One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Sabaody Archipelago!

This unique island marks the critical junction between the first and second halves of the Grand Line. To pass from the Grand Line's initial stretch into the New World, only two routes exist. The first is to travel over the Red Line by crossing Mariejois, the "holy land" perched atop the Red Continent—a path synonymous with death for any pirate. The alternative is to coat ships in the Sabaody Archipelago using resin from the Yarukiman Mangroves, allowing vessels to dive 10,000 meters below the sea and pass through the massive undersea passage beneath the Red Line, via Fish-Man Island, into the New World.

Because Sabaody attracts every pirate who survives the Grand Line's first half, the island has given rise to countless black-market operations and underground industries. These illicit hubs are known as "illegal zones," clustered around the GR-1 to GR-29 zones of the archipelago. In these same regions, one could also find exclusive facilities dedicated to the whims of the Celestial Dragons, including infamous establishments like the Human Auction House.

Sabaody Archipelago was, effectively, the Celestial Dragons' playground. Touted as the "true nobility of the world," the Celestial Dragons frequently visited, exerting their dominance and freely indulging in any atrocity. Even the most hardened pirates, if they encountered Celestial Dragons, were compelled to kneel beside the citizens of Sabaody in submissive silence.

But that was before.

The epic Flame Emperor Incident changed everything. In the course of that legendary battle, the illegal zones in GR-1 to GR-29 were obliterated. Entire black-market networks, along with the Celestial Dragons' leisure facilities, were incinerated in the flames wielded by the legendary Flame Emperor. Through the sheer power of the Mera Mera no Mi, the area became a veritable inferno. Without Ace's mastery of elemental transformation, which restored the area's original form, the island would have remained a burning purgatory, hotter than the planet's core, with lava threatening to engulf and evaporate the entire Sabaody Archipelago.

In the aftermath, the island was restored to normal, aided by Issho, who summoned a meteorite from the heavens to seal the vast ocean chasm left by Ace's powers. Naturally, the World Government seized the opportunity to cover up the incident, informing the people that they had altered Sabaody's climate and restored GR-1 to GR-29 for public safety. Those who had lived through the Flame Emperor Incident, witnessed the Marine's Buster Call thwarted by Entei, and even attended Flame Emperor's post-battle celebration, scoffed at the official story.

Due to the Flame Emperor Incident originating here, the World Government imposed a complete lockdown on the island, forbidding all discussion of what truly transpired. Today, Sabaody is crawling with CP agents enforcing this silence, while residents, powerless against the World Government's might, keep their heads down in acquiescence.

In the face of absolute authority, the majority have fallen into numb submission.

After the Flame Emperor incident, a subtle shift occurred in the hearts of Sabaody Archipelago's people—a dormant seed of defiance was planted, waiting to take root and grow. But another, more noticeable change emerged as well. Although the archipelago remains Celestial Dragon territory in name, not a single Celestial Dragon has dared to set foot there since the incident. Once the "descendants of the Creator" who roamed Sabaody with supreme entitlement, the Celestial Dragons now avoid it as though it were cursed ground. Their hatred for the man who caused this, Flame Emperor, runs deep. Yet, they remain powerless; even the Five Elders, the highest authorities among the Celestial Dragons, cannot confront the Flame Emperor.

In fear that Entei, with his Gate-Gate Fruit powers, might slaughter them with ease, the Celestial Dragons have been restricted to the holy land of Mariejois. Time, as it often does, worked in favor of the World Government's propagandists, slowly diminishing the public's memory of the Flame Emperor Incident. Yet, some Celestial Dragons, chafing at their confinement, have repeatedly petitioned the Five Elders to lift these restrictions. With the Entei Pirates out of sight for some time, they wonder why they should still be confined, unable to roam freely or even restock their supply of slaves.

But the Five Elders continue to deny these petitions, keenly aware that allowing the Celestial Dragons to venture out and risk public humiliation—or worse, execution by the Entei Pirates—would make a mockery of the World Government's authority. Nevertheless, a few Celestial Dragons, unable to sit idly, have ordered the reconstruction of Sabaody's entertainment facilities. Their idea is simple: since they cannot currently enjoy Sabaody themselves, they will have the lowly populace rebuild it to its former glory in anticipation of their return.

The Five Elders allow these restorations, thinking that, as long as these "aristocratic fools" are kept occupied, they'll pose fewer headaches. To them, only the elite Celestial Dragons, especially those in the Knights of God, deserve any measure of respect. The rest are simply pawns to uphold the supremacy of the World Government, and ordinary people are mere "insects" beneath their notice.

Thus, under the watchful eyes of the Celestial Dragons' special agents, the GR-1 to GR-29 zones of Sabaody began reconstruction. The agents of CP, the elite enforcers of the World Government, supervised the project. Arrogant as always, these agents carried out their orders with disdain, even disregarding the Marines stationed on the archipelago.

But today, all that arrogance gave way to dread. The CP agents and pirates in the archipelago's ports froze, drenched in cold sweat as they stared at a familiar ship in utter terror.

"T-that pirate flag…" stammered one of the agents, paralyzed by fear.

Another agent took a shaky breath and confirmed, "Yes… it's the Entei Pirates! That's the 'Going Merry', their main ship!"

"Alert the authorities!" someone shouted. "The Entei Pirates are back in Sabaody Archipelago!"

"Keep your distance—don't even think about confronting that man!" 

Panic swept through the agents and Marines alike as they scrambled to avoid crossing paths with the infamous pirate crew.

"Is this the coating process, Rayleigh?"

Merry tilted her head in a curious, adorable way as she watched Rayleigh apply the coating to the 'Going Merry' and the ships from Division 0 and Division 6.

"That's right," Rayleigh replied with a warm smile, glancing at the inquisitive Merry. "Using Yarukiman Mangroves resin for coating is the only way to withstand the intense water pressure 10,000 meters deep and make it safely to Fish-Man Island."

"Incredible that we'll be diving so deep under the sea—it's a little daunting," Vivi admitted, her expression clouded with a hint of worry.

Hearing Vivi's apprehension, the other girls looked uneasy as well. They were all Devil Fruit users, incredibly powerful on land but vulnerable at sea. While the Devil Fruit grants immense abilities, it also curses its users with a critical weakness: the ocean. Even the most formidable users lose all strength upon contact with seawater, left helpless unless rescued.

"Don't worry," Ace reassured them, smiling as he gently patted each girl's head, except for Nami. "Rayleigh's coating skills are unmatched. And with Nami's navigation expertise, along with Merry's support, we'll reach Fish-Man Island without a hitch."

Nami, noticing she'd been left out, crossed her arms with confidence. "That's right! I'm Ace's navigator, and as long as there's a current, there's nowhere I can't guide us to!"

The girls beamed at Nami, who had changed remarkably since awakening her Conqueror's Haki. Now, as the de facto second-in-command of the Entei Pirates, she'd completely outgrown her formerly timid self—a trait she once shared with Vivi.

"You're amazing, Nami. So reliable and… beautiful," Vivi said admiringly, linking her arm through Nami's with a twinkle of admiration in her eyes.

In the original Entei Pirates, both Vivi and Nami had gained formidable Logia Devil Fruit powers, with Nami wielding the Thunder Fruit—an ability considered unstoppable among Logia types. Yet their early experiences had earned them the nickname of the "Timid Duo" within the crew. But now, with Nami's transformation, Vivi felt the need to step up as well. She was Ace's "Flame Desert Princess," after all!

In terms of strength, Ace himself had assessed her to be on par with the Marines' Admirals, like Green Bull and Chaton. Against the latter, Ace was certain she'd even have the advantage.

The title of the "Timid Duo" would soon be nothing but a memory.

Vivi clenched her fists in determination.

"And if anything unexpected does happen," Ace added, glancing at the girls with a confident smile, "I can still use my Door-Door Fruit to get us back to the surface."

Though Devil Fruit abilities are unusable in seawater, they remain fully functional until the coating around the ship is completely breached, allowing seawater to pour in. This breakage takes time, even if, to the average observer, it's only a fleeting moment. But for Ace, with his Observation Haki that glimpses the near future, using the Door-Door Fruit powers remains effortless.

Under multiple layers of protection, the underwater journey to Fishman Island is no more than a scenic tour for the Entei Pirates.

"Ace, we're counting on you. I'm still a little scared," Kaya said softly, leaning against Ace's chest, her large, innocent eyes blinking up at him. Although she's now a formidable fighter who can contend with a Marine Admiral, in front of Ace, she remains the "little girl he once saved."

"Kaya…" Vivi murmured, a hint of exasperation showing in her expression. Often sparring partners due to their comparable strength, she knew Kaya's true nature—physically skilled with Haki, and capable of powerful, relentless attacks, including the frightening "Black Flash," which could bring her to the brink of collapse. Despite that ferocity, in Ace's presence, Kaya's demeanor softened.

"I'm… scared too, Ace!" Vivi added, her pretty face adopting a look of feigned weakness as she nestled close to Ace's other side. In his company, the two warriors reverted to the timid pair they used to be, and neither saw anything wrong with it.

Watching Vivi and Kaya together, Nami sighed with a mixture of amusement and envy. But she also felt a warm stirring inside.

No, she told herself. As the second-in-command of the Entei Pirates, she had to set a good example! Still, when Ace flashed her that warm, knowing smile, she gave in.

"Ace!" she exclaimed, jumping onto Ace's back, her face lighting up as she breathed in his familiar scent. Even now, despite her rise as a powerful leader who could stand toe-to-toe with the Four Emperors, Nami's love for Ace remained as strong as ever.