"It's a challenge!!" Zoro grinned.
"Shanks won, huh?" Luffy smiled.
"So that means Ace lost," Sanji said.
"Where is Lodestar Island?" Usopp asked.
"It's the final island in the Grand Line. All Log Poses eventually point there, just like how they all point to Fish-Man Island in the first half," Robin explained.
"The final island pointed to by the Log Pose... Is it close to here?" Nami asked.
"The next island after Elbaf is Lodestar Island. Generally, those who make it this far will head there," Gaban said.
"Are we reaching the final destination?" Chopper exclaimed excitedly.
"Lodestar Island is just the end of the Grand Line, not the end of the world. You still have the final stretch to travel," Gaban laughed.
"You were the navigator on Roger's ship. You must know the final location," Nami said.
"Indeed, but do you want the coordinates? Or will you travel the final journey first?" Gaban smiled.
"Shishishi, my nakama, prepare to set sail!" Luffy said excitedly.
"See? Our captain has already given the answer," Zoro laughed.
"That's more like it. Only those who stand firm on these seas can become true kings," Gaban said approvingly.
"That Red Hair guy... I'll go kill him," Loki said.
"Hey Loki! This is something between me and Shanks, okay? Just let us handle it!" Luffy said.
"Hahaha, fine then. I'll wait for your good news, the news of you reaching the final destination," Loki said.
"Shishishi! Of course, we'll make it! I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!" Luffy laughed heartily.
"It's good for the young to be spirited. The Whitebeard Pirates are probably already prepared," Gaban said.
Mention of the Whitebeard Pirates brought a moment of silence. They had heard the news of the Cross Guild's defeat, another Emperor's crew taken down.
It was hard to imagine just how powerful the Whitebeard Pirates were.
"If the rumors are true, that both Kaido and Big Mom are with the Whitebeard Pirates, that's a truly terrifying force," Sanji said.
"Nah, don't worry! We're not gonna fight them. We're doing our own thing!" Luffy smiled.
"The Whitebeard Pirates' target is much bigger than ours," Zoro said.
"The World Government's target is us," Nami said, face-palming.
"It has to be you. After all, you're getting closer and closer. The Whitebeard Pirates have no interest in the great treasure. That guy Roy is too late to become Pirate King now. The world belongs to you youngsters," Gaban laughed.
In Mary Geoise, a panic had broken out among the Celestial Dragons due to food shortages. They were preparing to descend to the lower world; if they didn't, they would starve.
The Five Elders knelt before the throne, listening to Imu-sama's instructions.
"Great Imu-sama, we have reached a critical moment. Please give the order. We will bring this era to an end," Figarland Garling knelt on the ground, looking up at the beautiful woman on the throne.
"Go, and extinguish the flames of this era," Imu said.
"Yes, we will extinguish all resistance in the world for you," Garling bowed his head.
"For the great Imu-sama, we shall extinguish everything," Saint Nusjuro said.
"The world will know peace again, returning under your guidance," Saint Warcury said.
"We heed your command," Saint Ju Peter said.
Kong kept his head down, lost in thought.
Imu descended from the throne and returned to the Room of Flowers. The Five Elders rose after she left.
"We start with the Straw Hat Pirates. The Red Hair Pirates will face them in a decisive battle at Lodestar Island. We will annihilate them all then," Saint Ju Peter said, glancing at Garling.
"He has left the Celestial Dragons. He is no longer one of us. Let him die," Saint Garling said.
"The world will return to peace. People will remember this moment, and they will also forget it," Saint Nusjuro said.
"Won't excessive use of Uranus cause the world to sink into the sea entirely?" Kong worried.
"Even if it sinks into the sea, it's a price we must pay. The land will recover. These lowly creatures, humans, will also revive amidst the chaos," Saint Petermarc said.
"It's time to depart. There's no need to mobilize the Marines this time. Let the world witness the strength of the Celestial Dragons," Saint Garling said.
"The Marines are merely our dogs. They are not worth it," Saint Nusjuro said.
As a former Fleet Admiral, Kong felt a pang of pain hearing this.
Perhaps it really was time for a change. The world shouldn't be like this.
On the Red Line, a spaceship was activated, its internal flames burning continuously.
Garling and Kong arrived, with Garling leading the way inside the ship.
"Saint Garling, Saint Kong," a group of white-robed researchers bowed to Garling. They were his subordinates.
"How is the Mother Flame?" Garling asked.
"This Mother Flame is only a small part of the true Mother Flame. Previous tests show it still can't achieve permanent energy levels unless we obtain the complete source," a researcher reported.
"How long can it last?" Garling asked.
"The fraction we have can last at most another month. It would be best to obtain the complete source. Rumor has it the Mother Flame is now on Pluton," the researcher said.
Garling looked at these researchers and suddenly felt they were all good-for-nothings who had achieved nothing over the years.
They had feared that a highly advanced civilization, so they had always resisted certain technologies.
For example, the Sea Train was considered one of the most basic technologies compared to ancient tech.
In both wars Imu fought, her enemies were technological civilizations, so Imu actually held an opposing attitude towards technology.
However, without drawing lessons from those excellent technological civilizations, and relying solely on the World Government's own development and these garbage researchers, they had produced nothing of value after all these years.
"One month!!!" His sunglasses didn't hide the intensity in his gaze.
"One month is enough," Kong said.
"First, we deal with the Straw Hat Pirates, then the Whitebeard Pirates. We must secure the complete energy source," Garling said.
"When do we depart?" Kong asked.
"Tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow!!!" Kong sighed inwardly.
The next day, a large group gathered in Mary Geoise. People dressed in white suits, similar to CP0 agents, appeared.
They were the Demon Army subordinate to the Celestial Dragons. Like CP0, they were powerful individuals gathered from all over the world by the Celestial Dragons.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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