In Dressrosa, a giant bird like a flaming phoenix soared into the sky, flying far away from the palace.
Only after the fiery figure vanished into the distance did the Dream Team and the Riku royal family look away. Then, their eyes turned toward the team, filled with curiosity.
"Everyone, this matter can't be made public yet, so we can't tell you much. But one thing we *can* tell you — strengthen your defenses. The New World is about to fall into chaos," Robin said seriously to the royal family.
"Even more chaotic than it already is?" Violet couldn't hold back her confusion and blurted out.
"Much worse than now…"
Before Robin could finish, the Den Den Mushi on Nami suddenly rang like a death knell, and everyone immediately turned their eyes toward her.
After Nami answered, everyone learned that the call was from Marine Headquarters.
"We have to leave now. Rebecca, everyone, I hope Dressrosa can make it through this chaos with as little loss as possible." Nami looked seriously at the royal family.
"You're leaving now?" King Riku III was shocked.
"Right now," Nami said firmly.
After exchanging a quick glance with the rest of the team, they turned and rushed toward the port without hesitation.
Watching the Dream Ship disappear over the horizon, the Riku royal family felt heavy in their hearts.
"Something major must have happened. With the Dream Team's strength, they'd never act this fast otherwise," Violet said in a low, serious tone.
She wasn't the only one. Everyone else could feel it too — a terrible storm was about to sweep across the seas!
"We have to prepare for the worst, and face this huge change in the world head-on!" King Riku III's wise eyes were like the deep sea — full of worry and determination.
"Right!"
"I understand!" Rebecca's face was firm like steel. She nodded hard, as if declaring war on fate.
~~~
Marine Headquarters.
Vice Admiral Tsuru put down the Den Den Mushi and nodded to the others in the meeting room.
"They've left. We'll send Admiral Fujitora, Admiral Kuzan, and Sengoku. Try to get a read on what the Dream Team is planning. If possible, find out if they really have an Ancient Weapon," Tsuru said, looking at the three of them.
"An Ancient Weapon, huh…" Fujitora's pale eyes shifted slightly.
"Then we'll head out too. I'll leave the trip to Skypiea to you, Admiral Fujitora," Sengoku said, standing up. He was still wearing beach clothes.
He didn't seem nervous at all.
Soon after, Fujitora, Aokiji, and Sengoku boarded a warship and left Marine Headquarters.
~~~
Revolutionary Army Headquarters – Baltigo.
At this moment, all the top officers had returned, including the four army commanders. They had just finished a meeting and were preparing to head to Skypiea.
This time, Sabo and the North Army commander, Karasu, were sent to attend the three-way meeting.
They were both acting under Dragon's orders—to find out whether the Dream Exploration Team really had an ancient weapon.
After receiving their instructions, they left Baltigo riding on crows.
~~~
Elsewhere, in the Calm Belt.
Ryuen stood at the base of a violently erupting volcano, with the Holy Mother Flame in hand.
The volcano looked like the angry mouth of the earth, pouring out thick smoke into the sky. Blazing lava surged like stormy waves, sometimes splashing up in walls of fire several stories high.
But even faced with this terrifying scene, Ryuen showed no fear. In a flash, he sat down right on top of the bubbling lava.
In that moment—
It was as if the volcano sensed a powerful force calling to it. An endless stream of energy rushed toward Ryuen.
Even with such intense energy pouring into him, Ryuen's expression didn't change at all. His face was calm and steady.
He squinted slightly, eyes focused on the Holy Mother Flame in front of him.
The flame looked small and weak, not even as hot as the lava below, but the energy inside it was powerful and completely different from normal fire.
Staring at the flame, Ryuen thought to himself, "This fire's energy is really strange. It feels wild and out of control—it gives me chills."
He had a feeling that if he could absorb this special fire, his strength would grow a lot. Maybe even his own fire, the one he was proud of, would completely change.
With that thought, Ryuen stopped hesitating and started to absorb the flame's energy.
As soon as the fire entered his body, he felt a wave of heat stronger than anything he'd felt before. But that wasn't all—his own fire energy inside started splitting apart!
And the split energy seemed to be...
Ryuen's heart skipped a beat. "This really is way more special than I expected!"
~~~
While Ryuen was fully focused on absorbing the flame, and while the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, and the Dream Team were all getting ready to meet—
Something even more interesting was happening in Wano Country.
Underneath Wano, three strange bird-like creatures, each about the size of a grown person, were working busily.
They carefully approached a stone tablet full of ancient writing, and skillfully started copying it word by word.
The way they moved was so smooth and practiced, it was like watching trained humans at work—no clumsiness at all.
Meanwhile, up above in Wano Country, a huge battle was raging!
The Straw Hat Pirates, the powerful Kid Pirates, and the Heart Pirates had finally made their move. They launched a full-scale attack on the famous Beasts Pirates.
Wano was filled with the sounds of war—shouts, clashing swords, and explosions echoed everywhere as smoke and flames covered the battlefield.
Just off the coast of Wano, the sea was roaring. Massive waves dozens of meters high crashed like angry monsters, spraying water everywhere.
The wind howled across the surface, creating wild waves that made a dragon-headed pirate ship rock violently. It looked like it could be swallowed by the sea at any moment.
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