ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

Caesar furrowed his brows, unsure of the reason behind his unease.

Nearby, the infamous Golden Lion, Shiki, casually responded to Brad's question, "Coating tools."

Both Caesar and Brad were taken aback.

"Coating… what is that?"

Brad, still new to the seas, was confused. He had only recently embarked on his journey and lacked knowledge of the world's deeper intricacies.

Gnaly, too, looked bewildered.

Caesar, however, was lost in thought. The moment he heard the word "coating," a realization struck him.

He instantly recalled the dramatic entrance of the Whitebeard Pirates during the Marineford War, when they emerged from the ocean's depths to rescue Ace.

So, this was it. Whitebeard had learned this technique from Rocks.

In One Piece, coating is a specialized method used to envelop a ship in a bubble-like membrane, allowing it to travel through the depths of the ocean, even reaching Fish-Man Island, which lies 10,000 meters beneath the surface.

During large-scale conflicts, a pre-coated ship could avoid detection by the Marines, making it a strategic advantage.

It was, without a doubt, a brilliant tactic.

On the shore, the crew had already disembarked, watching as the shipwrights worked skillfully on their vessel. It was evident they had mastered the coating technique long before, as their hands moved with precision and efficiency.

Three hours passed.

"Captain, it's ready."

All around them, the ships were now covered in a transparent, jelly-like membrane that shimmered under the sunlight, radiating colors like soap bubbles.

As they stepped back on board, their bodies effortlessly passed through the film, which felt soft yet resilient, reaching up to their ankles.

Curious, both Brad and Gnaly reached out to poke the gelatinous surface.

"Will it pop?" Brad wondered aloud.

Caesar shook his head. "No. This ship membrane is designed to withstand the immense pressure of the deep sea and the impact of most sea creatures."

Brad's eyes widened in amazement. Gnaly, too, was fascinated.

Before Caesar could explain further, a commanding voice rang out.

"Alright, let's move out, brothers!"

Rocks D. Xebec raised his massive cutlass high, igniting the crew's battle spirit.

"Yeahhh!!"

A deafening roar of excitement erupted from the pirates. This wasn't just another voyage—it was the moment they had been waiting for.

The decisive battle for the Rocks Pirates was about to begin.

With their engines engaged, the ship smoothly sailed out of the Calm Belt.

Just before leaving the dead zone, some crew members dove beneath the vessel, deploying airbags to trigger the coating process.

In an instant, the jelly-like membrane swelled and fully encapsulated the ship, gradually rising until even the pirate flag was enclosed.

Brad and Gnaly could hardly believe their eyes.

"That's incredible," Brad murmured.

As the ship was fully sealed, the sails were retracted, and the vessel began its descent beneath the waves.

"It's amazing, but… why does it sink?" Gnaly asked, frowning in thought.

Caesar explained, "The membrane reduces the ship's buoyancy, allowing it to submerge. It also neutralizes water pressure, preventing damage to the vessel and crew."

At around 1,000 meters deep, the sunlight from the surface had nearly disappeared.

"Activate the navigation lights," the navigator commanded, and the crew swiftly moved into action.

At the helm, Rocks held a permanent Log Pose pointing toward their destination—God Valley.

Meanwhile…

Atop the floating continent of Mary Geoise, the Celestial Dragons had finally arrived at God Valley after days of leisurely travel through the skies.

Draped in their signature astronaut-like suits with bulbous glass helmets, they strolled arrogantly onto the island, carried by enslaved laborers.

From a distance, Vice Admiral Garp watched them with barely concealed disdain, his patience thinning.

As the procession continued, a sharp crack echoed through the air—the unmistakable sound of a whip striking flesh.

"Move faster, you filthy slave!"

The whip lashed down again, drawing fresh blood. The Celestial Dragon wielding it grinned with excitement, his sadistic pleasure evident.

The slave staggered, already weakened beyond measure, before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.

Garp's pupils trembled slightly, his fists clenching with an audible crack. But he held himself back.

The Celestial Dragon frowned, irritated. He nudged the dead body with his boot.

"Tch. How boring. Dying so quickly…"

With a lazy yawn, he waved a hand. "Bring another one."

Garp inhaled deeply, forcing himself to look away. His grip tightened as he silently distanced himself from the grotesque display.

At Marine Headquarters…

In the office of Fleet Admiral Kong, tension filled the air.

As he scanned through the intelligence reports, his frown deepened.

"The Rocks Pirates… have disappeared?"

Even with the Marines' strict surveillance, their fleet had seemingly vanished.

"This is impossible," Kong muttered, his sharp gaze narrowing. Under the lamplight, the reflection off his bald head glinted as he clenched the report in frustration.

"With the level of monitoring we have, how could they escape?"

His fist tightened. "Damn it! Where did they go?"

A chilling realization settled in his gut.

They were headed for God Valley.

Kong exhaled heavily and stood up. He needed to act fast.

Turning on his heel, he strode toward Mary Geoise to inform the Five Elders.

The Five Elders' Office

The five supreme rulers of the world sat in their usual formation, clad in elegant suits, their expressions grim.

Fleet Admiral Kong stood before them, his face tense.

"What did you say?" one of them questioned. "Even with admirals and high-ranking officers watching, they still managed to escape?"

Kong gritted his teeth and bowed his head. "Yes. I sincerely apologize."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then, after a long pause, the Elder with the long white beard spoke.

"The Rocks Pirates have made their move."

Another nodded. "Indeed. They have clearly set their sights on the Celestial Dragons."

Kong's heart pounded. "Vice Admiral Garp has successfully escorted the Celestial Dragons to God Valley, but if the Rocks Pirates strike now…"

A bespectacled Elder leaned forward. "Deploy additional admirals and vice admirals immediately."

"Ensure they reach God Valley as soon as possible," another ordered. "Rocks must not be allowed to roam freely."

Kong straightened. "Understood. I'll make the arrangements."

As he left the chamber and stepped into the hallway, he exhaled sharply.

This was bad.

The battle that would shake the world was on the horizon.

Two Days Later…

A massive fleet of Marine warships sailed at full speed toward God Valley.

From his office, Kong watched with concern. Even at their maximum pace, it would take two days to reach the island.

Would they make it in time?

Back under the sea, the Rocks Pirates' ship continued its rapid approach.

Caesar was in awe.

Everything was going according to plan.

At this rate, they would reach God Valley soon.

Brad took a deep breath. "Boss… I'm a little nervous."

Caesar placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder but said nothing.

At God Valley's Coast…

The Marines were on high alert.

Dozens of warships lined the shore, their cannons primed.

The Major General on patrol adjusted his binoculars, scanning the calm sea.

Everything looked normal.

Then—

His eyes widened in horror.

The sea began to churn violently.

Water surged upward, waves crashing against the shore.

From the depths, something was rising.

A ship.

The Rocks Pirates had arrived.