As the colossal Death Sandworm emerged from the teleportation circle, the floating warship carrying the captured Celestial Dragons slowly drifted toward the Red Line.
The monstrous bird, Masu Saint's Yatagarasu form, had already positioned itself to retrieve the Celestial Dragons—each one weeping hysterically, their proud arrogance shattered.
At the same time, Souta Kiryuu received a call from the Seraphim Kuma through the transponder snail. According to the report, the two Marine Admirals had already entered the gaping mouth of the Death Sandworm and vanished along with it.
"Do you think I'd lie to you?"
Imu's cold, distant voice echoed in Souta's ears, carried by his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki. His Observation Haki extended like an invisible tide, locking onto Souta's presence.
"You know what? I actually believe you for once," Souta replied flatly.
The moment the massive Death Sandworm's body fully surfaced, he gave a short laugh and instantly took off with his companions.
Masu Saint swooped down in his divine bird form to catch the warship laden with the Celestial Dragons, cradling it away like fragile cargo.
Meanwhile, Souta and his crew flew for some distance before retreating into Bege's internal fortress. Kuma, the Seraphim, then launched Bege away with a single colossal paw strike, sending him through the sky.
Finally, the Seraphim Kuma struck himself—vanishing in a flash as he returned to the sky island.
On Amazon Lily, the situation was dire. Kuma had arrived just in time to save Gloriosa, who was writhing in agony from venom coursing through her veins. Nearby, the fortress-type Seraphim and Mirror Seraphim were busy gathering the remaining citizens of the Kuja tribe.
"Did Souta Kiryuu really pull it off? He actually attacked Mariejois and made a deal with Imu?"
Dragon and Ivankov could barely believe what they were hearing. Souta had done the unthinkable—saving the doomed Amazon Lily through a plan so insane it bordered on divine strategy.
"This… this is beyond anything I've ever seen," Dragon murmured in awe. "He pulled off the ultimate trade—madness wrapped in brilliance."
Kuma smiled faintly as he finished treating Gloriosa, drawing out the last traces of poison before feeding her a high-grade antidote and a crystallized blood dandelion.
"You can always believe in Souta Kiryuu," he said warmly.
"Fwahaha! That boy Souta is absolutely fabulous!"
Ivankov twirled in place, performing a sudden ballet spin, his enormous head wobbling dramatically. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think someone could break the game like this!"
They had been prepared to save only a handful of survivors—yet Souta had saved the entire island.
"Souta is a leader worth following," Dragon admitted. "That foresight, that decisiveness, that courage... I'm not sure I could've done the same."
"If not for him, no one would've believed that Impel Down could be breached so easily—or that Mariejois, the 'Untouchable Holy Land,' could be reduced to ruins."
Kuma's voice was calm, almost nostalgic.
He, a boy from the Sorbet Kingdom once branded a fake tyrant, had grown up under the World Government's propaganda. Like everyone else, he once believed Impel Down was unbreakable, Enies Lobby was a sacred island of eternal justice, and Mariejois—home of the Celestial Dragons—was the dwelling of gods themselves.
But now, Souta Kiryuu's crew had shattered those illusions one by one.
"You know," Ivankov muttered, his tone half in awe and half in disbelief, "the Souta Pirates are starting to feel more like revolutionaries than the actual Revolutionary Army. Do you realize how many Celestial Dragons they've killed?"
He wasn't wrong. The Revolutionary Army had been at work for over twenty years, yet the Souta Pirates had achieved in months what they hadn't in decades. Across the seas, countless oppressed slaves and citizens now saw Souta Kiryuu as the true savior of the world.
To the World Government and Marines, Souta was "Experiment No. 88."
To pirates and the underworld, he was "the God-Slayer."
But to the common people, he was "Lord Ryujin."
And among young women across the seas—he was affectionately (and dangerously) called Daddy Souta.
"After this Mariejois incident, the Souta Pirates will be in grave danger," Dragon warned gravely. "Be careful. And tell Souta to slow down his expansion. Too many spies and traitors are bound to infiltrate his ranks."
He wasn't exaggerating. The Souta Pirates were a volatile mix—veteran revolutionaries, scientists, and criminals from Impel Down. Many of the pirates Souta had freed were powerful but unpredictable. Greedy, ambitious, and dangerous.
No one could be sure when one of them might turn on the crew for power or profit.
"For now, the World Government can't touch us because they can't find our base," Dragon continued. "But the moment they do, they'll unleash their full might. They'll burn it all down."
"Don't worry," Kuma said softly. "We've already selected a second main base."
Dragon blinked. "A second base?"
"Yes," Kuma nodded. "After this, we'll move it to the moon. No one will ever expect that. Even if Sky Island is discovered, we'll have a retreat."
He smiled slightly. "Besides, during the attack, Seraphim Kuma already marked Mariejois' coordinates. If the World Government dares to strike Sky Island, Souta will retaliate by invading Mariejois again—probably bringing along Kaido, the Red Count, and every rogue devil he can rally. That would be a nightmare for the Government."
At that thought, even Dragon smirked. "Then I suppose the Five Elders won't be leaving Mariejois anytime soon."
"They learned their lesson the hard way," Kuma replied. "But next time, the World Government will be ready. The next invasion won't be so easy—they'll likely set traps, trying to lure Souta into their net."
Dragon's face darkened. "Then we must prepare for retaliation. Every member of the Souta Pirates will have their homeland targeted. Their families, their people—none of them will be safe."
"That's a serious problem," Kuma admitted grimly. "I'll discuss it with Souta."
"Fwahaha! You're all worrying too much!" Ivankov suddenly laughed, waving a gloved hand. "If you push Souta too far, he'll just destroy ten allied kingdoms in revenge. That's the kind of man he is! The World Government may hold most of the world's land, but we're the side marching with the tide of history—liberating the world!"
His laughter echoed through the air, bold and defiant.
Kuma smiled faintly. "You might be right."
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mariejois—
The air was thick with fear. Even the Five Elders stood in silence, trembling as they awaited Imu's judgment.
"Restore the Holy Land," Imu said at last, his voice eerily calm. "Bring me all data on Souta Kiryuu and every member of his crew."
He turned, stepping back into the dark void of the Empty Throne Hall. No rage, no thunder—just cold command.
This chaos, after all, was nothing compared to the century-long war eight hundred years ago. Souta Kiryuu and his crew were strong, but they were no Joy Boy. No Great Kingdom.
And yet, starting today, Imu decided to return to the world's stage—no longer just a shadow behind the curtain. The highest authority of the world, and the secret of immortality itself, would soon be revealed to the upper ranks of the Marines and Celestial Dragons.
"Yes, Lord Imu!"
The Five Elders knelt as one, their heads bowed deeply. All around them, Celestial Dragons and Marine officers followed suit, dropping to one knee.
Only Garp didn't. He squatted off to the side with a grin.
"Me? Kneel to someone? Not a chance."
...
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