The sea wept.
A thousand miles beneath the surface of the Calm Belt, a rift split open in the bedrock of the world. From it, an eye emerged—slitted, endless, divine.
The Serpent had awakened.
Not a creature. Not a weapon.
But a forgotten god.
Mariejois — Holy Chamber
The Five Elders stood in silence.
The red stone before them now glowed with fractures of white light. The seal, thousands of years old, was breaking.
"We are out of time," muttered the one with the sword.
Another nodded. "Initiate the final protocol."
"Project Eclipse."
A hidden panel opened behind the chamber. Inside—a living cocoon pulsed with black ichor.
"It feeds on erased timelines," the bald one whispered. "Now it will feed on the present."
Baltigo — Revolutionary Army HQ
Dragon stood before a global map marked with glowing runes.
"The message triggered mass awakenings," Koala said. "Entire towns have begun uprising. Some pirates just… stopped. Others started fighting the World Government directly."
Sabo added, "And we've confirmed it. The Serpent's pulse—registered underwater. It's real."
Dragon's eyes narrowed. "Then this is no longer about rebellion."
He looked to the sky.
"It's survival."
Serpent's Gate — Archive Ruins
Arkan meditated at the edge of the crater left by the Seed. His breath synced with the earth.
Luffy sat beside him. "What do we do now?"
Arkan opened his eyes.
"We wake the rest."
Robin joined them, holding ancient scrolls recovered from the Seed's burst.
"There are twelve Flameborne across the world. Each born to a lost city. Each carrying a fragment of the First Will."
Franky cracked his knuckles. "So it's a recruitment mission?"
Zoro smirked. "Sounds like a hunt."
Brook laughed. "I love collecting friends. Even ones from forgotten civilizations."
Usopp fainted.
Elsewhere — The Grand Line Splits
A tidal surge tore through the Calm Belt.
Islands moved.
Storms formed without clouds.
And in the heart of it all, the Serpent rose—its form intangible, more concept than flesh.
It roared in silence.
And those who heard it… remembered things they never lived.
Final Scene — Back with Veyron
He stood in the Temple of the Mirror, surrounded by relics.
Before him, a single word carved itself into the floor:
"Return."
He smiled.
"So... even the Serpent remembers me."
He turned to the shadows.
"Call the Heralds. All of them."
"And prepare the world for the Eclipse."