Late at night.
The full moon hung high overhead, and all was silent.
Atop the Red Line.
Moonlight like silver frost covered the deep-red earth.
Looking up from here, the full moon seemed within arm's reach.
Yet a faint smell of blood permeated the night wind.
After the war ended, Maud had razed Pangu City to the ground, but the tens of thousands who had died in battle remained where they had fallen.
By the moonlight, corpses could be seen everywhere.
The blood that had flowed out had blended into the red earth, making it hardly noticeable.
The Revolutionary Army and the Navy were busy treating the wounded, and for the time being, they had no time to arrange for the fallen soldiers.
Perhaps only after dawn broke would the dead receive proper burials.
Drip, drip...
At a stairway in a passage leading underground, blood fell drop by drop.
The sound it made was especially clear in the tranquil night.
Because the terrain was low, the blood on the battlefield flowed here in thin streams, gathering before running down the stairs.
Suddenly.
A foot emerged from the darkness and stepped into the pool of blood on the stairs.
With a smack.
Blood splattered in all directions.
The newcomer paid it no attention, walking up the stairs, out of the passage, and into the open air.
It was Maud, emerging from the ancient underground city.
As he walked out of the passage, Dragon followed close behind in a green combat outfit.
Aokiji, Sabo, and the others came after them.
Maud, who had been the first to leave the passage, strode toward the open space.
Just a few minutes ago, he had given Dragon a chance to challenge him.
The victor would rule, and the defeated would have no say.
Whoever won