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

Having left the battlefield, they seemed to be pulled back to the sacred ground by some mechanism.

Kuzan knelt on one knee, supporting himself with his ice spear, panting heavily, his icy blue eyes filled with terror.

"This feeling...it's like I've gone back to those days..."

Enel hovered in the air, his golden staff slightly lowered, his eyes fixed on the direction from which the Haki was erupting.

"The first time I met Gern on the Sky Island..."

"And this is the second time... I've felt this level of 'fear'..."

Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses, his eyes narrowing into slits behind the lenses, and unusually, he didn't utter a single word of nonsense.

Return to the central battlefield.

Joy Boy's Conqueror's Haki came suddenly and went quickly.

But that instantaneous impact and its subsequent effects have completely changed the course of the battle.

The "sparks" on the Gern Eight Desolations Blade slowly subsided.

Standing there, his eyes were filled with complex and unfathomable emotions, still immersed in the lingering afterglow of that grand and boundless domineering aura.

After a long while, he murmured softly.

"An echo that spans eight hundred years... Is it worth sacrificing one's last existence to pave the way for those who come after...?"

“Joey Boy…”

"This is your... answer?"

Battle of Egerhad

Because of Joy Boy's powerful echoes that spanned eight hundred years, it came to an abrupt end in a way that no one could have predicted.

Im was severely injured and forced to retreat. Of the Five Elders, three died and two escaped (being knocked back). Blackbeard was forcibly teleported away.

Chapter 716 Declaring War on the 'World'

November, 1522 (Haiyuan Calendar).

The Battle of Eghad came to a tragic and devastating end, one that no one had anticipated.

The shadow of world government has been torn away.

Saint Nassuro (sharded), Saint Satan (killed), Saint Vochuli (transferred to as a skeleton after the contract was transferred).

Saint Pitt, Saint Maz (who was shaken back to the Holy Land).

Of the five elders who held supreme power, three died and two escaped!

Im, the Lord of the Void Throne, was severely injured by Gern's "Starfire Slash" in his descended form, and his will was eroded by the Haki left behind by Joy Boy.

In the end, they retreated in disarray and lay low deep within the sacred grounds, licking their wounds.

Marshall D. Teach, one of the "Four Emperors," is an ambitious user of two Devil Fruits.

He was first severely injured by the combined forces of Gern and Luffy, and then forcibly transferred to the Abyss Contract by Im.

They were swept away by a giant dark cocoon and disappeared, their fate unknown and their whereabouts a mystery.

His envoy to the island brought his core subordinates.

'Champion' Burgess (killed by Gern), Shiryu of the Rain (killed by Gern after being demonized), 'Supersonic' Van Augur (killed by Gern after being demonized).

'The Cursed Doctor' Samuel Kronos (missing, whereabouts unknown)

Former Marine Admiral "Aokiji" Kuzan, after Aramaki was blasted back to the Holy Land by Joy Boy's Haki.

He faced Kizaru and Enel alone, and was eventually captured after exhausting himself.

Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Stussy (who was seriously injured and unconscious) were also taken into custody by the Independent Navy during the post-war cleanup.

Meanwhile, the once-powerful Blackbeard Pirates, their core on Beehive Island...

Encountering attacks from former Fleet Admiral and current Grand Inspector "Buddha Sengoku," former Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr, and former Chief of Staff Tsuru.

Navy legend Monkey D. Garp, nicknamed "Iron Fist," has been rescued!

The remaining Blackbeard forces on the island face a combined attack from two top warriors of the old era ("Double King" goes online).

Thus, the Blackbeard Pirates, one of the Four Emperors, collapsed abruptly and were completely wiped out!

.......

Meanwhile, after the battle, Monkey D. Luffy, one of the Four Emperors, and his wounded crew...

Along with the rescued Vegapunk himself and some of his clones (Edison, Atlas, etc.)

Under the enthusiastic invitation and protection of "Blue Oni" Dorry and "Red Oni" Brogy

Heading towards Elbaf, the legendary land of giants, known as the strongest nation.

What shocked the world most was not merely the outcome of this battle.

Shortly after the Straw Hat crew arrived in Elbaf

A live broadcast, encrypted yet forcibly interrupting the signals of all visible Den Den Mushi (video phone) signals worldwide through unknown technical means, began without warning.

In the scene, Dr. Vegapunk (his true form), wearing an apple-shaped headgear, sits in front of the camera with an incredibly determined look in his eyes.

His voice, transmitted through radio waves, reached every corner of the world.

It spread to the palace, taverns, fishing villages...

It reached the ears of all those who yearned for the truth or feared the truth.

He did not recount the blank century, nor did he directly accuse world governments.

He simply used a rigorous, clear, and even slightly compassionate tone.

It showcased to the world a series of complex climate models, geological change data, and obscure records from ancient texts.

And... his ultimate deductions derived from the "Punk Records" and analysis of the "Mother Spark".

"...Based on all the above data and logical connections, I am over 87.3% certain that this is not an exaggeration."

This world, the planet we live on, is supported by the continental plates and red earth continents.

Due to unknown ancient intervention and long-term energy imbalance, it is entering a period of irreversible, slow disintegration.

"In short, if the status quo continues, the world may 'sink'."

As the sea rises, the foundations of civilization begin to crumble from within.

The timescale may be measured in centuries, but the trend... is already clear.

"This is not a natural disaster; it is more like a 'man-made disaster' that has been postponed for eight hundred years."

"And the 'truth' is the only key to stop or delay all of this."

It is buried in history, sealed at the top of the red earth continent.

To seek it, to understand it, is the responsibility of all intelligent life on this world to survive.

The live stream abruptly ended there. The last image before the signal was forcibly cut off was Dr. Vegapunk's eyes, gazing intently into the camera.

One stone caused a thousand waves!

Countless underground forces, scholars, and even royalty from some member states began to secretly re-examine the world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall structure or pattern of history) and historical records.

The world's future may sink.

The impact of this statement even temporarily overshadowed the shock of the outcome of the Battle of Eghad.

Meanwhile, another explosive piece of news swept the world through the World Economic Herald's urgent special edition and underground intelligence network!

The Holy Land has been attacked! The Celestial Dragons' divine realm has been breached!

A change unprecedented in eight hundred years!

Revolutionary Army Commander-in-Chief "Dragon" Monkey D. Dragon personally led the main force of the Revolutionary Army and several powerful, unidentified reinforcements.

A fierce assault on the Holy Land of Mary Geoise successfully broke through the outer defenses of Pangaea.

They occupied part of the Celestial Dragons' core residential area and used it as a new frontline base!

Currently, the Revolutionary Army is engaged in fierce street fighting with the remaining Knights of God and the Holy Land defenders within Pangaea City!

If Vegapunk's prophecy was a boulder thrown into a calm lake, then the news of the Revolutionary Army's capture of Pangaea was like directly igniting a powder keg!

......

Naval Headquarters, New Marineford.

The headquarters, once a symbol of absolute justice and order, now has a somber and oppressive atmosphere.

The square was filled with a dense, dark mass of elite independent navies from all over the world.

Their expressions were resolute, and their eyes burned with a fire unlike anything they had ever seen before.

That was no longer blind obedience to "justice," but a more fervent fighting will after making a choice and knowing the goal.

On the high platform, Gern, who had returned to headquarters and was wearing a marshal's coat, slowly walked to the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi.

He didn't give a long speech or a passionate mobilization.

He simply looked down at the countless pairs of eyes staring at him.

Then, taking advantage of the current global situation, speaking into the microphone in a voice that the entire world can hear and that will resonate, declare...

"From this day forward..."

"In the name of justice, in the right to life, for the sake of the future..."

"I, Gern Reginald Sigmar, represent the entire Independent Navy!"

He paused slightly, staring directly at the summit of the red earth continent, at the shadow on the void throne, and at all the injustices and lies of the past eight hundred years.

Then, word by word, with unwavering resolve.

"To the world government..."

"Declare war."

The moment the words were spoken, the Navy's declaration of war spread throughout the world!

The curtain of the era of world governments has been completely torn down.

The tide of the new era is surging in with unstoppable force.

The war has begun.

For the truth, for survival, for the future.

Chapter 717 Reaching the Pinnacle!

New Marineford, Marshal's War Room.

A huge 3D nautical chart floated in the center of the long table, with the Red Line, the Grand Line, and the islands of the four seas flowing across it.

But everyone's gaze was unanimously fixed on that vast expanse of the world.

The area marked at the top is "Mary Geoise" and "Pangu".

At the head of the long table, Gern sat upright, his marshal's coat casually draped over the back of the chair, and the cuffs of his black shirt rolled up, revealing his forearms.

He didn't look at the nautical chart; he simply placed his fingers interlaced on the table.

On the left is the core of the direct line, now revered and feared by the outside world as a "natural disaster".

Lipo Hope, nicknamed "White Rabbit" (Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters), sat in the seat closest to him.

It crunched away at a bright red carrot, its pink rabbit ears trembling slightly with each chew.

"Golden" Gild Tezzolo (Vice Admiral and Chief of Staff of the Navy Headquarters) rapidly flipped through a thick stack of documents with one hand.

The fingers of his other hand tapped unconsciously, making a soft sound.

"Snake Princess" Torituma (G-10 Base Commander and Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters) rested her chin on her hand, gazing undisguisedly at Gern in the main seat.

"God" Enel (Marine Admiral "Thor")

He casually leaned back on the conference table, his arms behind his head, eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to the meeting's content.