One Piece: Ascending the Divine Path

Some distance from the Sabaody Archipelago, a small warship sails through the waves.

On the ship's cabins and decks, the escaped prisoners, still wearing their prison uniforms, lay sprawled about, all with eerie, satisfied smiles on their faces.

Only a few of the fugitives who needed to operate the ships remained conscious. Instead of being afraid of this bizarre sight, they were filled with envy.

"Damn it, why is everyone else enjoying themselves in that world while we're stuck here sailing this boat?!"

"Yeah, I really want to go back to Dream City right now, and I really want to drink!!"

"Stop complaining! The Lord saved us and allowed us to enter the City of Dreams. If we ruin his plans, even if we are shattered to pieces, we still won't be able to repay him!"

"That's right! I'd go through fire and water for you, sir!"

The fugitives chatted idly.

However, not everyone except them entered another world.

Inside the cabin, Baggin Gorum Stussy treated her mentally challenged son's arm injury, which hadn't healed to begin with and had worsened during last night's battle with the warden of Impel Down.

"Oh! I'm back to life! Thank you, Mom!"

Wiebull foolishly raised his arm and bent it forcefully, causing his muscles to bulge.

Seeing his silly look, Baginom couldn't help but smile.

However, there was a hint of bewilderment mixed in with that smile.

What exactly does that mysterious and unpredictable adult want to do?

Having gathered such a powerful force, are they preparing to go to the New World to fight those monsters?

  

Barkingom didn't know; she was just deeply worried.

Because she was certain that the little devil on the Zephyr ship, the little devil who had captured her, was, without a doubt, one of that person's men.

The evidence is that when that brat defeated her, he used the same move as last night when the adult possessed Waldo—an invisible attack.

Moreover, after being defeated, she was immediately pulled into the mental space.

If it's not that kid, then who is?

Given that kid's age and Zephyr's attitude towards him, there's no doubt he'll be a rising star in the Navy.

These guys are all under that big shot's command; Baginom dares not think about the future.

"ha--"

She slowly let out a sigh of relief.

But now that things have come to this, there is no other choice but to go down this path to the bitter end.

"Whoa! Who are you?!"

Suddenly, screams came from outside.

problem occurs!

The first thought that popped into the mind of the seasoned veteran, Bagingom.

Here we are on the Grand Line, where it's not easy to encounter other ships!

"Weebull! Get to the deck!"

She shouted.

Everyone on board was truly in the same boat.

Moreover, there's nowhere to run even if you want to.

"Okay, Mom!"

When Bagingom rode on his mentally challenged son's shoulders and rushed onto the deck, he saw several escaped convicts hurrying toward the cabin door, and a figure standing with his back to them on the bow of the ship.

He was about three meters tall and his entire body was covered in a black robe.

What bothered Bagingom was that the guy's upper body under his black robe looked somewhat bulging, as if he was carrying something on his back.

"Lord Ba Jin,"

The fugitives called Bagingom "Lord Baging," adding, "That guy just appeared out of nowhere!"

"Falling from the sky?"

Baggin Gom frowned. "Go wake everyone else up!"

When you are in another world, your body in the real world will also react if it is subjected to a severe impact.

Officials can choose whether or not to wake up, while ordinary people are simply woken up.

It's like a dream.

Therefore, the fugitives called that city the City of Dreams.

"No need, they're already awake."

The voice of the man in black robes rang out.

It was a very peaceful, calm female voice, with a touch of heroic hoarseness.

Baginam stared in astonishment, while the fugitives on the deck, who had been lost in their dream world, rubbed their eyes and sat up.

Anthony and the others quickly emerged from the cabin behind them.

"What happened? We've been kicked out of that world!"

"Is it the Lord?" Salt exclaimed.

"..."

Barkingom felt a little thirsty.

Yes, has the real body arrived?

"grown ups,"

She took a deep breath and respectfully asked the retreating figure, "Did you arrive in person?"

"No, that's not it."

The figure turned around and faced the fugitives. "My master sent me to meet you. The ship to the new world is ready."

She raised her hands and tore off her black robe.

"How is that possible?"

Baggins stared in disbelief, her eyes wide with astonishment. "You are—"

What was revealed beneath the black robe was a truly great beauty.

She looked to be around twenty years old, over three meters tall, with a slender figure. Her clothes were a simple white T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and a black long trench coat, but because of her amazing figure, the T-shirt and jeans were stretched taut.

Her white hair was just past her ears, with a side-swept fringe, clean and sharp features, and deep, three-dimensional facial features—undoubtedly beautiful.

She even carried a giant sword wider than her waist on her back, making her a stunningly beautiful and heroic woman.

However, what shocked Baginom was not the woman's beauty.

It was her healthy wheat-colored skin, the pair of black wings on her back, and the blazing flames burning behind her head.

Bagingom exclaimed incredulously, "You're a Lunarian!!"

"What? The Lunaria?"

Anthony and the others were all shocked, and the escaped prisoners on the deck also screamed.

then.

"What is that?"

A fugitive asked.

Another fugitive chimed in, "I don't know either. Judging from Bakin's expression, it seems like it's something really powerful."

"A bunch of good-for-nothing idiots!"

Bakingom gritted his teeth, "The Lunaria are a legendary, mysterious race that once lived on the Red Line, said to possess terrifying abilities to adapt to any environment! Yes, a race once called gods!"

This race was almost extinct, so is there still one of that person's subordinates left?

"Moreover, the world government has been hunting them down."

Anthony said seriously, "It is said that just by reporting information about them to the government, one can receive a reward of 100 million Berries."

"One hundred million berries?"

The fugitives unconsciously looked at the woman.

"Let me introduce myself."

The woman, unconcerned by the stares of the crowd, calmly said, "My name is Luna, and I am your master's servant. From this day forward, I will be your commander."

"Commander-in-Chief?"

Salt raised an eyebrow. "If it's the adults' wish, then I have no objection."

Me too.

Anthony nodded in agreement.

"I disagree!"

There was also a dissenter, Bandi Waldo, who declared fiercely, "I don't need any damn commander! When can I go and seek revenge on the navy—"

His expression suddenly changed.

"Luna, you're a bit slow."

Waldo, or rather, Knight, the top-ranking officer, turned to look at his entourage.

"I'm sorry, Master."

Luna bowed slightly. Because Knight didn't want to reveal his identity, Luna addressed him as "Master." "It's a bit farther than I imagined."

"grown ups!"

Without any hesitation, all the fugitives bowed respectfully to Knight.

"Luna is my representative. When I'm not around, she will lead you."

That's what Knight said.

Luna was his first follower. She was not only of the Lunaria race, but also possessed the potential to use all three types of Haki.

When Knight joined the Navy to study, she couldn't reveal her identity as a Lunarian, so she stayed on a deserted island to train on her own. Anyway, Knight could teach Luna everything she had learned through the dream world.

As the initial follower, Luna's loyalty to Knight is absolute, so naturally, she is also Knight's most trusted follower.

If Knight is the god of dreams, then Luna is the dream lord he chose.

In the dream world, Luna possesses high authority; she can modify Knight's creations to a certain extent, earning her the nickname "administrator."

Kicking Anthony and others offline is one of her powers; in addition, she can even pull other people into the dream world.

Knight can't grant much more of this level of access right now.

"yes!"

The fugitives responded respectfully once again.

Since Luna was chosen by the adults, they only need to obey.

"Well then, it's time to set off."

Intangible matter coalesced into a long, ellipsoidal flying shuttle, and everyone entered it.

Then the shuttle accelerated forward, and with the help of the Momo-Momo Fruit's power, the group disappeared into the horizon in the next instant.

A bay in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Because this place is relatively secluded, many ships that do not wish to be exposed are moored here.

Over time, this place became a small port, and there were even people who would charge money to watch over the boats.

Among these ships, one that had already been coated was also moored here, the coating layer clinging to the hull reflecting a rainbow of colors under the sunlight.

On the shore, within the canopy of a large tree, Binz and another marine idly watched the coated ship.

"There's absolutely no movement."

The marine sighed, "How much longer do we have to stay here?"

"What can we do?"

Binz stretched his neck; he'd been perched in the tree for so long his neck was about to break. "What if they come?"

"Damn it, I'm so envious of Knight!"

The marine gritted his teeth and said, "Being able to be alone with Ain, isn't that a date?"

"That's what they say."

Binz also sighed.

"Um?"

The marine next to him suddenly froze, staring in astonishment at the sky. "Binz, up there! You, you look!"

Binz then looked up and peered at the sky through the gaps in the tree canopy.

A dark cloud had appeared in the sky at some unknown time.

No, upon closer inspection, those weren't dark clouds, but rather streaks of human figures.

Binz's pupils contracted, and he frantically pulled out his binoculars to look at the sky.

then.

"They're here! They're really here! Quickly, notify Professor Zephyr and the others!!"