The sea that had once belonged to freedom and adventure was about to be covered by darkness and control.
And they seemed to be standing at a turning point in history, powerless to stop any of it from happening.
Outside the window, the night sky above Mary Geoise was like a vast sheet of black silk suddenly torn apart.
Blinding bolts of lightning twisted across the heavens like vicious dragons, dancing wildly through the darkness.
A moment later, deafening thunder followed, like the furious roar of the sky itself.
In an instant, raindrops the size of beans poured down like a storm of arrows, smashing hard against the earth and sending up sheets of spray.
Yet even such a torrential downpour seemed unable to wash away the suffocating pressure that filled the Hall of Power.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn slowly drove the cane that symbolized his supreme authority deep into a crack in the floor.
His movement was steady and firm, as if he were trying to bury some kind of resolve into the earth itself.
He raised his head slightly, his gaze piercing through empty space toward some unknown place.
Deep within his clouded pupils, a rare trace of shock flashed, like a whirlpool hidden beneath the surface of a calm lake, revealing the waves surging in his heart.
"Prepare to seek an audience with Lord Imu."
Saturn's voice was low and solemn.
Every syllable seemed to carry a weight of a thousand pounds, landing heavily in the hearts of everyone present.
That simple sentence was like a winter wind.
The temperature of the entire hall seemed to plunge in an instant, cold enough to pierce bone.
The other four powerful figures bearing the title of Warrior God raised their heads almost at the same time.
Awe, tension, and unease intertwined in their eyes.
Even the roaring rain outside seemed to be pushed far away in that moment, becoming distant and blurred.
The entire world fell silent, leaving only that sentence echoing in the air.
"But…"
The Warrior God of Finance sounded as though something had lodged in his throat.
His voice trembled despite himself, carrying a trace of fear and hesitation he could not fully hide.
"Lord Imu has recently been… in a rather special condition."
His words cut off there, leaving behind only a heavy silence.
"Then convene an emergency Holy Council!"
Saturn suddenly roared.
His powerful voice swept through the hall like a raging tide.
The force contained within that shout directly shattered the beautiful stained-glass windows around them.
Fragments sprayed outward like glittering stars.
"Are we supposed to wait until Ron marches in with his 'righteous pirates,' crushing everything in his path, and fights his way onto the Red Line?! We cannot sit here and wait for death!"
Rage burned in Saturn's eyes.
It was the vigilance of a man who had sensed disaster, and the hunger of one who still desired victory.
Just then, lightning flashed outside the window like blades cutting through the dark.
In that flickering light, five twisted, eerie shadows were cast across the world map.
They stretched and clawed like monsters, as if whispering of the disaster to come.
And the red marks representing the Eternal Divine Kingdom were advancing toward the central point where Mary Geoise stood, step by unstoppable step.
At that moment, the map looked like a vast net slowly tightening, trapping everyone's fate within it and filling the heart with despair and helplessness.
...
North Blue.
A magnificent structure like a colossal beast—the Germa Kingdom's mobile castle—floated proudly above the raging sea.
This war fortress, forged from incredibly durable steel, remained steady as a mountain beneath the assault of wind and waves.
It was an unshakable overlord upon the ocean.
At that moment, Vinsmoke Judge stood tall inside the panoramic command room.
The room's design was extremely advanced, with transparent high-strength glass on every side, allowing the dramatic seascape outside to be seen in full.
Before him, a huge screen was repeatedly playing shocking news footage.
The once-mighty and untouchable Emperors, who had shaken the seas with their names, had now all lowered their proud heads and submitted to the power of the Divine Kingdom.
The footage clearly showed Kaido's once-wild and arrogant face filled with resignation and obedience.
Big Mom, too, no longer looked domineering and reckless.
Instead, she quietly wore the emblem of the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
In the middle of that heavy atmosphere, a set of light footsteps approached, soft yet carrying a hint of urgency.
Then the door was slowly pushed open, and Reiju walked in with graceful steps.
She wore an exquisite combat suit, her pink battle boots striking the cold, hard metal floor with crisp, pleasant sounds, like a strange melody playing within the tense, oppressive room.
She lowered her head slightly and reported respectfully to her father.
"Father, this is the latest intelligence."
A trace of worry and seriousness showed in her eyes as she continued.
"The situation across the entire North Blue has undergone a complete transformation. According to our statistics, as many as seventy-three percent of pirate crews have chosen to submit to the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
"That even includes the Durand Family, famous for their cruelty and known as 'war specialists.' They failed to resist this powerful tide as well."
The moment he heard that, Judge's expression darkened.
He slammed his fist onto the control console.
The tremendous force made the console shake violently.
At the same time, electricity crackled across his mechanical gauntlet, dangerous sparks flashing like an outward display of the fury burning inside him.
He slowly turned and swept his gaze over his four children one by one.
Yonji stood there with his body trembling slightly, his arms shaking beyond his control, his eyes full of fear and unease.
Niji's electronic eye flashed wildly with all kinds of light, as if desperately analyzing the current, complicated situation.
Even Ichiji, who had always been the most arrogant and confident, was now silent.
His lips were pressed tightly together, his brows locked as though he were thinking through a response.
The room was filled with an atmosphere so oppressive it felt like a storm was about to break.
Outside the window, a dazzling light suddenly appeared.
The envoy fleet of the Eternal Divine Kingdom cut through the clouds like meteors streaking across the night sky, bringing with them a shocking radiance.
Those airships, each inlaid with the red-star emblem, shone with a mysterious and powerful aura, making even Germa's technology—proudly known as the technology of a "kingdom of war"—seem dull in comparison.
"Prepare to join the Eternal Divine Kingdom unconditionally!"
Judge's voice suddenly rang out.
His words carried firmness and resolve, as though he had already prepared himself for everything.
Yet that same voice also sounded as if it had aged ten years, full of exhaustion and helplessness.
The four siblings cried out in shock at the same time.
They could not understand why their father would make such a decision, nor could they accept this sudden turn of events.
"Even the Emperors have bowed. What the hell are we?"
Judge's words struck the hearts of the four siblings like a heavy hammer.