The voyage to Fish-Man Island had been smooth sailing, but as Kaguya and her crew embarked on their return journey, disaster struck.
Boom!
A muffled explosion rocked the ship violently, jolting Kaguya awake from her sleep.
Still suffering from the lingering effects of her hangover, Kaguya's head throbbed painfully. Irritated, she stepped out of her quarters, frowning. "What's going on?"
A guard rushed over, kneeling on one knee with a grim expression. "It's bad, Celestial Dragon-sama. We've encountered a countercurrent in the deep sea. The ship will experience severe turbulence. The deck is unsafe—please return to your cabin."
"Countercurrent?" Kaguya's eyebrows arched slightly.
She was well aware of what that meant. Ocean currents weren't just limited to the surface—deep beneath the sea, hidden currents, known as undercurrents, flowed in different directions.
In the scientifically impossible world of One Piece, undercurrents were even more unpredictable, frequently causing violent disturbances. Many ships had met their demise here—not just from Sea Kings but also from these treacherous currents.
A countercurrent was particularly deadly. Caused by an imbalance in temperature or salinity, it created two opposing currents that clashed with each other. Any ship caught in between would be crushed as if trapped between two massive hands. Even a ship with proper coating could be shattered instantly.
Just as Kaguya was processing this information, another violent tremor shook the vessel—this time even stronger. Sailors and guards alike stumbled and crashed into the deck.
A lookout gasped in horror, pointing toward the distance. His face paled, and his mouth hung open as if he had seen a ghost.
"T-The undercurrent...!"
Everyone turned in the direction he was pointing. Not far from the ship, a massive, dark current streaked through the ocean, swirling violently and filled with countless bubbles, rushing toward them at terrifying speed.
The crew's faces turned ashen, their expressions filled with despair.
"We're doomed! This is the end!"
"We actually ran into a deep-sea undercurrent—there's no way out of this!"
"I don't want to die!"
"S-Somebody save us!"
Several sailors collapsed onto the deck in utter hopelessness. They had heard the stories—this phenomenon only occurred once every few years. While rare, its fatality rate was nearly 100%. Only Fish-Men, with their natural swimming abilities, stood a chance of survival.
So this is an undercurrent...
Kaguya gazed at the surging black tide, its depths churning with monstrous waves. Amidst the chaos, she could make out the silhouettes of colossal Sea Kings, hundreds—even thousands—of meters in size. Yet, even these behemoths, rulers of the deep, were powerless against the raging current, tossed about like tiny fish struggling against an unstoppable force.
No wonder the crew looked like they were staring death in the face.
Kaguya cast an indifferent glance at the despairing sailors before calmly stepping to the bow of the ship.
This level of turbulence?
It was nothing to her.
She lifted her arms and spread them apart. Her clear, moonlit eyes gleamed as an overwhelming force erupted from her palms.
"Almighty Push!"
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion shattered the silence, shaking the ocean to its core.
As the crew stared in shock, the vast ocean shifted in an unimaginable spectacle. Waves surged, water splashed, and countless bubbles burst from the surface as if colossal hands were parting the sea itself, creating a massive vacuum in the depths.
The sea had been split apart.
The sailors gawked, jaws practically unhinged in disbelief.
This had to be a dream, right?
The deep sea was nothing like the surface. The further down one went, the more immense the water pressure became. At such crushing depths, a human body would be flattened in an instant.
And yet, here in the ocean's depths, someone had parted a raging undercurrent—a feat that should have required unfathomable strength.
It was as if Kaguya had momentarily shouldered the weight of an entire sea.
While the crew struggled to comprehend what they were witnessing, Kaguya made another sweeping motion with her arm. The ship trembled violently before suddenly shooting upward, defying gravity itself.
Boom!
After what felt like an eternity, the ship, still shaking from the impact, crashed back down with a thunderous roar, landing steadily upon the ocean's surface.
"Alright, time to cook—I'm starving."
A voice as melodious as it was indifferent rang out.
The sailors hesitantly opened their eyes, only to find themselves in a completely different world.
Gone were the pitch-black depths, the raging undercurrent, and the monstrous Sea Kings lurking in the abyss. Instead, they were greeted by calm, sunlit waters.
The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with drifting clouds. The golden sunlight shimmered off the gentle waves, and a crisp sea breeze carried refreshing coolness through the air.
For a moment, the crew felt as if they had stepped into another reality entirely.
"What's wrong? Have you all gone stupid from fear? Tch, maybe I should just toss you into the sea to feed the fish."
A cold, teasing voice snapped them out of their daze.
Shivering, the sailors instantly scrambled to their duties, their near-death experience forgotten in an instant.
"Y-Yes! We'll get to work right away!"
After all, their Celestial Dragon was far more terrifying than any undercurrent.
But as they worked, an undeniable truth settled in their minds—this young Celestial Dragon wasn't just powerful; she was monstrous. Not only had she fought the legendary pirate Whitebeard to a standstill, but she had also just torn through a deep-sea undercurrent.
She was beyond formidable.
If only we had even a fraction of her power…
From that moment on, the way they looked at Kaguya changed—no longer just with reverence, but with absolute awe.
Meanwhile, not far from Kaguya's fleet…
"What was that tremor just now? What the hell happened?"
A young man stepped out of his cabin. His short golden hair gleamed under the sun, his sharp features like they were carved from stone. A pair of red-tinted, leaf-shaped sunglasses rested on his face, partially obscuring his piercing gaze. His bronze skin contrasted against his lean yet towering frame, clad in a sleek black suit and draped in a luxurious red feathered coat.
It was none other than Donquixote Doflamingo.
"Judging by that tremor, something must have happened underwater. Doffy, should we check it out?"
The speaker was Gladius, a masked man with spiky hair, a loyal member of the Donquixote Family.
"Send someone to investigate," Doflamingo said dismissively, clicking his tongue as he gazed at the now-tranquil ocean. "We're in the middle of a crucial operation. I don't want those Navy dogs sniffing around."
"Understood."
"But, Doffy," a nasally voice chimed in, "there shouldn't be any Navy ships in the area. And we've been hidden for so long—how could we have been discovered?"
The speaker was Trebol, another high-ranking officer of the Donquixote Family. With greasy black hair, rotting teeth, and a snot-like robe draped over his body, he carried a staff and had the unsettling appearance of a mucus-covered ghoul.
"Even if they have found us," Doflamingo sneered, "it doesn't matter. If a Navy ship dares to interfere, we'll just wipe them out."
At that moment, Gladius returned with a report. "We've confirmed the identity of the approaching vessel. While there are Navy personnel aboard, it's not a Marine warship. If I had to guess, I'd say it belongs to the Celestial Dragons."
"Celestial Dragons?" Doflamingo's face darkened, veins bulging on his forehead. "Those useless parasites... what perfect timing."
"Doffy," Trebol wheezed, laughing. "You're not thinking of causing trouble for the Celestial Dragons, are you? If you kill one, you'll bring down a world of trouble."
"Oh, I will kill them all—eventually," Doflamingo said, his smile turning vicious. "But not today. Today, I have something else in mind."
Gladius hesitated before asking, "Doffy, what's your plan?"
Doflamingo's grin widened. "A shipment of 'Heavenly Tribute' is being transported soon. It's the tax money collected from all over the world, part of which is delivered to the Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise."
Trebol's expression changed. "Doffy, don't tell me you're planning to steal the Heavenly Tribute?! That would enrage the World Government. Even the Navy Headquarters might get involved. If that happens—"
"Relax," Doflamingo said, waving a hand. "I don't want the tribute money. That gold means nothing to me. But to the World Government? It's invaluable. If we seize it, we'll have the perfect bargaining chip."
Understanding dawned on Trebol and Gladius.
Doflamingo turned sharply. "Set course for that warship. Let's give our esteemed Celestial Dragons a little gift."
..
Meanwhile, aboard Kaguya's ship.
"Alert! A pirate vessel is approaching!"
"Sound the alarm! Prepare for battle!"
"Cannons ready! Fire as soon as they're in range!"
"Yes, sir!"
A Marine soldier sprinted onto the deck, his face pale with panic. "Commander, bad news!"
The Marine Captain frowned, a sense of dread settling in his gut. "What happened?"
"The underwater turbulence damaged our artillery! The ammunition is waterlogged—we can't fire!"
"What?!" The Captain's face twisted in rage and disbelief.
How could something like this happen at such a critical moment?!
The soldier's voice trembled. "Sir, what should we do?"
The Captain clenched his jaw. "We have no choice. Prepare for close combat! If the Celestial Dragon princess is disturbed, you all will be fish food!"
At his words, the Marines fell silent, a cold sweat running down their backs.
The princess had given strict orders—anyone who disturbed her sleep would be thrown into the sea to feed the fish. Previously, an unfortunate soul had dared to hammer repairs onto the ship's deck too loudly and was immediately tossed overboard. Now, the crew took her words very seriously.
With that in mind, the Marine soldiers erupted with renewed determination, ready to fight the pirates to the bitter end.
However, sheer willpower alone couldn't bridge the gap in strength. The Donquixote Family was no ordinary pirate crew—even twenty years ago, their power was formidable. The Marines, by comparison, were nothing more than cannon fodder.
Before the pirate ship even reached boarding distance, while still a few hundred meters away, Doflamingo launched himself from the deck like a soaring bird, rapidly closing the distance to the Marine vessel.
This was Doflamingo's ability—Sky Path.
By using nearly invisible threads to latch onto the clouds, he could move through the air at high speeds, giving the illusion of flight.
The Marine Captain's eyes widened in shock as he swiftly drew his sword, preparing to counter the incoming threat.
But before he could react, Doflamingo sneered midair, raising his arm and spreading his fingers into a claw-like shape before slashing downward.
Five nearly invisible white lines sliced through the air.
"Overheat Line."
A muffled sound followed.
The Marine Captain's chest bloomed with crimson as he was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the ship's walls with a heavy thud, coughing up blood.
His sword, now severed in half, clattered onto the deck.
"Captain Clive!"
"Damn it!"
Enraged, the Marine soldiers rushed forward with their weapons drawn. But before they could close in, Doflamingo merely flicked his fingers, sending them all flying, blood spraying through the air.
"I was expecting someone strong on board, but it turns out you're all just weaklings," Doflamingo mocked as he stepped forward. "How disappointing."
The Marine Captain, blood dripping from his lips, stared in horror. "You... You're Doflamingo!"
Doflamingo smirked. "Oh? So someone here actually knows me."
"Why are you here?" the Captain gritted out. "You're supposed to be in the East Blue!"
"The East Blue?" Doflamingo chuckled. "You really don't know where you are, do you?"
The Captain froze.
Were they truly in the East Blue?
That was impossible.
"I heard there's a Celestial Dragon aboard," Doflamingo said, glancing around with a mocking grin. "Where are they? I'd love to give them a warm welcome."
"Didn't I tell you not to disturb me while I'm sleeping? Do you all want to be thrown into the sea to feed the fish?"
A voice, as melodious as a celestial hymn, rang out.
A graceful figure emerged from the cabin, yawning.
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