Just how terrifying is the Grand Line?
Different people would give different answers to that question. But perhaps only those pirates who have actually entered the New World can offer the most accurate one.
At the gateway to the New World, on the seas near the towering Red Line...
Thick black clouds blanketed the sky, lightning flashing and thunder roaring as deafening rumbles echoed between heaven and sea, casting an ominous gloom over the world.
The ocean churned violently. Fierce winds howled as waves surged unpredictably, each one rising seven or eight meters high. Ordinary ships had no chance of sailing through such waters.
And that wasn't even the worst of it. The climate here was even more chaotic.
Simply put, the common sense that applied to the first half of the Grand Line meant nothing here.
One moment it could feel like eternal spring, and the next, snow might come crashing down.
The tides and currents were equally impossible to predict. One wrong move, and a ship could be swallowed whole by the sea, leaving no survivors.
In this dim, oppressive world, the sound of waves splitting apart suddenly rang out across the surface.
A silver-white pirate ship burst up from the sea, surging skyward.
On deck, Naguri, captain of the Naguri Pirate Crew from North Blue, stood at the bow, exhilarated as he embraced the raging storm. Lightning flashed across his face, revealing a wild, almost crazed grin as he roared.
"Is this the New World?!"
Behind him, nearly a hundred pirates scrambled to keep the ship afloat. Some struggled with the sails, others patched up damage, while a few desperately bailed out seawater flooding the deck.
"Boom..."
The ship fell from the sky and crashed heavily back onto the ocean, sending waves exploding outward before finally stabilizing.
Only then did Naguri turn around and shout to his crew.
"Men, we've made it to the New World! The treasure of Pirate King Roger is ours...!"
The pirates, who had been uneasy under the oppressive sky, were reignited by their captain's words. Their fear faded, replaced with renewed excitement and determination.
Just then, Naguri felt something cold land on his arm.
He glanced down to see a single snowflake resting on his bare skin.
"Is it snowing?"
Curious, he looked up.
The dark sky had suddenly turned completely white.
"What the—"
Before he could finish, his face drained of all color.
He tried to speak, but it was already too late.
Like an avalanche, a massive snowfall came crashing down from the sky, instantly swallowing the entire Naguri Pirate Crew's ship. The vessel flipped violently, and everyone was thrown into the sea.
Moments later, the ocean returned to an eerie calm.
Five or six minutes passed before a wooden plank surfaced amid the waves.
Naguri clung to it, coughing up seawater as he struggled to stay afloat.
"Cough... cough... how could this..."
But...
As he stared out at the dark, endless sea...
There was no one else.
Just moments ago, he had over a hundred men and a pirate ship, shouting about conquering the New World. Now, everything was gone.
In that instant, a suffocating despair swallowed his heart whole, and he finally screamed in terror.
"Ah... how is this possible...! Help me! Someone help me...!"
His cries echoed across the empty sea, but the only response was the relentless crashing of waves.
No... it wasn't just that.
From beneath him, something else emerged.
A sound... like the mournful howl of a beast.
A massive shadow spread beneath the water, engulfing his body as the chill of death gripped his heart.
He looked around frantically...
"It looks like the mouth of some kind of monster..."
"Boom..."
As the massive sea beast's gaping maw snapped shut, Naguri's figure disappeared completely beneath the ocean. The sea quickly returned to its преж turbulent state, as if the Naguri Pirate Crew had never existed at all.
Not long after Naguri vanished, more than ten ships emerged on the pitch-black sea in the distance.
A melody, like a child's nursery rhyme, drifted across the water.
"Little boat... little boat... gently gliding..."
"I am a little boat..."
"....."
As they drew closer, the ships came into view—thirteen strange pink vessels in total, decorated with buildings shaped like cakes and various desserts.
Of the thirteen ships, the twelve surrounding vessels looked identical, each with pink sails and rows of dark cannon ports along their sides, marked with numbers.
Only the lead ship stood out. It was extravagantly luxurious, its bow formed into a living, smiling face. Its lips moved as if the ship itself were alive, and the singing seemed to come from that very face.
Standing on the deck at the bow were seven brightly dressed men and women—Big Mom's seven children.
They were:
The eldest son, Minister of Candy, Charlotte Perospero, user of the Pero Pero no Mi.
The second son, Minister of Flour, Charlotte Katakuri, user of the Mochi Mochi no Mi, and one of the Three Sweet Commanders.
The third son, Minister of Beans, Charlotte Daifuku, user of the Hoya Hoya no Mi.
The fourth son, Minister of Baking, Charlotte Oven, user of the Netsu Netsu no Mi.
The third daughter, Minister of Nuts, Charlotte Amande, a member of the Snakeneck Tribe.
The sixth daughter, Charlotte Custard.
The sixteenth daughter, Charlotte Galette.
"I really don't get it!"
Charlotte Oven, the fourth son, had a temper as fiery as his Netsu Netsu no Mi ability, his hair blazing like flames.
"He's just some pirate who hasn't even entered the New World, yet Mama sent this many of us after him."
Perospero, the eldest, stretched out his long tongue and let out a strange laugh.
"Kukuku, I don't quite understand it either. But since it's Mama's order, we can only follow it."
"Of course I know that!"
Charlotte Oven slammed his fist hard against the railing and glared at his three younger sisters.
"It's fine for Amande and Custard to come, but why does Galette have to be here too?"
"Hey, Oven, what do you mean by that!?"
Dressed like a little witch, Galette shot back indignantly.
But her small frame, looking no older than eleven, didn't inspire much confidence in terms of strength.
"Tch..."
Despite his temper, Charlotte Oven clearly doted on his younger sisters.
At that moment, Charlotte Daifuku, the third son and user of the Hoya Hoya no Mi, suddenly spoke with a dark expression and a hint of disdain.
"I heard that guy has some... unusual tastes."
"Unusual tastes?"
Everyone froze. Daifuku nodded, glancing at his eleven-year-old sister with a trace of concern.
"I heard that brat is especially fond of little girls..."
The others didn't react immediately, but once their gazes fell on Galette's young appearance, their expressions quickly turned to disgust.
"That's revolting..."
"What a creep..."
"Mama wouldn't actually..."
Just then, a gentle but firm voice cut through their murmurs.
"Use your brains. Don't let the Marines and the World Government fool you with their lies. That man possesses Conqueror's Haki, just like Mama. There's no way he's that kind of person."
"Katakuri nii-san!"
Relief washed over Galette's face when she saw that it was Katakuri—the brother she trusted most.
At that moment, Katakuri's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Stay sharp. They're here..."
As his words fell, under everyone's watchful gaze, a striking red-and-blue pirate ship burst through the waves, golden light gleaming from its bow...