Whitebeard watched the two leave, then swept his gaze across the room with a suppressive look.
"I am sure you all know who I am, having fought and killed across these seas."
"I will now open the Senkaimon and lead you to the Underworld City."
"The Underworld City is a territory entrusted to me by Boss Ren. You had better behave yourselves once we arrive. You are all well aware of my methods!"
A low murmur of discussion rippled through the gathered pirates once more.
Ignoring the chatter, Whitebeard raised the Zanpakuto in his hand and thrust it forward.
The Zanpakuto, shaped like a guan dao, pierced into the air until the entire blade disappeared into space.
With a gentle twist of the weapon, a massive wooden gate manifested out of thin air before him.
The gate was constructed entirely of wood and stood over twenty meters high.
This Senkaimon was a custom, oversized version Ren had commissioned specifically when building the city, designed to connect the Underworld of the pirate world to the living world.
Its immense height was better suited for the massive physiques of the pirate world, where people often reached five or six meters in height.
As Whitebeard withdrew his Zanpakuto, the doors of the Senkaimon swung open automatically.
The numerous souls in the hall looked up. The interior of the gate emitted a bright white light, so brilliant that nothing could be seen inside.
"Th-This is—"
"Yes, the gate to the world of the dead."
"Wait, that's not the point! Whitebeard actually holds such a high status even after death!"
"He was the strongest man in the world, after all. It is only natural that he would be heavily relied upon by these Soul Reapers in the afterlife."
The pirates bustled about as a Soul Reaper from the Uchiha clan took the lead, guiding the souls toward the Underworld.
Meanwhile, Ren and Shisui, having dropped down from the roof, had switched into Gigai and were walking down the stairs.
Shisui loosened his collar. Moving in a Gigai always felt strangely restrictive.
"Lord Ren, what exactly are we doing that requires us to wear Gigai?"
Walking ahead, Ren replied without looking back, "To meet the Straw Hat crew, and to find a Devil Fruit that has been wasted on its current owner."
Shisui looked thoughtful.
He had accompanied Ren to these seas several times now.
Ren's appreciation for that Straw Hat kid had never been hidden, so the first part of Ren's statement was business as usual for Shisui.
But the second part—
Shisui asked tentatively, "That Devil Fruit—do you want me to obtain its power, Lord Ren?"
"Exactly," Ren nodded. "After thinking it over, it would be most reassuring if you were the one to eat it."
"May I ask what kind of ability it is?"
Ren didn't keep him in suspense. "After Kaido died, just as Onigashima was about to fall, another peach-colored dragon appeared and prevented the island's destruction."
"So it's that one. Indeed, such a power cannot be left in the hands of others," Shisui said.
He had watched the battle from the roof with Ren and had seen the full extent of the power wielded by the giant dragon Kaido had transformed into.
With such a massive form and the ability to control natural elements like fire, wind, and lightning, it was a rare and formidable power.
The other peach-colored dragon that appeared later had used flame clouds to catch the falling island, so its other abilities were likely just as strong.
Ren, of course, knew the origin of that peach dragon.
Years ago, Vegapunk had used Kaido's lineage factor to create an artificial Devil Fruit, which was later eaten by Momonosuke.
Even though it was artificial, its abilities differed very little from the original.
Ren privately believed that allowing such a powerful ability to be wasted on a piece of trash like Momonosuke was a disgrace to that dragon's form.
It was better for him to redistribute it.
The two reached the lower level and looked around at the absolute mess.
The once exquisite architecture had been reduced to ruins after the great battle.
On the ground below, a giant screen was broadcasting scenes from the streets of the Flower Capital. Denjiro and Kozuki Hiyori, dressed as an oiran, were visible in the frame, with several figures faintly seen behind them amidst the drifting dust.
In front of the screen, a crowd of pirates and samurai were watching the broadcast with curiosity.
Several members of the Straw Hat crew who were not seriously injured were also watching.
Nami, Usopp, Brook, Jinbe, Robin, Sanji, and Chopper were nearby, with Chopper busy treating the wounded.
Luffy and Zoro were heavily injured, wrapped tightly in thick bandages like mummies, lying off to the side.
"Is that—Momo?"
"And Kin'emon and the others."
The screen broadcast Momonosuke's announcement to the citizens and his declaration of victory after Kaido's defeat.
"Ho, that Momonosuke brat is in the Flower Capital. No wonder I couldn't sense his spiritual pressure within Onigashima."
Just as Nami and the others were celebrating quietly while watching Momonosuke on the screen, a voice suddenly rang out in front of them.
Without anyone noticing, two figures had appeared before the screen, their backs to the crowd.
Nami looked at the two figures and felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen them before.
"Who are you guys? Don't stand in the way, we can't see."
"My apologies."
The man turned around, and his face was immediately recognized by the Straw Hat crew.
"Those thick eyebrows—and those crimson eyes—"
"It's the person we met back at the Sabaody Archipelago!"
"Why are you suddenly here in Wano?"
"Uh, you—no, what are you doing here, sir?"
They had encountered this man back when they were preparing to set sail again from the Sabaody Archipelago.
He had claimed to be a fan of the crew, and through Brook's introduction, they had all become somewhat acquainted.
Jinbe and Yamato blinked, looking at the stranger who had appeared and then at their companions' varied reactions, their faces filled with confusion.
"Everyone, who is this?"
"Is he a friend of yours?"
Nami and the others quickly explained in a flurry of voices, allowing the newcomer Jinbe and the newly met Yamato to understand.
"A fan?"
Jinbe looked at the two men. One had a serious expression and seemed to have a rigid personality, while the other had crimson eyes that gave off an ominous aura.
He couldn't help but feel internally on guard.
"You have appeared quite suddenly, and right after this great battle. Do you have some objective?"
"So it is First Son of the Sea, Jinbe."
Ren recognized the broad-bodied blue fishman. His gaze swept over the members of the Straw Hat crew, and his expression softened slightly.
"I've appeared this time not only to meet with all of you, but because I have official business with Momonosuke."
Brook looked as if his soul was about to fly out of his body. "O-Official business? You're looking for Momonosuke? You don't mean—"
Brook cut himself off mid-sentence, drawing the attention of everyone around him.
"Brook, who exactly is this guy?"
"When we asked you before, you brushed us off. You should tell us now!"
Brook shook his head frantically, moving so hard it looked like his skull might fly off.
"No! I can't say!"
"Everyone, I can't put you in danger! This person's identity must never be made public!"
Brook's behavior only made everyone more curious.
Seeing that Brook wouldn't talk, they stopped pressing him and turned their gazes back to the man who claimed to be their fan.
At that moment, Ren turned his head to look at the large screen.
In the broadcast, the Oiran Komurasaki and the Akazaya Nine, including Kin'emon, were kneeling on either side. As the dust cleared, Kozuki Momonosuke was revealed, having been transformed into an adult.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]