As Rolan picked up the Transponder Snail, a soft, familiar voice came through.
"Husband, have you returned?"
He immediately recognized it as Shirahoshi's voice.
"Yes, I'm back," Rolan replied, his tone calm, almost indulgent.
---
Inside a room bursting with the scent of blooming flowers, a dark silhouette loomed.
On the table before him lay an enormous map, stretching across the entirety of the Pirate World. The map's intricate lines and markings revealed islands, seas, and hidden routes known only to the most cunning navigators.
In the upper-left corner, several photographs were scattered, each torn into pieces with remarkably smooth edges. A gleaming dagger pinned them to the table.
The top photo depicted a young man with dark hair and a faint smile. Rolan.
Beneath it, a photo torn into three pieces showed a mermaid with flowing pink hair—Shirahoshi.
Next was a picture of a woman with striking blue hair, unmistakably Vivi.
The last photo revealed only a corner, but the outline of Nico Robin could still be discerned.
On the right side of the table lay a massive Straw Hat, larger than the silhouette itself. Dust covered its surface, its edges frayed, and the straw had decayed over time, speaking to its immense age. The aura emanating from it was ancient, carrying a sense of nearly 900 years of history. It was impossible to imagine who could have once worn such a colossal and venerable hat.
A plump butterfly fluttered in, landing delicately on the silhouette's shoulder. Its antennae twitched as its coiled proboscis tapped the figure's essence before slowly retracting, seemingly tasting or reading the silhouette's thoughts.
The figure extended a finger, pointing toward a crescent-shaped island on the map. As the fingertip made contact, a dazzling white light radiated outward, as though rippling across water. The fingertip marked an 'X' on the island.
Simultaneously, a tremendous aura erupted from the silhouette, sending the butterfly flapping away in alarm. All the flowers in the room were blown aside, and even the thick layer of dust on the ancient Straw Hat lifted slightly, revealing intricate patterns etched over centuries.
---
Far above Marineford, the clouds parted, revealing a dark silhouette larger than the island itself. White-green streaks of light shot down like deadly lightning.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each strike hit the ground with the force of pure energy, seemingly melting the earth with corrosive power. The surrounding sea shook violently, waves hundreds of meters high forming and radiating outward.
As the beams of light gradually faded, the massive silhouette above disappeared along with the clouds, returning the sky to natural light.
But Marineford was gone. In its place, a vast abyss stretched hundreds of miles across, seawater pouring in from all sides, forming a rare, massive circular waterfall. The pit seemed bottomless, impossible to fill.
---
On the Breaking Sky, in its nearly 3,000-square-meter grand meeting room, the walls of glass-like transparency displayed live scenes outside the ship. The room could even transmit all external sensations directly inside.
A towering figure sat on the sofa, surveying the enormous room with interest. His crescent-shaped white beard stood out, unmistakably Edward Newgate, Whitebeard himself.
The fleet had successfully departed the dangerous Marineford, lifted high by colossal island clouds, now advancing toward the New World. Curiosity about the mysterious Breaking Sky, spoken of by Ace, had brought him aboard.
Despite being smaller than the Moby Dick, the internal space of the ship was vast, far surpassing Whitebeard's flagship. Each crew member had spacious suites, functional rooms with exaggerated dimensions, and the grand meeting hall alone seemed larger than the entire ship. Summed together, the interior spanned an astonishing 20,000 square meters.
Whitebeard shook his head in disbelief. He had initially suspected some trick of the ship shrinking its occupants, but multiple entries proved otherwise. The space simply expanded inside. His mind refused to dwell further on it; it was beyond comprehension.
---
Suddenly, a powerful aura filled the room. The Breaking Sky surged forward with incredible speed.
"Hey, Rolan boy!" Whitebeard called out, coffee cup abandoned, horror evident in his expression.
Rolan had risen, brows furrowed in focus.
"Old man Whitebeard, let's go! Come outside and see for yourself."
Following him onto the deck, the Ion Tempest crew emerged one by one, all wearing serious expressions.
"Hey, Rolan, what's that? Ugh~" Luffy's muffled voice sounded, a massive piece of meat stuffed in his mouth.
Rolan turned to the boy, exasperation flashing briefly across his face. He let out a low laugh, scolding:
"You, Luffy! Did you skip meals in your last life or something?"
"Hey, Rolan! You can't blame me! It's all Lina's cooking—it's just too delicious."
Burp!
Luffy patted his distended belly, letting out a loud belch. The crew chuckled at the scene.
Just then, Kuro's voice rang out.
"Rolan, that could be the attack from the black giant shadow!"
Rolan turned to Kuro, then surveyed the group. Everyone except Enel, Lina, and Luffy nodded in agreement.
"Rolan, could that be…" Robin crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her curves high, her expression serious.
Rolan nodded.
"That should be it."
Luffy, still holding his giant meat stick, looked from Robin to Rolan, frowning.
"Hey, what kind of riddles are you two speaking? I don't understand a single word!"
"Let's go. It's time to explain what I know," Rolan said, stepping back into the interior of the ship.
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