Thorne Ashveil returned to his quarters without haste, leaving stunned silence in his wake. The Red-Haired Pirates who had faced him moments before stood dumbfounded—Shanks himself had conceded defeat, and the admission hung in the air like a thunderclap.
Their captain, a man whose Conqueror's Haki was spoken of in whispers, had simply bowed out. One encounter, and he had been beaten. The crew's disbelief turned quickly into awkward laughter and uneasy respect.
"Nothing more to say. I'm going to sleep, and you lot quit pestering me," Ashveil said, voice flat as he pointed toward the Whitebeard Pirates and stepped away, passing between the two Yonko crews as if he belonged there.
Whitebeard barked an odd laugh, shaking his head. Shanks scratched the back of his head and gave a rueful grin. "Not only does the kid have a temper, his strength is no joke. I don't regret losing to him."
As the awkwardness ebbed, a new light kindled in Shanks's eyes. "Whitebeard," he said quietly, "your crew has recruited someone extraordinary." He sounded almost awed.
"Did he really level Marineford?" Shanks asked, voice suddenly serious.
Whitebeard hammered the deck with a laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "Of course, the stories are true, he did. Terrifying, isn't he?"
When farewells were exchanged, Shanks set his course for Marineford. A single thought had taken root in him: he had to see it with his own eyes.
From the deck of the Red-Haired ship the sea spread unbroken to the horizon. Beckman and Shanks stood side by side, gazing toward a distant ruin. Beckman drew slowly on his cigar and exhaled, tone low. "This era keeps surprising us, Shanks. Things are moving faster than I expected."
Shanks tightened his grip on the telescope. "I once staked my future on Luffy. Maybe I misread the odds." He squinted at the ruined silhouette ahead, brow creasing. "The new era has come sooner than I thought."
Their ship dropped anchor well off the coast of Marineford. Through the spyglass, both men watched in stunned silence. The sight stole even Beckman's breath.
The gate to Marineford was torn entirely away. Ravines scarred the battlefield. A quarter of the island had collapsed into the sea—great sections of rock and earth swallowed by water. The scale of the destruction made the two pirates go rigid.
"This," Shanks said at last, voice barely audible, "must be the power of a god."
---
Inside the Room of Authority the Five Elders were pale with anger and dread. The council convened in an emergency session; tension coiled in every line of their faces.
"Had we known, we would have gone to Marineford ourselves and taught that brat a lesson," one elder snapped.
"We miscalculated," another admitted. "We did not expect him to be this dangerous. If it's already done, it may be too late."
"How dare he threaten the Gorosei?" a third growled. "This Ashveil—he cannot be allowed to live."
"Call an emergency summit," Saint Nusjuro ordered. The word itself carried a weight that silenced the chamber.
When Imu-sama's name was raised, the room shifted. Even the Five Elders, the public face of the World Government, bowed their heads; the mere mention of Imu inspired a chill that reached the marrow. The legend of Imu—whose existence remained a secret from the world yet whose authority eclipsed all—was enough to make even the most powerful tremble.
They entered the Room of Flowers and knelt. A voice, distant and ancient, filled the space like wind through a long-buried hall. "I am aware of this matter. A light has been lit anew. You will act and snuff this light yourself."
At that command, the Five Elders bowed lower. Even they, perched at the pinnacle of public power, felt the chill of Imu's will. "Yes, Imu-sama," they intoned, and departed on bended knees to execute the decree.
The Five Elders then assembled a high-level Marine conference. Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat rigid, guilt and shame written across his features. He rose and spoke with a bowed head. "I am responsible— I will resign as Fleet Admiral."
Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru exchanged looks of disbelief; the Admirals' faces revealed the strain of the moment. Kong, who had been present at Marineford, stepped forward, voice tight. "I underestimated that Ashveil. I share responsibility—punish me as you see fit."
Saint Nusjuro sneered. "Punishment means little. The superior's word is clear—once Ashveil is eliminated, all else may be forgiven." His hand tightened around the sword at his side, eyes cold.
"Yes," another elder echoed, "As long as Ashveil is killed, the matter is closed." The other members' gazes hardened with lethal intent.
The Admirals' expressions turned grave. Based on the strength Ashveil had shown—comparable to the legends of Rocks—killing him would not be simple. During the Summit War Ashveil had bested a coalition that included Kong, Sengoku, and Kaido; his power suggested a scale beyond normal threats.
Sengoku's jaw clenched. "I understand. I will find a way to kill Ashveil." His voice was strained but resolute; it was not the trappings of rank that drove him now, but the need to atone and to set right the chaos this man had wrought.
The Five Elders exchanged looks and then spoke with clipped certainty. "Stop worrying. The encirclement of Ashveil is an order from our esteemed superior. The force we will send will be the finest we can muster. This time, we— the Gorosei—will take personal action." Saint Saturn delivered the words with grim finality. His tone made clear the Far-Reaching authority behind them.
The chamber fell into an uneasy hush. The world's political center had already shifted; a light had flared that the hidden ruler deemed dangerous. The response would be swift and absolute.
_____
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