The stronger someone was before being corrupted, the more powerful they became afterward.
Everyone present understood that much.
If those creatures ever spread beyond control, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Let's go see what he has to say."
Sengoku rose and headed outside.
The others followed.
Borsalino walked at the rear with both hands in his pockets, swaying lazily with every step, though his expression was unusually serious.
It seemed they were about to face one problem after another.
…
The Giant Kingdom of Elbaf.
Shanks stood before the chained giant prince.
Loki's head hung low, his enormous body completely motionless. Were it not for the slow rise and fall of his chest, he might have looked dead.
"Your father wouldn't want to see you like this." Shanks spoke quietly.
"This is what I deserve."
Loki's voice was deep and subdued.
"But your father asked you to do it. Under those circumstances—"
"You understand, don't you?"
Before Shanks could finish, Loki raised his head. A faint red gleam flashed through his eyes.
"I believe you're capable of understanding why."
His father had already become a demon.
If the truth came out, the king's reputation would be destroyed forever.
Loki had to bear the blame himself.
He had to take every sin upon his own shoulders so that his father would remain remembered as the wise ruler who had devoted his life to securing a future for the Giant Kingdom.
That was why Loki had accepted this fate.
"Evil Prince Loki. The prince who murdered his father and slaughtered his own people."
His lips twisted bitterly.
"That is the best possible outcome."
Shanks fell silent.
Of course he understood why Loki had made that choice.
But the situation had changed.
Shanks had watched everything that happened on Sky Island, especially the colossal beam descending from the heavens.
He knew the sea would not remain peaceful after this.
Even the Great Pirate Era, with pirates running rampant and powerful fighters setting sail one after another, had never truly threatened to overturn the entire world.
This time was different.
The balance of power was about to change completely.
And Cyrus genuinely possessed the strength to make it happen.
Shanks raised a hand and touched his empty sleeve.
To free himself from that influence, he had left his arm behind in East Blue.
He had once believed Luffy, who ate that particular Devil Fruit, represented the future.
But before Luffy had even begun to grow, Cyrus appeared from nowhere and transformed the entire sea in only two or three years.
The World Government, which had oppressed the world for centuries, looked almost helpless before him.
Its attack on Sky Island would certainly provoke an enormous response from Cyrus and the Hunter Guild.
Shanks wanted to take advantage of that opportunity.
"Don't you want revenge?"
He asked quietly.
Loki's head snapped upward. A vicious light flashed through his eyes before quickly fading.
"I'm not capable of it."
He shook his head.
His father—the mighty king Loki had admired all his life—had been unable to resist and was reduced to a puppet.
What could Loki possibly accomplish?
"You don't have to do it alone."
Shanks sat down where he stood and looked toward the giant who towered like a mountain before him.
"Do you remember the name Cyrus?"
"The chairman of the Hunter Guild? The man who split the Red Line with a single slash?"
Loki naturally knew of him.
"He may be preparing to attack the World Government."
"Can he really succeed?"
Loki stared intently at Shanks.
"I don't know."
Shanks shook his head, then added, "I don't know whether he can truly accomplish it, but no one in history has ever come closer."
"His strength is almost inhuman. Perhaps the rumours are true."
"Perhaps that man really came from another world."
"Another world…"
Loki repeated the words quietly.
"That's what the rumours say, but it doesn't matter to us."
Shanks extended a hand toward him.
"All we need to do is overthrow the World Government."
"All we need to do?"
A grim smile appeared on Loki's face.
"We won't be the main force," Shanks continued. "But the World Government has ruled for centuries, and its influence reaches every corner of the sea."
"Even the Hunter Guild won't be able to eliminate every branch and stronghold quickly."
"And once the fighting begins, many others will join."
"That's where our opportunity lies."
Shanks kept his hand extended.
"Perhaps you'll finally be able to take revenge with your own hands."
"To kill the one hiding behind everything."
Loki's voice grew colder.
"It won't be easy, but it may be possible."
Shanks smiled faintly.
"That's better than remaining chained here, isn't it?"
Loki closed his eyes and thought for several moments before nodding heavily.
"If this is real, I'll join you."
"Then let's go. I doubt those chains can truly hold you."
Shanks rose and turned away.
Behind him came the sound of chains snapping, followed by thunderous footsteps.
When Shanks emerged, an old friend was waiting nearby.
"Gaban!"
He raised a hand in greeting.
Scopper Gaban looked at Shanks, then at the terrifying giant following behind him.
"You bastard. I let you go inside to speak with him, not break him out."
Gaban looked deeply troubled.
"Come on. Those chains couldn't have held Loki anyway."
Shanks laughed.
"Fine, but I'm staying out of this one."
Gaban waved dismissively and turned away with his hands behind his back.
"I'm not a pirate anymore. I have a wife and child now."
Shanks raised a hand as though to stop him, then ultimately let it fall.
Considering Gaban's giant wife and their son, Shanks had to admit the man was impressive.
In that particular regard, not one member of Roger's old crew could compare with him.
"Are we setting sail now?"
Loki looked down and asked after Gaban left.
"Not yet. We'll wait for the result."
Shanks shook his head.
The starting signal had not been fired yet.
…
Projection devices installed throughout the world by the World Economy News Paper continued operating.
They had originally shown different parts of the Hunter Exam, and several outstanding participants had already become widely recognized names.
Then Sky Island was suddenly attacked.
The sight shocked audiences everywhere.
The Hunter Guild was now famous across the sea, and its chairman was widely acknowledged as the strongest man in the world.
Yet someone had dared attack its headquarters.
How would the Guild respond?
And who possessed enough courage to launch such an attack?
The world did not have to speculate for long.
The images of the candidates suddenly vanished, replaced by a bird-like figure.
Morgans adjusted the bow tie on his chest, making himself look as formal as possible.
He coughed twice and cleared his throat.
The bird appeared calm, but beneath the frame, his legs were trembling uncontrollably.
Employees of the newspaper stood beyond the camera, staring directly at their president.
Morgans's upper body remained as steady as stone while everything below his waist shook like a sieve.
Merely thinking about what he was about to announce made his heart feel ready to burst from his chest.
"Ahem. Ladies and gentlemen."
Morgans's voice spread through projection screens across the world.
"I am Morgans, president of the World Economy News Paper, and I have been entrusted with announcing a new commission."
Different people reacted in different ways as his voice reached them.
Marines.
Kings and officials across countless nations.
Adventurers and pirates already at sea.
And, of course, the World Government.
"Sky Island has suffered an attack, and Chairman Cyrus is extremely displeased."
Morgans could no longer conceal the excitement in his eyes.
"This assault represents an unforgivable provocation against the Hunter Guild."
"And so, the Guild has issued a declaration of war."
"The World Government was responsible for the attack."
"By direct order of Chairman Cyrus…"
Morgans spread both wings wide and shouted so loudly that his voice echoed across the entire sea.
"THE HUNTER GUILD HAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED WAR ON THE WORLD GOVERNMENT!"
The world fell silent.
The World Government had attacked Sky Island?
And now Cyrus had declared war against it?
Most listeners stood completely frozen, unable to believe what they had heard.
This was an event on a scale beyond anything in living memory.
The flames of war would spread across the entire world.
The terrifying slash carved through the Red Line still remained visible.
Anyone travelling through Sabaody on the way to the New World could see it.
That wound had surpassed all ordinary understanding of human power.
There was a reason Cyrus had been called the strongest man in the world.
Now the strongest man alive was leading the Hunter Guild into war against the World Government, an organization that had ruled for centuries.
Those who had been waiting for this signal immediately began moving.
In the New World, the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates and Big Mom Pirates mobilized at nearly the same time.
Other factions that had crossed paths with Cyrus and wished to declare their allegiance early also began preparing.
Crocodile summoned the Hunter Guild's senior leadership.
Those absent from Sky Island were contacted directly through Den Den Mushi, and orders spread one after another.
Not one of them dared to delay.
The World Government's reaction was very different.
The Five Elders were stunned when Morgans announced the declaration on Cyrus's behalf.
After exchanging a single glance, they immediately hurried to seek an audience with Imu.
Imu had already expected this outcome, yet her body still trembled as she watched Morgans speak.
Partly from rage.
Partly from fear.
By the time she entered the throne room, the Five Elders were already kneeling beneath the Empty Throne.
Imu looked past the countless swords planted before it and down at the five figures below.
"Prepare for total war. Use any method necessary."
"Activate every agent inside the Hunter Guild and destroy it from within."
"Lord Imu, that may not be enough." Saint Saturn spoke respectfully.
"We require the strength of the Marines."
"The Marines have betrayed us."
Imu stared down at them.
The Five Elders' hearts sank.
They had already suspected as much, but hearing it directly from Imu confirmed the worst.
The attack on Sky Island had failed, meaning Cyrus had not truly fallen into the trap.
Kong should have reclaimed at least part of the Marines' authority.
If events had reached this point, then that operation had clearly failed as well.
"A portion of the Marines remains under our control."
Saturn bowed even lower.
"Activate all of them."
Imu's voice remained cold.
"This is a war we cannot afford to lose."
"Understood."
"Go. Kill every one of them!"
"Yes, Lord Imu."
The Five Elders rose and withdrew.
All five felt bitter inside.
Imu made it sound simple, but if destroying the Hunter Guild had been easy, they would not have waited until now.
Still, the situation had one advantage.
They no longer needed to show restraint.
Previously, the World Government had avoided attacking the Guild too openly because they feared Cyrus's uncontrollable retaliation.
Now that war had officially begun, there was no reason to hold back.
Everything associated with the Hunter Guild would become a target.
Before they had gone far, however, a panicked official rushed toward them.
"My lords, terrible news!"
"What happened?"
"The Revolutionary Army has declared war! Numerous kings have done the same, including rulers of World Government member nations!"
The Five Elders' expressions changed.
Their faces darkened as they hurried away.
The entire world was descending into madness.
After Morgans announced the Hunter Guild's declaration, the broadcast did not return to Sky Island.
Instead, leaders of faction after faction appeared on-screen and formally declared war.
Every one of them understood that gaining anything from this conflict required accepting an equal degree of risk.
The World Government's exploitation had pushed many nations beyond what they could endure.
The Heavenly Tribute alone had brought countless kingdoms to the edge of collapse.
Yet refusing to pay produced even more terrifying consequences.
Those nations had been forced to drain the life from their own people merely to survive a little longer.
Over the past two years, however, the standoff between the Hunter Guild and the World Government had given many of them a chance to breathe.
None wished to return to the way things had been.
And so began a wave of declarations—some made willingly, others forced by circumstance.
…
Sky Island.
Cyrus listened calmly as Crocodile delivered his report.
"Good. Keep going."
He paused briefly.
"Pay close attention to the creatures I mentioned. Once any are discovered, surround them with everything available."
"Chairman, those creatures may be extremely difficult to contain."
Crocodile's expression grew grave.
When Cyrus described the infectious demons, the mere thought had made his skin crawl.
Their ability to hide and spread made them especially terrifying.
If an outbreak escaped control, an entire nation could fall in a very short time, just as Wano had.
Under those conditions, even the Hunter Guild might not be able to respond quickly enough.
"You're right."
Cyrus nodded slightly.
"If you intervened personally…"
Crocodile looked at him and cautiously made the suggestion.
"If I intervene, nothing will remain except scorched earth."
Cyrus would not be able to protect every civilian while eradicating an outbreak.
"If an island falls completely, inform me."
He waved his hand.
"Understood."
Crocodile nodded firmly and hurried away.
Cyrus turned toward the far end of the trial grounds.
Large numbers of participants were still advancing toward the final destination.
Then he looked back toward the entrance of his circular arena.
Someone had finally entered.
"I've come to challenge you."
The newcomer was powerfully built, his muscles bulging with overwhelming strength.
Every step released black lightning from his body.
"You're strong. It took me a great deal of effort just to reach this place."
The man locked his gaze on Cyrus.
Dense Armament Haki coated his clenched fists.
"My name is Douglas Bullet."
He bared his teeth in a fierce grin.
"Now show me why they call you the strongest man in the world!"