Ten years ago, when Dean D. Dollars realized he had transmigrated into the world of pirates, he began planning how to overthrow the World Government.
Originally, Dean intended to spend another decade — maybe even two — gradually separating the Marines from the Government's control.
Then, when the time was right, he would join forces with Gol D. Roger, Edward Newgate, and others to declare open war.
But that plan no longer applied.
Over the past ten years in the Marines, Dean had never hidden the "undying" physique granted to him by his system.
The World Government had already taken interest in his body two years earlier.
However, because of his position as a Vice Admiral — and his overwhelming reputation — they had restrained themselves.
Until the Battle of God Valley.
The greatest threat on the seas, the Rocks Pirates, was destroyed.
And they witnessed Dean withstand Rocks D. Xebec's near-awakened shattering power — and return from death once again.
That was the final straw.
After collecting the blood he left behind on God Valley and analyzing the strange vitality within it, even the highest authorities of the World Government were shaken.
Burn the bridge once you've crossed it?
Kill the workhorse once the job is done?
No.
They simply wanted their "hero" to serve them one more time.
By becoming their specimen.
Dean's eyes had never tolerated sand.
Even if this particular incident was initiated by rogue researchers, it didn't matter.
Once the Government understood the true value of his blood, they would move against him sooner or later.
And if he waited—
Tsuru.
Garp.
Sengoku.
Zephyr.
They would all be dragged into it.
Better to act now.
Alone.
Free.
Besides—
He had imagined marching into Mary Geoise countless times.
After God Valley, the system's "rewards" had pushed his strength beyond the level of the future Four Emperors.
His physical durability surpassed Charlotte Linlin.
His regenerative resilience exceeded Kaido.
His mastery of all three forms of Haki had reached their peak.
Combined with the power he had absorbed from Rocks — a crushing force rivaling Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit — Dean was confident.
He could fight his way into Mary Geoise.
Fight his way out.
And leave on his own terms.
...
With a great blade resting on his shoulder, Dean climbed the Red Line alone.
Five minutes later—
He stood before the gates of the Holy Land.
"Vice Admiral Dean D. Dollars, sir… may I ask why you've come?" a guard asked nervously.
BOOM.
His Conqueror's Haki erupted.
Every guard before and behind the gates collapsed instantly.
Dean held his blade loosely in one hand and walked in, casually humming to himself.
"Since I'm here… might as well settle a few scores."
Three minutes later—
Several Celestial Dragons enjoying themselves in a private pool lay decapitated, the water turning crimson.
"Already started. No point stopping halfway," Dean muttered.
Five minutes later—
Mary Geoise was in total chaos.
In less than ten minutes, over twenty Celestial Dragons had been killed.
The slave prisons were broken open one by one.
The Holy Land descended into pandemonium.
In eight hundred years of history, this had never happened.
Later generations would call it:
The Dark Day of Mary Geoise.
...
One hour later—
After freeing the last slave prison, Dean stopped hiding.
He walked openly toward the deepest part of the Holy Land.
"That's far enough."
A bald elder in white robes stepped forward, gripping the Supreme Grade blade Shodai Kitetsu.
One of the Five Elders.
No unnecessary words.
Clang.
Dean's blackened blade collided with the First Generation Kitetsu.
Slash.
A deep wound opened across Dean's shoulder.
"You're too slow, old man."
Dean stepped through.
In the next instant, the Elder's sword arm was severed.
Blood sprayed across the marble floor.
Twenty minutes later—
After breaking through the combined blockade of the remaining Four Elders, Dean — body battered and bloodied — arrived at the deepest chamber.
The Room of Flowers.
He pointed his blade forward.
"Your turn."
Before him sat Imu.
"Madman," Imu said calmly.
...
...
At that very moment—
As Mary Geoise's alarms screamed across the Red Line, Marine Headquarters below descended into chaos.
Sengoku and Rear Admiral Tsuru quickly found Garp.
"Where's Dean?" Tsuru demanded.
"He went with some medical team guys for a checkup. What's wrong?" Garp asked, still not grasping the situation.
"Karp! Which direction?!" Tsuru nearly shouted.
"That way!"
They ran.
Ten minutes later—
They found the underground research facility.
And the neatly cubed remains inside.
"Mary Geoise…"
Tsuru's voice trembled.
She turned and ran without hesitation.
"Karp," Sengoku said urgently, "did Dean say anything before he left?"
"He… told me to apologize to Tsuru-chan for him…"
Karp froze.
Sengoku closed his eyes.
"You're slow sometimes, Garp."
They rushed upward.
Ten minutes later—
Tsuru, Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, and several Marine elites reached the Red Line.
At that exact moment—
BOOM.
A pressure unlike Conqueror's Haki filled heaven and earth.
It felt like the will of the world itself.
The next second—
A crimson beam of light shot from the depths of Mary Geoise, piercing across the sky to the horizon.
BOOM.
Tsuru collapsed weakly to her knees.
Tears streamed silently down her face.
"…Is this really the end?"
...
...
Grand Line.
Kingdom of Alubarna, capital of the Arabasta Kingdom.
"Whoa! Igaram, look! A shooting star!" young Prince Nefertari Cobra shouted excitedly.
BOOM.
...