North Blue – The Other Side
Naval Headquarters had just suspended the critical meeting.
Meanwhile, near the Reversing Mountain Strait, an important route connecting the Grand Line and the North Blue, a significant event was unfolding. This narrow passage was the only route for any ship traveling between the two regions—no exceptions, not even for the warships escorting heavenly gold.
Today marked the scheduled return of the first fleet tasked with collecting heavenly gold from the North Blue.
Yet, in stark contrast to the imposing warships, a small, one-person boat floated in the vast expanse of the sea.
And incredibly, this seemingly insignificant vessel had come to a stop—right in front of the massive warship, blocking its path.
Aboard the Escort Warship
In the warship's command room, Marine Rear Admiral Rott, the officer in charge of the escort mission, was deep in thought. His mind wasn't occupied with the mission itself but with a far more personal goal—how to curry favor with the very important guest aboard the ship.
This guest, a noble from the Holy Land, was none other than the youngest son of the esteemed Rose Holy Family, one of the Celestial Dragon clans.
"If I can get him to speak on my behalf to the Marine Marshal, my transfer to Naval Headquarters is guaranteed!" Rott thought eagerly.
For days, he had gone to great lengths to please the Celestial Dragon, offering lavish gifts: beauties, wealth, slaves, and fine wine. But despite his best efforts, the young noble's response remained lukewarm.
Now, as the warship neared the Grand Line, Rott grew increasingly desperate.
"Everything I've given, and it's still not enough…" he muttered, pacing back and forth. His eyes darted toward the upper deck—the forbidden area reserved for the Celestial Dragon.
Then, an idea struck him.
"That noble enjoys watching people struggle... the way ants squirm before they're crushed underfoot."
Rott's cruel mind churned.
"If I find a random town along the way and declare it a pirate stronghold, I could stage a massacre. The noble would be entertained, and no one would dare challenge my report. After all, the dead can't speak."
A twisted grin spread across his face. To him, the people of the North Blue—suffering under constant attacks from pirates, mafias, and warring factions—were expendable.
"So why not make them useful?" Rott thought. "Better to die serving my ambitions than fall to pirates later."
The Sudden Halt
Before Rott could act on his vile plan, the warship suddenly came to an abrupt stop.
Boom!
The unexpected halt caused the massive vessel to shake violently. Caught off guard, Rott lost his balance and crashed to the floor, his nose bleeding. But he had no time to worry about his injuries.
His first thought was of the guest aboard the ship.
"Did something happen to the noble?!" he panicked, looking toward the forbidden area on the upper deck.
To his relief, there was no sign of anger or distress from the Celestial Dragon.
"Hah... thank goodness."
But now, there was another issue. Why had the ship stopped?
Rott's expression darkened as he rushed toward the deck. Whoever was responsible for this interruption was about to face his wrath.
A Shocking Sight
When Rott reached the deck, he was met with an eerie silence. The Marines on board were frozen in place, staring in disbelief at something in the distance.
"What the hell is going on?!" Rott barked, his frustration mounting.
No one answered.
Instead, their trembling hands pointed toward the horizon.
Confused, Rott followed their gaze.
And then he saw it.
Hiss!
Even as a seasoned Rear Admiral, hardened by the chaos of the North Blue, Rott couldn't suppress the gasp that escaped his lips. His heart pounded as he rubbed his eyes, hoping he was imagining things.
But the scene before him was all too real.
The warship's route should have led them through a narrow strait near the Red Line—a critical passage connecting the North Blue to the Grand Line.
Yet, the strait was now completely sealed off.
The Red Line—the massive, unyielding continent that divided the seas—appeared as if it had been sliced apart by an incomprehensibly powerful force.
Huge chunks of red stone lay scattered across the ocean, creating an impassable barrier.
"What... what in the world happened here?!" Rott screamed, his voice filled with a mix of fear and disbelief.
The Marines stared in stunned silence.
Who—or what—could have done something so devastating?