Genichi's body seemed to start fading away, beginning with his hand. The process was slow but steady.
Sengoku frowned. He was called a "wise general" for a reason. He wasn't the type to blindly attack an unknown figure but preferred to gather as much information as he could.
But this man had appeared only for a brief moment before fading away. That made it hard to guess his purpose.
Even as he vanished, Genichi showed no sign of pain. Calmly, he said, "When your body and spirit catch up to your Devil Fruit, the power that appears is called 'Awakening.' But for the Great Buddha fruit, when your body and spirit surpass the fruit itself, you will reach 'Enlightenment.' The fact that you can see me means you are already on that path."
Enlightenment—a clearly Buddhist term, the state only Buddhas could reach. Applied to the Great Buddha fruit, it fit perfectly.
It was clear Sengoku didn't really understand the theory Genichi had just made up, but the first half of what he said was definitely right.
When the body and mind of a Devil Fruit user catch up to the fruit's power, that marks the "awakening" of the fruit.
If the first part was true, then the rest might be as well, right?
By now, Genichi's whole arm had already faded away, and the fading seemed to be getting faster.
"Wait!" Sengoku, seeing this, didn't have time to think anymore. He quickly shouted, "What exactly is this 'Invisible Empire'?! Who are you really?!"
"The unseen and the seen… they've always been around people, you should have noticed. The power of that Nine-Tailed Fox… it will soon be active again. Though… this time you might not get to witness it."
Genichi said softly, "We'll meet again. When that time comes, you can call me…"
He slowly turned around. By now, most of his body had already vanished, disappearing faster and faster, leaving only his head. That last bit was just enough for him to say those final three words.
"Deva Indra."
...
Sengoku suddenly jolted awake.
"Was it… just a dream?"
But could a dream really feel that real? Sengoku stretched out his hands, his eyes still unfocused.
He kept recalling the words of that man in his dream, every line so clear in his mind.
He got out of bed, feeling uneasy for reasons he couldn't explain.
Was it because that so-called Deva Indra said "the Nine-Tailed Fox will soon be active again"? But it was just a dream…
Still, it could also have been some trick by another Devil Fruit user.
He walked along the deck of the warship, letting the cool breeze wash over him, shaking off a bit of the heavy feeling.
He leapt onto another warship, planning to meet Garp.
He had a bad feeling and needed to tell Garp what had just happened.
"Admiral Sengoku!"
A Marine on patrol aboard the other ship saw Sengoku and saluted at once. Sengoku nodded and asked, "Where's Garp?"
"Vice Admiral Garp is in his cabin… probably asleep?"
"Good. Keep patrolling."
Sengoku walked deeper into the ship, but as soon as he entered, he felt something was off.
Such… evil energy!
Large drops of sweat rolled down Sengoku's face. His Observation Haki told him the air itself was filled with malice. That hatred, that terror…
It was exactly the same as before, just like the Nine-Tails!
Damn it, could it be? Was what Deva Indra said about the Nine-Tails reappearing happening now? Here?!
He rushed forward and kicked open the room where all that evil was coming from. But inside…
It was Garp, sound asleep?!
No, not right. Was Garp really asleep?
A faint red glow surrounded his body. All that evil aura was pouring out of it. And beneath him… it looked like a tail was slowly taking shape!
"Garp!"
Sengoku shouted loudly, trying to wake him. But Garp didn't react at all. Normally, he would have been awake instantly, but now he didn't move a muscle.
Something was definitely wrong.
Sengoku's mind flashed back to Garp's actions before, his pupils narrowing as he muttered, "Could it be… because he ate the flesh of the Nine-Tails?"
That seemed like the only explanation. But then another thought surfaced, even scarier…
Was Deva Indra's warning about the Nine-Tails' return actually referring to Garp being taken over by it?
"Hey! Wake up, damn it!"
Sengoku tried to reach him, but suddenly a force burst out from Garp's body. Sengoku's hand felt like it had been stabbed by needles, forcing him to pull back in an instant.
It wasn't just the Nine Tails' power, but also Garp's strength…
"So that's it, you're dealing with that giant fox?"
Sengoku seemed to understand and muttered, "Don't you dare lose…"
Garp Garp Garp Garp Garp Garp Garp Garp Garp Garp!!!
In a world of darkness, Garp suddenly jolted awake.
At the same time, the black clouds in the sky swelled and twisted, forming the outline of a massive beast!
"The Nine-Tails? You're still alive?"
Garp looked up at the sudden appearance of the beast and picked his nose. "What a stubborn thing."
"The Nine-Tails was born from hatred. Of course it won't die."
A voice suddenly came from the Nine-Tails. Garp raised his head and saw someone sitting right on top of it.
That raging monster that wanted to destroy everything actually let someone sit on its head?!
Garp stared at the figure. The man wore a black robe with a hood, his face hidden behind a mask. He was wrapped up completely.
But Garp's pupils shrank. He had seen this man before—in the newspaper, photographed while speaking to Zephyr. That "Zero"!
Only a handful in the World Government knew about that meeting, and Garp was one of them. That's why he was so shocked.
This man…
The one who declared war on the World Government had appeared again!
"Zero, what are you planning this time?"
Garp clenched his fist. "Who the hell are you people?!"
Zero or Genichi sat casually on the Nine-Tails' head and spoke in a relaxed tone. "Just here to see the Marine hero who ate the Nine-Tails' flesh. And to remind you—the Nine-Tails' meat isn't so easy to swallow."
"Is that so…" Garp burst out laughing. "I thought it tasted great! In fact, I feel like having another bite right now. Like maybe some fox meat!"