Saint Saturn's Special Prisoner

Marine Calendar 1485 (56 years ago) [Official History: Marine Calendar 1541]

A magnificent warship flying the World Government flag was speeding from Enies Lobby toward Marine Headquarters, Marineford, via the high-speed current.

From Marineford, it would then proceed to the Red Port, located beneath the Red Line.

Deep within the ship's hold, dozens of sturdy prisoners were locked away in individual cells.

Their faces were numb, filled with gray despair, and their dull eyes had long since lost all light.

Their kingdom had fallen.

They had been reduced to prisoners of war and slaves.

Most despairing of all, they had been handpicked by the enemy general to be sent as slaves to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

The mere thought of becoming slaves to the Celestial Dragons filled them with even greater hopelessness; it was a fate far more terrifying than death!

Outside these cells stood a separate, reinforced steel cage.

Inside, a heavily wounded young man was bound in iron chains, his hands and feet shackled in Seastone, and an explosive collar locked around his neck.

I was living just fine, I had only just started to fit into this world...

How could a war of annihilation just suddenly break out...

Grandpa, Grandma, I'm sorry, I couldn't save you...

The young man's body trembled instinctively from the searing pain, his face covered in gruesome, bloody gashes.

His head was battered and bleeding, his lips pale and cracked, and his breathing was weak. On his forehead, a faint, dim, ghostly blue crescent mark was visible.

It was clear he had been subjected to inhuman torture.

Clang!

The door to the ship's hold swung open.

Several agents in black suits walked in.

"We'll be at Marineford soon. Give him some water; we can't have him dying yet."

"He is a special prisoner specifically requested by Saint Saturn."

"To think this guy can still use his Devil Fruit ability even while shackled in Seastone—it completely defies the rules of the world. No wonder the Five Elders demanded him personally."

The eyes of the CP agents, hidden behind dark sunglasses, were filled with gravity and coldness.

"Hmph, we can't let him die, but we can't let him regain his strength either, or this bastard will try to attack us and escape again!"

One CP agent, his chest wrapped in white bandages, wore a chilling expression.

The slash wound on his body was a gift from this very youth in Seastone shackles.

At first, none of them had believed the boasts and warnings of the King of Cang Kingdom.

After all, how could a Devil Fruit user activate their powers while wearing Seastone cuffs?

It wasn't until they caught the youth attempting to escape during transport and were nearly killed by a ghostly blue slash that they realized the truth.

All the CP agents began to treat this special prisoner with the utmost caution.

They used everything on him: iron chains for extra restraint, beatings, starvation, and injections of weakening agents...

They were terrified that another accident might occur during transport.

They knew that besides these slaves and the special youth, the ship was also carrying the annual Heavenly Tribute from Cang Kingdom.

If anything happened to this Heavenly Tribute warship, every one of these CP agents would be executed to pay for it.

The Reverie had only just concluded, and Cang Kingdom had immediately launched a war to pay this year's tribute; they were truly worthy of their reputation as a famous warmongering nation of the Grand Line.

This Heavenly Tribute warship had departed from Cang Kingdom in the Paradise of the Grand Line.

Once they entered the high-speed current from the Gates of Justice at Enies Lobby, the CP agents finally began to let their guard down.

This unique triangular current connected the three major institutions of the World Government: Enies Lobby, Impel Down, and Marine Headquarters.

It was also very close to the Sabaody Archipelago.

They didn't believe any pirate would dare to invade the very heart of the World Government's territory.

Or so they thought.

Not long ago, a monster had invaded the Holy Land of Mary Geoise during the Reverie and even killed a Marine Admiral.

However, after being hunted by the full force of Marine Headquarters, that villain had vanished without a trace.

He had likely fled the Paradise of the Grand Line long ago, heading toward the Four Blues or the New World.

There was no way he would still be lingering in these core waters.

Yet, they did not realize that the things one feels are impossible are exactly what tend to happen.

No one expected that a monster like Rocks would truly still be lurking in these very waters.

A small boat forced its way through the whirlpool currents outside the triangular current, entered the high-speed flow, and rapidly approached the Heavenly Tribute warship.

The CP agents on board immediately went on high alert.

When they finally caught a clear look at the domineering figure on the small boat, they were struck dumb with shock, their faces instantly turning pale with terror!

It was actually that worst of all pirates who had wreaked havoc at the Reverie!

Rocks, the man who could even take down a Marine Admiral!

"Wahahahaha! It seems I've found both the development funds and the pirate ship I needed!"

Rocks gazed greedily at the magnificent Heavenly Tribute warship and, without a moment's hesitation, launched his attack, leaping forward with a powerful kick.

Not long ago at the Reverie, Rocks had kidnapped five kings in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, cut down a Marine Admiral, and ultimately encountered the 'King of the World' deep within Pangea Castle.

The terrifying aura of that monster had left Rocks horrified.

Realizing he couldn't possibly win, he had thrown out a harsh threat and decisively fled the Holy Land.

While escaping, he had encountered an incredibly powerful giant.

The two had clashed in a fierce collision.

He remembered that giant's name: Harald!

Harald had actually jumped directly from the ten-thousand-meter-high Red Line down into the sea on the New World side.

This had shocked Rocks even more; what a monstrously powerful physique!

As for himself, he had used the ropes of the bubble elevator to quickly escape back to the Paradise side of the Grand Line.

Rocks had fought consecutive battles in the Holy Land against a Marine Admiral and Harald...

After fleeing down to Red Port, he had been besieged and pursued by the Fleet Admiral and other Marine Admirals and Vice Admirals...

Having endured a bitter struggle, Rocks had finally escaped that sea area by jumping into the ocean.

He had fled to the Lulusia Kingdom, a member nation near the Red Line, and quietly hid in Shadow Port to recover from his injuries and regain his strength.

During his recuperation in Shadow Port, Rocks had accidentally met a hot-tempered pirate thief.

He hadn't expected this little girl to also be of the D. clan; she had even helped cover for him for several days without reporting him.

But when Rocks left, he didn't say goodbye to the flat-chested girl, slipping out of Shadow Port under the cover of night.

He needed to prepare for his grand future plans.

He had been lying in wait in these waters for several days.

This Heavenly Tribute warship fit his requirements perfectly!

Now, he had both sufficient funds and an excellent warship.

"It's that worst of all pirates, Rocks!!"

"Quick, call for help from Marine Headquarters!"

The CP agents on the Heavenly Tribute warship screamed in panic.

No one had expected Rocks to attack them so close to Marine Headquarters.

This was lawless!

It was a direct provocation to Marine Headquarters and the World Government.

But under the terrifying Haki and cannon-like slashes of Rocks, the CP agents on the deck were blasted into the sea in an instant.

"Wahahahaha! Get lost, all of you! This is my prize!"

Rocks quickly cleared out the CP agents; after all, he was truly very close to Marine Headquarters and needed to leave quickly.

Still, this was damn exciting!

He had dared to storm the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, so why would he fear Marineford, the Marine Headquarters?

The CP agents who had just rushed out of the ship's brig were no match for Rocks either.

They were all instantly killed in one blow!

After quickly clearing the ship of Marines and CP agents, Rocks nimbly took control of the Heavenly Tribute warship and continued to race along the high-speed current.

As he passed the Gates of Justice at Marine Headquarters, he even let out a wild, arrogant laugh.

His nerve was just that great, and his arrogance just that boundless!

The triangular high-speed current in this sea area connected the three major World Government institutions: Marine Headquarters, Enies Lobby, and Impel Down.

The direction of the high-speed current was irreversible.

Each of the three government institutions possessed a massive Gate of Justice.

If one could not exit the high-speed current through a Gate of Justice, the warship would be trapped in the triangular current, circling endlessly.

Rocks steered the Heavenly Tribute warship, quickly passing the Gates of Justice at Marine Headquarters, and continued his advance toward Enies Lobby.

After the Heavenly Tribute warship was seized, the World Government and Marine Headquarters were greatly shocked and moved into action with lightning speed.

This lawless Rocks had actually dared to strike right at their doorstep; he was simply courting death!

They were determined to completely annihilate Rocks on the High-Speed Triangular Current.

That reckless brute Rocks had actually chosen to strike at the gates of Marine Headquarters and intended to escape via the high-speed current reserved for the World Government.

This was undoubtedly the most regrettable decision of his life.

Because he would absolutely never escape the high-speed current!

However, no one expected that Rocks's strength would be so powerful and terrifying!

Before the main Marine force could catch up, he had single-handedly blasted open the Gates of Justice at Enies Lobby, knocked out the CP agents and soldiers stationed there, and made his escape, vanishing completely into the vast sea.

Rocks had shocked the world once again!!

Not only had he robbed the Celestial Dragons of their Heavenly Tribute!

He had also shattered the impenetrable Gates of Justice that had stood for hundreds of years!

Rocks's horrifying strength and lawless, arrogant nature caused his threat level in the eyes of the World Government to instantly soar to the highest rank.

Meanwhile, inside the brig at the bottom of the Heavenly Tribute warship, amidst the repeated bursts of Conqueror's Haki and the roaring thunder of cannon-fire sword techniques from Rocks, the light in the young man's eyes grew increasingly eager and fervent...