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So much has happened in this sea over the past few days—it's almost beyond comprehension!
Hearing Kong's next words, the tension in the conference room exploded. Every executive Marine present could no longer maintain composure.
The resurrection of Rocks D. Xebec alone had already sent shockwaves through the Marines—a threat so great it could only be compared to a natural disaster.
And now, Kong claimed what he was about to reveal was even more astonishing than that?
No one could imagine what sort of revelation would surpass the return of one of history's most terrifying pirates.
The atmosphere became suffocating.
All eyes turned toward Kong, the entire room sweating coldly, hearts pounding.
They held their breath, pushing down their fear and shock, waiting for his next words.
"According to the latest report from Borsalino and his unit, after Ayr successfully resurrected Rocks, he immediately fought him—and in the end... Rocks was utterly defeated!"
"What?!"
Kong didn't hesitate. He delivered the statement flatly, truthfully.
"Ayr unleashed power that surpassed what he displayed during the Battle of Holy Land Mariejois."
Silence followed, then chaos.
"He... defeated Rocks?!" one vice admiral gasped.
"The ruler of the sea from the old era? Lost to Ayr?!"
"You've got to be joking! Rocks wasn't even a match?!"
But then came the part that made even Garp freeze in place.
"Wait a second, Kong," Garp said, voice low. "Did you just say Ayr's power surpassed what he used at Mariejois...?"
That sentence hit harder than anything else.
Garp had witnessed that infamous battle firsthand—from the start to the bitter end.
He knew just how terrifying Ayr had been.
A single man had taken on four of the Five Elders, slaying three of them as if they were ordinary soldiers.
It had been the most overwhelming display of raw power he had ever seen.
"But Kong," Garp continued slowly, "didn't the World Government already conclude that the ability Ayr used in that battle had massive side effects? That it couldn't be unleashed again for twenty years at least?"
"It's only been a few years," Sengoku added, barely containing his anxiety. "How could he possibly use something even stronger?"
Back in Loguetown, CPO's commander had told them that Ayr's abilities came with a cost.
The Five Elders themselves had hypothesized that his powers burned his body from within—and required decades of recovery before he could use them again.
That was the belief they had all operated under.
And yet, now...
"Ayr not only used that power again," Kong confirmed grimly, "he surpassed it."
That was the new truth. And it was horrifying.
Sengoku, trying to suppress the panic inside him, muttered: "Then how strong is he now...?"
Kong wiped cold sweat from his brow. "That's why I said it's more alarming than Rocks' return."
Kizaru, who had been present for both the battle at Mariejois and this new clash, confirmed the facts personally.
He witnessed with his own eyes: Ayr crushed Rocks—the man once feared by Roger and Whitebeard.
The implications were enormous.
If Ayr had access to that power without side effects, then everything they believed about his limitations was wrong.
"Damn it…" Garp clenched his fists. "So he's no longer restricted? He can use that power whenever he wants?"
It had been assumed Ayr's abilities required long cooldowns—ten, maybe twenty years.
But now, after facing Rocks and casually releasing that devastating force...
That theory was dead.
Ayr could use his most terrifying ability at will.
And if that was true—if he joined forces with Rocks—the consequences would be incalculable.
Zephyr frowned, his expression shadowed by doubt. "The sea is going to change. As much as I hate to admit it... Ayr may truly have the power to destroy the Marines—and even overthrow the World Government itself."
It sounded insane.
But so did everything else that had happened lately.
The resurrection of Rocks alone was enough to shift the world's balance.
But Ayr? Ayr's power had surpassed the legendary Mariejois battle.
Zephyr didn't want to say it out loud—but deep down, he believed it.
Ayr could rule the world if he wanted to.
His strength alone was beginning to feel absolute.
Hearing Zephyr's words, the entire conference room fell into a heavy silence.
No one dared refute it.
They couldn't.
In everyone's mind, the same dreadful thought echoed:
Ayr might be invincible.
Then, the sound of footsteps broke the stillness.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Two of the Five Elders entered the chamber, walking slowly, with an air of supreme authority.
"Lord Im has spoken," one of them said, calm and composed. "You are not to worry about Ayr. Continue with your duties."
"Lord... Im?"
The name sent another chill through the room.
Many of them couldn't help but feel anger bubble inside them.
"If Im had simply helped us in that battle years ago," one of them thought bitterly, "Ayr would have been eliminated. None of this would be happening now."
The elder with the sword continued, "If Ayr truly intends to conquer the world, he won't target the Marines first. He'll come straight to Mariejois."
"And when he does," the elder added, "Lord Im will respond."
"For now, your priority is to build the New World base and contain other pirates. Do not provoke Ayr."
His words hung in the air like iron weights.
"But…" a cold voice interjected.
It was Akainu, arms folded, eyes burning.
His tone showed no respect, even to the Five Elders.
"Can Lord Im truly defeat Ayr now? His power... it's beyond what we've ever seen."
Akainu wasn't the type to mince words.
Whether it was pirates or the World Government itself, he treated everyone with the same cold logic.
In his eyes, it was Im who had allowed Ayr to escape the first time.
And now the world was paying the price.
The elder with the scar gave a cold smile. "Are you questioning Lord Im's strength, Akainu?"
Akainu didn't answer. He didn't need to.
The silence spoke for itself.
He didn't believe in gods.
Only power.
And right now... Ayr's power might be beyond them all.
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