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Impel Down, the great underwater prison, was a tomb for the most heinous and dangerous criminals of the world. From Level One down to Level Six, the strength of the inmates increased layer by layer, each level more terrifying than the last.
By the time one reached the final floor, the beings imprisoned there possessed power so overwhelming it defied comprehension. Some of them, in fact, could only be subdued by the combined might of multiple Marine top-tier combatants.
If such power could be brought under control… then Qin's Nation's strength would soar to an unimaginable height.
For this reason, Qin Yi had dispatched Madara to Impel Down, along with several clan-leader–level subordinates, to ensure absolute success.
Five days later, the banner of Qin's Nation fluttered proudly across every island and sea route of the first half of the Grand Line.
This marked the complete unification of that region; it had officially become the territory of Qin's Nation.
"Impel Down is now entirely under my command," Qin Yi said with a faint, satisfied smile. "The strong ones within, some submitted, others were executed. Madara performed his task flawlessly."
Feeling the vast, newly acquired power now freely flowing within his body, power that he could borrow and wield at will, Qin Yi's smile deepened.
"Then, next…" he murmured, his eyes fixed on the horizon, "it's time to move on to the New World."
The following day, a massive flagship departed from the former Marine Headquarters at Marineford. On its route, it passed through Fish-Man Island.
Unsurprisingly, given Qin's Nation's fearsome momentum of conquest, Fish-Man Island declared its submission within a single day.
The entire world was stunned, and uproar erupted everywhere.
Such was the terrifying momentum of Qin's Nation: unstoppable and overwhelming. The crushing defeat of Marine Headquarters had already thrown countless powers into panic. Now, facing this rapidly rising empire, the world was left asking:
What stance should we take against them?
On the third day, people around the world were shaken once more, reports came in that the flagship of Qin's Nation, bearing King Ying Zheng himself, had already entered the New World.
"That arrogant man… he's far too confident!"
"He's aiming straight for the New World, he's going after the Yonkō!"
"He's insane! If he succeeds, two-thirds of the world will end up under his control!"
"Is there no one who can stop this madman? Will this world truly be unified?"
The world trembled in horror.
People could feel it, a mighty storm, vast and unstoppable, sweeping across the seas like fate itself. Ever since Qin's Nation had first appeared in the public eye, not even a full year had passed.
The speed of its expansion was so monstrous that anyone who stopped to think about it felt their chest tighten in dread.
At the same time, in Mariejois, In the glittering, chandelier-lit grand hall, shining like a sky of stars, the Five Elders sat in silence, deep in thought. The air was thick with tension, heavier than the centuries of history they represented.
After a long pause, one of them finally spoke, his voice dry.
"Qin's Nation… we never expected that these people would turn out to be a power from another world."
"According to Sengoku, behind them stands an entire world, a civilization that seeks to devour our own."
"The World Government has stood for centuries. I refuse to believe we cannot stand against them."
Their voices carried a heavy, grim tension.
The rapid defeat of the Marines, so swift, so absolute, had caught even the Five Elders completely off guard. Qin's Nation, or rather the world behind it, possessed a power far beyond anything they had imagined. Even they could not hide their unease.
They had reviewed the battle footage, and what they saw filled them with a cold dread.
That young king, his divine aura, the vast energy waves surrounding him, his strength had already surpassed their own.
"That man, Ying Zheng, he's the most dangerous one."
"His power is godlike. Even through the screen, you can feel that overwhelming presence."
"So tell me… what are we supposed to do now?"
Even the Five Elders, rulers of the world for centuries, now found themselves utterly at a loss.
Even without the appearance of Qin's Nation, this world had already entered the calm before the storm. Pirates had gathered throughout the New World, and the Four Emperors (Yonkō) stood tall, their subordinate forces so immense that even the World Government could not subdue them quickly, perhaps not at all.
The dream of world unification had long since slipped from the Government's grasp. And perhaps, one day, when the pirates finally united under a single banner, the entire world would plunge into chaos.
But no one could have predicted that before the pirates even made a definitive move, Qin's Nation would appear, and rise with such overwhelming momentum.
In an incredibly short time, they had unified the entire first half of the Grand Line and dealt the Marines a crushing defeat, greatly increasing the pressure on the World Government.
"Wolves before us, tigers behind, what a predicament."
"This is the most dangerous moment in centuries!"
The elderly man sitting cross-legged on a soft couch, one of the Five Elders, the so-called Eternal Life, sighed heavily.
At this point, the World Government was already at a sharp disadvantage. The defeat of the Marines had been a massive, physical blow. Even though Sengoku and the other top fighters still lived, the organizational losses were devastating.
More importantly, the Government's influence, authority, and control over the world had been severely shaken by this war.
That was the most fatal blow of all.
For centuries, resentment among the people had been quietly building up. Now, with the situation deteriorating, all it would take was a single spark, and the entire world could erupt beyond their control.
"Contact all nations. Convene an emergency World Summit immediately."
"For now, our top priority is to stabilize morale and gather the world's remaining strength."
"We must also find a way to restrain the pirates of the New World, keep them from doing anything reckless."
"As for Qin's Nation…"
The elder rubbed his brow, completely at a loss for words.
At this moment, the entire first half of the Grand Line was under enemy control. They knew nothing about Qin's Nation's troop numbers or inner workings.
And if Sengoku's report was accurate… then they were facing a colossal force whose technology, power, and strategy all surpassed this world's level.
Powerless.
Even the highest rulers of the world, the Five Elders, now felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
The difference between the two sides was not even on the same scale. How could anyone summon the courage to fight against such an opponent?
Unlike Sengoku and his men, the Five Elders were old. They had lived far too long, and now, they thought only of how to survive, to live a little longer in peace.
After a long silence, the elder let out a deep sigh and said no more.
For now, they could only focus on consolidating their remaining strength. As for Qin's Nation, it was far beyond their reach.
Soon after, the World Government's summons were issued.
Rulers and leaders from across the globe began to converge on Mariejois. But when the World Summit finally convened two days later, the Five Elders sat at the head of the grand hall, their expressions dark and ugly.
The number of kings and faction leaders who had arrived was far fewer than expected.
And that fact spoke volumes.
Everyone understood what it meant:
They had lost their nerve.
Seeing the meteoric rise of Qin's Nation and the crushing defeat of the Marines, many nations had already begun to reconsider their loyalties, and their next moves.
For the World Government, this was a catastrophic sign of their influence collapsing.
At the same time, somewhere out on the New World seas, "Holy crap, Ace, look at this newspaper! His Majesty has already unified the Grand Line!"
"He's heading straight for the New World now!"
"At this rate, your dream of becoming Pirate King might not even come true before His Majesty unifies the entire world!"
The red-nosed clown Buggy shouted in shock, his voice echoing over the deck, the fear almost dissolving him into pieces.
(End of Chapter)