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Chapter 18 - The Serpent's Gate

The sea grew still.

As the Thousand Sunny crossed into uncharted waters, the wind stopped. The waves quieted. Even the sky seemed to hold its breath.

They had arrived.

At the edge of the known world.

Before them, an unnatural fog loomed like a living wall, shimmering faintly with symbols that twisted and disappeared upon focus.

A single island stood beyond it.

Black mountains. Pale trees. And at its center—a massive gate carved into the cliff face, shaped like a serpent devouring its tail.

Robin whispered: "The Serpent's Gate… it exists."

Aboard the Sunny

Franky activated the cloaking armor. "We'll approach unseen."

Usopp loaded every weapon. "Just in case 'unseen' doesn't mean safe."

Zoro stood silent, hand on blade. Sanji lit a cigarette, eyes narrowed.

Brook played a slow, haunting tune. "For luck."

Arkan stood beside Luffy.

"Once we pass through that gate, there's no turning back," he said.

Luffy smirked. "Good. I hate turning around."

Serpent's Gate — Outer Perimeter

Dozens of cloaked sentries lined the cliff paths above. Each was marked with the Eye.

Inside the mountain, laboratories pulsed with voidlight. Creatures in containment roared. And in the throne chamber, Veyron stood before a wide mirror.

"It begins now," he said. "The intruders have arrived."

Behind him, a new figure knelt.

"Send me," she said.

Veyron turned. The woman's skin was marked with silver tattoos, her eyes glowing serpent-green. Her name was Vira, the Serpent's Huntress.

"You'll kill Arkan?" Veyron asked.

"No," she said. "I'll break him."

The Shoreline

The Sunny passed through the fog. It felt like cutting through time.

As they approached the gate, a chorus of whispers rose. Not from mouths, but from the air itself.

Luffy covered his ears. "Voices…"

Robin translated softly. "They're memories. Echoes from the first era."

Arkan's eyes burned. "This place… is older than the Void Century. Older than the World Government. It was the last stronghold of the ones who opposed them."

"Then why is it theirs now?" Sanji asked.

"Because the serpent betrayed its makers."

Suddenly — impact.

A blast hit the Sunny from the cliffs.

Alarm rang.

"They saw us!" Franky yelled.

From above, Vira descended like a phantom. Dual scythes in hand. Her presence froze the air.

Arkan leapt to intercept.

Steel met void-infused weaponry. Sparks flew.

Vira smirked. "I've waited my whole life to bleed a D."

Arkan narrowed his eyes. "You'll die trying."

The first true battle for the Serpent's Gate had begun.

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