"Your safety is more important than the truth and our reputation. Besides, we are pirates; in others' eyes, we have no reputation to speak of."
Iceburg clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms. He closed his eyes in pain, his mind replaying the city's past prosperity and the devastating scrutiny it might soon face.
On one side was kindness and righteousness, on the other, the future of tens of thousands of innocent citizens.
After a long while,
He seemed to have been drained of all his strength, slowly and heavily nodding his head, his voice hoarse and weary: "I… I understand. For Water 7… I… I will do as you say."
Each word was a struggle, squeezed from his throat, filled with helplessness and heavy resignation.
"Thank you for your understanding and sacrifice," Ron said solemnly. "Protect this city, and protect yourself."
With that, he turned and no longer hesitated.
The Straw Hat members also understood the profound meaning of this arrangement. They took one last look at the beleaguered city and resolutely boarded the Pluton.
The next moment,
Pluton sailed on the sea, like a true giant beast!
Only Iceburg was left standing alone on the dock, watching them disappear, his heart filled with an unspeakable gratitude and a heavy sense of guilt.
He knew that an unprecedented storm targeting the Straw Hats was about to sweep across the entire world because of the "announcement" he was about to make.
Just then,
While the residents of Water 7 had not yet recovered from Pluton's world-shattering cannon shot, still immersed in unparalleled shock and fear, something even more unimaginable happened!
Dozens of meters in front of the pitch-black, monstrous giant ship—Pluton—the air twisted and rotated violently, as if being savagely torn by an invisible giant hand!
Buzz—!
A low spatial hum swept across the dock. Under the wide-eyed gaze of everyone, the distorted air instantly expanded and solidified, transforming into a colossal, oval-shaped spatial gate with azure energy ripples flowing along its edges!
Inside the gate was a deep, swirling, star-speckled unknown void, emitting a mysterious and heart-pounding aura.
"What… what is that?!"
"A door?! A door opened in the air?!"
"When did such a door appear on the sea??"
Before the cries of alarm could fade, the immensely massive hull of Pluton began to move. It did not rely on traditional propellers or sails, but on thunderous power, smoothly and silently sliding into the giant gate.
The bow submerged into the void, followed by the majestic bridge, the massive hull, and the awe-inspiring main cannon… The entire process was incredibly fast.
When Pluton's enormous stern finally completely disappeared into the swirling starlight, the giant spatial gate, just as it had appeared, slowly closed, sealing perfectly until it merged with its surroundings, then completely vanished.
The sea surface was empty.
From start to finish, it was barely ten seconds!
It was as if the ancient weapon that had just destroyed the Buster Call fleet with a single blow had never existed.
Only a deathly silence remained on the Water 7 dock, and countless faces frozen in extreme shock, bewilderment, and disbelief.
The sea breeze blew, and only the sound of waves gently lapping the shore could be heard, along with the sharp gasps of some people who had forgotten to breathe due to excessive shock.
"Di… disappeared…"
"Ten seconds… Such a huge ship… just like that… gone?"
"It's too shocking!"
Spatial jump, a miracle manifested, then returned to peace.
This scene was deeply etched into the soul of every eyewitness, unforgettable for eternity.
...
The next day,
Accompanied by countless news birds flying to every corner of the world, the latest issue of the World Economic News, like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, stirred up unprecedented stormy waves across the entire Grand Line!
The front-page headline, printed in bold, almost menacing black font, was enough to make anyone's heart stop:
[SHOCKING NEWS! ANCIENT WEAPON APPEARS! PLUTON ANNIHILATES THE ENTIRE BUSTER CALL FLEET WITH ONE SHOT!!!]
Below the headline was a slightly blurry, yet still clearly visible image of the devastating scene:
A colossal mushroom cloud connecting heaven and earth billowed on the sea, surrounded by countless Marine warships instantly vaporized, leaving only remnants.
Newspapers, like snowflakes, scattered in the bars of Sabaody Archipelago, the palaces of Alabasta, the streets of small towns, and the strongholds of various forces in the New World.
"World Economic News! Breaking News!!"
"Buster Call Fleet Annihilated!"
"Ancient Weapon, Pluton, Emerges!"
People scrambled for the newspapers, and the next moment, the entire sea fell into a deathly silence, followed by exclamations and uproar that almost tore through the sky!
"Hey, hey, hey!!! Is this real?! Are you kidding me?!!!"
"Buster Call… a fleet led by five Vice Admirals… they couldn't even get close before being… vaporized by one shot?!"
"Pluton! That legendary ancient weapon that can destroy an island with one shot! It actually exists?!"
"It's over… this world is going to change completely! Who exactly possesses such power?!"
"Straw Hat? Never heard of them, where did these newcomers come from?"
The inner pages of the newspaper described the god-like strike in terrifying detail, with highly sensationalized language:
"…According to eyewitnesses who wish to remain anonymous, the pitch-black, demon-like giant ship fired only one shot!
After a flash of light, a destructive sun rose from the sea!
The fleet of justice instantly evaporated like dew under the sun, leaving not a single trace of wreckage!
Its power far exceeds human imagination, a moving natural disaster, the ultimate world-ending weapon! A terrifying shadow has already enveloped the entire sea!"
Panic, shock, fear… various emotions spread rapidly like a plague with the newspaper.
Everyone who read this news clearly realized—a brand new era, full of unknowns and horrors, had dramatically arrived with Pluton's destructive cannon fire!
....
Sabaody Archipelago,
In the Rip-Off Bar, the latest issue of the World Economic News was like a depth charge, instantly detonating all the noise.
Smash!
A glass full of ale slipped from the hand of a burly pirate, shattering on the floor, the golden liquid splashing everywhere, but no one paid it any mind.
"Hey… hey! Look at this, everyone!!" The pirate's voice trembled, his thick finger almost piercing the front-page headline of the newspaper.
....
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