ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

"Yes... Is it a pirate?"

"Damn it! They came from the depths of the sea... What are they planning?"

In a surge of panic, the marine sentries scanned the horizon. One by one, the massive ships surfaced, their sails unfurling to reveal a terrifying sight—the Jolly Roger of the Rocks Pirates.

A marine officer gasped, his binoculars slipping from his fingers and crashing onto the wooden deck.

"How is this possible?! The Rocks Pirates?!"

Chaos erupted along the coast. The once-serene harbor was now filled with frantic shouts. Then, a chilling laughter echoed across the sea—wild, unrestrained, and brimming with menace.

"Beihahahahaha! You damn Celestial Dragons... I'm here!"

Rocks D. Xebec's voice rang through the salty air, sending shivers down the spines of even the most hardened warriors.

---

[62] Roger's Speculation and Decision—The War Begins!

Like a sinister omen, Rocks' laughter crashed against the waves, striking fear into every heart like the tolling of a funeral bell.

Somewhere in the Valley of the Gods, Vice Admiral Garp sat on a rock, yawning as he stretched his arms. The morning sun bathed the island in golden light, but Garp wasn't enjoying the warmth—he was simply killing time.

He had been stationed here for a while now, waiting.

Suddenly, his sharp instincts flared. His lazy demeanor vanished as his eyes narrowed. He turned toward the sea, his battle-hardened gaze locking onto the distant horizon.

"...So, you're finally here."

Not far from him, several CP0 agents noticed his reaction and instinctively followed his gaze. Their expressions darkened.

The Rocks Pirates had arrived.

"Immediately inform the higher-ups! The Celestial Dragons must evacuate at once!" one CP0 operative barked.

Behind Garp, a masked agent snapped into action, ordering his subordinates. "Understood!" Without hesitation, he rushed off.

In the heart of the Valley of the Gods, the Celestial Dragons lounged in luxury, utterly unaware of the impending disaster.

---

The Arrogance of the Gods

"A pirate attack?" One of the Celestial Dragons scoffed.

"Hmph! A bunch of lowly scum."

"The World Government spends a fortune on you so-called protectors, yet you can't even handle a few pirates?"

"Even if pirates come, just slaughter them on the spot. Don't disturb us with such trivial matters."

For centuries, no one had dared to challenge their authority. They had grown complacent.

A CP0 agent clenched his fists and turned to Garp. "Lieutenant General, the nobles refuse to evacuate." His voice was steady, but there was a hint of frustration.

Garp clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Damn it… Fine! Notify Marine Headquarters immediately! Request reinforcements!"

Turning to the elite CP0 warriors at his side, he issued a decisive order.

"You and I will hold the Rocks Pirates back! The rest of you, focus on protecting the Celestial Dragons!"

"We cannot let that man disrupt the world's balance!"

With that, Garp sprinted toward the shoreline, his footsteps shaking the ground. The battle of the century was about to begin.

---

A Few Days Earlier—Roger's Banquet

Somewhere in the New World, a bonfire blazed under the night sky, casting flickering shadows across the dense jungle. The Roger Pirates were celebrating another successful raid, their laughter echoing through the trees.

Mugs clashed together, meat was devoured, and the crew reveled in their freedom.

Then, in the midst of the merrymaking, someone brought up an odd rumor.

"Hey, have you guys noticed something weird?"

"What's that?"

"The Navy's been acting strange lately. No sightings of Garp for days—he's just vanished."

"Yeah, I was starting to think he gave up chasing us!"

"Hah! Some fun that would be. I like dodging that crazy bastard!"

"But seriously, it's not like him to disappear without a trace. You think he's on some secret mission?"

"Who knows?"

Across the fire, Silvers Rayleigh leaned against a log, sipping his drink. He noticed Roger's expression shift. The captain wasn't laughing anymore.

"Captain," a crewmate nudged Roger, raising his mug, "Don't you think it's a little strange?"

Roger swirled the sake in his cup, his eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence. "Yeah... It's strange."

As the conversation unfolded, a thought struck him. His mind pieced together scattered clues, forming a chilling realization.

"The Rocks Pirates have also gone missing," a crew member chimed in.

Roger's grip on his cup tightened. "What?"

"Yeah. I overheard a Marine officer's call with a Den Den Mushi. Under strict surveillance, the entire Rocks Pirate crew just… disappeared."

Rayleigh's eyes darkened. "That bastard Rocks… He's plotting something, isn't he?"

A deep silence fell over the crew. The weight of the revelation sank in.

Roger exhaled slowly. "Rocks once invited me to join him," he murmured, "to overthrow the World Government and wipe out the Celestial Dragons."

The fire crackled, its embers floating into the night sky like lost souls.

"He wants to become King of the World."

Rayleigh frowned. "And if he's disappeared at the same time as Garp…"

Roger set his drink down and stood up. "Then he's heading to the Valley of the Gods."

His voice was firm. His gut told him he was right.

The crew exchanged uneasy glances.

Rayleigh folded his arms. "So? What do we do?"

Roger clenched his fist. "If Rocks is making his move now, the world will be thrown into chaos. The Government will respond with overwhelming force, and the fallout could be devastating."

"If Rocks wins, the Celestial Dragons fall, but the world won't be freed—it'll be under his rule instead."

Rayleigh smirked. "And that's unacceptable, isn't it?"

Roger nodded. His golden age of piracy was not meant to be dictated by a tyrant.

"The world isn't ready for a revolution yet. If the Celestial Dragons are going to fall, it won't be by Rocks' hands."

He raised his cup high.

"Liberating the world… That's our job!"

The Roger Pirates roared in approval.

Rayleigh downed his drink and smirked. "Looks like we're heading into one hell of a fight."

Roger laughed, firelight dancing in his eyes.

"That's right!"