"So, to uncover the truth, a secret faction has arisen within the Celestial Dragons!"
"They continue to present themselves to the world as mere nobles, like pigs parading for everyone to see."
"But behind the scenes, they have long awakened their own will!"
"And I…"
Doflamingo slowly extended an arm, revealing a unique tattoo on his wrist.
"I am one of their chosen."
"The newest Apostle!!!"
"Apostle?!"
Everyone stared at the circular symbol on Doflamingo's wrist, curiosity and awe flickering across their faces.
Doflamingo retracted his arm and continued:
"Yes, an Apostle."
"No one knows exactly when it began, but in every era, there are always one or two Apostles hiding in the corners of time."
"Some act to push events, some observe, but Apostles never become the main protagonists of their era!"
Truly… ironic!!!
Doflamingo lowered his head and let out a soft, bitter laugh.
The sound carried a strange austerity, revealing a stubborn determination beneath.
But he quickly composed himself and continued:
"The reasons Apostles appear are countless, their behavior and personality vary, yet every time the previous Apostle completes their mission, a new Apostle is chosen."
"It is as if fate itself connects them, generation after generation."
"And all Apostles share one unifying trait…"
"We are all Celestial Dragons!"
BOOM!!!
A fierce shockwave erupted across the small conference table!
Documents on the table flew backward, scattering behind Doflamingo!
"You… are a Celestial Dragon?!"
A surge of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Hancock's body!
"Calm down, Hancock!"
Before she could rise, Luffy shouted, halting her instantly.
A colossal pressure pressed down on Hancock, swallowing her Haki like a stream merging into the sea, forcing the once-uncontrollable pirate empress to calm herself.
"Relax, Hancock…"
Robin spoke up, offering solace at the right moment:
"One day, those who caused you pain will experience it again in their own lives."
Gradually, Hancock's heart steadied.
In truth…
Despite her recent display of confidence, it had all been a façade.
The repeated mention of Celestial Dragons had made her uneasy, her heart racing.
When Doflamingo admitted he was one of them, panic surged through her.
She had used forcefulness to dispel that fear.
Doflamingo regarded Hancock thoughtfully but ignored her previous outburst.
Under Luffy's glance, he continued:
"As I mentioned, the Celestial Dragons—descendants of the twenty royal families—possess an inherent divinity. This is a term used to describe the power of their bloodline."
"However, Apostles can only connect with Celestial Dragons in one direction, so my understanding of their bloodline abilities is limited."
"Most of what I know comes from the previous generation of Apostles, who explained 'divinity' to me…"
Heh heh heh…
At that moment, Moria chuckled smugly, taking over the explanation under the astonished eyes of everyone present:
"The Blood of the Celestial Dragons…."
"The strength of this bloodline is undeniable."
"Even after hundreds of years, its power does not diminish."
"Even without new bloodlines introduced over centuries, the blood remains unchanged."
"But that is not the strongest aspect of Celestial Dragon blood!"
"Moria, you…"
Luffy widened his eyes, interrupting Moria, curious how he had obtained so much information.
Moria, reading Luffy's thoughts instantly, smiled again:
Heh heh heh…
"Luffy, all these questions will be answered once you and I reach the Terror Trireme in the New World."
"Uh…"
Luffy paused briefly, then composed himself and said:
"Continue."
"Very well, Luffy!"
Moria resumed, detailing what he knew:
"From the diaries, it is clear that Celestial Dragons have always been divided into clans."
"The twenty royal families each have their territories and survival methods."
"This ensures each clan preserves its bloodline intact."
"And this brings me to my next point."
"The Blood of the Celestial Dragons cannot be mixed!"
"If two different clans unite, their child carries two competing bloodlines."
"This leads to a struggle within, which can sometimes result in stillbirth."
"However, this is rare, thanks to the immense regenerative power of their blood."
"In a fully formed child, ultimately only the victorious bloodline flows."
"Yet…"
"The struggle consumes power, slightly weakening the divine blood over time."
"In a secret experiment, some Celestial Dragons discovered that if divine blood merges with common blood…"
"The child born would possess even greater divine power!"
"Common blood does not compete—it merely serves as nourishment, enhancing the divine blood."
"Therefore, the ancient rule forbidding Celestial Dragons from marrying outsiders likely stems from the fear of creating uncontrollable powerhouses."
"They also have some guesses about the abilities of the blood itself."
Moria raised his right index finger:
"One, Celestial Dragon blood grants immense physical ability."
"Even without training, one can possess strength and regenerative ability far beyond ordinary humans."
"Two, as mentioned in the diaries, the blood heightens sensitivity to Haki."
"With slight guidance, those with sufficient strength can independently develop powerful Haki."
"However, which type of Haki—Armament, Observation, or Conqueror—develops first depends on the person."
"Three!"
Moria raised his middle finger slowly, emphasizing:
"Celestial Dragon blood shows unusual Devil Fruit adaptability, awakening Devil Fruits more easily than anyone else!!!"
"This third point is still speculative, but I believe it is likely true!!!"
"That is all the information I currently know…"
With a loud THUD, Moria sank back into his massive chair, leaning against the backrest.
The room fell silent.
Some thought deeply about his words, while most eyes turned to Doflamingo, seeking any further secret intelligence.
Luffy reflected briefly, comparing Moria's information with his own memories.
Doflamingo's Devil Fruit awakening proved little; he was extraordinary in any case.
Yet…
Luffy recalled the Celestial Dragon from the original timeline, the one shot by Hachi and punched away by "original Luffy."
The power of that punch could have shattered a small mountain.
Yet the Celestial Dragon merely fainted, facially injured but recovered fully.
Clearly, the Blood of the Celestial Dragons was truly remarkable!!!
But how does Moria know all this…?
Dad