The four people were all shocked by Roy's words.
The Celestial Dragons had cloned an Emperor.
This news was undoubtedly bad for them. If even an Emperor could be cloned, what else could they replicate?
Just like the current Whitebeard Pirates, mass-producing Zoan-type Devil Fruits.
Technology was becoming more and more absurd, with everyone ramping up their armies.
The Revolutionary Army still seemed to be taking the grassroots route.
Thinking about this made the pressure on Sabo and the others intensify.
"Don't worry," Roy said, "The Celestial Dragons won't move against you so easily. Besides, with the Marine Admirals present, they don't get to act freely. Back then, if Fisher Tiger could succeed, so can you."
"Thank you, Mr. Roy. We'll be careful," Sabo replied.
"I've heard of lineage factor technology," said Lindbergh, "but I didn't expect they could even clone an Emperor."
"It's a being born with power, cultivated by environment and resources, that kind of monster takes more than just science to make. What they've made is just a pitiful imitation. A knockoff. He only exists because they couldn't get the real one, so they made a copy," Roy said with a scoff.
When Roy had encountered that clone, he felt a presence full of darkness, anger, and destruction.
He was obsessed with becoming the real Shanks, and deep down, his greatest desire was to kill Shanks.
However, the Figarland family would never allow that. After all, Shanks is the true heir of their bloodline.
The clone? Just a replacement, a stand-in. Even though he was raised among the Celestial Dragons, he could never escape the truth.
He was a fake. A substitute.
How could he ever compare to the real Shanks?
Garling, who had replaced Saturn as the new Warrior God of Science and Defense, wasn't without his talents. After losing Shanks, he became a Celestial Dragon-centered maniac, diving into science and finally cloning a second Shanks.
Maybe that thing could be used, let him aim his sword at others instead.
The idea even amused Roy.
Seeing Roy grin strangely to himself, the four Revolutionaries exchanged confused looks, what could he possibly be thinking that was so funny?
The Reverie would last for seven days, and the Revolutionary Army's objective was to destroy the world government's food supply. Morley used the Push-Push Fruit to build underground tunnels, burying explosives prepared by Lindbergh.
Their goal: blow up the entire food warehouse in one strike.
Once the food supply was gone, and the Revolutionary Army cut off sea-based supply lines, they could force the Celestial Dragons off the Red Line. Then, the final battle wouldn't happen on the lofty Red Line, but on sea level, where they could drag the Celestial Dragons down and fight them face-to-face.
That was the Revolutionary Army's strategy and mission.
The Red Line is a massive rock continent, unable to support agriculture. Other than the Eve Tree, almost no other plant life can survive.
The Celestial Dragons built their paradise solely through wealth, wealth accumulated from ruthless plunder. The better the Celestial Dragons lived, the more miserable ordinary people in the world became.
The final day of the Reverie came quickly. Sabo and the others were ready to act.
"Mr. Roy, we're going," Sabo said.
"Go ahead," Roy smiled. "If you start a fight in the Celestial Dragon's domain, the Admirals won't fight at full power."
"Thank you, Mr. Roy."
"I'm not doing anything. You all have ways to escape anyway, if needed, I'll just lend a hand," Roy replied as he stood. Morley sent him off.
"Sabo!"
"Let's move!"
"Right!" x3
The four acted at once. They destroyed the Heavenly Dragon Seal, Karasu blew up the food storage, and Lindbergh went to free the slaves.
Admiral Fujitora appeared to stop Karasu. Morley, as Roy had advised, launched a battle in the Celestial Dragon's residential area, freeing slaves and causing chaos to draw the Admirals away.
As long as Celestial Dragons were nearby, Admirals would be constrained.
Meanwhile, Roy arrived at a massive gate, the center of Pangaea Castle, where the Empty Throne resides.
"Who are you?! Entry is forbidden!" the guards shouted.
But the armored figure simply walked past them, knocking them unconscious.
"Seriously, why so many guards? If they had any strength, it'd be different, but like this... Let me see just what ability you're hiding. Could it be that legendary power?"
He pushed open the gate and walked inside.
Suddenly, someone entered the hall. The Five Elders turned around angrily.
A man wearing a crown was approaching the Empty Throne. Cobra looked on in disbelief at the figure sitting on the throne.
"Who let you in?!"
A skeleton horse, cloaked in fur and blue flames, rushed forward, wielding the First Generation Kitetsu blade, slashing directly at the intruder's waist.
Shing!
Cobra turned to look. The armor split in two, and a dark figure leapt out, still wearing a helmet.
The Five Elders' faces darkened, transforming into their beastly forms.
"Who are you?!"
"Kill him!"
"So impatient," Roy said with a grin. "Not like I'm a bride you need to look at first. Still, I saw it. And it's not what I expected. So… this is our first meeting, huh?"
"Imu-sama… no, I should call you by your other name… Beast!"
Roy took off his helmet, smiling at the person on the throne. The Five Elders erupted in fury, unleashing Conqueror's Haki.
Hmph!
Roy snorted coldly, unleashing his superior Conqueror's Haki, overpowering theirs and protecting Cobra from the shockwave.
"Long time no see, King Cobra," Roy smiled.
"You… you're the Emperor Roy?! What are you doing here?!"
Two years ago, during the Alabasta Incident, Roy had passed through while searching for Ace and ended up defeating Crocodile. He and Cobra had exchanged words then.
"Remember what I told you back then? My suspicions? Well, now you see I was right," Roy grinned.
"Yes… I believe you now. You were right all along. Someone sits on the Empty Throne." Cobra turned to look at the person on the throne.
Someone truly ruled the world from the throne.
Had he not seen it himself, Cobra would never have believed it.
"Who are you really?" Cobra asked, gripping the arms of his wheelchair and staring up at the throne.
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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