Zoran calmly accepted the Water Demon Chi bestowed upon him by Bai Tza.
With a simple flick of his finger, the small vent on the lid of the cauldron instantly slid open, allowing the stream of Water Demon Chi to flow obediently inside.
Demon Chi was the very essence of the Demon Sorcerers' power. Even setting aside whether refining materials within the Tianyuan Cauldron required a balance of opposing elements like fire and water, the mere act of nourishing the contents with raw Demon Chi was more than enough to significantly elevate the grade of the components inside.
Much like Shendu, Bai Tza certainly knew how to be accommodating.
"As for this human..." Zoran glanced down at Blackbeard, Teach.
To him, the pirate had outlived his usefulness. Zoran had only sought him out because he happened to be in Marineford during the Paramount War, and Blackbeard had happened to cross his path, bearing the unique properties of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
In short, for the Moon Demon, it was merely a matter of convenience, a quick experiment to see how the Dark-Dark Fruit differed from the power of a Moon Demon. At most, one could only marvel at how terribly unfortunate Blackbeard's timing had been.
"If you have no further use for him, dear brother, I actually have a few tasks in mind," Bai Tza spoke up.
"Oh? Then he's all yours, along with the rest of these insects." With a casual wave of Zoran's hand, every surviving member of the Blackbeard Pirates was instantly bundled up together by the rising seawater, alongside their captain.
The crew members who had already come into contact with the ocean were already beginning to exhibit bizarre, non-human mutations. Zoran could easily guess what Bai Tza intended to do with them.
Sure enough, before his eyes, Bai Tza summoned a massive tidal wave to swallow them whole. A dense cloud of Water Demon Chi enveloped the pirates, violently accelerating their evolutionary process.
In the blink of an eye, amidst a haze of sheer confusion and panic, every last one of them was forcibly evolved into the final form of the New Atlantis denizens, a hybrid possessing distinct human characteristics seamlessly blended with the unmistakable visage of the Naga. It wasn't entirely hideous, bearing several features that mirrored Bai Tza's own form.
This was the blueprint for the future inhabitants of this world; all living creatures would eventually evolve in this direction, save for the massive Sea Kings that already naturally dwelled within the deep.
Bai Tza submerged the newly evolved Blackbeard Pirates deep into the ocean floor, issuing a chilling decree: "My palace requires hands. Go, and build it!"
To these mutated subjects whose flesh had been baptized by her waters, and given the absolute, overwhelming disparity in strength between them, Bai Tza's word was practically divine law. It was absolute and brook no resistance.
The transformed pirates fanned out their aquatic tails, the naturally vicious contours of their faces now masked by an indelible look of bewilderment and terror. Under Bai Tza's strict mandate, they swam off toward the distance, heading straight for the marine base once known as Marineford, now reconstructed as the absolute heart of New Atlantis.
Having become members of this new aquatic race, the Devil Fruit users who had once lived in mortal terror of the sea were now adapting to the water like fish. In mere seconds, they instinctively mastered the art of rapid swimming.
Bai Tza's absolute dominion was perfectly illustrated through them. The original laws governing this world had long since been overwritten and supplanted by her presence, establishing a brand-new hierarchy beneath her feet.
Above the surface, Zoran waited quietly for his elixir to finish brewing.
Not far off, violent tremors vibrated through the seabed. Within Zoran's sensory perception, colossal marine organisms were radiating intense emotions of reverence and joy, cautiously making their way toward their location.
They were the Sea Kings that had originally been closest to the area, the very first wave of pilgrims to complete their journey through tireless travel. They were not drawn by Zoran, but rather to pay homage to the god of this new world. Having decoded the messages carried through the ocean currents, they flocked forward, desperate to get closer to Bai Tza.
An immense variety of massive Sea Kings swarmed the ocean floor, their gargantuan bodies twisting and turning through the water, radiating profound awe and terror. Among them, creatures whose sizes eclipsed even the All-Devouring Narwhal were too numerous to count. Even super-sized Sea Kings, stretching over thousands or even tens of thousands of meters in length, cast their immense shadows far below the surface.
Unlike the solid weight of the All-Devouring Narwhal, however, the Sea Kings of this world were largely superficial. They possessed staggering physical dimensions, yet their actual combat capabilities fluctuated wildly. At their peak, one could tear off the arm of a world-renowned powerhouse like Shanks the Red-Haired; at their worst, being instantly obliterated by a single strike was considered perfectly normal. Most Sea Kings simply relied on sheer bulk, incapable of comparing to a highly condensed, heavy mass of pure energy like the Narwhal.
Nevertheless, the first cluster of Sea Kings to reach the core perimeter of New Atlantis gathered in massive pods, emitting low, resonant wails. Only upon drawing close to the god of this new world could they truly comprehend just how terrifyingly powerful the master of those global ocean currents truly was.
Without a doubt, under the guidance of this sovereign of the seas, the new world she was forging was the only future that mattered.
A look of deep, ancient pride surfaced in Bai Tza's eyes. She lowered her voice, murmuring softly to herself, "It's back... All of it is back. My everything, my past..."
The Demon Sorcerers had all spent millennia desperately chasing the lost glory of their ancient reign. Shendu was no exception, and neither was Bai Tza.
Leaving the bleak confines of the Netherworld behind to step onto the grand stage of a pristine world, that long-lost splendor was finally shining upon them once more. It brought a mixture of thrilling excitement and profound sentiment. At this moment, though Bai Tza had yet to fully recover her peak strength and remained far weaker than she had been during the dawn of time, her true glory had undeniably returned to her.
"My subjects, the sovereign of New Atlantis stands before you! Revere me! Submit to me!"
Bai Tza raised her arms high, her expression a mix of absolute satisfaction and intense fervor. For the Water Demon, everything she was doing now was no different from how she had ruled her domains in the ancient past. She was reconstructing her history.
Though her absolute prime had not yet returned, the majestic glory unique to the Water Demon, Bai Tza, had truly been resurrected in this world. At this very moment, an epic milestone destined to be carved permanently into the history of this planet, she had finally caught up to her past self.
Countless Sea Kings circled tightly around her, cheering with a pure, unadulterated ecstasy, acting as a royal guard to escort the undisputed master of their new world. It was a perfect mirror to the memories of a long-lost Atlantis, a civilization now buried deep beneath the dust of time.
The master of water sat enthroned at the center of the world, looking down upon all four corners of the earth, as every liquid current surged and retreated entirely at her whim.
Bai Tza's physical form dissolved, merging seamlessly into the ocean. She transformed into a colossal shadow sweeping across the seabed, cutting through the water at breakneck speed as the endless legions of Sea Kings followed closely in her wake.
The Water Demon was dancing alongside her people, actively forging a kingdom that belonged entirely to her.
Meanwhile, above the surface of the sea, the air remained completely still and tranquil.
Zoran raised his hand to lift the lid of the cauldron. A massive plume of concentrated steam billowed outward, and a pitch-black elixir flew directly into the palm of his hand. He was in no rush to consume it; instead, he silently observed the magnificent spectacle unfolding far beneath the waves.
Watching the beautiful scene play out below, a gratified smile graced his lips.
A person who gives a grand gift always experiences a profound sense of validation and pleasure when the recipient opens it with such genuine, overwhelming joy.
For a brief moment, the sea acted as a perfect boundary between two worlds. Above, the surface was calm and serene; below, the depths boiled with triumphant celebration.
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