Sea Empress Ji.
A unique lineage within God's Domain.
Born of merfolk, a water goddess who commands the tides and the vast strength of the ocean.
Even Shirahoshi, who is not especially practiced in battle, wields this moving, living water as divine power—a force the world simply cannot withstand.
The dark-blue sphere blooming at the tip of her trident gleamed like a star. Though it looked only the size of a walnut, it contained the weight of trillions of tons of seawater, compressed and spun through tens of millions of rotations until it reached this perfect, terrible density.
Whoosh.
Air split.
The sphere fell.
It struck the Red Line.
For ten thousand li in every direction, the sea heaved as if a giant had stirred it with a spoon. A tsunami rose in answer, a wall of water shouldering the sky. The clouds and mists that had shrouded the Red Line year after year tore away, revealing the full shape of the world's scar to every watching soul.
The tide-force was absolute, a scouring blade that pulverized red stone. The entire world watched the combined might of the three goddesses—and especially the famed Shirahoshi. Though only a clone had descended, she still displayed world-ending power.
A continental wall ten thousand meters high—
under her hand it became sand, collapsing grain by grain. It looked like water flowing; in truth it was a merciless knife, cutting and cutting until the mountain range came apart.
The roaring went on and on. Shirahoshi's assault raised wave after colossal wave.
In Loguetown, those watching the rite saw walls of water rising thousands of meters high and screamed. If such waves struck, there would be no escape. The little town had never seen such a sight. People nearly wet themselves in terror.
At that moment Monkey D. Dragon lifted into the air and called down to them: "Do not fear—the Goddess is here!"
Just those words—
and the square fell quiet.
The Goddess.
In the current era of One Piece, that word had become a symbol—of peace and greatness, of skill beyond skill.
"Let me handle this—Sister Shirahoshi's power control still needs work," said Dongfang Huaizhu, smiling faintly.
She teleported in front of Loguetown and drew one finger through the air. Her lips parted softly.
"Fire Element Magic: Wall of Sun Flame."
Boom.
A purple sacred fire unfurled from her fingertip and became a vast barrier. It looked like rippling flame—yet it ran on for thousands of kilometers.
Before the waves could touch the fiery wall, they were evaporated to steam. Pillars of vapor surged skyward like newborn mountains.
On the far side of the Grand Line, Boa Hancock used pure strength to press down the tsunami, forcing the sea to kneel.
Ten minutes later, when the smoke and mist finally thinned, the world saw something terrifying:
The Red Line was gone.
The mountains that had blocked generations upon generations were simply… gone!
From now on, no one would need to climb Reverse Mountain to reach the Grand Line.
"Long live!"
"The goddess is invincible! The Eternal God is supreme!!!"
"Cheers—to this blessed day!"
"It feels so good… Since joining the Eternal Faith, nothing has felt this freeing!"
People shouted and laughed, wept and beat drums—celebrating the Eternal Faith, celebrating the days to come.
On the other side, the Navy sat in silence.
Forget the will to fight; asking them to attack the Eternal Faith now would be kinder than simply killing them outright. How were they supposed to fight three goddesses?
"I motion we cancel this operation."
"Cancel or not—didn't you see the Red Line destroyed?"
"Right. Not even the strongest Devil Fruit could do that."
…
In the Fleet Admiral's office, Akainu (Sakazuki) stared at the fairy-like figure in fluttering robes performing fire magic. A cold pit opened in his chest.
Both sides used flame. But could his magma vaporize a tsunami in an instant?
Akainu knew the answer: No.
Measured against their power, he was a clown—ridiculous and ignorant.
Across the world, those watching the broadcast heard Shirahoshi speak just then:
"It seems I accidentally used too much force—destroyed a hundred-thousand-li stretch of the Red Line. But this way, the other routes won't be hindered."
One hundred thousand li?
"Accidentally"?
If that was a misstep, what would it look like if she truly exerted herself—destroying the world?
In the Eternal Faith's headquarters prison, Shanks and the others could only give bitter smiles at Shirahoshi's words.
"Boss—no, Captain… maybe we surrender too. There's no hope left!"
"Yeah. Even Fruit Awakening can't touch that level."
"Surrender?"
Staring out the window, Red-Haired felt a hollow cold. That wasn't freedom at all. It would mean becoming a slave to God.
But… for civilians, this was true freedom.
No oppression, no harm.
Surrendering might be the better path; at least he could go out and drink again.
He hadn't had a drop in half a year.
"Hey—guard," Shanks called to the excited soldier outside, "the Red-Haired Pirates surrender. Let us out."
The guard threw him a glance. "Want out? It's too late for that. Plenty of people are joining the Faith. If you want to surrender, you'll fill out a form—then we'll review how you've behaved these past months.
"You think this is a revolving door—out if you want, in if you want?
"Our Eternal Faith has rules and regulations."
Right.
The situation outweighed pride.
What else could Shanks say?
…
In just three days, the remaining stretches of the Red Line were dismantled one by one. With that first experience behind her, Shirahoshi became steadily more precise. Break the Red Line, enter the Grand Line, expand the Faith's influence—this was Shirahoshi and Dragon's work now.
Alabasta.
Drum Island.
Country after country announced they were joining the Eternal Faith.
Many had thought the World Government would choose to surrender—but on the fifth day after the Red Line vanished, thousands of warships sailed out of Mary Geoise.
They bristled with the strongest weapons this world could field. Each carried Kuma clones.
In answer to the Eternal Faith, Imu had gathered everything.
This armada held not just rare Devil Fruit users, but thousands of death-soldiers—men and women brainwashed into machines; scientists whose works outstripped the world by five centuries. Erasing people's feelings was simple enough work for them.
Half a year's time had given Imu all he needed.
Prisoners in Impel Down had been force-fed rare Devil Fruits and turned into slaves. Treasures had been torn from their vaults. The ancient weapon Pluton—capable of obliterating an island in one strike—had been readied.
Such things had been set in motion 800 years ago.
Aside from Poseidon (the Sea King—Shirahoshi herself), Pluton and Uranus had always been in Imu's hands.
Before all eyes, the man who had lived eight centuries stepped into the light.
He was handsome—short golden hair glittering like metal under the sun. The Five Elders and the CP0 agents knelt at his feet.
"Lord Imu, the forces are assembled for the decisive battle."
"Go," Imu said. "If I cannot rule this world, I will destroy it."
As for Imu's story—
the world kept no record.
Why did he hate the world so?
The answer was simple.
Eight hundred years ago, Imu was a powerful adventurer. He loved exploration, he loved every form of pleasure. He had a happy family.
By chance he reached a forbidden island—a demon's island the vast Ancient Kingdom had proscribed. There he gained extraordinary power.
When the Ancient Kingdom learned he bore the devil's strength, the tragedy was ordained. Imu barely escaped with his life, but his family was slaughtered. The world obeyed the kingdom's will; even his former partners turned their faces away.
So Imu came to hate the world.
He triggered what he called the Demon Exposure, coaxed his good friend Joy Boy, and gathered twenty partners. Together they upended the world.
What followed, everyone knows.
The World Government was founded; Joy Boy was betrayed.
Everything came to an end.
Those who had persecuted Imu—and their descendants—still labored as slaves upon the Bridge. It was to be so for eternity.
This was why Imu could not stomach the Eternal Faith—he was an avenger. Eight hundred years had been enough. This "final battle" was just the last group of bodies to cushion his fall.
Uranus, the King of Heaven—an island city floating in the sky, seated over the Red Line—had been Imu's home all along.
Its current name was Mary Geoise.
Pluton rumbled from the belly of a mountain; though eight centuries had passed, uncounted generations of maintenance had kept the battleship alive.
Uranus in the sky.
Pluton on the sea.
Add more than a thousand warships.
Add countless death-soldiers.
This was the full power of the World Government at last unveiled.
"Woof… woof…"
Across from them, hundreds of thousands of hounds stood upon the waves and howled at Imu's armada—dogs in the service of the Faith.
Among them was Kizaru (Borsalino). In his longing to regain a human body, he had gone half-mad, checking for atheists every day. His merit had finally allowed him to speak.
"Woof— Filth of the World Government! Surrender now, you disgusting swine—do not test God's power!"
"Our Dog Squad warns you—advance again, and we will attack. Woof!"
Beside him, Aokiji (Kuzan) wore dark sunglasses and struggled not to laugh.
Good grief. How had Kizaru's voice turned so… doglike? Was it that he liked being a dog by nature?
"Woof…," Kizaru growled, catching Aokiji's amusement with Kenbunshoku. Even as a dog, he was the strongest dog. Don't look down on him.
"Easy, brother," Aokiji murmured. "Why would I laugh at you? Unless you're being sensitive… cough. Behave this time—if you do well for the goddesses, you might get to change back."
Kizaru blinked.
Sensitive? What did he mean by that?
But the latter promise tugged at him. He dreamed of being human again.
Across the waves, the armada did not slow.
"Woof— Brothers, go!"
When the World Government ignored the warning, Kizaru let out an attack howl.
A hundred thousand hounds charged, streaking like falling stars.
Boom.
Kizaru flickered like light and landed on a warship. With one claw, he tore the steel giant open.
Explosions answered him, one after another, blooming across the sea.
There was no need to send in other troops. These hundred thousand divine hounds alone were enough to give Imu a catastrophic welcome.