Chapter 451: Freedom Is Tatakae!

Just.

What they understood even more clearly was that, whether or not the Straw Hats could survive the ancient weapon’s assault, their own adventure could not end here.

“Hssss—!”

Red-Hair drew a deep breath, his grip on the blade turning white, his gaze unwavering:

“We…”

“have no time to waste mourning dead companions.”

“To carry their will to the journey’s end, to open One Piece with our own hands—that is the greatest respect we can show them.”

“Next, we follow the plan and head to Sphinx.”

The crew fell silent, their despair vanished, turning back to the cabin, returning to their posts, driving the Red Forest toward Whitebeard’s homeland.

Whoosh—!

The sea wind howled, filling the sails; the Red Forest, riddled with wounds and nearly falling apart, pressed forward without hesitation.

…

At the same time.

Mary Geoise.

The Five Elders gathered in the office, seated facing each other, no longer bearing their former air of certainty.

What had happened in Britannias days ago shattered every principle they had ever known.

A human, standing firm against an ancient weapon…

Even in the eras of Im and Joy Boy, this was nearly divine!

Knight Gao Wen… unbeatable!

“What do we do?”

Satan Saint involuntarily spoke, his unease barely contained.

Such a look should never appear on the faces of the Five Elders, who stood just below the Emperor, above all others.

Such words should never come from their mouths.

But now, the other four could not smile—they wore the same expression as Satan.

The ancient weapons were their last trump card, their infallible truth—but now, truth had lost its power.

Those who worshipped truth now plunged into unbearable dread.

“Has there been any word from Elder Im?!”

“Wait!”

Nase Shouryou Saint drew a deep breath, clutching his long blade tightly; the malice in his eyes vanished, replaced only by panic:

“Elder Im said we must wait—wait until his plan is complete, until he regains his original power.”

“That one… still has another card?!”

Mazi Saint could hardly believe it:

“Even against that monster who withstood the ancient weapon?!”

Nase Shouryou Saint shook his head:

“I don’t know—but we have no choice but to trust Elder Im.”

“Recently, I reviewed the intelligence from Crow Harbor and Britannias, and uncovered a startling—no, perhaps an inevitable—truth.”

“Knight Gao Wen…”

“is fundamentally our mortal enemy. More terrifying than his power is his ideology—a thought far more dangerous than the D. Clan’s current ignorance of their own existence!”

“Everything in Britannias fundamentally denies the legitimacy of the Celestial Dragons!”

“This is an enemy!”

“An irreconcilable enemy!”

The others recoiled in shock, finally grasping the meaning behind Nase Shouryou’s words.

But faced with a monster no effort could defeat… what could they possibly do?!

Wait?!

Suffering, agonizing wait?!

Until the final moment of destruction arrives?!

The five fell silent.

Long silence.

Woquli Saint broke the quiet:

“By the way.”

“Any news on the Cherubim’s recovery?!”

At the mention of Cherubim, Satan Saint’s already gloomy face darkened further:

“No news.”

“Our installed controllers have been detonated—but we’ve received no reports back.”

“They were likely removed in advance.”

“But what stunned me most was that Stussy—that woman—was Beigangke’s mole. In other words, we ourselves delivered the three Cherubim into Knight Gao Wen’s hands!”

“The remaining Cherubim cannot be activated until we eliminate Beigangke’s hidden traps!”

Satan clutched his head, nearly broken:

“Damn it!”

“Damn it all!!!”

…

Above Britannias.

Development Bureau.

Inside a laboratory.

Electronic tubes flickered; three transparent nutrient tanks stood in the center, each holding one of the Cherubim.

Stussy stood beside them, watching the three within, unable to hold back:

“Are you really going to do this, Mr. Beigangke?!”

“Their power is too great—if they choose not to stand with us, they will be a threat to you and to Britannias!”

Beigangke remained silent, reaching out to press a switch.

Hssss—!

The pressure valves inside the tanks opened, releasing clouds of pure white gas; the lids slowly rose.

Shhh—!

S-DRAGON suddenly stood up from the nutrient fluid.

All wounds from the previous battle had healed; even the arm and wings severed by Gao Wen had regrown.

But most striking was the ‘X’-shaped scar on his chest.

“I… am free?!”

S-DRAGON looked down at the wound on his chest.

It had once been where the World Government implanted the controller, linked directly to his heart.

Should any anomaly arise, the controller could instantly destroy his heart with a single command.

That was why even S-DRAGON, as rebellious as he was, had no choice but to obey the World Government.

But now, he felt no trace of the controller.

“You are free.”

Beigangke nodded, his gaze sweeping over S-DRAGON, then to S-SHARK and S-BEAR rising behind him; his eyes betrayed unmistakable guilt:

“Creating life is the greatest taboo I have ever touched—second only to birthing the Mother Seed.”

“I am sorry.”

“I brought you into this world, gave you flesh and soul, yet bound you in chains. Now, I return your freedom.”

“Do what you wish. Go where you wish. Chase your dreams!”

The three Cherubim remained silent.

S-BEAR and S-SHARK stared blankly, lost; they mechanically repeated old habits, silently stepping behind Stussy, awaiting their master’s command.

Only S-DRAGON lowered his head, brow furrowed.

As the strongest and most unique of the Cherubim, S-DRAGON possessed full self-awareness—the source of his rebellion.

Yet in this moment, feeling his heartbeat wholly his own, he still felt only confusion.