At the same time — the New World, G-10 Main Base, Core Medical Ward
The air was so heavy it felt as if it could drip.
Expensive medical instruments emitted steady, rhythmic beeps, only making the silence in the room feel even more suffocating.
Tesoro stood to the side, his expression dark and rigid, fingers unconsciously rubbing the ring on his hand.
Toritoma bit down hard on her lower lip. Her exquisitely beautiful face was etched with worry—and a tightly suppressed killing intent—as her gaze remained locked on the hospital bed.
At the very front stood Lipo's petite figure. Both her hands radiated a soft green glow, continuously enveloping the figure lying on the bed. Fine beads of sweat covered her forehead—clear proof that she had been maintaining the treatment for a long time.
On the bed, Enel lay motionless.
His face was deathly pale, his breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible.
His upper body was wrapped in thick layers of bandages, the wrapping around his left shoulder still faintly seeping blood.
Most horrifying of all was the massive, charred slash across his chest—nearly cutting through his body—and the numerous wounds scattered across him that refused to heal.
His life force flickered like a candle in the wind, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.
And then—
Bang!
The medical ward door was violently shoved open, heavy footsteps shattering the silence.
Barrett stood at the entrance.
He had just returned from a blood-soaked hunt, dust and dark red stains still clinging to his skin.
The instant the door opened, his gaze locked onto Enel's barely breathing form on the bed.
Those eyes—usually filled with feral battle lust and madness—were now like the ocean before a storm, terrifyingly deep and still.
He said nothing.
He simply flung the three massive bodies he was holding onto the floor like discarded dead dogs.
The dull thuds made Tesoro and Toritoma turn their heads.
They were three pirates infamous across the New World—each with bounties exceeding five hundred million Berries.
Yet now they looked like broken dolls, bones shattered throughout their bodies, clearly having suffered unimaginable violence before death.
Seeing the three pirates—still barely alive, yet utterly incapable of resistance—Lipo's eyes showed not the slightest trace of mercy.
She immediately freed one hand, pointing it toward them. The gentle green light instantly turned predatory.
"Life Drain!"
In the next instant, streams of visible energy brimming with vigorous vitality were forcibly torn from the three pirates' bodies, surging outward!
Lipo did not convert this life force into healing carrots.
Instead, she refined it directly into the purest torrent of restorative energy and poured it—without restraint—into Enel's shattered body.
The three pirates didn't even have time to scream.
Their bodies rapidly shriveled and withered before the naked eye, until they became three lifeless corpses drained of all vitality.
Meanwhile, under the flood of life energy, a faint hint of color finally returned to Enel's face, and his breathing grew just a little stronger.
Only then did Tesoro let out a breath of relief. Looking at Barrett—still covered in dust and lingering killing intent—he spoke.
"Barrett, leave this to Lipo. You should go clean up first—"
Barrett didn't respond.
It was as if he hadn't heard a single word.
He stood there like a silent statue, unmoving, his gaze fixed firmly on Enel.
Veins bulged along his thick arms like coiling dragons, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
The medical ward once again fell into an oppressive silence.
After a long while, Barrett suddenly turned around and strode out without saying a word.
But he didn't leave.
He stopped just outside the ward, leaned back against the cold metal wall, and slid down slightly, concealing himself within the shadows beyond the doorway.
From inside his battered jacket, Barrett carefully took out a small, oddly shaped white Den Den Mushi.
"Idiot…"
"You were carrying a Den Den Mushi… one that could contact me…"
Looking at Enel's battered state, the man who had long since stopped believing in so-called "companions," who believed that strength was everything—
That even alone, one could destroy the world—
Felt something unfamiliar surge within him for the first time.
A violent, consuming agitation.
That noisy bastard who never shut up with his "Yahahaha," foul-mouthed and always showing off.
The so-called "god" who loved striking him with lightning, who wasn't even that strong yet always dared to provoke him…
The one person in the entire G-10 base—aside from Gern—who would constantly approach him just to talk, despite getting nothing but cold stares and ridicule in return.
Their relationship had always been strange.
One was a man welded shut at the mouth.
The other was an endlessly blaring loudspeaker.
And yet—Barrett realized—he always responded to Enel's provocations, even engaging in those utterly pointless verbal sparring matches.
All while wearing an expression of utter disdain.
But now…
Now…
Seeing that loud, annoying bastard lying there, devoid of all vitality—
A cold, violent fury unlike anything he had ever felt before erupted from the deepest part of Barrett's heart, threatening to overwhelm his reason.
He was angry.
Truly, violently angry.
In the shadows, he clenched the Den Den Mushi he had never once used, his knuckles turning white.
Within his beast-like eyes burned a light far more dangerous than when facing the strongest enemies.
Someone would pay for this.
With blood.
...
Elsewhere, after Lipo's infusion of life energy had temporarily stabilized Enel's critical condition—
Still far from safe, but no longer worsening—
Tesoro and Toritoma exchanged a glance.
The same resolve flashed in both their eyes.
They couldn't wait any longer.
Tesoro gave Lipo a look that said "It's in your hands," then turned without hesitation and left the stifling medical ward with Toritoma.
He went straight to the balcony outside the base command center, a relatively secluded spot.
Taking out a specially designed Den Den Mushi directly linked to Gern, he took a deep breath and dialed.
"Burururu… Kacha."
The call connected quickly, the Den Den Mushi mimicking Gern's slightly lazy smile.
"Moshi moshi~ Tesoro? What's up?
Did the base's finances run into trouble again? Or did Barrett blow up the training grounds and need reimbursement again?"
Gern's casual voice came through, faint sea winds audible in the background.
"Oh, right—things are wrapping up on my end. I was planning to swing by that Orange Town in the East Blue. Heard their oranges are pretty good. I'll bring you back some local specialties when I return—"
"Admiral Gern."
Tesoro's icy voice cut him off mercilessly.
The sound on the other end stopped dead.
A brief silence followed—so complete it felt as if even the sea wind had frozen.
Without hesitation, Tesoro delivered the truth.
Short. Cold. Explosive.
...
Meanwhile — the East Blue, the bow of a merchant ship heading toward Orange Town
Gern had been sitting cross-legged at the prow, leisurely watching the sea.
After hearing Tesoro's report through the Den Den Mushi—
The lazy smile on his face vanished instantly, without a trace.
There was no shout.
No questioning.
Not even the slightest hint of exaggerated emotion.
He merely, calmly, returned the Den Den Mushi to his coat.
Throughout the entire process, his gaze never wavered—as if what he had just heard was nothing more than "Nice weather today."
And yet—
Standing not far behind him, Mihawk sensed it almost immediately.
An indescribable, crushing presence—like the absolute stillness before a cataclysmic storm—began to spread outward from Gern, silently and relentlessly.
Hawk-Eye instinctively furrowed his brows.
He had never felt anything like this from Gern before.
This… deathly cold stillness.
Just as Mihawk was about to speak, Gern slowly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Gone was the usual brilliance.
Gone was the playful mockery.
Gone was the battle-crazed fervor.
What remained was something pure.
Bottomless.
Cold.
Silent.
Killing intent.
Gern's lips moved.
His voice was perfectly calm, devoid of ripples—yet carried a resolve that sent chills down the spine.
"Return to the New World."