Meanwhile, elsewhere, on the deck of the Reconnaissance Ship.
Gern's fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of Black Blade: Eight Desolations, his eyes fixed on the distant battlefield.
"Something's wrong..." he suddenly murmured.
"Hmm?" Kizaru leaned lazily against the mast, holding a Recording Den Den Mushi he had somehow produced. "What's wrong?"
Gern did not answer. Instead, he looked up at the sky.
It was a pristine blue, without a cloud in sight. Only the air above the distant battlefield was distorted by the clashing Haki.
Then he lowered his gaze to the sea on their side.
It was as calm as a mirror, broken only by the occasional small wave stirred up by the battle's shock waves.
"The weather..." Gern's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. "It's too quiet."
"Quiet?" Kizaru followed his gaze around and shrugged.
"Isn't that a good thing? At least we don't have to get rained on."
Gern's pupils contracted slightly as images of the Edd War flashed through his mind, scenes he remembered from the manga and anime in his previous life.
Back then, fierce winds, torrential rain, and raging waves had already gripped the sea before the battle began. Only afterward had the massive tsunami that changed the course of history arrived.
"No... this is all wrong..." Gern's voice grew quieter, almost a mutter to himself.
"According to 'history,' by now there should already be..."
On the distant battlefield, Roger was forced back by Golden Lion again. The deck of the Oro Jackson was already covered with wounded men.
Rayleigh's long golden hair was plastered to his face with blood, and visible cracks had appeared in Gaban's twin axes.
Even Bullet was panting, blood constantly seeping from his wounds.
"The Roger Pirates... are really going to lose." Gern's breathing quickened.
Without that sudden storm and