Chapter 450: Dark Currents Rise, the Storm Is Coming!

Luffy gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with endless frustration.

Eight of them teamed up, yet still suffered a devastating defeat.

This result was even more devastating than their defeat against the then-Marine Admiral Aokiji on Sabaody Archipelago during the Era of the Worst Generation.

Back then, the Straw Hat, wielding all three forms of Haki and having awakened the Gum-Gum Fruit, had believed he could accomplish anything.

Even facing Aokiji, he would never have lost.

But against that man, he couldn’t even resist—he was crushed instantly.

Had it not been for Bavier of the Round Table Knights stepping in at the last moment, he wouldn’t have survived…

“One day, I’ll defeat him!”

“Are you kidding?!”

Kid’s lip twitched.

In that battle, though he stood on the Round Table Arena, his strength was leagues below the other seven, let alone that monster’s.

Even today, Kid still felt dazed—was that real, or just a nightmare?

The man known as the Lionheart King had nearly transcended humanity.

Now, Kid didn’t even want to hear Gao Wen’s name anymore.

“That guy is invincible. If you’re going to go to Britannias to die next time, don’t drag me along—I still want to live a few more years.”

“I don’t care! How can I become Pirate King without defeating that monster?!”

Luffy crossed his arms, shut his eyes, and adopted a stubborn, unyielding posture.

Kid’s eyelid twitched beside him:

“I shouldn’t have made that bet with you in the first place!”

“Lost is lost. If you won’t keep your promise, you’re not just unfit to be Pirate King—you’re not even a man!”

“You bastard!”

“Call me Captain!”

…

The two immediately began wrestling.

Xia Qi sat aside, a faint smile on his face; he couldn’t help turning to Lei Li, momentarily lost in thought.

“Lei Li…”

“I knew it—that monster couldn’t die so easily!”

Lei Li sat where he was, throwing back his head and laughing loudly; all the weariness on his body vanished.

Whether it was Roger’s hoped-for future or the monster born of this era—both still lived. The world still held hope.

He longed to see where Gao Wen would lead this world—but no matter what, it wouldn’t be worse than the current World Government.

Only…

What truly intrigued Lei Li was how they had survived the Heavenly King’s attack!

“How did they do it?!”

“Did that man Bavier possess some special ability?!”

The two wrestling paused and turned to Lei Li; Kid released Luffy’s lip and explained:

“Ah.”

“Gao Wen had already anticipated the World Government would interfere in the final of the World’s Strongest Martial Arts Tournament, so he prepared in advance.”

“He had the Door-Door Fruit user set up teleportation gates throughout the city.”

“We escaped using those gates.”

“But…”

Lei Li froze, then heard Kid continue:

“I’ll never forget that scene!”

“That monster actually went insane—trying to withstand the Ancient Weapon’s blast with his bare body!”

Lei Li’s pupils shrank sharply.

He had once followed Roger, traveling the world, uncovering ancient legends, and turning pages of buried history.

He had seen those monsters long since entombed in time!

The Three Ancient Weapons!

Pluton, Poseidon, Uranus.

Pluton was the most vicious warship in history—one shot could destroy a nation.

Poseidon was the power passed down through generations of Fishmen; once awakened, it could command the colossal Sea Kings lurking in the deep ocean.

Both possessed the power to overturn the world.

But Uranus—the most mysterious—had barely any records, even after scouring every historical text.

All that was known was that it watched the earth eternally from endless void, and at certain moments, unleashed an unstoppable divine punishment!

Poseidon had not yet awakened; Pluton lay buried in Wano, held by the World Government—Uranus must be theirs.

But…

Gao Wen withstood an Ancient Weapon with his bare body?!

Even without witnessing it, Lei Li could imagine the peril.

That was no weapon any human could oppose!

Lei Li’s heart tightened; he asked:

“Gao Wen…?”

“He succeeded.”

Kid, still shaken, recalled the scene—his pupils trembling uncontrollably:

“Even in humanity’s wildest imagination, no one ever conceived such a possibility!”

“With his bare body, he withstood the legendary Ancient Weapon—not once, but twice—and not only survived, but his aura became stronger than ever before…”

“No!”

Kid suddenly realized something he’d overlooked:

“Knight Gao Wen must have undergone a tremendous transformation during that process!”

“Perhaps…”

“That’s what the Round Table Knights meant by the Mythic Realm?!”

“Mythic Realm?!”

Lei Li froze.

He had a vague memory.

When Gao Wen’s crew stayed on Sabaody Archipelago to train, they’d mentioned it in passing.

Gao Wen had classified all the strong ones on the seas into six ranks and twenty-four tiers!

Even the peak Whitebeard and Roger were only Legendary Upper in this system—still a vast gap away from the Mythic.

Had Gao Wen truly stepped into the realm bearing the name of god?!

Of course.

Surviving an Ancient Weapon’s blast unscathed was nothing short of myth.

At that moment, Lei Li’s heartbeat surged.

If Gao Wen had found a way to resist Ancient Weapons, the World Government could no longer threaten him.

The new era…

Was within reach!

Xia Qi beside him remained silent, unable to calm down.

She had never seen an Ancient Weapon, but even from Lei Li’s expression, she sensed the danger—and felt Gao Wen’s inhuman strength.

“Xia Qi?!”

Lei Li’s voice came; years of companionship let Xia Qi instantly sense the indescribable excitement in his tone. She turned her head, and heard him continue:

“Don’t you want to see it? What does that man’s kingdom look like? That’s the future of this world!”

Xia Qi blinked:

“Aren’t we waiting? Roger entrusted you with something.”

Lei Li looked at Luffy, a faint smile on his lips:

“It’s done.”

“Roger’s awaited person has arrived.”

“It’s time to see what kind of future my expected man will create.”

Xia Qi leaned against the bar, propping her chin on one hand, smiling:

“I wonder how Britannias charges for its entrance fee~”