One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Watching Ace surrounded by Vivi, Kaya, and Nami, Hancock's beautiful face showed clear envy. Not one to miss an opportunity, she soon found her chance, taking Ace by surprise with a bold approach from the front.

Meanwhile, Robin, noticing Nojiko, standing slightly taller than the others, exchanged a knowing look, her mature face breaking into a warm smile as she joined the playful crowd.

Conis and Tashigi glanced at Ace, who was now pinned beneath them all, blushing slightly at the sight. Then, with a playful grin, Raki joined in, taking full advantage of the chance to "tease" Ace.

Gion focused her gaze on the distant sea, but couldn't help stealing glances in their direction, her eyes betraying a touch of amusement. "Ah, to be young," she murmured.

Assisting Rayleigh with the coating, Shakky's face reflected a similar sentiment. "Yes," Rayleigh chuckled, fully pleased with these vibrant young pirates. Not only was Ace's strength unmatched on the sea, but his personal charm was equally unparalleled.

With a pleased smile, Rayleigh sped up his work on the coating. There was no need to worry about the Marines or CP agents; they wouldn't dare come near. Word had spread that Nami, the Entei Pirates' formidable second-in-command, had an Observation Haki enhanced by her mastery of the Thunder Fruit, capable of scanning an entire sea area. Anyone attempting to spy on the Entei Pirates now would risk complete obliteration—an outcome no one dared provoke, not even the Celestial Dragons' own CPO agents.

At last, Rayleigh's voice broke the chatter. "The coating's complete. It's ready to dive."

Turning to the newly coated Going Merry and the ships from Divisions 0 and 6, Rayleigh's eyes held admiration. Although he had completed the coating himself, he was surprised at just how perfect it turned out this time. Having been responsible for the coating work on the Roger Pirates' ship, Rayleigh knew how critical expert coating was for pirates entering the second half of the Grand Line, especially in the New World. It was common for the most powerful crews to carry their own coaters onboard. With his top-tier skills, any ship coated by Rayleigh could reach Fishman Island safely—so long as they didn't seek out the dangers of the sea themselves.

Yet this time, the coating was exceptional. Not even the fierce currents of the deep sea could penetrate the resin coating, and Rayleigh knew this was all thanks to Ace's mysterious power, the "Realm of Comprehension." Experiencing its effects firsthand, he marveled at its potential, a power with the capacity to change the world itself.

Confident in Ace's vision for the future, Rayleigh felt certain that only someone with Ace's power could make that vision a reality. With a slight smile, he looked over the ship.

"Coating is…fascinating," Ace remarked, gazing at the film surrounding the Merry. He reached out, his fingertips grazing its surface, intrigued by its texture. To him, it felt like a more robust version of a soap bubble, yet capable of withstanding the crushing pressure of 10,000 meters beneath the sea. His eyes shone with excitement.

There was no denying the magic of the sea. The girls, seeing the coating for the first time, touched the outer film with curious fascination.

"In the deep sea, if you need to leave the ship, you just need to apply part of the coating to your body," Rayleigh explained, noting their interest. "But generally, the amount of coating is limited. If too much is used, the coating may collapse, burying you beneath the sea."

"Generally?" Kaya questioned, raising an eyebrow at Rayleigh.

"Yes, normally," Rayleigh replied, "but our coating is entirely different. It may be influenced by the Realm of Comprehension—it actually repairs itself."

Looking at the durable film covering the Merry and the Division Zero and Division Six ships, Rayleigh's face was also filled with amazement. 

In the past, most ships that sank in the deep sea did so because excessive coating use, combined with undersea hazards, weakened the film until it couldn't withstand the pressure, dooming the ship and its crew. But with this self-repairing coating, those dangers no longer applied.

Though the Entei Pirate fleet was powerful enough to handle the deep-sea dangers, Rayleigh, with his years of experience on the seas, understood an important truth: no matter how strong you are, the sea demands respect. Its unknowns are countless, and an extra layer of protection is always wise.

"All preparations are set. Merry, it's up to you now," Ace said, looking toward the ship.

To keep three ships on the same course in the deep sea, it was easiest to rely on Merry's control abilities as a ship spirit and her Shadow Fruit powers.

"Yes, leave it to me, Ace!" Merry replied enthusiastically, her expression brightening at the chance to help.

"Shadow Mage!" Merry stood on the deck and activated her Shadow Fruit powers. The Going Merry's shadow distorted, creating two shadow clones that connected to the Division Zero and Division Six ships, each surrounded by a ring of coating. While Devil Fruit abilities generally can't be used in the deep sea, the coating made it possible, allowing Merry's Shadow to perform freely.

"To Fishman Island!" Ace called from the front of the deck, laughing.

"Let's go!" the girls cheered, raising their hands in excitement.

"Copy that, Captain," Rayleigh and Shakky chimed in with smiles.

Though they had crossed into the New World through coating many times, Rayleigh and Shakky's hearts pounded like they hadn't in years. They both knew that this dive marked the beginning of a complete change in the world.

With a powerful splash, the Going Merry, Division Zero, and Division Six plunged into the depths, throwing up massive waves.

"Phew… finally, they're gone," muttered the Marines stationed on Sabaody Archipelago, as the three ships disappeared below. The relief was palpable. Even the Vice Admiral stationed there, along with several high-ranking CP agents of the Celestial Dragons, collapsed to the ground, breathless, cold sweat glistening on their foreheads. Though there had been no direct confrontation, facing the Entei Pirates in person had shown them the weight of a crew stronger than the Four Emperors themselves.

Several Vice Admirals from Naval Headquarters and CPO agents exchanged grim looks before reporting the situation to their superiors.

——

Naval Headquarters.

Boom!

The Marine Fleet Admiral, Akainu, slammed his fist on the table after receiving the report from the Sabaody Archipelago. He bit down hard on his cigar, nearly snapping it in half, his eyes filled with frustration and darkness.

Even now, as Marine Fleet Admiral, just hearing that name caused his heart to ache. During the battle at the Sabaody Archipelago, he had suffered a defeat unlike any he'd ever known. Before the eyes of the entire world, he was crushed by the Flame Emperor. The Lava-Lava Fruit, his prized weapon, had been rendered useless in the face of that man's flame abilities.

And now, that same man had returned to the Sabaody Archipelago.

Yet, despite the enormous threat he posed, Naval Headquarters was powerless to act. The reason was simple: Naval Headquarters no longer had the strength it once did.

After Kuzan defected to join the Entei Pirates, Naval Headquarters was forced to rebuild its ranks, promoting a new Admiral for the sake of public image. From the world conscription, Green Bull was selected and, along with Admiral candidate Chaton, was promoted to Admiral status. Together with Kizaru, they became the new Three Admirals of Naval Headquarters.

However, their combined power was noticeably weaker than that of the former Admirals: Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji. Apart from Kizaru, Green Bull's strength was only slightly above that of "Black Arm" Zephyr at his peak. As for Chaton, he was just approaching the Admiral threshold, having only recently acquired the mythical Zoan fruit, which he had yet to awaken. Chaton was currently stationed in the Holy Land of Mariejois, by order of the Five Elders themselves.

Akainu was aware that the World Government possessed a method for forcibly awakening Zoan-type Devil Fruits, including mythical beasts, though the cost of doing so was beyond his knowledge. Even if Chaton's power were awakened, it still wouldn't rival the strongest mythical beasts, and his Haki wasn't particularly advanced. At best, he would be on par with Green Bull.

Even with the new Admirals, Naval Headquarters was still no match for the Entei Pirates.

Now, as Marine Fleet Admiral, Akainu himself couldn't be deployed so readily. And though Garp was currently the most powerful Marine, Akainu didn't trust him. After Kuzan's defection, he had grown increasingly wary of Garp, fearing he might also join the Entei Pirates. If Garp were to switch sides, the Marines might as well surrender.

Thus, despite his burning desire for vengeance, Akainu had no choice but to suppress his fury, confined to his office while the Entei Pirates headed boldly for the New World.

"Sakazuki, the Five Elders have issued their command. Our scientific army's most formidable human weapon, Seraphim, is in place."

Kizaru, who normally wore a lazy expression, now looked at Akainu with uncharacteristic seriousness.

"The world's most powerful weapon? Then go, Kizaru and Green Bull. Chaton will move directly from the Holy Land to the seas near Onigashima. But remember—don't act without my orders!" Akainu commanded firmly.

The looming battle against the Entei Pirates, Beasts Pirates, and Big Mom Pirates was escalating, and the World Government had now deployed its highly anticipated pacifists, as well as the Seraphim—advanced human weapons heralded as the "strongest beings" by Vegapunk. Although Akainu resented needing such assistance, he knew Marine forces alone weren't enough to handle the fallout of this impending conflict.

"Understood, Fleet Admiral. I'll make the criminal who dared to execute a Celestial Dragon pay!" Green Bull replied with a wicked grin. As the Logia user of the Woods-Woods Fruit, Green Bull was an ardent believer in "relentless justice." His loyalty to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons was absolute, and he believed that those outside the World Government's influence had no human rights. The very name of Flame Emperor was enough to drive him toward a vendetta.

"Remember what I said, Green Bull! Do not act without my orders—the three of you must move together!" Akainu's eyes narrowed as he glared at Green Bull. Despite Green Bull's admiration for Akainu, he had a tendency to act on his own impulses, and in the face of the Entei Pirates, that could be fatal.

"Got it," Green Bull replied, raising his hands in mock surrender. Under Akainu's dark gaze, Kizaru and Green Bull exited the Fleet Admiral's office and boarded their warships, setting course for the waters near Onigashima.

——

Meanwhile, aboard the Entei Pirates' ships, the crew was already catching sight of their next destination: Fish-Man Island.