After reaching an agreement with Princess Nereus, under Michael's directive, Imu officially announced to the kings aligned with the rebellion to launch a full-scale assault on the Great Kingdom, supported by the army of Devil Fruit Users.
Though the Great Kingdom had ruled the world for so long, amassing countless resources and ancient technologies, on the battlefield, they stood no chance against the overwhelming numbers of Devil Fruit Users.
Moreover, the common people under the Great Kingdom's rule continuously created favorable conditions for the rebellion along the way...
Thus, the Great Kingdom collapsed like a landslide.
The rebellion advanced on all fronts, striking straight at the heart.
The entire populace of the Great Kingdom entered a rhythm of "welcoming the liberators with open arms and offerings."
They had initially assumed the so-called rebellion was merely a tool crafted by kings unwilling to submit to the Great Kingdom.
But wherever the rebellion went, they executed the corrupt officials of the Great Kingdom and distributed their ill-gotten treasures directly to the local people...
This instantly secured what was called "the hearts of the people."
Sometimes, winning the people's hearts was just that simple.
Because for them, such things had always been beyond their wildest dreams.
As the battle lines continued to advance, the names of Michael and Joy Boy grew increasingly renowned, inspiring ever greater admiration.
"The Sun God" and the "Doomsday Archangel" led an army endowed with countless miraculous powers, defeating the monstrously tyrannical Great Kingdom.
Soon, the allied forces arrived at the capital of the Great Kingdom, laying siege to its gates.
At this moment, only the ruling class of the Great Kingdom remained within the city, putting up a desperate last stand.
The common citizens within the capital had already been quietly evacuated by the Devil Fruit Users dispatched by Michael through various covert means.
Amid the jubilant cheers of the liberated people, Michael and Joy Boy led their army of Devil Fruit Users, blasting open the city gates in a single strike.
The empowered soldiers flooded into the capital like a tidal wave.
At first, the privileged races of the Great Kingdom managed to hold their own against the Devil Fruit Users.
But ultimately, they were completely overwhelmed by the ocean of people's war.
Michael himself only needed to eliminate two Lunarian Race warriors of Admiral-Emperor level before the battle concluded at an absurdly rapid pace.
"This... is it? The Great Kingdom is so... fragile?" Joy Boy tossed aside the battered Buccaneerian he had nearly beaten to death, lamenting with frustration.
"My invincible battleship isn't even finished yet!"
"Did you come to overthrow the Great Kingdom and liberate everyone, or to play war games?" Michael rolled his eyes.
"And you call this fragile? Isn't it possible that our current strength is simply overwhelming? Imagine if we didn't have the Devil Fruit army—how would things look then?"
Michael couldn't comprehend Joy Boy's sense of emptiness.
Even without the Devil Fruit army, the rebellion would likely have succeeded, albeit with greater difficulty...
But it would have cost several times the duration and countless lives.
Now, with the capital of the Great Kingdom completely conquered, the casualties were almost negligible.
This was undeniably... a resounding victory.
...
After the war, everyone realized that the post-war period was actually the busiest time.
Whether it was clearing the battlefield or establishing a provisional government to manage the aftermath of the Great Kingdom's fall—none of it was easy.
However, these tasks were left to the twenty kings led by Imu to resolve.
Joy Boy still had to serve as the new government's mascot, attending various meetings.
Of course, this Joy Boy was different now—he was a powerful mascot.
Meanwhile, Michael had freed himself from the burdens of heavy administrative work.
Now, he spent his days lounging outside the palace chambers with Toki, like two lazy fish.
Two recliners sat side by side under the sun, warm and exceptionally comfortable.
"Could the two of you at least maintain some dignity?" Rocks approached, leaning on his cane. "Do you have any idea how disillusioned your admirers—those who worship the 'Doomsday Archangel' and the 'Lionheart Princess'—would be if they saw you like this?"
"Disillusioned or not... I only used that title to rally the masses. Now that our goal is achieved, whether I'm the 'Doomsday Archangel' doesn't matter anymore." Michael yawned. "Why are you here anyway? Shouldn't you be in meetings with Joy Boy?"
"Do you really think a free-spirited pirate like me would stay put for some meeting?"
"So you just left Joy Boy behind?" Michael rolled his eyes. "You ungrateful brat."
Though Michael had just ribbed him, a third lounge chair was soon placed beside them.
"Even though this era isn't exactly lonely… I still wish to return to the future, over 800 years from now," Rocks suddenly said, basking in the sun. "The land is just… too vast. So vast it makes me feel lost."
Rocks didn't bother hiding his thoughts.
Of course, whenever Michael spoke to Rocks about the "future," he never avoided letting Toki in on it.
And someone as sharp as Toki had already pieced together some of it…
"Father… have you decided to leave?" Toki abruptly sat up from her lounge chair. "Though I've prepared myself for this… I didn't expect it to come so soon."
"Toki, it's alright… We'll meet again in the future."
Toki stared blankly at Michael's smile before suddenly throwing herself into his arms like a fledgling returning to its nest.
Michael gently patted his daughter's back.
In the future, his relationship with Toki—who would later take the name Kozuki Toki—had always been somewhat awkward. But once he returned, things would be different.
Toki stayed in Michael's embrace for a long time before finally wiping her reddened eyes and standing up.
"Let's go inside the palace… If the Archangel of the End were to vanish in broad daylight, it would cause panic."
"After all, Father is now the faith and spiritual pillar for most people."
With that, Toki turned and walked inside.
Michael stood up and looked at Rocks.
"…Aren't you coming too?"
"I'll meet you in the future as well, won't I?" Rocks suddenly laughed and raised his head. "I see now. No wonder you recognized me from the start and seemed so familiar with me… I didn't choose to return to my own time, nor did I leave with you… It seems I'm destined to be… a messenger."
Michael opened his mouth but said nothing.
Ever since losing his strength, Rocks had been constantly thinking.
Now, it seemed he had unraveled his own fate.