Emet had no concept of modern technology terminology, yet his intelligence was so advanced that it was nearly indistinguishable from a living human being. In that regard, even the so called artificial intelligence systems from Earth would be utterly incomparable to him.
He immediately understood Joy Boy's intent and gave a firm nod.
"I remember. It has always been sealed within my body. Even during that battle, I never used it."
Joy Boy narrowed his eyes slightly after hearing this. Only then did he notice the broken horn on Emet's head. Emet raised a hand and gently touched the damaged part, as if recalling something long buried.
He began explaining what had happened during his assault on Mary Geoise.
Back then, he had created an enormous disturbance in Mary Geoise. However, his energy reserves were limited. Faced with the joint suppression of the Five Elders and the Holy Knights, his power quickly ran dry, forcing him into a deep forced slumber.
What Emet did not know was that two hundred years had passed since that battle.
Joy Boy exhaled slowly after listening.
"You really are… it is fortunate those people did not manage to destroy your body."
Emet scratched his head in a strangely human like gesture, his tone carrying a trace of apology.
"I did not expect to ever wake up again. If I had not heard the Drums of Liberation, I would likely still be sleeping here forever."
Joy Boy raised a hand and lightly patted Emet's cold steel frame.
"Seeing you means hope has never truly disappeared. This time, I will not fail you all again."
Nami and the others stood nearby, completely confused by the exchange. Nami finally shouted out impatiently.
"Hey, are you done talking? Just take whatever you need and finish already. Let Luffy come back quickly."
Joy Boy turned his gaze toward her. Even though it was still Luffy's face, the unfamiliar expression made Nami instinctively step back half a pace, a flicker of fear crossing her heart.
But thinking of Luffy, she forced herself to stand her ground and glare back.
After a brief pause, Joy Boy suddenly smiled.
"You really care about Luffy, don't you."
Nami froze, then her face turned slightly red as she stammered.
"W-what are you saying? Luffy is my captain and my companion. Of course I care about him. There is nothing strange about that. Franky and the others feel the same way."
She quickly turned to look at Franky and the others.
Franky immediately gave a firm nod.
"That is right."
Chopper raised his little hoof and waved it energetically in agreement.
The others also voiced their support without hesitation.
Joy Boy's smile deepened as he observed them. He gave Nami a meaningful glance, then shifted his attention back to Emet.
"Alright, Emet. Release the power inside you. We are too close to the Navy Headquarters. If a Celestial Dragon notices us, it will become troublesome."
Emet slowly stood upright. Its massive steel fists tightened as internal systems began to activate with a slow mechanical hum.
Since it had just awakened, its energy flow was not yet stable. Releasing the sealed power would require a short moment of calibration.
While preparing, Emet looked down and asked.
"Celestial Dragon… Joy Boy, you are referring to the Celestial Dragons?"
Joy Boy's expression remained serious, prompting Emet to continue.
"Are you worried about them? There is no need. The Celestial Dragons are merely descendants of those twenty rulers from the past. When I went to Mary Geoise, several generations had already passed. Most of them are weak beyond belief, not even stronger than ordinary humans. The moment they saw me, they only screamed in terror and did not even attempt to resist. Even the few who showed some strength appeared aged and frail. Although, I do recall one with a strange hairstyle. His strength was somewhat decent and he appeared young."
As Emet finished speaking, red and black lightning suddenly erupted across its metallic body.
Lindbergh's eyes widened instantly.
That was Haoshoku Haki, Conqueror's Haki.
For someone of his caliber, it was not the existence of Haoshoku Haki itself that was shocking, but the fact that it was emanating from a machine.
That defied all logic.
Joy Boy slowly raised a hand.
The raging strands of Conqueror's Haki lightning coiled upward from Emet's body like serpents, before flowing obediently toward his fingertips and being absorbed into his body.
Lindbergh swallowed hard.
"Incredible… he is absorbing Haoshoku Haki. So the power he mentioned earlier is this… and it belongs to him?"
The implication alone made his thoughts spiral.
If Conqueror's Haki could be sealed and stored inside a machine, then what exactly was Joy Boy capable of at his peak?
Nami and the others, lacking that level of understanding, simply assumed Luffy's rubber body was unaffected by lightning anyway. To them, Lindbergh's reaction seemed exaggerated.
Joy Boy clenched his fist slowly, his voice turning lower.
"No. The Celestial Dragon I am referring to is a single individual. However, he is indeed a Celestial Dragon, and a descendant of Cassilias."
The name Cassilias caused Emet's massive frame to jolt violently. The flow of Haoshoku Haki briefly stuttered.
Joy Boy remained silent for a moment before continuing.
"He is similar to Cassilias from that era. A user of the Dark-Dark Fruit, and he has also inherited Cassilias' Demon Blade Muramasa."
Emet's voice carried a rare trace of disbelief.
"Then… is he nothing more than a replica of Cassilias?"
Joy Boy shook his head slightly.
"You cannot call it a replica. In some aspects, his talent may even surpass Cassilias."
"What?"
Emet's tone sharpened in shock.
It immediately recalled the pitch black sword light from eight hundred years ago that had nearly torn the heavens apart. That strike had extinguished the metaphorical sun within its core memory, leaving an imprint that never faded.
===
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