Somewhere in an uncharted stretch of the New World, a vast shadow suddenly appeared beneath the sea beside an unremarkable deserted island.
Then an enormous whale wearing a crown broke through the surface and opened its cavernous mouth.
Three figures leaped out of its mouth in succession, landing firmly on the island's beach.
They were Gern, Dracule Mihawk, and someone utterly unexpected-the "Tyrant," Bartholomew Kuma!
Gern still wore his simple black shirt, but a chilling stench of blood and icy killing intent lingered around him.
In his hand was a makeshift bundle wrapped in expensive fabric, dark red liquid dripping steadily from it.
The reason they had so mysteriously escaped all Marine surveillance and returned from Sabaody to the New World at nearly impossible speed was Kuma's absurdly powerful Paw-Paw Fruit ability-sending people flying!
And the wholehearted assistance of Neptune, king of Fish-Man Island.
He had sent his most trusted sea beast companion, Hoie, who could dive into the deepest waters and evade all reconnaissance, to meet them at a designated location and carry them covertly through the final leg of their journey.
Gern stepped onto solid ground, casually set the dripping bundle beside his feet, then turned to look at the enormous Hoie.
"Thanks, big guy." Gern nodded at Hoie. "Give Neptune my regards when you get back. I'll remember this favor."
A trace of almost human terror still lingered in Hoie's enormous eyes.
He gave a low rumble in reply, then turned without hesitation and swiftly submerged into the fathomless sea, vanishing from sight.
Even now, he dared not recall how Gern had arrived carrying the two bloody heads of Celestial Dragons,
appearing in Ryugu Palace like the god of death and demanding that Neptune send him back to the New World by the fastest, most secretive means