New World, Egghead Island.
Inside the secret laboratory high above Egghead Island, Vegapunk's main body and his six satellites had gathered together. Except for York, who represented desire and was sleeping soundly, everyone else stared at the large screen as lines of analyzed data appeared one after another.
For several important islands where the Revolutionary Army was stationed, the Marines had placed surveillance devices at positions that could overlook the entire island.
Just moments ago, the surveillance device at the Sorbet Kingdom sent back an image before losing contact. Soon after, several other monitors transmitted their final images and went offline as well.
The sudden alert immediately alarmed Vegapunk.
When he arrived at the secret lab to review the footage, what he saw left him stunned.
The videos came from different positions and showed different scenes, yet the final moments in each recording were exactly the same. Countless streaks of light fell from the sky, followed by a devastating explosion that swept everything away. Even through the video, its power could be felt.
There was no need to think. Those islands had been erased.
But the problem was this.
Even they did not possess such power.
Whether it was their technology or Sakazuki's military strength, even combined, it was impossible to achieve this effect. Even if Carlo teleported with Enel to those places and summoned Raigo, it would still take time. Sakazuki's Meteor Volcano also required a falling process.
Yet the attack in the footage was instant. In an extremely short time, the Revolutionary Army bases scattered across the Four Blues were completely wiped out.
At this time, the energy calculation for the attack was completed. Looking at the endless string of numbers on the screen, Vegapunk's shock deepened.
"How is this possible…? This is not an attack that can exist in this era…"
The sheer amount of energy was terrifying just to look at.
They had once imagined and calculated an energy source capable of releasing such power, but the despairing conclusion was that even a thousand years into the future, such an energy source could not be produced. It was far too advanced.
Yet the energy contained in the attack shown in the video could only be produced by the infinite energy they had once theorized. That had been only an assumption, but this was real.
Vegapunk felt as though his beliefs were beginning to collapse.
'If this is the foundation of the World Government, then how are we supposed to fight this…?'
* * *
Late Night, South Blue, Former Site of the Sorbet Kingdom.
This place could no longer be called ruins. Remains did not apply either. Because there was nothing here except the raging sea.
Bonney sat on a snow cloud. The Eternal Pose in her hand was unstable, yet it still pointed forward.
This place was the Sorbet Kingdom.
She slumped on the snow cloud and stared at the ocean in disbelief.
"Where are the people…? Where is the island…? What happened…?"
Sabo, who had transformed into a snow cloud, was equally anxious. He repeatedly used Observation Haki to scan the sea below, trying to find even the slightest useful clue.
But there was nothing.
The entire island. The entire kingdom… had disappeared.
* * *
South Blue, Seelune Island.
An island far from the Sorbet Kingdom and one of the Revolutionary Army's bases.
The night had been calm, but suddenly a violent wind swept across the entire island.
Inside the Revolutionary Army's branch, the strong wind smashed through the door and rushed inside.
Dragon was covered in blood as he panted heavily with a twisted expression.
"Where is the Den Den Mushi?!"
The staff working inside instinctively reached for their weapons when they saw the blood-covered figure, but the voice sounded familiar.
Looking closely, they were shocked.
"S-supreme Commander!"
Dragon had no time to explain.
"The Den Den Mushi!"
They reacted quickly and handed it over.
He grabbed it and turned into a gust of wind before disappearing, reappearing at the peak of the island's mountain.
One call after another was made, and that night every Revolutionary Army branch across the Four Blues stayed awake.
Nearly an hour passed before Dragon finally stopped. The ferocity on his face eased slightly as the situation was temporarily stabilized, though confirmation was still needed to determine which areas had been attacked.
But when he recalled what had happened that night, lingering fear remained.
Everything had happened too suddenly. The attack had come too fast. Apart from escaping through elemental transformation, the entire Sorbet Kingdom had vanished without leaving anything behind.
Even so, Dragon's body had suffered severe injuries.
When he rushed out, there had been nothing left in the world except the sea.
With no target to guide him, he circled above where the Sorbet Kingdom once stood before choosing a direction. He flew for a long time before finally spotting another island.
Only after handling everything did he remember Sabo and make the call.
The Den Den Mushi was answered instantly. Before the other side could speak, he said, "Come to Seelune Island first, we will regroup here."
* * *
Late Night, New World.
Inside the secret laboratory on Egghead Island, Sakazuki and Carlo, who should have been at New Marineford, had appeared here.
Beside them, Vegapunk and several satellites looked worried.
The video had been played several times. Carlo frowned slightly, while Sakazuki watched the replayed footage without any expression.
After a while, he slowly raised his hand, signaling for it to be stopped.
Lilith raised her hand and turned off the screen. Everyone looked toward Sakazuki.
His voice showed no change.
"It seems this is the government's trump card. An attack capable of instantly destroying any island in the world."
Vegapunk looked somewhat dejected. "Yes. This is not something humans can accomplish. I cannot imagine what kind of technology this is. Near infinite energy was only something that existed in fantasy. And yet it has appeared before us."
He had clearly been shaken. Precisely because he understood science so well, he knew how terrifying this was.
Sakazuki shook his head. "Your mind is unsettled, Doctor."
Vegapunk gave a bitter smile but said nothing.
He glanced at him and continued, "Can the main cannon of Pluton reach this level."
Vegapunk sighed. "It can, but we do not have the energy source. Even if Carlo teleports it, it would only be a one time use. We do not have the energy to allow the main cannon of Pluton to fire endlessly."
Sakazuki nodded slightly. "One shot is enough. How long would it take to build the original version?"
The current main cannon of Pluton had been reduced in size. One reason was the lack of funding in the past. Another was because Bullet's fruit could enlarge it.
Vegapunk paused in confusion, then replied, "About one year. We now have the Munch-Munch Fruit and the Smelt-Smelt Fruit. As long as there are enough materials, progress will be fast."
Sakazuki responded softly, "Melt the old one. Build the original version."
He then looked toward Carlo. The man understood and placed his hand on him.
Sakazuki turned slightly toward Vegapunk and the others.
"There is nothing in this world that cannot be solved. As long as I am alive, the ones who die will be our enemies."
He paused before continuing in a low voice.
"Even gods are the same."
In an instant, the two disappeared.
Yet his words still echoed in their minds. The hearts that had been shaken by fear throughout the night gradually calmed down.
Strangely, they felt at ease.
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