Chapter 12: Finally, Reverse Mountain!

On the North Blue route leading to the Grand Line, ships came and went frequently. It was a bustling scene, with not only merchant vessels and the self-proclaimed righteous Marines, but also pirate ships flying various skull-and-crossbones flags. Hundreds of vessels vied with each other, all striving to reach the towering Reverse Mountain and witness the splendor of the Grand Line.

A pirate ship, its flag bearing a grinning face struck through with a prohibition symbol, sailed this very route. It cut a lonely figure, leaving only faint ripples in its wake.

As the saying goes, on a long voyage, only wine is your companion.

Aside from the necessary training, the members of the Donquixote Pirates could only find solace in wine to relieve the monotony of their journey.

Although Doflamingo was quite lenient with his subordinates and didn't interfere much, entertainment options on the open sea were limited. Their only amusement was to drown their sorrows, or find their joy, in drink.

"We're here! We're here! Look, ahead! It's the Red Line!" The lookout suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's attention. They all rushed to look at the distant red landmass.

A ring-shaped continent intersecting the Grand Line in a cross, Reverse Mountain, the gateway to the Grand Line, was a part of it. Because of its immense height, it was a place all pirates had to pass through. Together with the Grand Line, it divided the ocean into four sections: East Blue, South Blue, West Blue, and North Blue. No matter which of the four seas a pirate came from, if they wanted to enter the Grand Line, they first had to cross the Red Line, and they needed to ride the currents of Reverse Mountain. When people saw the Red Line a second time, it meant that these rookie pirates, having circumnavigated half the world, were about to enter the New World.

To cross the Red Line a second time, there were two options. One was to request permission from the World Government – the safest choice, and the route used by the Marines to enter the New World. The other was to dive 10,000 meters below the sea to reach Fish-Man Island, which had a gap in the Red Line leading directly to the New World. This option carried a certain degree of risk, potentially leading to shipwrecks and death, but the vast majority of pirates chose to pass through Fish-Man Island. After all, the Holy Land of Mariejois was the seat of the world's highest authority, the Five Elders, and the location of the World Government headquarters. The forces of justice were abundant there, and no pirate dared to provoke them.

And at the end of the Grand Line – Laugh Tale – the Red Line could be seen again. Those who saw the Red Line for the third time were those who stood at the pinnacle of piracy – the Pirate King!

Looking at the familiar Red Line, Doflamingo recalled the lore surrounding the Grand Line and the Red Line. As a former Celestial Dragon who had resided on the Red Line, Doflamingo was no stranger to it. Yet, each time he saw this magnificent continent, he was still struck by its grandeur, a sight that inspired awe.

"We're about to enter Reverse Mountain. Everyone, be alert!" Doflamingo pulled himself back to the present and issued orders to those around him.

Due to the powerful currents of the Four Blues, seawater could even defy gravity and flow upwards, carving out four reverse waterways on the mountain. These ultimately converged into a single channel leading to the Grand Line, resembling an "X" shape.

Such a miraculous sight, like a divine act, drew praise from all who witnessed it. It was truly a masterpiece of nature.

Even though Doflamingo had seen Reverse Mountain's wonders in manga and anime before, being there in person, witnessing this miraculous scene firsthand, feeling the surging mist and the rushing currents, evoked an unprecedented surge of emotion within him. Perhaps everyone who saw such a scene would feel a surge of heroic spirit.

No wonder countless people threw themselves into the sea, seeking thrilling adventures. This was what they were pursuing, wasn't it?

Indeed, what could be more exhilarating than adventure? It was as if his blood were on fire, his entire body trembling with excitement.

"The seawater… is flowing up the mountain!?"

Most of the crew members on the ship stared in disbelief, their eyes wide.

"So this is Reverse Mountain, the convergence of the Four Blues' currents, the only way to the Grand Line!"

"This is incredible! I'm definitely going to brag about this to my brothers when I get back!"

Doflamingo remained immersed in this magnificent scene for a long time, unable to pull himself away.

Driven by the current, the ship finally entered the channel and began its ascent towards the summit of Reverse Mountain.

The mighty current propelled the ship to the very top. Standing at the peak of Reverse Mountain, Doflamingo could finally appreciate the meaning of the ancient saying, "When you reach the highest peak, you realize how small all other mountains are."

Having climbed to the summit of Reverse Mountain with the current, Doflamingo and his crew were guided by the flow into a large loop, finally turning onto the channel leading into the Grand Line.

At this point, they could still see three other channels where seawater flowed upwards – the routes leading to the other three seas.

The exit of Reverse Mountain was the Twin Cape. It was a shame he didn't get to see Laboon, the giant whale. At this point in time, Laboon was still waiting for Brook's news and hadn't yet begun to ram the Red Line. Otherwise, those entering the Grand Line through Reverse Mountain would have a much less tranquil, and much more jarring experience.

After a series of twists and turns, Doflamingo had finally entered the Grand Line.

Just as Doflamingo entered the Grand Line, the North Blue Marine branch received news of the complete annihilation of the One-Eyed Pirates, a crew with a 50 million berry bounty. What shocked the Marines was that a pirate crew of considerable strength had been wiped out by an unknown crew. It seemed there were more and more monsters on the seas. For the sake of justice, they had to eliminate all pirates, one by one. A pathetic vow.

At the North Blue Marine branch, Commodore Degas, upon receiving this news, frowned deeply and sighed. "How outrageous. Another powerful pirate crew is emerging in the North Blue. In recent years, the efforts to crack down on pirates have weakened. Not only in the North Blue branch, but the strength of the Marines in all four sea branches has been greatly reduced. They pose no threat to the truly vicious criminals."

However, Degas was utterly powerless. Although he held the rank of Commodore, his strength was inferior to even a Major from headquarters. He had the will to fight pirates, but lacked the power. Over the years, as he practiced justice, he gradually realized that pirates could never be completely eradicated. The once-burning passion in his heart, for the sake of that bit of justice, had gradually cooled after witnessing the ugliness of the world. He was just drawing a salary and getting by. It was normal, after all; this was the true mental state of the Marines in the Four Blues.

"Someone, immediately notify the government to expedite the issuance of their bounties. Also, inform Marine Headquarters that they have entered the Grand Line," Degas instructed his subordinates in a business-like manner.

Truly righteous Marines were not few, but they were rare in the Four Blues. Just look at how the "weakest sea" had been corrupted by the Marines' "justice." Not every Marine wanted to uphold that pathetic justice; all they sought was basic sustenance and stability. After all, with such meager salaries, why risk their lives? It was much more fulfilling to turn a blind eye and collude with pirates to bleed the common people dry. How pathetic, not daring to wield their swords against pirates, but instead sucking the blood of the people they were supposed to protect.

But who could discern all the intricacies within? The pure remained pure, and the corrupt remained corrupt. In this rotten world, everyone was just trying to survive. It was just that some lived like noble swans, while others lived like dogs. No matter what, it was already difficult enough just to stay alive.

The Grand Line, the starting point of dreams. Who knew how many brave men it had swallowed up, and who knew how many more would follow, relentlessly pursuing their dreams? After all, a man's dreams never end.

The journey ahead would not be as peaceful as it had been in the North Blue. More intense and bloody battles awaited Doflamingo. Onwards, to the Grand Line!