HUM—
The world went silent.
Complete stillness reigned.
The next moment, the silence was torn apart by a scream that sounded anything but human.
"ARGHH—"
It was two overlapping shrieks of agony—one from Rocks' soul, the other from Teach.
Within the deep violet radiance, Teach's corpulent body was the first to disintegrate.
Not by burning, nor by explosion, but through a far more thorough annihilation.
His skin, muscles, and bones began peeling away and decomposing layer by layer from the outermost surface, dissolving into the tiniest particles before vanishing without a trace.
Next, it was the soul of Rocks dwelling within him that began to burn.
"NOOOO—"
The final roar was abruptly cut short.
Both Teach's body and Rocks' soul were utterly erased in that moment, leaving not even a trace behind in this world.
Simultaneously.
BOOOOMM—
The deep violet light converged into a colossal pillar piercing through the sky, originating from Black Soil Island, surging upward to the sky and shooting straight toward the starry river!
Beneath the pillar, the seawater at the port instantly vaporized, forming a massive void several kilometers in diameter.
Immediately after, the surrounding seawater rushed in violently, only to be vaporized again the moment it touched the residual waves of the light pillar, creating towering walls of water that cyclically formed and vanished in succession.
All the onlookers in the distance stood frozen in place, as if collectively petrified by magic.
After a long while.
The deep violet pillar that illuminated the sky and earth, as if having fulfilled its purpose, gradually faded until it dissipated into nothingness.
Night once again enveloped the land, the boiling seawater gradually calmed, and the world returned to its original state.
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise, Chamber of Flowers.
Imu stood in the garden, her rinnegan-like eyes reflecting the fleeting purple brilliance that had flashed across the sky in the New World.
Only after that purple light completely vanished did she withdraw her gaze, her voice devoid of any fluctuation.
"It's over."
The four attendants behind her—Saturn, Ethanbaron, Warcury, and Garling—remained silent.
They too had sensed that world-destroying power and the complete demise of an old era's overlord.
Imu slowly turned and walked toward her bed chamber, her posture as graceful as if she were strolling through the garden.
After taking a few steps, she suddenly paused, glancing back at the four and speak with a casual tone as if she was discussing the weather.
"Mu said, this era belongs to Orion. No one can shake that."
She paused briefly, a faint, imperceptible curve forming beneath her veil.
"Including Mu."
Having said that, she paid them no further mind and proceeded directly into her bedchamber.
"Imu-sama."
Gunko appeared swiftly, cautiously reporting, "Regarding Sharlia, after all this time, there are still no signs of pregnancy. It seems she hasn't conceived."
Imu walked to the window, gazing at the nightscape of the Holy Land outside, seemingly unsurprised by this outcome.
Gunko bowed her head even lower and continued, "Additionally, according to the intelligence we've gathered, during the period when he led the interns on their training expedition, Hancock, the Empress of Amazon Lily, has been constantly by Orion's side and has engaged with him multiple times."
The temperature in the bedchamber plummeted abruptly.
Imu slowly turned around, a trace of icy coldness finally emerging in her usually placid eyes.
"Why was this reported only now?"
"That lowly woman Hancock is not worthy of bearing Orion's child!"
"I will immediately go and bring Hancock back to the Holy Land!" Gunko rose, preparing to leave.
"Unnecessary." Imu waved her hand, stopping her. "It would not be wise for you to retrieve Hancock now."
Gunko cautiously asked, "But what if Hancock becomes pregnant?"
"It doesn't matter," Imu's tone returned to indifference. "Don't concern yourself with which women climb into Orion's bed. In a few decades, they'll all be reduced to pretty skeletons. The only one who can achieve eternal life with Orion is me."
Gunko continued cautiously, "Then... should Sharlia be made to leave the Chamber of Flowers?"
Imu nodded. "A useless woman who can't conceive has no right to remain in the Chamber of Flowers. Let her continue managing Orion's farm."
"Yes."
Receiving the order, Gunko silently withdrew.
The bedchamber returned to silence once more.
Imu walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the night sky over the New World.
Unconsciously, the corners of her mouth beneath the veil curved into a faint smile.
She extended a pale finger, as if to touch the distant stars, or as if to grasp something in her palm.
"Orion!"
A whisper only Imu could hear echoed through the quiet bedchamber.
"In a hundred years, you will be mine."
...
A new day arrived.
The sun rose as usual.
New World, Whitebeard Pirates' territory, Moby Dick's deck.
A blue flame descended from the sky.
Marco retracted his wings and quickly approached Whitebeard's massive chair, his expression unusually grave.
"Pops, something major has happened!"
"What has you so flustered, Marco?" Whitebeard opened his eyes, his voice booming.
"News from Blacksoil Island!" Marco said solemnly. "Last night, Fleet Admiral Orion unexpectedly encountered the Blackbeard Pirates led by Teach. The two sides clashed in battle at Sherman Port on Blacksoil Island!"
The busy division commanders on deck instantly gathered around.
"What was the outcome?" Diamond Jozu asked in his deep voice.
Marco took a deep breath. "The Blackbeard Pirates, including Teach, were completely annihilated!"
"What?!"
"Dead? That bastard died just like that?!"
"Excellent! He got what he deserved!"
"Damn it! He got off too easy! I really wanted to capture him myself and bring him before Thatch's grave to atone!"
The division commanders immediately erupted into commotion—some relieved, some satisfied, but most regretting they couldn't personally execute the traitor.
Only Whitebeard showed no emotion.
He slowly looked up at the sky, his cloudy eyes seeming to swirl with storm clouds.
After several seconds, he finally spoke.
"Even if Teach obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit, he couldn't have lasted that long against Orion."
"The one who fought Orion head-on last night wasn't Teach."
Marco was stunned. "Not Teach? Then who was it? Pops, the sky above Blacksoil Island was split open last night. Could Shanks have joined the fight?"
"Shanks?" Whitebeard blinked and waved his hand. "That red-haired brat is too clever. If he stepped in now, he'd end up just like Kaido and Linlin. He wouldn't go."
At this point, Whitebeard fell silent, narrowing his eyes.
The commotion last night had been too immense.
Though the Moby Dick was far from Blacksoil Island, he had still caught a faint, familiar presence.
A presence that should have completely vanished from God Valley over thirty years ago.
The aura was wild and domineering, filled with a desire for destruction and conquest, like the return of an old acquaintance.
Yet in the end, it dissipated like smoke before another, more terrifying and absolute power.
In the silence, Whitebeard couldn't help but recall scenes from the Battle of God Valley years ago.
Back then, on the battlefield of God Valley, that man, armed with nothing but a sword, laughed maniacally as he confronted the elite forces of the World Government—the Marines, the Five Elders including Saint Saturn, and even members of the God's Knights.
He had thought that battle would be their final farewell, yet over thirty years later, he once again sensed that familiar, long-lost presence.
Though it was as fleeting as a blossom of the epiphyllum.
Still, it inexplicably made Whitebeard nostalgic for the days when he followed that man, fighting battles across the lands.
He lifted the enormous wine bowl beside him and took a large gulp.
The fiery liquor burned his throat but failed to suppress the complex, indescribable emotions in his heart.
"Gurararara…"
Whitebeard set down the bowl and let out a sorrowful laugh.
"Speaking of which, I still owe you quite a few drinks—"
"Rocks!"
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