The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

A flash of... a fiery, soul-scorching golden-red light. (What is that? A Devil Fruit? Haki? A power system I've never seen before!)

The pain of being "burned." (Adult fear?!)

“A spark…” (A fragmented, ambiguous whisper.)

Finally, there was the extreme "repulsion" towards those golden-red specks of light.

And the lingering echo of an absolute command

"...Temporarily take cover...Observe...Find out...that 'fire'..."

The information abruptly ended.

Chapter 582 Mu needs to use 'him'

The Void Throne remained empty, and the palace remained deathly silent.

But the Five Elders' kneeling bodies began to tremble uncontrollably, even more violently than before.

The information they received was too little, too fragmented, yet contained terrifying content that was enough to overturn their understanding.

Sir... are you injured?

Burned by some kind of "fire"?

It even generated...fear?

Is this why the order was given "Do not descend to the mortal realm," and why a long period of silence was imposed, as if the speaker was licking their wounds?

No wonder... no wonder he was able to defeat Nasujuro! No wonder he was so wary of him!

“So…so that’s how it is…” Saint Satan was the first to slowly raise his head.

He understood why the order was "Do not descend to the lower realms"—it was the highest level of avoidance and alert order.

“That ‘fire’…” Piet Saint murmured, his voice hoarse.

"We must find out!" Maz Saint gritted his teeth, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Use all resources, from historical records to surviving documents..."

From all the records about 'D', about all the forbidden legends... investigate!

Even if it means searching every corner of the Red Earth, we must find the origin and weakness of that 'fire'!

"Since Gern can be used, we... must also understand, and even control!"

Nasujiro remained silent, stroking his perfectly intact neck.

It turns out, my defeat was not unjust.

“Then, the lower realm…” Saint Pitt looked at Saint Satan, seeking a final decision.

Saint Satan slowly stood up, having knelt for too long, and patted off non-existent dust from his knees.

"The Lord's order is 'Do not descend to the mortal realm,'" Saint Satan's voice regained its composure.

"This means that we, as well as the Knights of God and the highest-level combat force of CP0, must not proactively go to the lower realm to engage in direct conflict with Gern and his core combat force."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the other four: "But that doesn't mean there's nothing we can do."

"Let the CP agency go deeper underground, focusing on gathering all intelligence about Gern, about the 'natural disaster,' and about the 'fire.'"

Infiltration, bribery, sowing discord... using methods we excel at, we'll corrupt his new system from within.

"Contact those member states that remain loyal to the World Government, especially those in the New World that are outside the naval sphere of influence or that fear independence."

Provide them with covert support, making them a thorn in the side of the navy.

"besides……"

"Pirates, especially... those 'emperors'."

The balance has been broken!

.............

After the Five Elders left, they were only one door away from the Hall of Power.

Located at the rear of the main hall, within the "Flower Chamber," which only the most senior attendants are permitted to enter...

The scene was completely different from the image of a deity silently strategizing in the minds of outsiders.

There are no magnificent palaces or cold thrones here, only a strange garden that seems to defy the laws of physics, eternally blooming with exotic flowers and plants.

At this moment, in the center of the sea of ​​flowers, on a couch naturally woven from countless soft vines and glowing flowers, a figure is curled up in pain.

At the center of the wound on the left scapula was a clearly visible knife cut, with the edges of the cut...

Countless tiny "sparks" were firmly embedded at the junction of the wound and the surrounding "skin".

These sparks were extremely small, yet they exuded an "aura" that was completely out of place with the entire flower, and even with Im's own existence.

They weren't scorching hot, but they continuously burned the area where Im was trying to heal his wounds.

Each time the energy of "regeneration" surges towards the wound, it is partially neutralized and annihilated by these golden-red sparks.

It emitted a hissing sound.

The wound cannot heal, and the pain continues indefinitely.

"Uh... ah..."

An uncontrollable groan of pain escaped from Im's throat.

The voice was neither male nor female, and its right hand gripped tightly above the wound on its left shoulder.

This is the real reason why Im has not appeared since the battle on the deserted island, and has even severed his regular contact with the Five Elders.

Gern's strike not only severed Nassshuro Saint's body, but also, through the connection of Im's descending will, directly damaged some deeper "essence" of Him.

This damage exceeded the scope of what "Undying Blessing" could repair, because it did not attack "life."

Rather, it is a more fundamental "rule" or "concept" that constitutes Im's "existence".

"Spark" seems to have been born to burn away concepts like "dominance," "eternity," and "divinity."

at the same time

The figure standing a few meters away from the bed trembled slightly.

This is a woman dressed in clothing similar to that of a female official in an ancient court, her face veiled behind a thin white gauze.

The soldier's palace servants were among the few who were allowed to serve Im directly.

At this moment, she was holding a pure silver tray with a crystal glass filled with a shimmering liquid and a silk scarf soaked in some rare floral nectar.

In all the years Junzi had served Im, he had never seen the 'adult' show such... pain and vulnerability that was so close to that of a 'mortal'.

"grown ups……"

The soldier called out softly, almost inaudibly.

But this soft call aroused Im, who was in pain.

The figure on the bed trembled violently, then slowly and stiffly turned its head.

Behind the white veil, the soldier's palace met a pair of inhuman, dark red reincarnation patterns.

The depths of those eyes, once forever calm, empty, and indifferent to all things, were now unable to conceal their true nature.

Mania, pain, and fear.

"you!"

Im spoke, his voice hoarse and shrill, completely devoid of its usual hollow, flat, and inhuman quality.

"Go tell those five old bastards!"

"Mmm...Mmm will never appear in front of that man again! Never!"

After the words left his mouth, Im seemed to realize that they sounded too cowardly, and he suddenly stopped, his dark red eyes filled with even more confusion.

It gasped for breath a few times, and as its emotions surged, a burst of golden-red sparks shot up from the wound on its left shoulder, causing it to let out another suppressed groan of pain.

"No...no!" Im shook his head violently. "You...you're useless!"

These words were spoken to the Five Elders, who were not present, and were filled with resentment and extreme disappointment.

In its original plan, the Five Elders and the system they controlled were sufficient to handle 99.9% of the world's problems.

The remaining 0.1% is what you need to occasionally look at, or even personally eliminate.

But Gern, along with his bizarre "spark," goes completely beyond this category.

“I need someone stronger…” Im hissed in a low voice, “I need a Harald…”

No! Harald couldn't hurt me back then... I need someone... Gern.

Jun Gongzi trembled even more violently, and she could barely understand what the adults were saying.

Harald?! Gern?

Does the adult need... an enemy?

"My lord..." Junzi could only murmur once more.

"Go!" Im seemed to be angered by her reaction, or perhaps the burning pain in his left shoulder made him lose his last bit of patience.

He then suddenly raised his uninjured right arm and pointed it towards the entrance between the flowers, his movements contorted with pain.

"Go find David's descendants!!"

"Hmm..."

"Hmm, we need to use him!!"

Chapter 583 Beehive Island

Pirate Beehive Island

This property once belonged to the Rocks Pirates, but was later taken by the legendary Pirate King.

The massive, skull-shaped island, now in Blackbeard's hands, is shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

A giant skull formed from the form of "Evil King" Avaro Pizarro, the user of the Island-Island Fruit.

The empty eye sockets seemed to be coldly staring at the town below.

In the heart of the island's main town, the once bustling taverns and casinos have become much quieter.

The pirates chatted in hushed tones in small groups, their eyes occasionally glancing at the tallest building in the center.

Inside the building, Marshall D. Teach, the man with the black beard, was reclining in a large sofa that could comfortably seat several people.

His arm rested on the armrest, his ring-covered fingers tapping unconsciously on the leather.

Compared to two years ago, he is now wearing a captain's hat with the Blackbeard Pirates' insignia on his head.

His thick, black beard was carefully braided into three thick braids that hung down in front of his chest.

Unfortunately, that signature arrogant smile had vanished without a trace, replaced by a deeply furrowed brow and a gloomy gaze.

Blackbeard lowered his gaze and habitually reached up to scratch his bare chest.

The huge "X"-shaped scar that runs diagonally from the left and right shoulders to the sides of the abdomen.

Back then, during the Marineford War, he was struck by a devastating blow from Shiki the Golden Lion.

Really, I was just a hair's breadth away from killing him.

If it weren't for the power and characteristics of the Dark-Dark Fruit and the "Cursed Doctor's" Fungus-Fungus Fruit ability, he would have died halfway there.

"hateful!"

Blackbeard suddenly let out a low growl, grabbed the large wooden cup filled with strong liquor, and slammed it hard onto the heavy wooden table in front of him.

The cup shattered, spilling wine mixed with sawdust everywhere, and the pirates around instinctively shrank back.

"I was so close... so close to stealing the power of that Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"

Blackbeard gritted his teeth, his voice forced from deep within his throat, filled with intense resentment.

"That arrogant 'god' guy... if it weren't for Kizaru and Mihawk suddenly appearing... he would have ruined my plans!"

Blackbeard finished speaking, breathing heavily, the scar on his chest rising and falling with each breath.