The sea fog hadn't yet lifted at Hachinosu harbor in the early morning.
Although many ships had already departed, the dock was still densely packed with ships stretching all the way to the horizon.
The Beasts Pirates ' beast-headed warships, the Whitebeard Pirates ' Moby Dick, and the Straw Hat Grand Fleet's various sailing ships...
The Red Hair Pirates ' Red Fox, the Giant Tribe's behemoth, the Pluton Battleship from Hachinosu headquarters, and its affiliated Kuja Pirates, Sun Pirates, Heart Pirates, and the newly joined Kid Pirates --
The main forces of the seven major powers were lined up, their ships side by side, masts connected to masts, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The dock was packed with people.
Kaido, carrying the Hassaikai, stood at the very front, his fierce aura impossible to contain.
Behind him stood Jhin, Queen, and Jack in a line, while the Flying Six were scattered on either side, each looking fierce and menacing.
Ace leaned against the railing of the Moby Dick, his fiery cloak billowing in the sea breeze.
Marco, Vista, Jozu, and other captains surrounded him, and the Whitebeard Pirates ' flag fluttered atop the mast.
Luffy squatted on the lion's head of the Thousand Sunny, his legs swinging back and forth, his Straw Hat hanging on his back.
Zoro and Sanji stood on the deck, while Nami, Robin, Chopper, Usopp, Franky, and Brook took their positions.
Bartolomeo, Cavendish, Leo, and the others from the Straw Hat Grand Fleet also crowded to the flanks with their respective fleets, heads held high, faces full of excitement.
Shanks stood at the bow of the Red Fox, holding a flask in one hand, his expression calm.
Beckman, Raki Lu, Yasopp stood in a row behind him.
Loki stood at the bow of the Giant Tribe' flagship, carrying Iron Thunder; his seventy-meter-tall frame resembled a small mountain.
Dorry and Brogy stood on either side of him, the two old giants clutching their greatswords Giant Axe, which they hadn't put down for decades.
Bullet, Hawk Eyes, Tesoro, Crocodile, Red Count, Kyros, Yamato, Savi, Kuina, Rebecca, Bonney, Enel, Kuma, Moria, Jesus Burgess, Bar...
All the cadres from Hachinosu were present and lined up on both sides of the pier.
When Roy walked out of the central hall, the entire port fell silent for a moment.
He wore a black trench coat, with Shusui hanging from his waist, and walked at a steady pace to the very front of the dock.
Using Telekinesis, his body was slowly lifted into the air, allowing everyone to see him.
Everyone's here.
Roy spoke, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
I won't say anything unnecessary.
Today's battle has only one objective.
He held up three fingers, then closed them one by one.
First, to end the eight-hundred-year-old lie.
The history fabricated by World Government, the truths they concealed, and the crimes they committed—all will be settled today.
"Second, smash the dictatorial rule of the World Government."
Imu, the Nineteenth King, the Celestial Dragons —all those scum who ride roughshod over the people, leave no one alive.
Third, return freedom to the sea.
Roy paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the dense crowd below.
"I know that among you there are pirates, Revolutionary Army, giants, Fish-Man, and people who have come here for their own reasons."
But today, everyone only has one identity.
"We are the ones who will end this dark age."
The moment the words left his mouth, Kaido was the first to raise the Hassaikai and roar to the sky:
"Kill--!"
The Beasts Pirates roared in unison, the sound waves shaking the sea.
Luffy leaped up from the lion's head, his rubber arms swinging like windmills:
"Beat up the World Government--!"
The Straw Hat Grand Fleet joined in the shouting, and Bartolomeo's voice cracked from yelling.
Ace clenched his fist, flames spilling from between his fingers and burning a string of sparks in the air.
The Red Hair Pirates all raised their weapons in unison. Beckman's lips curled into a slight smile, Shanks took a swig of wine.
Loki Iron Thunder slammed onto the deck, and the Giant Tribe's war cry exploded from the deepest part of his chest, deep and heavy, like a mountain breathing.
The soldiers at the Hachinosu headquarters shouted in unison, their swords clashing against their shields, creating a dense, rain-like sound of metal striking metal.
Roy raised his hand, and all sound instantly ceased.
"Set off."
As soon as those two words were spoken, tens of thousands of people at the port sprang into action.
The mooring lines were cut, the sails billowed up, and the anchor was pulled from the seabed amidst the waves.
The captains of each ship shouted orders, and the sailors ran around on the deck. The sounds of the winches turning, the creaking of the ship planks, and the waves crashing against the hull blended together into a magnificent roar.
The Thousand Sunny the first ship to leave the port, Luffy stood at the bow, laughing loudly.
The Moby Dick followed closely behind, Ace's flames burning at the top of the mast like a moving lighthouse.
The Red Fox followed leisurely in third place, Shanks never putting down his flask.
The Giant Tribe ' ships had a deep draft, and when they moved, they created huge waves.
The Beasts Pirates beast-headed warships roared out, their headships crashing through several small waves.
The Pluton Battleship fleet was the last to move; the five black behemoths, like five steel beasts, slowly sailed out of the port, their Seastone armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Roy landed on the bow of the Pluton No. 1, with Stella standing behind him.
"Is the protective array activated?"
"It's already open."
Stella looked down at the Den Den Mushi on her wrist, her voice calm.
"The defensive array on Hachinosu is fully activated. All civilians have taken to underground bunkers. The island's defenses are sufficient to handle any scale of attack."
"Um."
Roy gazed at the vast fleet ahead, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Let's go.
The fleet cleaved through the waves, heading at full speed toward the entrance to the New World.
The voyage lasted for most of the day.
They encountered no obstacles along the way; the World Government's patrol fleet had long since withdrawn completely.
Occasionally, a few pirate ships would catch a glimpse of the fleet's size from afar, and they would turn tail and flee in terror, not even having time to put away their flags.
As evening fell, the fleet arrived at the entrance to the New World.
The advance troops waiting here had already joined the stationed troops.
The team grew larger again.
Kyros's floating islands patrolled slowly at a higher altitude, with sentries on the islands scanning the sea with binoculars.
"Lord Roy!"
Kyros descended from the floating island and stood steadily on the deck of the Pluton No. 1.
"The entrance to the passage has been cleared, and all the hidden sentries planted by the World Government have been eliminated without alerting anyone."
"Well done." Roy nodded. "Troop assembly status?"
"All fleets are present and ready to depart at any time."
Leaders from all sides boarded the Pluton No. 1.
Kaido strode over, Hassaikai slammed his foot onto the deck, causing the entire ship to shake.
Ace landed on the ship's side with Marco, and the flames receded back into his body.
Luffy jumped directly from the Thousand Sunny, his rubber arms stretching and retracting, and he was on the deck.
Shanks walked up unhurriedly, carrying a flask in his hand.
Loki jumped onto a warship next to Pluton No. 1, hoisted Iron Thunder onto his shoulder, and scanned the entrance to the passageway with his golden vertical pupils.
Roy stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze fixed on the Red Line.
The passage is just ahead.
A massive passageway stretches from the sea to the top of the Red Line, wide enough for a dozen warships to sail side by side, its two walls being solid red rock walls so high that the top cannot be seen.
The World Government has been operating along this passage for eight hundred years, filling it with fortifications and outposts.
The densely packed defensive fortifications clung to the rock face like a honeycomb.