Seven Years Later, Reverse Mountain!

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

At this time, a month had already passed since the incident at Ohara.

After Akainu, Aokiji, and the others returned last time, Sengoku immediately took Garp to Ohara. Naturally, they arrived to find nothing.

Rayleigh, Dragon, Gaban, and all the scholars had disappeared. Only the civilians of Ohara remained.

After a symbolic round of questioning, Sengoku did not make things difficult for the civilians and directly led his men back the way they had come!

After returning, Sengoku summoned his old comrades, Vice Admiral Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru, to discuss how to deal with Rayleigh and Gaban.

In the end, they decided to issue worldwide bounties and increase the rewards on the two men!

But it was all futile.

Putting aside whether they could find them, who would dare capture them? Who could capture them?

There was simply no one. Those bounty hunters weren't idiots.

Meanwhile, Dragon also arranged for the scholars from Ohara to stay in an extremely secluded place not far from their main base.

After experiencing this incident, Dragon decided to establish an organization to oppose the World Government and spread the ideals of freedom and equality throughout the world.

He believed that what he was doing would definitely bear fruit.

And this organization was none other than the future Revolutionary Army!

At the same time, Mislanda knew nothing about what was happening outside. All he had to do now was follow Rayleigh and train.

Four years was neither a long nor a short time.

Luffy had trained under Rayleigh for a year and a half before Rayleigh left.

Although he was still a child, Mislanda didn't think he was inferior to Luffy.

He was confident that he could master the basics of Haki within a year.

As for Ryuo and Conqueror's Haki Coating, didn't he still have four years?

If he couldn't learn all of them, how could Mislanda call himself the strongest?!

The Dark-Dark Fruit and Dragon Essence could both help Mislanda reach the pinnacle, especially Dragon Essence!

Only through each battle with Rayleigh did Mislanda truly experience the might of Dragon Essence.

It made him ageless, undying, and indestructible. No matter how serious his injuries were, he could recover quickly, and his body would suffer no lasting aftereffects.

Every time he was injured, he became stronger.

Thus, Rayleigh also grew increasingly serious during their battles.

He had started by using just ten percent of his strength, then gradually increased it. Their battles had also gone from one round to two, three, four, and so on...

Gradually, Mislanda no longer remembered how many times he had been defeated, nor how many times he had been injured!

After a year, Mislanda had mastered the most basic applications of the three types of Haki.

His power level had also reached Diamond Level.

After two years, Mislanda mastered Conqueror's Haki Coating, and his strength rose to another level.

Four years passed.

Looking at Mislanda's growth, Rayleigh could hardly believe it.

He had planned to stay for five years, but Mislanda had reached the expected level in just three.

Since that was the case, it was time for him to leave! The rest of the time would be left for Mislanda to explore on his own!

On the final day, Rayleigh and Mislanda engaged in one last battle.

The result was beyond doubt: Mislanda was defeated once again!

Rayleigh, however, was very satisfied.

If Mislanda was released into the world now, he could protect himself without a problem. He no longer needed Rayleigh's protection!

After their battle, Rayleigh caught a large fish and set it over the fire to roast. The aroma of the meat attracted the beasts on the uninhabited island.

But none of the beasts dared approach, because over the past three years, they had already witnessed the terror of these two humans!

They had no desire to become the next things hung over the fire!

The following morning, Rayleigh packed his things and prepared to leave.

"I'm leaving. From here on, you'll have to walk your own path. Keep my Vivre Card safe!"

"I know. Be careful. I don't want to go to Impel Down to save you!"

"You brat, can't you wish me well for once?"

Early the next morning, Rayleigh left.

Mislanda turned back and looked at the small wooden cabin where he had lived for four years.

After staring at it for a few seconds, he destroyed it with a single slap.

"Next, I'll travel around the world first. I don't want to leave without having explored this world!"

The system had once told Mislanda that the next world would only begin after he became the strongest person in this world.

Mislanda didn't want to leave too soon.

The world is so vast. I want to see it. The One Piece world is full of wonders. It would be a shame not to explore it!

And so, Mislanda left as well!

Three years later. That's right, another three years had passed!

By then, Mislanda was already seventeen years old!

Looking at the current flowing upward beneath Reverse Mountain, Mislanda smiled.

"It's been three years. I've already traveled through the West Blue, South Blue, and North Blue. I suppose I won't bother with the remaining East Blue!"

Mislanda was standing at the very top of Reverse Mountain. Five routes lay ahead of him, leading respectively to the East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, North Blue, and the Grand Line.

Now, Mislanda had decided to head for the Grand Line.

It was time. The time had come for him to make his entrance!

He glanced toward the East Blue, but in the end, Mislanda shook his head.

Forget it. If I said I wouldn't go, then I wouldn't.

Although most of the main characters were in the East Blue, they were all still brats at this point. What use would there be in meeting them?

Mislanda immediately transformed into black mist and vanished from the highest point of Reverse Mountain.

At the same time, beneath the Red Line at the starting point of the Grand Line,

a man with hair resembling a broom was lying in a chair, basking in the sun while reading a newspaper. He looked utterly at ease.

Not far from him, a gigantic whale covered in scars swam through the seawater.

This man was no ordinary person either. He was the ship's doctor of the Roger Pirates—Crocus.

It was no exaggeration to say that Crocus had played a crucial role in Roger reaching Laugh Tale.

If not for his medical skills, Roger would never have lived that long.

"Crocus, you've been living quite well in the years since you left the Roger Pirates!"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, making Crocus's body tremble.

Very few people still knew that he had once been part of the Roger Pirates.

How could he not be shocked now that someone had brought it up again?

But when he turned around, he saw a young man—a somewhat familiar young man!

"Who are you?"

Crocus looked at Mislanda and asked in confusion.

He could sense that this young man held no ill will toward him.

Mislanda did not answer immediately. Instead, he walked straight to the seaside.

He extended his right hand toward the whale Laboon. To Crocus's astonishment, Laboon slowly approached, eventually touching Mislanda's hand.

It seemed to be very close to Mislanda!

"Uncle Crocus, see that? Laboon still remembers who I am, but you didn't recognize me right away. I'm really disappointed in you!"

Uncle Crocus?

Upon hearing this, Crocus immediately remembered. He could recall only one person who had called him that.

"You're... Mislanda!"

"Hahahaha, Uncle Crocus, long time no see!"