Takuro stood amidst the wreckage of the coral plains, his voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere like a blade of ice. His words, dripping with a mixture of cold disdain and genuine pity, fell like freezing rain upon the hearts of everyone present.
"The vastness of... the universe?" Marco whispered the word under his breath, repeating it as if trying to grasp a ghost. It was a concept he simply couldn't comprehend. To the people of this world, the sea, the endless sky, and the towering Red Line were the absolute boundaries of existence. The universe? What kind of place was that?
Whitebeard's thick, silver brows furrowed deeply. He had spent his entire life sailing the most dangerous reaches of the Grand Line, witnessing countless wonders and bizarre phenomena. He knew of Sky Island, perched high above the clouds, and Fish-Man Island, buried ten thousand meters below the waves. He had seen things that would drive ordinary men mad, yet the concept of a "universe" beyond the world itself pushed past the very edges of his understanding.
As he looked at Takuro, the legendary pirate felt a chilling realization. For the first time in his long life, he sensed that the gap between them wasn't just a matter of Power Levels or combat skill. It was something more fundamental, a primal difference in their very perception of reality.
"Boy, what exactly are you talking about?" Whitebeard's voice rumbled like distant thunder. His tone had shifted; he was no longer trying to dissuade the young man, but was instead asking a genuine, heavy question.
Takuro didn't offer a direct answer. Instead, he slowly raised his hand, pointing toward the deep, inky blackness of the sea above them, separated only by the shimmering double-layered bubble of the island.
"Do you think this deep sea is vast? The pressure at ten thousand meters down is enough to crush a massive galleon into splinters." His finger moved slowly, as if he intended to pierce through the protective coating and the miles of seawater above. He pointed further up, toward the invisible surface. "But above this ocean, there is a sky even vaster. And what do you think lies beyond that sky?"
He let the question hang in the air as his gaze swept over the bewildered faces of the Whitebeard Pirates. Finally, his eyes rested on Gion, whose face was pale and filled with a complex swirl of emotions.
"There is an infinite sea of stars out there—an endless void," Takuro said, his voice echoing with an eerie calm. "There are suns that burn forever, planets frozen in eternal ice, and black holes that devour everything in their path, even light itself. What you are standing on right now is nothing more than an insignificant blue pebble drifting in a limitless ocean of stars."
He withdrew his hand and looked back at Whitebeard, his expression hardened by an unquestionable certainty.
"The failure of Rocks D. Xebec that you speak of wasn't because the World Government was too strong," Takuro stated flatly. "It was simply because he, just like all of you, was nothing more than a frog trapped at the bottom of a well. His vision, his power, and his ambitions were all shackled by this planet's gravity. He was too weak to see the bigger picture."
Takuro pointed to his own chest. In his crimson pupils, it looked as though entire galaxies were swirling in a dance of destruction and rebirth. "My power comes from that sea of stars. My goal has never been to become the 'Pirate King' or the 'King of the World.' Those are petty, small-minded aspirations."
He let out a sharp sneer, mocking the very foundations of their world.
"Finding the Dragon Balls, constantly growing stronger, and ascending to the very peak of the universe... that is my path." He paused, his smile turning cruel and cold. "As for Mary Geoise? Those fools who live on the Red Line and think they are gods? They are nothing but a nest of pesky bugs. I will crush them incidentally, like a warm-up before I finally leave this planet behind."
"Le... leave the planet?" Jozu's jaw dropped, and he felt the very foundations of his worldview crumbling. How could anyone leave? Would they ride a ship that could fly through the stars?
Vista, the master swordsman, felt his heart waver. His lifelong dedication to the way of the sword and his most powerful slashes seemed so small and powerless when compared to words like "shattering stars."
Marco took a deep breath, trying to force down the waves of shock hitting his mind. The way he looked at Takuro had completely changed. If even a small fraction of what this man said was true, then every rule, every structure, and every power system they had ever known was about to be overturned. Perhaps his father's defeat hadn't just been a loss of strength, but an inevitability of fate.
Whitebeard remained silent for a long time. His eyes, which had seen everything the Grand Line had to throw at a man, searched Takuro's face. He was looking for signs of madness, but all he found was a terrifying, absolute truth. Finally, he exhaled a long, heavy breath.
"Kurararara... Hahahaha!" Whitebeard suddenly erupted into a roar of laughter that shook the coral around them. It was a laugh filled with relief, but also a stinging sense of self-deprecation. "So that's it! A frog in a well... what a damn accurate way to put it!"
When his laughter finally subsided, he waved a massive hand at his sons, who were still standing in a daze.
"Did you hear that, boys? It looks like we've recognized an incredible monster as our new boss! Throw away your pride and your doubts. The gale of a new era is blowing, and it's going to tear our old ship to pieces!"
He looked back at Takuro. The doubt was gone, replaced by a weary resignation that held a spark of genuine anticipation.
"Fine, Takuro. This old man and his sons will follow you. We'll see for ourselves what your 'sea of stars' looks like. And as for that 'warm-up' at Mary Geoise... don't you dare forget to bring me along! It's long past time I settled the score with those scoundrels in the World Government."
With those words, Whitebeard officially tied the fate of his crew to Takuro's journey into the unknown.
Takuro nodded, appearing satisfied. "Now you're talking like a man who understands." He ignored the conflicted expressions of the other pirates and began walking forward.
"Hey, wait!" Marco called out. "Where are you going now?"
Takuro waved a hand dismissively over his shoulder. "I have business to attend to. Fighting and recruiting you lot was just a side task. Now, it's time to officially take control of this island."
Takuro was never one for delay. He gestured toward Whitebeard, who was slowly regaining his strength. "Old man, you're coming with me to Ryugu Palace."
A look of guilt flashed across Whitebeard's face. He looked at Takuro, then toward the distant, magnificent palace of the sea king, and finally took a heavy step forward. He knew he was no longer the protector of this place; he was a defeated general.
The two of them walked across the scarred coral plains. Takuro's steps were light and casual, as if he were merely visiting a neighbor. In contrast, Whitebeard's footsteps were heavy, each one feeling like he was trampling on the promises and glory of his past.
Inside Ryugu Palace, King Neptune and Queen Otohime had watched the entire confrontation through a crystal ball. As they saw the two figures approaching, Neptune's massive body went rigid with tension. Queen Otohime clutched her sleeves so hard her knuckles turned white, her face devoid of any color.
"Neptune..." Whitebeard spoke as they entered, his voice hoarse and thick with shame. "This old man... I'm sorry."
Those few words carried the weight of a mountain. Neptune understood immediately; his last hope had vanished. Even Whitebeard, the man he considered the ultimate shield of his people, had been forced to bow.
"Say no more, Newgate," Neptune said, shaking his head with a bitter expression. "This isn't your fault." He turned his gaze to Takuro, trying to maintain some shred of royal dignity. "Mr. Takuro... what are your orders for Fish-Man Island?"
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