Beside the enormous glass fish tank mockingly nicknamed the "giant fishbowl" by its current owner Perona was idly splashing water with the mermaid, Aida.
"Sister Robin," Perona muttered as she flicked a spray of water toward the glass, "I feel like that bad guy and Sister Stella have been disappearing a lot these past few days."
Robin's face flushed faintly.
At seven years old, and having grown up in Ohara surrounded by scholars and forbidden texts, Robin understood far more than Perona. Though she had not yet awakened the calculating composure she would one day display on the seas, she was perceptive enough.
Otherwise, she might have mischievously suggested they go and investigate.
"Children shouldn't worry about such things," Robin replied, maintaining her usual calm.
"And in the Holy Land, you must address him properly. If other Celestial Dragons overhear you, it could affect His Highness's dignity."
Perona puffed out her cheeks.
"I know, I know. You're so long-winded."
Then she added under her breath,
"You're clearly a child too."
Robin's lips curved into a half-smile.
Perona's heart skipped.
She instinctively sensed danger.
Before she could beg for mercy, Robin extended her arm or rather, several arms bloomed from the wooden floor beside Perona.
With a swift motion, they lifted and tossed her straight into the tank.
"Waaah! Help!"
Gurgle
Bubbles rose rapidly to the surface.
Aida reacted quickly, her lilac tail cutting through the water as she gently caught Perona and lifted her up.
Perona sputtered, spitting out two mouthfuls of water.
"You wicked woman! Just you wait! I'll definitely get revenge!"
She immediately scooped up a double handful of water and hurled it toward Robin.
Robin, unprepared, was drenched from head to toe.
Her smile froze.
Calmly, she crossed her arms over her chest.
In the next instant, multiple arms sprouted across Perona's small frame, grabbing her shoulders and waist and dragging her back into the water.
Gurgle.
…
Life in Mary Geoise was, in truth, monotonous.
Black passed his days indulging in the privileges naturally afforded to a Celestial Dragon luxurious banquets, curated entertainment, private collections, and idle leisure.
Fortunately, Stella remained by his side.
After that day in the gladiatorial arena, and with Black discreetly arranging for stabilizing medicine under the guise of "counter-poison," Stella already adept at regulating her emotions after years of survival gradually shed the lingering shadows of the arena.
She devoted herself entirely to Black.
Perhaps she invested too deeply.
Or perhaps fate followed its own script.
Black occasionally found Stella more engaging than even the queen and princess he had once taken from the Taya Kingdom.
While he lived in indulgent stagnation, eating and waiting for time to pass, the Grand Line was anything but calm.
A Buster Call fleet, personally led by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, with Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp and multiple Vice Admirals in formation, cut across the New World seas toward Douglas Bullet's location.
After the Gorosei resolved to eliminate him, Bullet did not retreat.
He escalated.
Several Marine bases in the New World were reduced to rubble under his assault, severely disrupting the Navy's deployment across the latter half of the Grand Line.
He openly declared his intent to "destroy the World Government's rule," and afterward to kill every Admiral and Yonko, thereby surpassing Gol D. Roger.
In Bullet's warped reasoning, Roger had stood above even the World Government. Therefore, destroying the Government alone would not count as surpassing him.
Originally, the Navy's internal doves hesitated at launching a Buster Call within the New World. Since the disbandment of the Rocks Pirates, the Yonko had carved the seas into territories of mutual deterrence. Rash intervention risked shattering that fragile balance.
But after Bullet annihilated bases and slaughtered countless Marines, hesitation evaporated.
The Navy could not allow such provocation to stand.
Thus, the fleet arrived at Lakan Gardo Island.
Once the Marine G-4 Branch, it was now a graveyard of shattered stone and scorched steel.
Bodies of fallen Marines lay scattered among the ruins.
Sengoku stood at the bow of the command ship, gaze fixed on the solitary figure waiting at the port in the distance.
Douglas Bullet.
The man clearly knew they were coming.
But there was no room for doubt now.
As the fleet maneuvered to encircle the island, Sengoku's voice thundered across the sea:
"Douglas Bullet! You have destroyed Marine bases and challenged the authority of the World Government! Surrender immediately! I will personally escort you to Impel Down!"
Bullet sneered.
"You old fool. Do you think you can capture me?"
"If you've come looking for me, then today you'll be the first Admiral to die by my hand!"
His figure shot skyward.
In a blur, he descended upon a warship that had not yet fully repositioned.
Busoshoku Haki surged over his fists, turning them jet-black.
With a single strike, he smashed into the bow.
The massive vessel crumpled like a child's toy.
Its front plunged into the sea. The hull groaned violently before splitting apart.
Marines were hurled into the water, blood spraying as the wreckage swallowed them beneath the waves.
Yet the shattered fragments did not drift away.
They trembled and then surged toward Bullet.
Metal, timber, iron plating, and cannon barrels fused together under the power of the Gasha Gasha no Mi.
In an instant, a colossal armored construct enveloped him.
Sengoku's jaw tightened.
"At barely over twenty… such destructive force."
Beside him, Garp dug a finger into his nose and laughed.
"Don't get so worked up, Sengoku. Let me see what this brat can do."
Before Sengoku could respond, Garp leapt.
In a heartbeat, he appeared before Bullet.
"Hm?"
Even with sharp Kenbunshoku Haki, Bullet could not track Garp's speed in time.
Garp's fist was already descending.
Bullet raised his armored arms, coating them in hardened Haki.
Boom!
The impact reverberated like a cannon blast.
Bullet was sent hurtling backward, smashing across the island and plowing through multiple ruined structures before skidding to a halt.
Garp landed lightly on the beach.
Moments later, smoke parted.
The massive armored figure stepped forward, unharmed.
Garp grinned wider.
"That's more like it!"
"Come on, brat!"
"Fist Bone: Galaxy Impact!"
Bullet roared in return, charging forward.
"I've long wanted to see the strength of the so-called 'Marine Hero!'"
"What gives you the right to chase Roger?!"
Like Golden Lion Shiki, Bullet's obsession with Roger bordered on madness. Anything connected to the Pirate King ignited his fury.
The two collided again and again.
Each clash produced shockwaves that tore apart the already devastated island.
From morning until dusk, neither showed signs of exhaustion.
Sengoku, having fully positioned the fleet around the perimeter, watched grimly.
At last, he raised his arm.
"Open fire!"
The officer beside him hesitated.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku Vice Admiral Garp is still on the island!"
Sengoku's expression hardened.
"That idiot won't die."
"Fire!"