Chapter 606: Trading the Essence of the Demon, A Strange Situation!
After hearing Magellan's words, Orochi wanted to argue.
But he stopped himself.
He understood the Dragon Hunter Pirates too well. Their strength was terrifying, and their protectiveness was even worse. Even if Magellan agreed to cooperate, the moment he got caught, he would sell Orochi out without hesitation just to save himself.
And even if Orochi managed to leave Wano Country, that would not mean he was safe.
Still, there was no other choice.
"Fine. Just kill those samurai," Orochi said through clenched teeth.
"Go kill those samurai, and I'll slip away in the chaos."
Then he hesitated for half a breath, as if tearing something precious out of his own chest.
"Here. Take this."
Orochi finished speaking and pulled out a box.
Inside was a single, perfectly pure bead.
"The Essence of Demons!"
Magellan's eyes narrowed. He took the bead between his fingers, studying it for only a moment.
"So this is the thing that supposedly removes the side effects of Devil Fruits?"
Before Orochi could say another word, Magellan put it straight into his mouth.
It was not because he trusted Orochi.
It was because Orochi did not dare to fool him.
Their relationship was nothing but a transaction, each using the other. If Magellan suffered an accident here, Orochi gained nothing from it.
The instant the Essence of Demons dissolved, a strange aura surged around Magellan, rippling in an unsettling way.
Orochi felt that fluctuation and immediately spoke, fast and defensive, as if trying to protect himself from blame before it even existed.
"Let me make this clear first. I don't know if that thing will work. I just happen to have it."
"Even if it doesn't work, even if it has no effect at all, you're still working for me!"
Orochi had never been someone who needed to fight. Back when he was in power, he never had to risk his life personally.
And with the Mythical Zoan Yamata no Orochi, he never worried about safety.
Eight lives.
That was what he always relied on.
He never expected that even with eight lives, he could still be cornered into death.
Now, this was his final gamble.
Magellan's expression did not change.
"I understand."
"Pack your things and get ready to leave."
"Leave the rest to me."
After speaking, Magellan turned around and walked out.
Watching his back disappear, Orochi finally moved.
He rushed to gather his valuables.
As long as he had money, he could live well even after leaving Wano Country.
Everything else was no longer his problem.
It burned, and he hated it, but hatred was useless.
Surviving was already a victory.
…
At the same time, Ryuunosuke and his crew were sailing toward Wano.
"Captain, we're back."
One by one, the Fourth Division members returned to the ship.
Ryuunosuke looked at them.
"So, what did you gain from this battle?"
"There were some gains," Meliodas answered calmly.
"And we found clues about this so called creation of gods."
As he spoke, he took out a purplish black crystal.
"That is the Demon Core."
Ryuunosuke accepted it, weighed it in his palm, and studied it briefly.
"This came from inside those Aragami?"
"No," Meliodas said directly.
"Not from inside their bodies."
"After those Aragami died, the aura Marinlan inherited contained that power."
"After complete purification, it becomes this Demon Core."
"Demon Core…"
Ryuunosuke narrowed his eyes.
"Does that name have some special meaning?"
"It doesn't," Meliodas replied.
"But this is what demons use to control ordinary people."
"And those wild gods may be evolving into demon gods."
Then he paused, as if something else had been chewing at him.
"By the way, Captain. You said before you found a way to leave this world, right?"
"Yes," Ryuunosuke replied.
"We already have a clear direction."
He smiled faintly.
"What, Meliodas? Already itching to run back to Elizabeth?"
For Ryuunosuke, teasing Meliodas was like breathing. Natural, effortless, and far too entertaining.
But Meliodas shook his head.
"No."
"Captain, I mean…"
"When you find a way to leave this world, will you take us with you immediately?"
"We still haven't found what the class needs yet."
"And honestly… I've started to feel curious about this world."
"Maybe it could help solve our world's problems when we go back."
"Can we stay here for the time being?"
He said it plainly, without hiding anything.
Meliodas had been the one constantly asking when they could leave and return to Elizabeth.
He had treated this world, and Ryuunosuke's identity in it, as a trial.
But time changed things.
The more he stayed, the more he realized how much was buried in this world.
Shackles he could never break before had shattered with ease here.
Ryuunosuke nodded.
"Alright."
"But that's something we only discuss after we find the Gate of Eternity."
Then his tone shifted, becoming sharper.
"The Second Division has already arrived in Wano Country."
"Meliodas, come take a look."
"In this situation, if you were there, what would you do?"
"Tell me what you think. Tell me what you notice."
As he spoke, Ryuunosuke pulled out a map.
At the same time, he marked out the factions scattered across Wano.
The Straw Hat Pirates.
Conrad's handyman squad.
The Phantom Troupe.
Orochi.
The samurai.
The Beasts Pirates.
Meliodas stared at it for a few moments, then frowned.
"So this is the current situation in Wano Country?"
"To be honest… it's too bizarre."
"It's obvious we've already taken most of the territory."
"At this point, they shouldn't be able to struggle anymore."
He looked up at Ryuunosuke, confusion obvious.
"Captain, why are you asking me something this strange?"
"That's exactly why I'm suspicious," Ryuunosuke said.
"It feels like something is rotten under the surface."
Then he smiled, the kind of smile that usually meant trouble was about to get punched in the face.
"Come on. This trip to Wano Country shouldn't be boring."
At that moment, Machi's latest message came in.
The Phantom Troupe was in position.
Conrad and the Mink warriors were also there.
Everything was converging.
And the more Ryuunosuke looked at it, the stranger it felt.
Why would anyone charge forward when they already knew they were going to lose?
Did Wano Country shut itself off from the world so long that it also shut off its brain?
The Eternal Ark cut through the sea at full speed.
At this pace, as long as they wasted no time, they would arrive in about a day and a half.
.....
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