The Sabaody Archipelago floated on the azure sea like an enormous rainbow bubble, sunlight refracting through its resin bubbles in dreamlike colors. Yet beneath that dreamlike beauty, dark currents surged.
"So this is the Sabaody Archipelago?" Luffy stared wide-eyed at the bubbles floating everywhere. "So many bubbles! Can we play with them?"
Ace warily surveyed the pirate ships docked at the harbor. "Grove 13... the Lawless Zone. Be careful, everyone. All sorts of people mix here."
Sabo had already taken out a small notebook. "According to our intelligence, there are human auction houses, black markets, and... a Marine base here. What a contradictory place."
Allen quietly spread his Observation Haki, sensing the entire island. Powerful presences were everywhere, and several stood out in particular-wild, sharp, and brimming with ambition.
"The Supernovas..." Allen murmured. At this point, those rookies with bounties over a hundred million should already have gathered here.
According to their plan, they needed to find a coating specialist for Pluton-a man called "Old Rayleigh." Both Hancock and Iceburg had mentioned that only he could safely coat Pluton, allowing it to descend ten thousand meters to Fish-Man Island.
"Let's go to Shakky's Rip-off Bar in Grove 13 first," Allen decided. "It's an information hub. We should be able to find a lead on Rayleigh there."
As they passed through the bustling streets, bounty notices and wanted posters were everywhere. To Allen's surprise, wanted posters for all four of them already covered the noticeboards-
"Portgas D. Allen, dead or alive, bounty: 300 million Beli." "Portgas D. Ace, dead or alive, bounty: 280 million Beli." "Monkey D. Luffy, dead or alive, bounty: 250 million Beli." "Sabo, dead or alive, bounty: 230 million Beli."
"Whoa! My bounty went up again!" Luffy excitedly held his wanted poster.
Ace lowered the brim of his hat. "With bounties this high, everyone will be targeting us."
Sabo frowned. "Looks like the World Government really is getting desperate."
Suddenly, a flippant voice came from behind them. "Well, well~ Aren't you the famous Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy? Plus two guys I've never heard of..."
They turned to see a young man wearing a spotted hat, a long sword on his back, leaning against a wall with an amused smile-one of the Supernovas, Hawkins the Magician.
Almost simultaneously, wild laughter came from another direction. "Fufufu~ How lively! Looks like we're in for a good show today!" It was Diamante, an officer of the Donquixote Family and the man in charge of the auction house.
Allen's gaze sharpened. "They've set their sights on us. Get ready to break through!"
Before he had finished speaking, Hawkins had drawn his tarot cards. "Today's fortune: bloodshed." His body began to change as his straw doll substitute ability activated!
Diamante waved a hand, and a large group of his men surrounded them. "Capture them! The young master is very interested in these boys!"
Battle erupted instantly! Ace unleashed flames, forcing back the enemies ahead! Luffy unleashed a rubber barrage, clearing the flank! Sabo swung his steel pipe, defending the rear! Allen spread his Torch Dragon Domain, disrupting ranged attacks!
"Break through toward Grove 13!" Allen commanded. "Don't get bogged down fighting!"
Working in perfect coordination, the four tore through the encirclement like a sharp blade! But a Supernova and an officer of the Donquixote Family were no easy opponents!
Hawkins's straw doll substitutes were elusive, launching bizarre attacks at intervals! Diamante's long sword struck at vicious, tricky angles, coated in Armament Haki!
"Gum-Gum... Giant Pistol!" Luffy's enlarged fist hurtled toward Hawkins!
Hawkins neither dodged nor evaded, a straw substitute appearing on his body. "Damage transfer." In the distance, a pirate suddenly screamed and collapsed!
"What a damned ability!" Ace gathered his flames. "Divine Fire: Shiranui!" Spears of flame shot toward Diamante!
Diamante spun his long sword. "Bullfighting Cape!" His bizarre swordsmanship deflected the flames!
Sabo struck the ground with his steel pipe. "Dragon Claw!" The ground split open, obstructing their pursuers!
Golden light flashed in Allen's eyes. "Torch Dragon Secret Art: Light and Dark Labyrinth!" The surrounding light twisted into a visual maze, temporarily trapping the enemies!
Seizing their chance to break through the encirclement, the four charged into Grove 13 and barreled into a seemingly ordinary bar.
"Welcome~" A short-haired woman smoking a cigarette leaned behind the counter. "Well, well, aren't you the latest celebrities?"
Shakky! Allen recognized her immediately. "We're looking for Mr. Rayleigh."
Shakky raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you want with Old Ray? A coating? Or... something else?"
Just then, the bar door swung open, and a silver-haired old man walked in carrying a bottle of liquor. "Shakky, I'm back... hmm?" His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw Allen and the other three.
Dark King Rayleigh! The Pirate King's right-hand man! Even in his old age, he still radiated an intimidating presence!
Rayleigh's gaze swept over the four, lingering particularly long on Allen and Luffy. "The D. Clan... and that straw hat... interesting."
Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. "You carry Pluton's presence... boy, did you activate Pluton?"
Allen was inwardly shaken. He had not expected Rayleigh to see through him at a glance. "I had no choice."
Rayleigh took a swig and burst out laughing. "Has the person Roger was waiting for finally appeared? Interesting! Very interesting!"
A commotion came from outside. Their pursuers had reached Grove 13!
A fierce look flashed in Rayleigh's eyes. "Causing trouble on my turf? It seems some people have forgotten the rules after so many years without me taking action."
He slowly drew his sword, unleashing a terrifying presence! Conqueror's Haki swept outward! The pursuers outside fell in droves!
"So... this is the strength of the Pirate King's first mate..." Ace said in shock.
Rayleigh sheathed his sword and looked at Allen. "Boy, are you going to Laugh Tale?"
Allen nodded. "We need a coating for Pluton so we can head to Fish-Man Island."
Rayleigh looked thoughtful. "I can do the coating. But before that... you need to pass my test."
He pointed at the four. "Fight me. Let me see whether you're qualified to inherit Roger's will."
The four exchanged glances, then their gazes grew resolute.
"I couldn't ask for more!" Flames ignited around Ace!
"I'm going to beat you!" Luffy stretched his rubber arms!
"Please show me what you've got!" Sabo held his steel pipe across his body!
Allen circulated the Power of Zhulong. "It would be an honor."
Rayleigh roared with laughter. "You've got guts! Come on!"
The fight began in an open area of Grove 13. Rayleigh did not even use his full strength, yet his swordsmanship and Haki alone left the four struggling to breathe!
"Too slow!" Rayleigh flicked Ace's flames away with one stroke!
"You're wide open!" He easily dodged Luffy's rubber attack!
"Not enough power!" He knocked Sabo's steel pipe aside!
Finally, he looked at Allen. "A fine ability, but your use of it is far too crude!"
One slash broke through the Torch Dragon Domain, and his sword tip stopped at Allen's throat!
"We lost," Allen admitted frankly.
Rayleigh sheathed his sword and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Still green, but you have tremendous potential. Especially the way you work together..."
He changed the subject. "I can help with the coating. But before that, you need something-a Poneglyph rubbing. Without it, even reaching Laugh Tale would be meaningless."
Allen frowned. "A Poneglyph? Where?"
Rayleigh looked into the distance. "Grove 41, the auction house. A rubbing happens to be up for auction today."
The auction house! Allen recalled the darkness there. "We'll go right away!"
Rayleigh cautioned them, "Be careful. All sorts of powerful people are gathered there today."
Sure enough, when the four reached the auction house, they found many Supernovas already present-Law, Kid, Bonney, Urouge... almost every Supernova was there!
"Looks like everyone got the news," Law said, leaning against a wall with Kikoku resting on his shoulder.
Kid laughed wildly. "That Poneglyph rubbing is mine!"
The auction began amid a tense atmosphere. The moment the Poneglyph rubbing was wheeled onto the stage, the bidding became fierce!
"500 million!" "700 million!" "One billion!"
The price soared to astronomical heights! Allen and the other three could not possibly compete!
Just as the price reached 1.5 billion, something unexpected happened! The auction house doors shattered with a crash! A figure slowly walked inside-
"A treasure of the Celestial Dragons... how dare lowlifes like you covet it?"
Saint Charlos! A Celestial Dragon! He barged into the venue with a large contingent of guards!
The scene instantly descended into chaos! The Supernovas looked grim. None of them wanted to provoke a Celestial Dragon!
Saint Charlos swaggered toward the display platform. "I'm taking this rubbing! It will be part of my collection!"
Just as his hand was about to touch the rubbing, a streak of flame suddenly blocked him!
"Sorry, but we can't let you have this," Ace said coldly.
The entire room erupted! Someone actually dared to defy a Celestial Dragon!
Saint Charlos flew into a rage. "You lowlife! You dare disobey me! Guards! Kill them!"
Battle erupted once more! This time, it was even more chaotic! Supernovas, Celestial Dragon guards, auction house security... multiple sides clashed!
"ROOM!" Law expanded his operating space! "Punk Gibson!" Kid summoned an iron giant! "Glutton!" Bonney changed ages! "Mysticism!" Hawkins used a substitute!
Allen and the other three fought back-to-back. "Get the rubbing! Then break through!"
The Torch Dragon Domain spread at full power! Amid interweaving light and darkness, Allen approached the display platform like a phantom!
"Not a chance!" A figure suddenly blocked him! Rob Lucci! CP0 was here too!
"You again!" Allen's gaze sharpened. "You won't get your way this time!"
The Power of Zhulong collided fiercely with the Six Powers! Elsewhere, Ace faced Kid, Luffy faced Law, and Sabo faced Hawkins! A melee erupted among the Supernovas!
"Gum-Gum... Elephant Gun!" "Scalpel!" "Burn Bazooka!" "Demon Subduing Form!"
Abilities and Haki intertwined! The entire auction house was reduced to ruins!
Amid the chaos, Allen finally touched the Poneglyph rubbing! But at that very instant, something strange happened!
The rubbing suddenly glowed! It resonated with the Ark Core! A stream of information flooded Allen's mind-
"Poneglyph detected... beginning translation..." "To the successor who comes after: when the Three Ancient Weapons gather, the true path to Laugh Tale will open..." "Poseidon is on Fish-Man Island, Pluton is in Water 7, Uranus is..."
The information abruptly cut off! A terrifying pressure descended! Everyone in the venue froze at once!
A figure in white robes slowly walked in, each step carrying an invisible pressure!
"This farce should end," the newcomer said mildly, his gaze sweeping across the venue. "Poneglyphs... are not things you should touch."
Marine Admiral-Fujitora Issho! He had actually come in person!
Gravity instantly multiplied! The Supernovas dropped to their knees one after another! Only a handful barely remained standing!
"What... terrifying strength..." Law knelt on one knee, struggling to hold himself up.
Kid roared and tried to resist, only to be crushed by even stronger gravity!
Allen circulated the Power of Zhulong at full strength, barely resisting the gravity. "Admiral Fujitora..."
Fujitora's "gaze" turned toward Allen. "Are you the boy who awakened Pluton? So young... what a pity."
Gravity intensified again! Allen's bones creaked under the unbearable strain!
"Allen!" The three brothers tried to help, but other Marines kept them occupied!
At that critical moment, Rayleigh's voice suddenly rang out. "Bullying children isn't a good look, Mr. Issho."
Rayleigh walked slowly into the gravitational field as though crossing level ground! His Conqueror's Haki resisted the gravity!
Fujitora frowned. "Dark King Rayleigh... are you going to interfere?"
Rayleigh smiled. "These children are my guests. How about doing me a favor?"
The two powerful men faced off, the tension reaching its peak!
Suddenly, Fujitora sheathed his sword. "We'll leave it at that today. But next time..." He "looked" at Allen. "It won't be this simple."
The Marines withdrew like an ebbing tide. The Supernovas also took the opportunity to leave.
Allen clutched the Poneglyph rubbing tightly, his heart in turmoil.
Rayleigh patted his shoulder. "Let's go. It's time to coat your ship."
On the way back to Grove 13, Allen kept thinking about that incomplete message.
Where was Uranus? What would happen when the three weapons gathered? And what was the true path to Laugh Tale?
The mysteries kept multiplying, but the road ahead was also growing clearer.
At Shakky's bar, Rayleigh began designing a coating plan for Pluton. Allen took out the rubbing and connected it to the Ark Core, trying to obtain more information.
"Resuming translation..." "Uranus lies beneath Marineford... activation requires a specific bloodline..." "When the three weapons gather, the truth of Laugh Tale will be revealed..." "Warning: activating Uranus will trigger the World Government's ultimate countermeasures..."
Marineford! Marine Headquarters! Uranus was actually there!
Allen felt his heart pound. This information was too astonishing!
He looked out the window, where bubbles refracted the sunlight into rainbow colors.
A new storm was brewing, and they stood at its center.
The coating would take three days. Those three days would be the last calm before the storm.
Allen clenched his fists, his gaze resolute.
No matter what awaited them ahead, they had to keep moving.
Because this was the path they had chosen.