Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Pangaea Castle stood tranquil and serene under the night sky.
The old and new Celestial Dragons, having just concluded their latest power struggle during the day, were already deep in slumber, dreaming they remained the supreme gods of this world.
A set of highly distinctive footsteps shattered this peace.
Doflamingo, hands in his pockets, strode forward with his signature swagger, emerging from a dark corridor.
His pink feather coat swayed gently in the night breeze as he stopped at the center of the empty Pangaea Plaza.
Behind his sunglasses, his eyes silently gazed toward the direction of the New World.
Above the New World, the pitch-black canopy of the sky abruptly tore open, revealing an absurdly enormous crack!
It wasn't merely clouds parting—the entire night sky had been ripped apart by an unimaginable, colossal force!
Beyond the fissure lay not the deep cosmos, but a pure, dazzling, and divine golden radiance!
The golden light cascaded downward, illuminating that stretch of sea as brightly as noon. Immediately after, two apocalyptic Conqueror's Haki—one black, one red—entwined and collided as they surged upward from the sea, rushing into the tear in the heavens.
There, they merged with the pouring golden light, rendering the sky both magnificent and terrifying.
Just then, Several figures flickered into existence behind Doflamingo.
Trebol's sticky body pressed close to Doflamingo's right rear, while Diamante stood to his left rear, holding a longsword.
Gladius stood further back, arms crossed in silence.
Only Baby-5, dressed in a maid outfit, stepped forward somewhat recklessly, positioning herself beside Doflamingo.
Pointing toward the torn night sky over the New World, her voice trembling slightly as she asked.
"Young Master, what is that? How did the night sky crack open like that!?"
Doflamingo didn't turn around.
The corners of his lips curled into an intensely pleased grin as he let out his trademark laugh.
"Fufufufufu!"
"It seems our Fleet Admiral Orion has encountered a rare opponent in the New World."
He paused, analyzing with keen interest, "Still, I'm curious—who could possibly rival the Fleet Admiral head-on in the domain of Conqueror's Haki?"
"Shanks? No, no…" He immediately dismissed the guess, a hint of disdain in his tone.
"Red-Hair's Haki may be top-tier, but compared to Fleet Admiral Orion, he's still green! Who could it be? How intriguing! Fufufufu!"
As he chuckled with amusement, several figures moving at extreme speeds flashed through the night deep within Pangaea Castle, heading straight for the Flower Chamber!
Their speed surpassed the limits of naked-eye perception—only blurry afterimages could be seen leaping across the rooftops of the ornate structures before vanishing into the depths of the night.
At the forefront were three of the Gorosei—the Science and Defense God Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Finance God Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, and the Justice God Saint Topman Warcury!
These three figures standing at the apex of the world's power now wore none of their usual composure and dignity.
Saint Saturn's weathered face was filled with gravity, Saint Nusjuro gripped the hilt of the Shodai Kitetsu with eyes as cold as steel, while Saint Topman' brows were tightly furrowed, his beard trembling faintly.
Following closely behind them was the Supreme Commander of the God Knights and candidate for the Gorosei—Saint Figarland Garling!
His expression was even more complex than those of the three Gorosei—shock, fury, and a deeply concealed trace of fear.
Doflamingo's Observation Haki detected their presence, and the smile on his lips widened.
"Oh? Even those old geezers have been stirred up?"
"It seems the Fleet Admiral's opponent this time is far stronger than I imagined. Fufufufufu~"
...
Flower Chamber.
Imu stood alone in the garden blooming with vibrant flowers.
She paid no attention to the dazzling array of rare blossoms, instead silently gazing toward the New World, where the night sky had been split apart.
Her black robe billowed without wind, and her hands hidden beneath the wide sleeves had unknowingly clenched into tight fists.
Those dark red eyes that had overlooked the world for eight hundred years suddenly erupted with boundless killing intent!
Almost through gritted teeth, she forced out that long-buried name, syllable by syllable.
"Davy D. Xebec!"
"You… actually survived!"
Before her words faded—
"Imu-sama!"
Saturn, Nusjuro, Topman, and Garling arrived almost simultaneously, landing behind Imu and kneeling on one knee.
Saint Saturn was the first to speak, his voice urgent and tinged with unconcealed horror.
"It's Rocks' Haki! He… he's not dead!"
As a firsthand witness of the God Valley incident, Saint Saturn remembered this Haki vividly.
Though his strength back then was far from a match for Rocks, it was precisely at the most critical moment when Imu possessed him that they ultimately ended that legendary battle.
Thus, even across thousands of miles and after more than thirty years, he instantly recognized that chillingly familiar presence from the two soaring Haki auras!
Of course, he was not the one who felt it most deeply.
The moment those two Haki erupted in the New World, Figarland Garling, who had been sleeping peacefully in his mansion, snapped his eyes open as if jolted from a nightmare!
Without even taking the time to dress properly, he rushed out of his mansion and headed straight for the Flower Chamber.
The reason was simple.
The world knew him as the Supreme Commander of the God Knights, the strongest among the Celestial Dragons, and the King of God Valley!
But only he himself knew that the title "King of God Valley" was no honor to him—it was a lifelong shame and nightmare he could never escape!
Because during that battle, he had faced Rocks in combat.
To be precise, it could hardly be called a fight.
He was utterly crushed by Rocks.
He couldn't even hinder the man's advance for a single second before being swiftly and overwhelmingly defeated by Rocks!
Now, the man who had brought him that nightmare had returned!
Grim suppressed the turmoil within and forced his voice to remain steady.
"Though it's undoubtedly Rocks, I still can't comprehend..."
He paused briefly, lifting his head to gaze at the torn sky, and questioned in confusion.
"Didn't he die at God Valley back then? I finish him off my self!"
Imu remained unmoving while coldly stating.
"Soul possession! To think he not only mastered this ability but has been lurking through soul possession all this time! However, his appearance at this moment will be his gravest mistake!!"
"Because this era belongs to Orion."