Capítulo 298: The End
The shattered sea, the sky forever marked by the ethereal remnants of the golden sun and stars.
Above the tumultuous water, countless fragments of rock and floating islands hovered in defiance of gravity. Between these islands, black lightning crackled wildly, filling the air with chaotic energy.
Far below, the ocean had collapsed, revealing a massive crater several kilometers across. The deep fissures left by the dragon's breath split the crater, pulling in torrents of seawater and creating violent whirlpools.
Even in the ever-changing climate of the New World, this place now stood as one of the most dangerous forbidden zones.
The Final Island, Raftel, had been obliterated, the fabled One Piece shattered in the battle between the Demon King Organization and the World King, Imu, sinking into the ocean's depths.
The era of the Grand Line and its treasure-hungry pirates had come to an end.
At the eye of the storm, surrounded by roiling thunderclouds, Imu's fading form became transparent, scattering into particles of light.
"Human greed and ambition are endless," Imu's cold voice echoed. "Even if the Celestial Dragons are overthrown, the World Government will persist. Whether it is you, Zyhark, or Sengoku, or even a newborn hundreds of years from now, humanity's nature will ensure that power will rise again."
Their indifferent gaze held steady, as if observing the world from beyond victory or defeat. For Imu, justice could not be sustained forever; unrestricted power would slowly corrode even the noblest of hearts.
After all, they had once been a hero, uniting the Twenty Kingdoms with passion and liberating the world.
Evil, as Imu had said to the Five Elders, could never truly be erased. Someone else would carry on the will of the World Government, continuing its legacy indefinitely. Such is the nature of humanity.
To Imu, this battle had been won long before it started.
"Are you finished?" Zyhark's voice cut through Imu's speech, utterly unmoved by what he considered senseless reasoning.
Why should he care about the world's future? He wasn't some righteous crusader. Overthrowing the Celestial Dragons had been about his freedom. Saving the world had merely been a byproduct.
Imu, reduced to only a head, stared at him in stunned silence, a bitter smile slowly forming as understanding dawned on them.
"So, you're not the destined Joy Boy," they said with a wry laugh, "yet I fell to the likes of you…"
"Looking for Joy Boy? Try Luffy, though you won't get the chance."
Zyhark picked at his ear, gesturing casually to Aqua beside him. "Alright, idiot, purify this thing's soul."
"Idiot! This goddess is no idiot!" Aqua grumbled, yet she raised her staff without hesitation. A glowing purification array formed beneath her, consuming Imu in holy light.
With Imu's final traces dissipating, the battle came to an end.
Victory belonged to the Demon King Organization!
…
On the Red Line, in the ruins of Mary Geoise:
"Imu's aura… it's gone…" The Five Elders looked at one another, terror etched across their faces for the first time.
With Imu's power gone, their immortality had vanished. Now, fatal wounds would be just that—fatal.
Seeing the blood-soaked Revolutionary Army and Marines advancing toward them, they felt a desire to flee.
But it was far too late for that. With both sides locked in a death struggle, neither Sengoku nor Dragon would let such a rare opportunity slip by.
Bolstered by newfound resolve, the Marines and Revolutionaries charged at the weakened Five Elders and the Knights of God.
Outnumbered and outmatched, the result was inevitable:
The Five Elders and the Knights of God were slaughtered.
As the Holy Land, which had weighed heavily on the world for so long, crumbled, the surviving soldiers and Revolutionaries stood frozen, absorbing the impossible reality before them.
"V-victory? No last-minute surprises… We… we actually won?"
"The World Government has fallen? Those damned Celestial Dragons are dead!"
"Justice has prevailed!"
With jubilant disbelief, they threw down their weapons, shouting to the heavens in triumph.
In the skies, Morgans captured every moment of the scene, ecstatic with the scoop of a lifetime.
"Ha! I won! I actually won!" he shouted, his hands shaking with excitement. "Listen up, everyone! Even if it kills you, get these papers out! The world must see this unprecedented news as soon as possible!"
…
A week passed quietly.
In Marine Headquarters, Sengoku slumped over a mountain of paperwork, looking more weary and aged than ever.
Though the World Government had fallen, the aftermath was overwhelming. From resource distribution to establishing new systems, everything was chaotic.
Thankfully, the disbanded Revolutionary Army had stepped up to quell local uprisings; otherwise, the Navy would have been unable to manage.
The collapse of the Celestial Dragons didn't mean permanent peace; ambitious pirates showed no intention of retiring. In fact, the chaos attracted even more of them to the seas, a trend that would likely continue for years.
"Admiral! Urgent news!" A Marine officer burst into the office, visibly distressed.
Bracing himself, Sengoku sighed, "Another kingdom in revolt? Or a pirate causing trouble?"
"No, sir… it's worse." The officer hesitated, but under Sengoku's piercing gaze, he stammered, "The emperors of the sea… all of them are heading for the Divine Kingdom in the New World!"
"We have confirmation—the Demon King Organization is holding a grand banquet open to all races!"
Sengoku sighed deeply. "They don't give us a moment's peace, do they? Send the Admirals to keep up appearances. They're still pirates, after all."
"Sir… aside from Sakazuki, all the Admirals have gone to attend the banquet."
"What?! What about Garp and Zephyr?"
"They went too…"
"Those old fools!" Sengoku slammed his fist on his desk, grabbing his coat and storming out of the office.
"Fleet Admiral! Where are you going?" the officer asked, alarmed.
"If no one else is available, I'll go myself and carry out justice!"
"But if you leave, headquarters—"
"Don't worry. I'll have Sakazuki cover for a few days. With all the pirates at the Divine Kingdom, there shouldn't be any major issues here."
Without waiting for a response, Sengoku marched out, his coat emblazoned with "Justice" billowing in his wake.
"Fleet Admiral, please… let me join you… to… uphold justice!" The officer hurried after him, begging in earnest.
And so, the two figures disappeared down the hall, leaving only the fluttering symbol of "Justice" in the gentle breeze.
The End
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