"The true [King]?"
The rust-covered Emet stared at the towering young man before him.
Although he knew very well that Joy Boy could not possibly still be alive…
He looked too similar…
That presence…
People like this always make others want to follow them.
This is what a true [King] is.
And one of Emet's greatest regrets was that he failed to make Joy Boy become the "King."
Perhaps because of this lingering sentiment, Emet's gaze toward Sadgeo grew complicated. Standing before him now seemed to be a future "King."
A person's presence is such a mysterious thing.
While bloodline factors can't be ruled out, the truth is often that those with powerful bloodlines tend to have greater ambitions and stronger will.
Perhaps it is a "strong gene" engraved deep within their bones.
And Conqueror's Haki is an invisible, intangible power that changes along with one's will.
Sadgeo's presence, along with the clarity and firmness of his inner resolve and the growth of his strength, began to expand wildly.
Waves of Conqueror's Haki surged within him, prompting Emet to ask aloud,
"What… is your real name?"
Sadgeo spread his arms.
"Me?"
"If we go by what my old man intended, then my full name should be…"
"Sadgeo D Davy!!!"
After all, whether counted from the D lineage represented by Luffy, or from the D of the David family, Sadgeo was undeniably one of the D clan.
Though not part of the destined D that should have emerged, in every aspect now, he was more than worthy to uphold that name.
"D, huh?"
As if he had found the correct answer, Emet laughed.
"So that's how it is~"
"I will make you the King. Joy Boy's… no, Sadgeo's."
...
Elsewhere,
Kizaru had already clashed with the Straw Hat crew, and Saint Saturn emerged from a star-patterned magic array amid violent tremors.
"The ground, huh? It's been a long time since I came down here."
In his Gyuki human-beast form, Saturn gripped his cane with both hands, looking down upon everyone like a god surveying mortals.
The Conqueror's Haki released upon his arrival shattered the surrounding ground.
Soldiers below Vice Admiral rank would have their heads explode just from looking at him.
"Where is Vegapunk?"
Saturn scanned the area.
At that moment, a black vortex suddenly appeared before him. A figure stepped out and sat at the edge of the swirling entrance.
"Yo, isn't this Saint Saturn~"
Seeing this, Saturn—who had just seemed in complete control of the battlefield—suddenly shrank his pupils and frowned slightly.
"It's you, Orin?!"
"Are you here to protect Vegapunk?"
His grip tightened slightly on his cane. If that were the case, today's assault would likely achieve little.
It seemed they had underestimated Orin's determination to shield Vegapunk.
But to his surprise, under everyone's watchful eyes, Orin casually crossed his legs.
Sitting within the vortex of flowing spatial energy, surrounded by black-red lightning, he merely spread his hands.
"You could say that~ but when it comes to dealing with you Five Elders, I don't really have any interest in stepping in personally~"
"..."
Saturn fell silent for a moment.
Orin's meaning was obvious—filled with provocation and disdain. The implication was clear: only Imu was qualified to fight him.
The Five Elders weren't quite enough.
Though unpleasant to hear, Saturn had to admit it.
Judging from Orin's displayed combat power, the current Five Elders truly couldn't contend with him. Even with immortality, they would only be repeatedly blown apart.
However…
"If you don't intend to act,"
Saturn remained where he stood, his calm gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Then these people alone—even with Nika—cannot stop our actions."
It wasn't that he underestimated Nika; the strength of a Devil Fruit depends on its user.
Just like Kaido and Momonosuke—Kaido could crush the latter like an insect.
And Luffy's current strength was still far from that of the Joy Boy who once truly terrified them.
"Is that so?"
"Not necessarily~"
Saturn narrowed his eyes, choosing not to argue further with Orin. Instead, he coldly spoke,
"Attack, Pacifistas."
"Stop, Pacifistas."
Immediately after came Orin's command. Just as all the Pacifistas were about to launch an attack on Luffy and the others, they began to glitch.
They raised their arms, then lowered them, falling into self-contradiction.
"What?!"
Seeing this, Saturn's eyes sharpened as he glared angrily at Vegapunk.
That man had actually set Orin's authority to the same level as the Five Elders?!!!
And not only that—
If Saturn tried to issue orders now, he wouldn't be able to command the special Pacifistas, the [Seraphim].
Because the highest authority over the [Seraphim·Shichibukai] still lay in Orin's hands.
Since commands failed, Saturn decisively chose to act personally, charging toward Vegapunk and the others.
Vegapunk, meanwhile, was completely dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, he thought Orin was joking again—but now it seemed he really wasn't going to help?
"Forget it… I've already set up the broadcast anyway…"
Fortunately, Luffy stepped in.
Once Luffy entered his Nika form, the entire tone of the battle collapsed into something like a cartoon. Kizaru and Saturn were instantly restrained.
Facing such an opponent, they couldn't deal effective damage, and the fight became extremely frustrating.
After a long entanglement,
Saturn began to hear urgent voices from the other Five Elders.
"Hurry up, Saturn!!!"
"We must not let Vegapunk have the chance to speak!!!"
The matter concerned events from eight hundred years ago—even the Five Elders could not afford carelessness.
If Vegapunk were given even a moment to breathe and reveal those secrets to the world, it would shake the very foundation of the World Government's rule.
Realizing the urgency, Saturn took action, summoning a pentagram array.
A massive awakened Mythical Zoan appeared on the battlefield.
Black lightning engulfed everything around them. Orin stood unmoved within it, yet his mind drifted elsewhere.
Each of them made such flashy entrances… had he already fallen behind in terms of special effects?
"Well… not like I'd step into a small scene like this anyway~"
He turned his gaze into the distance.
As the Five Elders appeared together, a mysterious drumbeat began to echo.
The Five Elders were startled.
That familiar rhythm… was there another powerful presence?
Then they saw an unbelievable sight.
Their eyes filled with shock as they stared at the distant giant with flame-like clouds drifting around its body, and the massive robot following behind it.
Their pupils trembled violently as these beings standing at the pinnacle of world power cried out,
"Impossible!!!"
"How could you still be alive?!!!"
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