Chapter 261

In an instant.

The earth shook and mountains trembled.

The half-square plaza near the enclosing wall, carrying Luo En and the others, began slowly tilting toward the enclosing wall.

Luo En's mind stirred.

The Gura Gura no Mi ability activated.

Before the marines' horrified gazes, the half-square plaza lifted upward with Luo En and the others aboard, and one by one, ships on the distant sea also broke free from gravity under the influence of the Gura Gura no Mi, floating into the sky.

"Sengoku, old man Karp, and all of you marines,"

Luo En stood at the edge of the rising half-square plaza, looking down upon the marines below.

"Out of respect for our past ties, I won't take this Marineford with me."

"The war will soon begin again."

"We will meet again in Mary Geoise—then, I hope all of you will see true justice and make the right choice at the right moment."

As Luo En departed, he glanced at Momta and Tiena, standing in different positions, and smiled at both.

His smile was as clear and gentle as in their youth.

But now their positions were completely opposed.

The justice of the navy upholding order, and the demonic king seeking to overthrow the world—destined never to stand together.

Momta's slender, delicate fingers lightly rested on her sword hilt; she sighed inwardly.

Tiena stared at the distant black dot, her eyes filled with complexity.

………………

Luo En and the others left Marineford.

They left behind only a ruined Marineford and the corpses of over ten thousand elite marines.

This was a crushing defeat for the navy.

The flagship admiral Huang Yuan was killed; the flagship admiral Chi Quan was severely wounded; the flagship admiral Qing Ji and the flagship candidate Teng Hu suffered minor injuries; two giant vice admirals were lost; three other vice admirals died; five captains died; dozens of captain-level naval officers perished, and the wounded numbered innumerable.

But there was no time now for the navy to regroup or mourn the dead.

Sengoku immediately took He Zhongjiang and Karp to Ganggu Kong, to directly discuss with the Five Elders how to respond to Luo En and his allies, who had formed an alliance and openly declared war on the World Government.

After the War of Summit ended.

Everything that had happened was immediately compiled into newspapers and widely distributed across the Grand Line.

【BREAKING NEWS! Flagship Admiral Huang Yuan, killed by the Traveler Luo En!!】

【SHOCKING! The Strongest Man in the World, Bai Huzi, dead in Marineford!】

【SUPER BREAKING NEWS! The Traveler Luo En publicly declares war on the World Government!】

【The Traveler Luo En allies with Four Emperors Kaido—a force capable of shaking the world!】

……

Many who had not witnessed the events in Marineford through the Den Den Mushi stared at these newspaper headlines and were utterly stunned.

Because every single piece of news here was enough to shake the world.

When all these messages converged together,

The entire world trembled uncontrollably!

Upon learning that the Traveler Luo En, Kaido of the Beasts, the Revolutionary Army, Empress Hancock, and the Seven Warlords including Jinbe had formed an alliance and declared war on the World Government and the navy, the Grand Line erupted in chaos!

Whether pirate or marine, commoner or government official, all could sense…

Something monumental was about to happen on this sea!

226, Demon King Luo En (Combined)

Ever since Luo En and Zefa killed Doflamingo and destroyed the Donquixote Family, plunging the New World into underground chaos,

The ominous undercurrent that had slowly brewed across the Grand Line had, through the world-shaking War of Summit, been fully unleashed by Luo En into a colossal storm no one could stop—a storm that would sweep across the entire world!

The storm is coming.

For this sea, will it be the dawn before darkness, or the darkness before dawn?

No one could know.

………………

On a Wurendao in the Calm Belt near the Amazon Lily Island.

Luo En and the others gathered here after leaving Marineford.

"Hey, Traveler, declaring war on the World Government… this is a war never seen on this sea—not even the Rocks Pirates ever fought such a mad war. What exactly are you planning?"

Kaido fixed his gaze on Luo En.

All others turned their eyes toward Luo En.

Luo En looked at them and said: "You don't need to know the battle details yet. Right now, the priority is gathering forces."

He turned to Sabo: "Sabo, how many troops can the World Government mobilize at most?"

All others shifted their gaze to Sabo.

Sabo thought for a moment, then looked up: "I don't know the exact number, but it's certainly over a million."

"Over a million…"

A pirate from the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't help swallowing hard at that number.

Today's hundred thousand elite marines in Marineford were already a formidable challenge—what if it's over a million…?

Of course, everyone present knew that most of the World Government's forces were nowhere near the caliber of today's hundred thousand elite marines in Marineford.

"So what if it's over a million? No matter how many ants there are, they cannot harm a dragon."

Kaido crossed his arms, his aura proud and commanding: "The Beasts Pirates: thirty thousand men, five hundred artificial Zoan Devil Fruit users—each can fight ten, even a hundred!"

"After the Revolutionary Army liberated the Bridge of the Nation—Tequila Wolf, they can roughly muster half a million troops."

Sabo spoke up.

Ace and Ma Erke exchanged a glance, then both nodded firmly.

Ma Erke addressed Luo En: "The Whitebeard Pirates consist of 43 pirate crews, with a remaining force of over twenty-four thousand men."

Empress Hacook spoke in a cold, clear voice: "Amazon Lily can deploy one thousand troops."

Luo adjusted his hat brim to shield his awkward expression.

He had no troops to contribute.

Jinbe was the same.

At this moment, he could not interject a word.

Zoro, Sanji, and the rest of the Straw Hat crew stood a short distance away, their expressions deeply complex.

To accompany Luffy and rescue Ace, they had joined the War of the Summit—yet now they were directly at war with the World Government...

"Our bounties are going to go up again, aren't they..."

Sanji exhaled a melancholy smoke ring.

Usopp and Chopper's eyes filled with tears.

"No..."

After tallying the approximate combat strength of all sides, Luo En nodded and addressed the group: "Return to your respective forces and prepare. In one month, I will await you all on Punk Hazard in the New World."

Kaido narrowed his eyes: "Punk Hazard... I understand."

"Kaido, don't forget what we agreed upon."

Luo En glanced at him: "That is your crew's ticket to join this war."

Kaido crossed his arms, staring at Luo En with utter disdain: "Who do you think I am? Compared to this war... that red landmark is nothing but a stone. Do you think I'd renege? I'll bring it to you when the time comes."

Luo En turned his gaze away from him: "Then you may return now."

"Before I go, I have one more question."

"What?"

Kaido fixed his gaze on Luo En: "The ancient weapon Pluton—you know where it is, don't you?"

At these words, everyone's expressions hardened.

Luo Bin, standing beside Guina, felt a stir within her.

Franky of the Straw Hats widened his eyes.

Under the gaze of all, Luo En gave a slight nod: "I do have some clues regarding the ancient weapon Pluton."

Upon hearing this, Kaido's eyes flashed instantly with excitement and madness.