No, it wasn't just about being unable to move.
As the approaching presence drew nearer, the oppressive force of the Conqueror's Haki grew increasingly terrifying. The vines throughout the forest instinctively recoiled and trembled in fear.
And the tree trunk where his main body resided—crack—split open with several fissures!
"This aura…"
Fujitora's face twitched violently from the pressure as he looked up, somewhat surprised. "So the Captain has returned after all…"
How strange. It had only been a day and a night.
Had the decisive battle between the two Sea Emperors ended so quickly? Had a victor already been decided?
He had been prepared to fight Aramaki for days on end.
But now, it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.
"Hey, leafy tree-man."
Nami perked up, crossing her arms with a mischievous grin. "What was it you were saying earlier? Something about sounding the horn of counterattack… Why don't you repeat it in front of my brother?"
Aramaki's face darkened.
He had no time to spare for Nami, his gaze locked onto the distant sky. The countless rumors about that man flashed through his mind before he finally gritted his teeth and roared in fury:
"Damn it! Consider yourselves lucky this time!"
Whoosh!
All the vines rapidly retracted as Aramaki reverted to his human form and leaped onto the sea's surface, the giant yellow flower sprouting once more atop his head.
"But don't think this is over! Sooner or later, I'll make you Pirates pay the price!"
After his hollow threat, he fled without looking back, the giant flower spinning wildly as he shot across the ocean, leaving a white trail of froth in his wake.
However.
Something was faster than him.
"Pay the price? You mean yourself?"
The world was suddenly bathed in a black-and-red glow as a massive Sword Aura tore through the air, catching up to the fleeing Aramaki in mere moments.
Divine Departure!
Aramaki shuddered at the killing intent surging from behind him. He barely managed to twist his body to evade—but the slash still severed his right arm at the shoulder.
"AAAAARGH!!!"
Blood gushed out as his arm fell. Aramaki let out a bloodcurdling scream but didn't dare stop. Clenching his teeth, he forced the giant flower to spin even faster, accelerating his desperate escape.
"Hmph. You run fast, at least."
Xiano's figure finally appeared high in the sky. He casually caught the severed arm, watching the green figure flee in disgrace before letting out a cold laugh.
"Bro!"
Nami waved excitedly from below. Xiano glanced down and descended, ruffling her hair.
"You did well."
"Hehe!"
Nami puffed out her chest proudly, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Of course I'm amazing! If it weren't for me, Issho wouldn't have been able to beat that green monster so badly!"
Then she noticed the bandages on Xiano's body, and her smile froze. Panicked, she began inspecting him closely.
"Bro, how are you hurt this badly? Was it that old hag BIGMOM? What happened to her? And Bonney—did you save her?"
"The wounds are already healed. Don't worry."
Xiano shook his head with a smile.
He had only just finished the battle before teleporting back from Totto Land.
Wrapped in supreme-grade bandages, the blood on his body had been wiped clean by Chopper, and the wounds, after simple treatment, had mostly healed.
However, his stamina hadn't fully recovered yet, making long-distance pursuit impossible for now.
"As for BIGMOM, she's already dead. Bonney has been rescued too. Rest easy—the war is over, and Totto Land is now under my control."
"Eh?!!!"
Nami's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open.
That BIGMOM… was already dead?
The news was so shocking that it took her a long moment to process it. Counting on her fingers, she couldn't help but jump up and throw her arms around Xiano's neck, beaming with joy:
"It's been less than 24 hours since the war started, and you've already taken down one of the Four Emperors?! Holy crap, that's insane!"
Truly her invincible big brother!
Truly the World's Greatest Swordsman!
"Cough… let go…"
She clung to him like a koala, making his wounds ache faintly. Xiano patted her back helplessly before prying her off:
"I'll explain the details later. You can call your sister if you want to ask her. Right now, I'm exhausted—just want to take a bath and grab some food."
He turned to Fujitora and nodded. "Good work, Issho."
Fujitora still wore a dazed expression, clearly not yet recovered from the shock.
She's really dead?!
Compared to Nami, he understood the weight of BIGMOM's status as one of the veteran Four Emperors far better.
And thus, he could immediately grasp the sheer significance of killing her within a single day…
After finally digesting the news, Fujitora bowed slightly, a smile appearing on his face:
"It's enough that the Captain has returned safely. As for my part, it was merely my duty."
When he raised his head again, the rising sun cast its light upon Xiano, gilding him in a radiant golden glow—so dazzling it was almost divine.
Fujitora couldn't help but feel another wave of awe.
Joining the Curtain Closer, following Xiano… had he truly made the best choice of his life?
"Alright, enough standing around. Let's go—time to head back!"
Xiano didn't notice Fujitora's reverie. Stretching lazily, he burst into laughter and slung an arm around each of their shoulders:
"This time, we've won a massive victory! Tell Zeff to get ready—once the fleet returns, we're throwing a huge banquet!"
——————
Holy Land Mariejois, the Room of Authority.
The Five Elders had gathered unusually in full, seated around the sofa, the air so tense it felt suffocating.
The latest intelligence collected by the CP department was spread carelessly across the table, the photos within stinging the eyes of everyone present.
"To think he's already capable of killing a Sea Emperor…"
The blond Elder took a deep breath, speaking gravely. "Ever since that man from the Davy Back Fight was eliminated, it's been far too long since we've felt a threat of this magnitude…"
The kimono-clad Elder holding Ghost Cutter also wore a grim expression. "Fellow stars, what do you think? Does this man possess the ability to break through that barrier?"
"Hard to say…"
The white-bearded Elder shook his head. "However, Lord Imu seems to have finally taken an interest in him. Orders have been given to deliver the latest bounty poster photos to him."
"Finally…"
The kimono-clad Elder's expression trembled with shock. Even the Pirate King Roger from back then hadn't reached the level where Imu-sama would issue such a specific order.
For a moment.
The Chamber of Authority fell into dead silence.
"Our master's thoughts are beyond our comprehension."
Saint Saturn leaned on his cane and spoke slowly:
"Let's not indulge in wild speculation. What we can do now is have Marine Headquarters increase their surveillance on this individual. Additionally, we need to urgently reassess his threat level and raise his bounty."
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
—————
Ocean Era Calendar, May 16th, 1517.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, the war in Totto Land finally drew to a close.
Numerous News Birds took flight across the seas as the World Economic Journal's special emergency edition spread this earth-shattering news across the world in banner headlines!
The front page featured a massive photograph that dominated the entire spread.
—In the rising dawn, Xiano stood exhausted, looking into the distance amidst drizzling rain, with BIGMOM's corpse lying at his feet.
In the written report below.
Morgans, the president of the news agency, personally penned with dramatic flair:
"Without a doubt, everyone! This is a battle worthy of being recorded in the annals of the Great Pirate Era! The World's Greatest Swordsman Xiano, at just 19 years old, used his absolute strength to slay the Queen of Totto Land who had ruled the New World for decades—all in less than a day!"
"From this day forward, no one can deny—the Curtain Closer has become one of the world's most powerful forces, and Xiano himself is the man closest to that supreme throne upon these seas! The title of 'Strongest Creature' held by Kaido of the Beasts may soon need to be passed to another!"
The news was so shocking, and with Morgans' various manipulations and behind-the-scenes efforts.
Within just a day or two.
It spread like a storm, shaking the entire world!
Sold out!
Reprinted!
Sold out again!
Reprinted again!
It reached the point where nearly everyone had a copy, not only setting a new sales record for the World Economic Journal but also elevating Xiano's reputation to unprecedented heights!
If before, there were still many who held doubts or adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward Xiano, this newly risen Sea Emperor...
Thinking that since he hadn't formally clashed with the other Sea Emperors, his bounty reaching the 4 billion Berry level was only due to his killing of a Celestial Dragon, and that he ultimately couldn't compare to the veteran Four Emperors...
Then now, all doubters had been thoroughly slapped in the face, and all skepticism had completely vanished!
Those who have defeated Sea Emperors were not unheard of in the past few decades.
But a monster capable of killing a Sea Emperor...
Absolutely unprecedented, and he stands alone!
——————
New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
"Gurararara! Come take a look, sons!"
Whitebeard set down his sake cup and raised the freshly delivered newspaper high, his hearty laughter echoing across the deck. "That brat actually did it!"
"Oyaji, what happened?"
Marco rubbed his sleepy eyes as he emerged from the cabin, while the other division commanders gathered around curiously.
When they saw the bold headline on the front page and the contents of the photograph, the entire ship fell silent for a moment before erupting into uproar!
"Am I seeing this right?"
"Is this for real?!"
"Hey, hey..."
Izo stared at the bloodstained profile of Xiano in the photograph, his throat tightening as he unconsciously swallowed hard. "If I remember correctly, this monster isn't even twenty yet, right? And he actually took down one of the Four Emperors..."
"Hey! Look at this!"
Diamond Jozu, sharp-eyed as ever, pointed at something tucked within the newspaper. "The Marines updated the bounty poster too! Xiano's bounty went from around 4.1 billion to... Hey, stop pushing! It's gonna fly away!"
Whoosh!
A fresh bounty poster fluttered onto the deck in the sea breeze. Everyone lowered their heads in unison, their gazes fixed on it—
[DEAD OR ALIVE]
[Captain of the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates, World's Greatest Swordsman, Xiano]
[$5,020,000,000]
"F-five... five billion and twenty million Berry?!"
A collective gasp echoed across the deck.
"Come on, that's way too insane!"
Marco's jaw nearly hit the floor. "This just blew past the other three Sea Emperors in one go?! It's almost on par with Pops, practically no difference at all!"
"After Roger's death, Pops has been the only one with a bounty exceeding five billion Berry," Vista added, wiping cold sweat. "And now, we finally have a second?"
Four billion Berry marked the realm of the Four Emperors, enough to send tremors across the world.
But breaking the five-billion threshold? That was an entirely different league!
Those who reached such heights transcended their era, etching their names in bold strokes across the pages of Ocean Era Calendar history—true legends!
Rocks. Roger. Whitebeard.
Every single one of them fit the bill.
"Jumping straight to this level makes sense. Someone's scared," Whitebeard mused, his smile fading as his gaze turned distant. "The weight of killing a Four Emperor far surpasses just defeating one... Not to mention, that brat's age and potential are what truly terrify the World Government."
As for the fallen Linlin, his former crewmate...
Perhaps she deserved a moment of regret—or perhaps not.
Whitebeard paused, then suddenly burst into booming laughter:
"Gurararara! Never mind all that! This is what makes it exciting! The so-called 'tides of the new era' used to be just empty words, but now? They're really starting to capsize the ships of the old!"
——————
"Over five billion?!"
On the deck of the Spade Pirates, Ace, seated at the bow, nearly popped his eyes out, repeatedly checking the numbers in disbelief. "A straight-up nine-billion Berry increase?! Which means..."
"That's three of you, added in one go," Deuce remarked with a smirk as he approached from behind.
"You were the one who made that grand declaration, saying you'd surpass Lord Xiano's bounty within a year and then challenge him..."
Could he even catch up now?
Ace's face flushed red.
Well, that had just been bravado anyway. Reaching Xiano's level was no easy feat—better to set it aside for now.
What really intrigued him were the other Supernovas who had joined the Falling Stars. Just how far had they climbed...?
"Hey, Deuce, quit gloating and help me look for theirs."
The two flipped through the newspaper and soon found what they were looking for—the stack of wanted posters belonging to the Curtain Closer.
Aside from Xiano himself, it seemed the bounties of most of his top officers had also increased:
["Wind Erosion" Kuina]
Vice-Captain of the Curtain Closer, Supreme Officer.
Bounty: 1,520,000,000 Berry—Dead or Alive!
...
["Star Fall" Issho]
Headquarters of the Curtain Closer, Supreme Officer.
Bounty: 2,530,000,000 Berry—Dead or Alive!
...
["Thunderfall" Bartholomew Kuma]
Headquarters of the Curtain Closer, Supreme Officer.
Bounty: 1,447,000,000 Berry—Dead or Alive!
...
["Defecting Hunter" Smoker]
Headquarters of the Curtain Closer, Combatant & Shipwright.
Bounty: 830,000,000 Berry—Dead or Alive!
...
"Wait a second!"
Ace hastily raised his hand to stop them, scratching his head in confusion.
"Aren't the Curtain Closer supposed to be the 'Four Calamities'? There are only three Supreme Officers here before it jumps to this Smoker guy... Wait, wasn't he originally a Marine from the East Blue? Damn, his bounty more than doubled—that's terrifying."
"The remaining Supreme Officer is 'Rumbling' Jack."
Deuce adjusted his eyepatch and explained with a smile:
"According to the detailed report in the newspaper, it seems he was one of the three unlucky officers from the Curtain Closer who lost their fights—and got beaten pretty badly. So out of all the Supreme Officers, he's the only one whose bounty didn't increase at all. Still a flat ten billion."
"Eh?! There are three who got humiliated like that?"
Ace blinked. "Who are the other two?"
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