After the Demon King of Songs was destroyed, the Red Hair Pirates didn't celebrate at all.
Instead, they looked at Caelan with nervous, surprised expressions.
"Hey, shouldn't you worry about yourself?"
Shanks looked at Caelan with a grave expression.
After delivering that final blow, Caelan's body began to crumble. His entire form looked like shattered ceramic, reeking of decay and impending death.
Borsalino and Aokiji landed on the island with a group of Vice Admirals. They stayed silent, simply watching Caelan quietly.
As if mourning.
This man had sacrificed his life to destroy the demon that threatened the world. It was hard to believe.
But with Caelan's death, the World Government and Navy would no longer need to be so wary.
Nami, Robin, and the other women had tears in their eyes, unable to understand why Caelan would do something so foolish.
Saving the world was important, but to them, Caelan being alive mattered more.
Uta, who had been saved by Caelan, also had tears in her eyes.
Ten years ago, she had accidentally summoned the Demon King and destroyed an entire country. Back then, Shanks had taken all the blame for her.
Now, she had summoned the Demon King again, and Caelan had sacrificed himself for her.
Guilt, self-blame, and a flood of mixed emotions surged in her heart.
Hey, you guys didn't really think I'd die, did you?
Looking at everyone's different expressions, Caelan was speechless.
He was not the type to sacrifice himself to save the world.
"Relax, it's just a fatal injury."
"Oh, right. Uta, remember when I said I wanted to invite you to be my crewmate? Are you willing?"
As Caelan felt his body begin to collapse, he spoke with a strange calmness, as though he had transcended life and death.
"Yes! Of course I'm willing!"
Uta grabbed Caelan's hand, but the moment she did, his hand crumbled like clay. Tears streamed from her eyes.
"I'm glad you agreed. Just don't regret it."
Caelan spoke as if it were nothing, and confirmed again.
"I'll never regret it. I'll take good care of your crew!"
Uta cried as she spoke, her tone sincere and unwavering.
You'll take care of my wife and kids? Should I be worried...?
Caelan found it a bit strange hearing that, but since Uta agreed, he was satisfied.
"Let me handle the crew. That includes you too."
Caelan smiled lightly as he spoke.
"Huh!?"
A bunch of question marks popped into everyone's minds.
You're already turning into dust, and now you're saying you'll take care of the crew? Are you going to do that as a ghost?
Just then, when only half of Caelan's head remained, the Twelve Labours activated!
Black smoke burst from Caelan's body, covering the area around him.
In the dim light, Caelan's body began rapidly healing. His limbs and torso were restored.
As if time had reversed, his body was completely reconstructed.
Everyone gasped sharply, completely shocked.
He was literally about to turn to ash. How the hell did he come back like that?
"Just as I thought."
Caelan moved his body and took stock of the changes.
With his resurrection, all of his states were refreshed. Even Karna's Noble Phantasms had reset.
In other words, he could still launch more attacks.
Without wasting any time, the revived Caelan sprang into action again.
He wasn't going to let the Golden Lion in the sky get away.
The Golden Lion was already over 10,000 meters away, and only a vague trace of divine spear energy lingered in the air.
But that didn't matter. The power of an EX-rank Noble Phantasm was beyond imagination.
"O' Sun, Become Armor!"
"O' Sun, Abide to Death!"
Caelan's voice was solemn as he chanted again.
To everyone's numb astonishment, he once more poured all his vitality into the divine spear.
That golden spear of lightning that destroyed everything reappeared in the world.
This time, the target was the Golden Lion in the sky, 10,000 meters away.
Even if he couldn't lock on precisely, he'd just destroy the entire area.
With the Spear, another fatal blow was launched.
Before anyone could react, a golden line slashed across the sky.
With that one strike, the sky within a one-kilometer radius shattered like glass.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, a second sun exploded in the sky, lingering for a long time.
The legendary pirate, the Golden Lion, was struck by Caelan from 10,000 meters away.
Or rather, the very sky he occupied had been obliterated.
But no one had the time or interest to marvel at this miracle. All eyes remained fixed on Caelan.
The next moment.
In front of everyone's shocked expressions, Caelan's breath of life disappeared again.
But this time, no one believed he was truly dead.
Sure enough, as black smoke rose once more…
In everyone's monster-like gaze, Caelan's shattered body reversed again through time, returning to its complete form.
"Very nice. Feels good."
Caelan stretched out and looked completely relaxed.
"Who did you just target?"
Beckman had a guess in mind, but still found it hard to believe.
Targeting the sky? Only the Golden Lion, with the Float-Float Fruit, would be up there.
But the distance was just too great. It was hard to imagine anyone capable of attacking from so far.
"The Golden Lion. After the mess he made in the East Blue, I couldn't let him get away."
Caelan answered casually, not caring much.
"To die under such a miracle is a worthy end."
Beckman sighed, accepting the Golden Lion's fate.
No one doubted Caelan's words. The power of those two attacks was still fresh in their minds.
Everyone was stunned. Those two blows had transcended everything.
But with that awe came many doubts.
Anyone could tell that this technique came at the cost of a life.
Wasn't it reckless to use such a devastating method twice in a row?
Or maybe, to Caelan, this move wasn't a taboo at all.
"Can you do it again?"
After a long silence, Borsalino finally asked the question on everyone's mind.
"After all, it's a skill that costs one's life. This was truly the last time."
Caelan shook his head, clearly regretful.
Though the Noble Phantasm was powerful, it consumed one life with each use. He had already burned through two of his twelve lives and needed time to recover.
Until then, he wasn't planning to use the Vasavi Shakti again.
He was a cautious person. Having at least ten lives gave him peace of mind.
"Haha, yeah right."
Borsalino's mouth twitched, clearly not buying Caelan's claim.
Two uses, and he used them so casually?
He still remembered how Caelan had pretended to be dead during their fight on Sabaody Archipelago.
That memory was still fresh in his mind.
But at least back then, Caelan still had an intact body. It made sense he could come back.
This time, he had literally turned into ash… and yet he was still alive?
(To be continued.)
***
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