Fortuna Community, various locations, at the entrance.
The live broadcast screen was blank, and the crowd grew increasingly restless.
"What's going on?"
"Did the Five Elders really appear?"
"Look, there's a picture!"
After an unknown amount of time, the screen finally displayed an image, but this time the camera focused on Reverse Mountain.
Calm, serene.
Only the sound of water flowing into the sea could be heard.
"Has the war ended?"
The audience widened their eyes, yet they saw no traces of war.
At the base of Reverse Mountain, soldiers of the Hoenn Navy stood in formation, with Commander Gurd and Admiral Aokiji at the forefront.
"What is happening?"
Just as the audience was puzzled, Gurd walked alone toward Reverse Mountain, stopping at the foot of the mountain, then placing his hand against the rock face.
Time ticked by.
The image seemed to freeze, lasting a full ten minutes, and just as the audience began to grow impatient, the camera started to shake.
It should be said that Reverse Mountain was shaking.
As the camera zoomed out, the audience finally saw the truth!
Reverse Mountain was sinking!!!
"Is this a dream?"
People around the world stared blankly, unable to believe the scene before them.
It must be fake; this is impossible!
Not only the audience, but the soldiers of the Hoenn Navy and the reporters on-site were equally stunned by the sight.
Though it was called a mountain, Reverse Mountain was essentially part of the Red Line, towering at least several thousand meters high.
At this moment, the rock walls on either side of Reverse Mountain had shifted apart, and the main body of the mountain was sinking like a block of wood!
A miracle!
"Tch, uncultured!"
The subordinates who had been following Gurd proudly puffed out their chests; they had witnessed Lord Gurd lift islands and create the Golden Route.
The sinking of Reverse Mountain was indeed shocking.
But they firmly believed that as long as Lord Gurd was serious, he could sink the entire Red Line without issue!
The tremors lasted a full half hour.
Reverse Mountain disappeared, revealing a vast canyon, where one could see the sky on the opposite side.
The soldiers excitedly raised their arms and cheered!
"Commander is mighty!"
"Commander is mighty!!"
"Commander is mighty!!!"
They had witnessed a miracle!
At this moment, all the soldiers were utterly convinced.
Commander Gurd would surely change this chaotic world.
And become the god of the New World!
Several miles away.
The Revolutionary Army's ship floated on the surface of the sea.
Gazing at the newly formed strait in the distance, everyone in the Revolutionary Army fell into an eerie silence, too shocked to speak.
Even a fool could understand the immense impact this strait would have on the world; it was no exaggeration to say.
A bridge connecting the world!
After a long silence.
Dragon faced his officers and spoke the words hidden in his heart.
"Everyone, I want to lead the Revolutionary Army to join the Hoenn Government!"
"…"
The officers exchanged glances.
"Dragon, are you serious?"
"Yeah!"
Dragon nodded earnestly.
He had long harbored this thought; he had come here worried that the Hoenn Navy would be crushed by the World Government, and now seeing the new strait only solidified his resolve.
That man can change the world!
Whether in strength or ideology, he held immense respect for Gurd.
In just a few short years, Gurd had established the Hoenn Government, bringing stability and peace to dozens of countries.
Meanwhile, he had spent twenty years, and the Revolutionary Army's situation remained dire, constantly hiding from the World Government's pursuit.
He simply couldn't compare!
His dream was to overthrow the violent rule of the World Government; establishing the Revolutionary Army was merely a means. Now, he saw a more efficient, stable, superior, and most likely successful path.
He was willing to support that man!
At the canyon of Reverse Mountain.
As the turbulent sea water rushed in, a riverbed quickly formed in the canyon, and an Elephant-nosed Shark leaped out of the water.
Seeing the crowd eyeing it hungrily, the shark blinked, still not reacting when a rock struck its head.
Disaster struck from the sky!
A bump formed on the shark's head, and its eyes turned into X's.
"Hahaha, just in time, I'm hungry!"
Gurd swung a rope to ensnare the shark and dragged it ashore.
After the battle with the Five Elders and sinking Reverse Mountain, his energy was depleted, and he was starving.
"Sanji, roast it for me."
"…"
Sanji looked at the canyon, tears streaming down his face, completely oblivious.
"All Blue!"
Though artificially created, this massive canyon connected all seas, becoming a convergence point.
East Sea, West Sea, North Sea, South Sea, along with the Grand Line and the New World, the six seas were now linked together.
Before long, this place would become a dream ocean gathering all ingredients, the chef's dreamland—All Blue!
"Waaaaah!!!"
Sanji fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
He found it; this was All Blue!
His dream had come true!
Gurd was taken aback.
What's with this kid suddenly crying like that? It was even more intense than when he cried at Mermaid Harbor, and it looked rather creepy.
"Sanji, what's wrong?"
"I found All Blue!"
Sanji's tears and snot flowed together, his entire face crumpled.
"Oh, is that so?"
Gurd stroked his chin.
Since he had sunk Reverse Mountain, it was a bit inappropriate to still call it Reverse Mountain.
"In that case, let's call it the All Blue Strait!"
"We need to put up a sign!"
"Let's put one at the entrance of each sea!"
Reverse Mountain was accessed via canals, and due to tidal influences, the river's flow would change and was very turbulent, posing high demands on sailors, often resulting in shipwrecks.
Now, with the mountain gone.
Each sea could safely reach other seas just by entering the strait, even directly entering the New World.
It was worry-free and saved time!
He had made a significant contribution!
"I've made such a big contribution; setting up a few toll booths shouldn't be too much to ask, right? At worst, I'll charge a little less for the tolls!"
"Everyone will surely understand me!"
Gurd contemplated the possibility of establishing toll booths, even considering whether to move the Hoenn headquarters here.
From a strategic standpoint, this location was even more important than the Holy Land, but the danger was also extremely high.
Building a city is easy; defending it is hard.
That could be considered later; for now, it was better to stabilize things first.
Gurd looked toward the previous battlefield.
The pit had been filled, and a large amount of soil had been pushed to the coast, causing the land area to increase several times.
Building a town wouldn't be a problem.
Such a favorable geographical location must not be wasted; although there wasn't much there, it could be developed into a tourist city and serve as a supply point for passing ships.
Just a preparation for relocating the headquarters!
"Let's rest for now."
Gurd sat cross-legged, waiting for the shark barbecue feast.
The soldiers also came ashore to rest, setting up pots to cook and treating the wounded; the toll from this war was not small.
However, a truly excellent army is one that remains resolute even after the baptism of war, showing true strength outwardly.
At this moment, the world was still in great turmoil.
"Hoenn has won!"
"Fool, the Navy didn't lose!"
"Hoenn is still at Reverse Mountain; they won this war!"
"Uh, wasn't it just a drill?"
"Oh, oh, oh! It's decided; I want to join the Hoenn Navy!"
In the eyes of most people, there was no doubt that Hoenn was the winner of this war, having not only destroyed the World Government's toll booths but also repelled the Navy led by two Admirals.
At the same time, the righteousness of Hoenn contrasted sharply with the World Government's villainy, greatly increasing the favorability of Hoenn among various circles.
Moreover, this was the first large-scale military operation of the Hoenn Government; prior to this, the world knew little about Hoenn, but now they truly understood its strength!
A new regime capable of directly confronting the World Government!
Its Commander Gurd possessed power comparable to that of a god.
No, he was the "God"!
The world has been saved!!!
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