Pirate: I, Ace, am the King of Eclipse!

Armament Haki captures the physical entity, while the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire burns through the smoke.

Ace's fist pierced through the billowing white smoke and slammed solidly into Smoker's chest.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of bone cracking rang out.

The two cigars in Smoker's mouth were shattered by the violent shockwave.

His proud natural body was forced back into solid form by this punch.

"Boom!!"

Smoker flew backward like a cannonball, spitting blood, crashing through three or four stone buildings along the street before finally embedding himself in the ruins hundreds of meters away, completely losing consciousness.

one strike.

Sold out instantly.

"That's too decisive."

Karina looked at the street that had been cleared out in an instant and couldn't help but mutter something under her breath.

"Stop daydreaming, get on the boat."

Ace shook off the remaining smoke from his fist and stepped steadily across the rubble.

For him, it was just a matter of casually clearing away a rock that was blocking his way.

The four members of the Eclipse Pirates quickly crossed the port of Loguetown and boarded the Eclipse.

"Splash!"

The heavy anchor was pulled up.

The enormous, pure black sails once again billowed in the sea breeze.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people in the port of Loguetown, a mixture of awe and fear, the black fast ship that had just shattered the naval defenses sailed smoothly away from the port.

Ace stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the outline of the huge red earth continent at the end of the horizon.

"Upside-down Mountain, here we come."

The Eclipse cut through the waves and sailed toward the Grand Line.

Our journey in the East China Sea has come to an end.

The name of the solar eclipse has only just begun to spread across the sea.

Chapter 24 Miracle Mountain, The Promise with Laboon

A fierce storm raged, and the waves crashed.

The Eclipse passed through thick thunderstorm clouds, and the sea ahead seemed to have lost its gravity.

A wide and turbulent ocean current is defying logic, flowing upstream against the towering red rock walls of the red earth continent, climbing all the way to the clouds.

The entrance to the Grand Line—Upside-Down Mountain.

"Why is the water flowing up the mountain? This is so haphazard!"

Karina gripped the cable beside the mainmast, her eyes wide as she gazed at the mythical, reverse-flowing waterfall before her.

"Hold on tight!"

In the wheelhouse, Saab gripped the helm, his blue eyes filled with unprecedented focus and excitement.

"Go with the current!"

Bucky quickly adjusted the sail angle on the deck, cursing under his breath as he stared intently at the waterway ahead.

"Left side! Tighten up a bit more on the left!"

"Don't miss! This isn't an ordinary ocean current. If we crash into the Red Earth, the entire ship will be destroyed!"

With his adjustments, the Eclipse swerved slightly and precisely cut into the upstream current.

"Boom!"

The ship jolted violently.

The feeling of weightlessness hits instantly.

Like a black flying fish, the Eclipse was carried by the raging ocean currents, soaring straight into the sky along the cliffs of the red earth continent.

Ace stood at the bow of the ship, without grabbing the mooring rope.

The ship tilted violently, but his feet remained firmly planted on the deck.

After passing through the thick clouds, the view suddenly opened up.

Sunlight pierced the mist, illuminating the magnificent red earth. The waters of the four seas converged here, creating a deafening roar, as if the entire ocean was sounding the horn for the entrance to the Grand Line.

Ace gazed at the extraordinary sight before him, his eyes finally revealing undisguised amazement.

"What an incredible world."

A strong wind rushed towards him, blowing his dark red trench coat.

The scenery he could only see on paper in his previous life was now surging beneath his feet.

At that moment, Ace suddenly understood why so many people knowingly headed towards the Grand Line despite the dangers.

It would be a real shame not to personally climb to the top and see this world for yourself.

"Ready to sprint!"

Karina shouted.

The Eclipse spacecraft reached the highest peak of Upside Down Mountain.

The next moment, the ship followed the converging ocean currents and plunged down into the misty sea area that was truly known as the Grand Line.

A feeling of weightlessness accompanied by the whistling wind swept over me.

The Eclipse cut through the mist like a sword and crashed heavily into the sea off Twin Capes, sending up a cloud of white waves.

"Success!"

Bucky slumped on the deck, panting heavily.

"We've entered the Grand Line!"

However, before they could even get a clear look at the surrounding scenery, a massive black wall of flesh suddenly appeared on the sea ahead, obscuring their view.

"What is that? A black mountain?!"

Karina's eyes widened.

"No, it's moving."

Sabo gripped his staff tightly, his expression hardening.

"hold head high--!!!"

With a deep, mournful roar that shook the entire sea, the "Black Mountain" slowly turned around.

It was an island whale whose size defied conventional measurement.

Its head was covered with crisscrossing scars, and it was staring at the Eclipse with a huge eye.

"Island whale!"

Bucky's expression changed, and his body reflexively tore into pieces.

"If this thing rams us, the ship won't be able to withstand it!"

Faced with this colossal creature that resembled a moving natural disaster, Ace raised his hand, signaling Sabo not to attack.

He walked to the bow of the ship and looked up at the giant whale that had been waiting alone for fifty years.

Labu.

In its original destiny, because it could not wait for the return of the Rumbar Pirates, it rammed its head against the Red Line day after day, trying to smash the mountain and find its former companions.

Seeing the shocking wounds on Laboon's head, Ace didn't rush up and fight it like Luffy did.

He simply took a deep breath, and his voice echoed across the sea.

"Stop banging your head against that mountain, Labour."

Labu's movements stopped.

The enormous eye slowly looked down at Ace at the bow of the ship.

"The one with the afro you're waiting for."

"The man who loved playing the violin is still alive."

Ace stood at the bow of the ship, looking directly into Laboon's eyes.

"He is trapped in the Magical Triangle and cannot return for the time being."

"But he hasn't forgotten his promise to you."

Upon hearing the afro and the violin, Lab's massive body trembled violently.

It seemed to understand Ace's words, and a low, mournful cry came from its throat, like a sob that had been suppressed for too long.

"No need to wait another fifty years."

Ace's voice was steady, yet clear enough.

"I will go to the Magic Triangle and bring Brook back."

"This is my promise to you."

Rab quietly looked at the tall man in front of him.

This giant whale, which had been raging for decades, gradually calmed down.

It slowly sank into the sea, with only half of its head showing, and let out a long and gentle cry towards the Eclipse.

This whale has waited too long.

And the man who, even as nothing but bones, still kept his promise, shouldn't be trapped in darkness forever.