When Blackbeard announced their next destination—
The crew exchanged skeptical looks.
"Amazon Lily?"
What was so special about that place?
"Zehahaha! That's right!" Blackbeard grinned greedily.
"The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock! I've got my eye on her Mero Mero Fruit! And she's the most beautiful woman in the world! Zehahaha!!"
Most of the former Whitebeard pirates stared at him like he was an idiot.
The Mero Mero no Mi was powerful because Hancock herself was beautiful.
If Blackbeard ate it—
It might not work at all.
They debated whether to break this harsh reality to their captain.
Catching Hancock might not be as worthwhile as targeting another ability user.
But disagreement didn't mean silence from everyone.
Catarina Devon immediately licked her lips with a wicked grin.
"The Pirate Empress? The most beautiful woman in the world? I love collecting the heads of beautiful women!"
"Zehahaha! Exactly!"
And just like that—
The Blackbeard Pirates locked onto their next target.
The rest of the crew sighed inwardly.
Still—
Why not go?
At the very least, they could see whether Blackbeard's theory about the fruit was true.
Dawn broke over Amazon Lily.
In an open field, Leno was personally guiding his crew in mastering their new abilities.
Especially Domino, who had just eaten the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—
And Ailiche in her Siren form.
"Feel the vibration," Leno instructed Domino. "You used it pretty well that day, didn't you?"
Domino's face flushed.
"That was different…"
"What's different?!" Leno snapped. "You're attacking enemies, not giving massages!"
Veins bulged on his forehead.
Why was he teaching people?
He was suffering for no reason.
But they were his crew.
He had to train them.
Turning to Ailiche, he continued:
"Your singing has huge potential. Not just charm—try integrating Observation Haki. Maybe you can expand the range."
"And go soak in the sea whenever you can."
He glanced at Robin.
"The Flower-Flower Fruit… maybe aim for something like a Mythical Human-Human Fruit model: Thousand-Armed Guanyin."
"Bubble-Bubble Fruit… also solid."
The girls listened earnestly and trained hard.
Of course—
Leno found ways to entertain himself.
Correcting their posture.
Adjusting their movements.
Providing "hands-on" guidance.
Everyone knew—
People looked for romance in action movies and plot in romance films.
Same principle.
Meanwhile—
At the ruins of Old Marineford.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had arrived with a fleet.
The area was quietly surrounded.
Old Marineford: Why am I suffering like this…
To Sengoku's surprise—
Dragon and Luffy hadn't left.
They stood in the shattered plaza.
As if waiting.
"Dragon! What are you planning?!" Sengoku shouted from the prow of his ship.
"Why bring your son here?!"
Dragon's green cloak fluttered.
He looked at Sengoku calmly.
"We're waiting for someone who was bound to come."
Beside him, Luffy stood silent.
One eye gone.
A scar across his face.
But his remaining eye burned brighter than ever.
He tore off the bandage from his arm—
Revealing a tattoo.
Others didn't understand its meaning.
They didn't need to.
This was for his crew.
A message.
3D (×) 2Y (?)
"Go," Dragon murmured.
Luffy nodded—
And charged toward the ancient Ox Bell in the center of the plaza.
"Stop him!" Sengoku ordered.
But—
Luffy wasn't alone.
"Fleet Admiral, don't forget about me."
Dragon stepped forward.
With a wave of his hands—
A violent gale erupted.
The Marines were held back.
There was no need to kill.
Just stall.
"Dragon!!" Sengoku roared.
In that brief window—
Luffy reached the bell.
He didn't ring it traditionally.
Instead—
He coated his fist in Armament Haki—
And smashed it.
BOOM—
The deep, resonant chime echoed across the ruins.
It was like a slap across the Marines' faces.
Across Sengoku's face.
They were present—
And a pirate had rung the symbolic bell of their former headquarters.
Right in front of them.
BOOM—
A second chime.
Sengoku's face turned purple with rage.
He finally understood.
They had been waiting—
For him.
"BASTARDS!!!"
He transformed into the golden Buddha—
And struck at Dragon.
But Dragon was no longer the man who once only rescued people.
The storm he commanded blocked Sengoku's furious blow.
BOOM—
A third bell toll.
Stacking another layer of rage onto Sengoku.
Luffy's mission was complete.
The message had been sent.
"Done. Let's go!" Dragon called.
The storm intensified.
It lifted Luffy.
Dragon himself dissolved into wind.
In moments—
They vanished into the sky.
Leaving Sengoku shaking with fury.
And stunned Marines staring in disbelief.
Hidden journalists trembled with excitement.
"Big news! Revolutionary leader Dragon assists Straw Hat Luffy in ringing the Ox Bell at Marineford!"
"Send it out immediately!"
Sengoku watched the sky.
Helpless.
He wasn't exactly built for aerial pursuit.
This was far more efficient than Rayleigh leisurely rowing a boat.
Having a father like that—
Was useful.
Dragon, meanwhile—
Examined a note in his hand.
He wasn't pondering its durability.
He was pondering its contents.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/CanonBreaker