Chapter 498: Chapter 497
Initially, the Five Elders underestimated Luffy, attributing his survival to the widespread consumption of the Rubber Fruit, which had never been awakened by anyone before. This oversight allowed Luffy to live; otherwise, formidable adversaries like an Admiral or CP0 would have eliminated the Straw Hat Pirates early in their journey along the Grand Line. Their first brush with extinction was narrowly avoided when Aokiji chose to spare them, a decision the World Government would come to regret as Luffy reached the New World, fulfilling Kozuki Oden's prophecy.
In their analysis, Luffy seemed incapable of defeating Kaido alone. His struggles in Totto Land and his barely won battle against Katakuri showed that even with his Fourth Gear, he was no match for Big Mom—a pirate of equal stature to Kaido. If Luffy was to pose a real threat to Kaido, it would mean one thing: his fruit had finally awakened. Such an awakening was a dire sign for the Five Elders, as it indicated a significant shift in power dynamics.
The world was already teetering on the brink of chaos. The Revolutionary Army and NEO Marine, now aligned, boasted a formidable force including four Admiral-level fighters, making them a greater threat than even the Four Emperors. These developments, coupled with Luke's relentless exposure of their secrets, had started to erode the traditional power and financial bases of the World Government, threatening its very foundation.
Added to their woes was the revival of Whitebeard, now in his prime and more formidable than ever, harboring a deep grudge from the Summit War. Big Mom, another of the Four Emperors, wrongfully blamed the World Government for the death of Mother Carmel, adding another layer of enmity.
In the midst of this mounting pressure, the revelation of Luffy's awakened fruit—the same fruit that had eluded them for centuries—was the worst possible news. It signaled the return of a powerful entity, prophesied by Oden, that could disrupt their control over the world.
Adding to the complexity was Poseidon, now enhanced and potentially more dangerous than her predecessor 800 years ago. The union of these forces, according to Oden's prophecy, would ignite a massive war, one that the World Government might not survive.
The appearance of Luke, with control over the ancient weapon Pluton and its blueprints, was yet another shock. Just months ago, the World Government felt unassailable; now, they were scrambling to maintain control as their dominion crumbled.
The source of their downfall traced back to a mysterious event—a sudden crack in the air and a pitch-black screen that appeared worldwide. This was Luke's doing, the enigmatic figure whose actions had turned the tide.
Luke's ability to alter what seemed like an unchangeable future puzzled the Five Elders deeply. Unlike Shyarly's prophecies, which were bound to occur regardless of the intermediate changes, Luke's predictions seemed to actively shape events, suggesting he possessed not only foresight but the power to alter outcomes.
Doubting the authenticity of these visions, the Elders speculated that Luke might be using an unknown Devil Fruit to create convincing illusions of both past and future events. This blend of truth and fabrication made it impossible to discern reality from deception, further complicating their efforts to maintain order.
As a last resort, the Elders decided that the only way to stem their decline was to eliminate Luke. However, finding him proved impossible, and they faced the grim reality that their control was slipping. They were forced to act decisively against Luffy, seeing his potential awakening as a direct threat to their reign. This time, they would not take chances; Admiral Akainu was dispatched to ensure that Luffy would not survive to challenge them in the New World.
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