The demon and shrine maiden were sealed inside the Shikon Jewel?
And now, with the jewel shattered by Garp and the others, they've been freed. So…
Could that Little Demon Dragon from before have been one of those demons?
Makima's words carried so much information that even Zephyr had trouble taking it all in. But she didn't stop.
"Their long battle fused their souls into the jewel. Demons who lost even their souls inside it fell into hell. And some demons and maidens fused deeper into the jewel, waiting for others to release them."
"So that's… Little Demon Dragon's goal?" Zephyr asked instinctively.
"Little Demon Dragon is the son of the Demon Lord. The Lord's soul was banished to hell inside the jewel. But since the jewel still carries his soul's mark, it can bring him back from hell. That's why Little Demon Dragon is collecting the shards."
Makima stood under the faint glow of geckos and far-off lantern light, her figure wrapped in mystery.
Zephyr looked at her shadowed face, and a storm raged inside him. At last, he reacted and spoke in shock. "Could it be… you too—"
"Shh…" Makima put her finger to her lips. "Don't you think you're asking too many questions, Admiral?"
"But I have to." Zephyr bent forward slightly, ready to seize her. This woman clearly held information the World Government desperately needed. The world was entering a new era, and at its start, whoever held the most secrets would hold the greatest advantage!
Makima chuckled, then suddenly tossed the shard into the air. Zephyr's pupils shrank as he leapt up on reflex, catching it.
"You're not worthy of making a contract with me yet. Take this shard back and tell the five who rule the World Government that I want to meet them."
Seeing Zephyr catch it, she said calmly, "Consider this my good faith. If you want more answers, meet me at Sabaody Archipelago. I'll be waiting."
"As for Little Demon Dragon, don't worry. He should already sense that the shard has left this kingdom. I trust a Marine Admiral won't let him steal it from you on the way, right?"
Then she began walking straight past Zephyr, as if leaving the palace openly. Zephyr was still reeling from the shock of the shard in his hand, but he couldn't let her just walk away.
Even if she handed over the shard, she herself was a living vault of secrets. The World Government had to know what she knew. She needed to be brought in.
But just as he moved to strike, an overwhelming force came from far away.
Zephyr's body froze, pupils tightening. Fewer than ten people in the world could give him this kind of pressure. It was Conqueror's Haki. In an instant, the sky darkened, thunder rumbled, and lightning split the clouds—it felt like the end of the world itself.
That Haki was so strong it traveled across vast distance and still crushed down with this weight. Whoever it was, they had to be one of the very strongest. Zephyr stopped in his tracks.
Makima brushed past him. As their shoulders nearly touched, she spoke again. "My name is Makima. If you want to hunt me down, I'll welcome you at Sabaody too…"
"But please, bring the entire force of Marine Headquarters."
Her tone was calm, as if stating simple fact. Zephyr wanted to grab her, but the image of that unknown figure flooding the sky with Haki stopped him cold. Someone that strong would take everything he had to fight—and even then, what about Makima?
He didn't know their connection, but Makima's strength was clear. Just her fearlessness was enough for Zephyr to know no one else in this country could stop her.
"And one more thing. What used to be called demons… now has a new name."
"Yokai."
Zephyr glanced toward the balcony as Makima walked to the door. Her voice drifted back to him again, sharp in his ears. His pupils shrank. He didn't reply. Instead, he stepped forward a few paces in the opposite direction, heading toward the balcony.
Looking down into the dark night, he spotted a figure below, clear even in shadow. He couldn't see the face, but the overwhelming Conqueror's Haki pouring from him was unmistakable. In all his years, Zephyr had rarely felt such strength.
The figure seemed to sense Makima's safe departure and slowly withdrew, fading into the darkness.
Zephyr watched until the shadow was gone, his brow still tightly furrowed.
Who was he?
Could he also be a demon that escaped from the Shikon Jewel?
Zephyr took a deep breath. He felt like this era wasn't just moving into a new age—it was about to go out of control!
The demons of the past, were they now being called yokai in this era?
So when Zero sent Toguro to search for the Shikon Jewel, was it really to make him into a true yokai?
Toguro had taken part in the battle at God Valley, and he was one of the reasons the Shikon Jewel was shattered. Zephyr thought maybe Zero had already predicted this from the start. If so, then Zero's real plan was to make Toguro release the countless demons and yokai sealed inside the Shikon Jewel.
But why would he do that?
When Zero had appeared before him earlier, Zephyr felt that he was weak. And aside from declaring war, he hadn't actually taken any real action. Could it be that…
He couldn't make a move? He wasn't able to?
Or maybe…
Zero's real body was also inside the Shikon Jewel, and hadn't even been released yet?!
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