zou?""
Chopper whipped his head around.
"Buggy, you know it too?""
Buggy immediately puffed out his chest.
"Of course! This great Lord Buggy sailed with Captain Roger and saw the real sea!"
"A giant elephant carrying a whole country on its back, walking around? I've seen it before!"
Carina raised an eyebrow.
"Then you know how to find it?"
Buggy's expression froze.
"Wwell, that is...""
He coughed and forcibly changed the subject.
"Anyway! The fact that we met Zou again proves that fate has definitely blessed this great one with a legend's destiny!"
Bailey stood on Carina's shoulder and squawked.
"Caw! Bluffer! Bluffer!"
"Shut up, you stupid bird!"
Carina opened the navigation log in her hand, the corner of her mouth lifting.
"Looks like there's no mistake."
"The fabled Mink Tribe, living on Zunesha's back."
Sabo looked toward that giant elephant, the one that seemed to carry an entire age on its shoulders.
"Zou."
Ace listened to that ancient, heavy sound and smiled.
"Take us in."
"Little Eclipse."
The Eclipse's AI voice answered.
"Course adjusted. Target locked: mobile giant lifeform."
The black warship passed through the clouds and flew toward the ancient elephant walking the sea.
...
The black warship passed through the clouds and flew toward the ancient elephant walking the sea.
As the distance shrank, the contours of Zunesha's back sharpened.
Forests.
Rivers.
And clusters of buildings hidden among the giant trees.
This was no ordinary island. It was an entire nation, resting quietly on Zunesha's back, moving with the colossal beast through the New World.
Bepo stood at the ship's side and still said nothing.
Shachi and Penguin were uncharacteristically quiet, too.
They had known Bepo for years, and they had rarely seen this look on him.
Something like lostness.
And something like finally catching sight of a dream the currents had swept away long ago.
Law looked at him and said flatly:
"If you want to go down, go down."
Bepo blinked, then nodded hard.
"Yes."
He finished, then reflexively looked down again.
"Sorry."
Shachi sighed.
"You're apologizing for going home now?"
Penguin patted his shoulder.
"Let's go, Bepo."
Ace didn't interrupt them.
His attention was still fixed on Zunesha.
The closer they got, the clearer that ancient voice became.
The heavy footfalls. The long, drawn-out breaths. And a low murmur like something speaking from the depths of ages.
It wasn't calling for help.
It wasn't angry, either.
It just kept walking.
Like it was carrying a punishment that would never end.
Ace's eyes darkened slightly.
Sabo asked quietly:
"Can you make out what it's saying?"
Ace was silent for a moment.
"Not fully yet."
"But it knows we're here."
Carina closed her navigation log.
"A place like Zou wouldn't normally get foreign ships coming close."
"If we descend like this, the Mink Tribe will notice fast."
Ace smiled.
"We weren't planning to sneak in."
He pointed toward a stretch of relatively open forest on the outer edge of Zunesha's back.
"Little Eclipse, set down there."
The AI's voice answered immediately.
"Landing route confirmed."
"Warning: target zone contains numerous life responses. Armed units appear to be mobilizing."
Enel bit into his apple, his mouth splitting into a grin.
"Fast reaction."
Riona rested her hand on Byakuya, her slitted pupils sweeping the forest below.
"All fighters."
Buggy adopted a knowledgeable tone.
"The Mink Tribe aren't exactly civilians."
The Eclipse descended slowly.
Its black silhouette pressed over the forest canopy.
And on Zunesha's back, the Mink Tribe nation was fully roused.
Figures shot through the trees, moving fast.
Musketeers, Guardians, forest scouts. From every direction, they closed in toward the landing point.
The Mink warriors didn't panic.
Even facing a black ship descending out of the clouds, they moved to seal the paths, seize the high ground, and prepare for combat within moments.
Ace looked down at the rapidly assembling Mink fighters, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Not bad."
"Way more interesting than the people on ordinary islands."
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