Time flies, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the eyes of the entire world were focused on Elegia.
Countless people waited in front of live broadcast screens, anticipating the moment the signal would connect.
The spectacle was even grander than the Marineford War.
Elegia, in front of the castle.
"How are the preparations?" Luffy asked Morgans.
"As requested, everything is ready. The moment the mental waves are connected, all images and sounds from here will be broadcast to the entire world!" Morgans replied proudly.
The World Economic Group not only maintained millions of News Coos, but also possessed the largest communication network in the world, capable of conducting global live broadcasts.
"Connect the mental waves."
Luffy gave the order decisively.
At that instant, more than a dozen transmission Den Den Mushis positioned in front of the castle opened their eyes simultaneously.
They converted the captured images and sounds into special mental waves and transmitted them to the central station. The signal was amplified and retransmitted countless times.
Finally, after passing through innumerable relay stations, the entire world received the live broadcast signal from Elegia.
At that moment...
East Blue, Foosha Village.
The villagers gathered in front of Makino's bar and exclaimed when they saw the illuminated image.
"It's Luffy!" Makino exclaimed.
"Ah, it's Luffy! And Mr. Garp too!"
"It's been over half a year since we've seen that kid. I wonder if he'll come back to visit us."
East Blue, Baratie Floating Restaurant.
Zeff closed the restaurant to the public and gathered all the cooks to watch the broadcast.
"It's Sanji! Why is that idiot dressed so formally today? Doesn't he feel embarrassed?" Patty complained.
"Shut up and watch!" Zeff replied.
East Blue, Shells Town.
Koby, now promoted to lieutenant, watched the broadcast from the Marine base.
"Mr. Luffy!"
Naturally, it wasn't only civilians and Marines paying attention.
Pirates were also watching closely.
New World, Karai Bari.
At Cross Guild headquarters.
Inside the main tent, several pirate captains watched the broadcast.
Crocodile puffed on his cigar as he commented:
"According to my information, Pluton, Uranus, and Poseidon—the three Ancient Weapons—are all in that guy's hands."
"So this is what we waited all this time for?!" Buggy complained with a terrible expression. "He found the One Piece and ended the Age of Pirates! There won't be another Pirate King! My dream is over!"
Hawkins silently played with his tarot cards.
His divination had shown him a horrifying result.
Survival rate: 0%.
No matter how many times he consulted the cards, the result remained the same.
That meant he would die today.
But how?
Luffy was in Elegia, so far away.
How could he come here and kill him?
Hawkins couldn't help glancing at the others present.
Perhaps the threat would come from within.
"Just keep watching until the end," he said calmly.
Even knowing his own death was imminent, he did not flee.
He continued watching the broadcast with complete composure.
New World, Totto Land.
Inside the rebuilt Whole Cake Chateau.
The Charlotte Family was also watching the broadcast.
But their mother was not present.
As Queen of Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin had been invited to attend the World Summit.
"I hope nothing happens," Charlotte Katakuri said with a serious expression.
New World, sea near Elegia.
A pirate ship sailed through the waves toward the central island.
"Shanks, wouldn't it be rude for us to just show up without an invitation?" Benn Beckman asked.
Red-Haired Shanks stood at the bow holding a bottle of sake.
He merely smiled and gave no reply.
Elegia, central island.
At the center of the city stood a magnificent building.
The new headquarters of the World Government.
At this moment, the kings of the affiliated nations had gathered together to watch the broadcast.
In the plaza before the castle, soldiers of the New Marine Corps stood lined up on both sides.
On the central platform.
Luffy slowly walked onto the stage.
Today was the founding ceremony of the Kingdom of the Sun.
The speeches would come first.
The celebration afterward.
Dressed in simple clothing, Luffy appeared before the cameras.
Holding a small microphone, he smiled.
"To all the people of the world, good morning, good afternoon, and good evening."
"I am Monkey D. Luffy."
"Over the past few days, many rumors have circulated regarding the final island. I now officially announce to all regions and powers of the world: I truly reached Laugh Tale and found the so-called great treasure."
"However, the title of Pirate King does not need to remain with me."
"I have disbanded my pirate crew."
"From this day forward, I will build a new nation on this island that was once in ruins."
"Furthermore, only half a month ago, I destroyed the World Government controlled by the Celestial Dragons and took control of that international organization."
"I officially declare the abolition of the Heavenly Tribute."
"Beginning next year, Sea Calendar 1521, no nation will be required to pay that tax."
"I declare the abolition of slavery."
"Those who were once slaves are, from this moment onward, free citizens."
"Any nation or organization that challenges this declaration will be regarded as an enemy of the new World Government and a defender of an outdated era that should be buried by history."
"This process will not happen instantly, but neither will it be slow."
"After this World Summit, the world will enter a new era."
Luffy paused briefly before declaring:
"And now, I officially announce the founding of the Kingdom of the Sun!"
People all over the world were stunned.
The man who had defeated the Celestial Dragons, seized the World Government, and obtained the greatest authority on the planet had made two immediate decisions.
Abolish the Heavenly Tribute.
Abolish slavery.
Either one alone would have been enough to change the world.
There was no applause.
There were no discussions.
Millions simply stared at their screens in silence.
Soon afterward, Luffy stepped down from the stage.
Then a young singer climbed the stairs.
Stopping at the center of the platform, she smiled toward the cameras.
"Hello, people of the world. I am Uta."
Adjusting her headset, she continued:
"For this grand ceremony, I have prepared a song called Liberation of the Slaves."
The accompaniment began to play.
The moment the first word left her lips, the power of the Uta Uta no Mi activated.
The song spread throughout the world through the mental-wave network.
With Elegia as the center, the closer someone was, the faster they would be affected.
And the sooner they received the broadcast, the sooner they would be dragged into the World of Song.
It was like an irresistible tide sweeping across the planet.
In mere moments, hundreds of millions of people were affected by the power of that Devil Fruit.
Pirates.
Marines.
Kings.
Slaves.
Regardless of gender, race, or social status.
Everyone who heard the song was instantly pulled into the World of Song.
Hundreds of millions of people were dragged into the World of Song by the power of Uta's Uta Uta no Mi.
And that number was still rapidly increasing.
Inside the World of Song, within the false Dressrosa...
Donquixote Doflamingo sat on a sofa with a blank expression.
A screen before him broadcast the live event.
Yet the familiar people around him vanished one after another, disappearing suddenly.
He expanded his Observation Haki but could sense no presence. It was as though the entire island had become a dead place in an instant.
"What is happening...?"
Doflamingo abruptly stood up as cold sweat rolled down his forehead.
Strange!
Suddenly, a colorful halo shone before him.
The next moment, a familiar face appeared.
"This is a virtual world. On this island, only you and I remain now."
Trafalgar Law spoke calmly.
"Doflamingo... it's time to settle our accounts."
"Law..."
Doflamingo was stunned for a moment.
Soon afterward, he began to laugh.
"Fufufufufufu... so that's how it is?"
Surprisingly, he did not seem shaken.
On the contrary.
He almost looked relieved.
As though he had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
"I see. So this is the legendary Song Fruit."
As someone who had studied the ancient Devil Fruit encyclopedias, he quickly understood the situation.
Trafalgar Law slowly drew his beloved sword, Kikoku.
As he pointed the blade toward Doflamingo, he explained coldly:
"What exists here is the spirit of a person, not their body. Even if I kill you here, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll die in the real world."
"Fufufu... don't be ridiculous. If the spirit dies, can you still call someone alive?"
Doflamingo immediately activated his Devil Fruit awakening.
The ground beneath his feet instantly transformed into strings.
Everything around him turned into a vast world of threads.
Countless white strings intertwined, forming massive tentacles that surged toward Law.
"Tamaito!"
The strings slithered like giant serpents, attempting to bind their opponent.
"ROOM!"
A translucent space instantly expanded.
Law disappeared.
When he reappeared, he was already behind Doflamingo.
Kikoku descended mercilessly.
"White Thread Shield!"
Two enormous threads erupted from the ground and crossed in front of Doflamingo's body.
Coated in Armament Haki, they blocked the attack.
"Doflamingo!"
Law's voice turned icy.
"Don't think I'm going to let you die that easily."
"I'm going to make you suffer."
"I'm going to return a hundredfold everything Mr. Rosinante suffered back then!"
"Brat!"
Doflamingo spun around abruptly.
"Overheat!"
Thousands of threads coated in Armament Haki shot from the ground.
Behind him, they formed something resembling flamingo wings.
Like thousands of arrows, they surged forward to pierce Law.
"You're no match for me anymore, Doflamingo!"
Law cut through the approaching threads.
In an instant, he charged forward.
His speed exploded.
In the blink of an eye, he was already before Doflamingo.
Then—
The blade pierced directly through his chest.
"K-ROOM... Shock Wille!"
The awakening of the Ope Ope no Mi wrapped Kikoku in energy.
After piercing the target's body, violent shockwaves exploded within his internal organs.
Doflamingo's pupils contracted.
Not even his Armament Haki could stop the attack.
The next moment, a deafening roar echoed.
---
Inside the World of Song, in the virtual version of Hachinosu Island...
The enormous skull-shaped hotel had become eerily empty.
Inside one of the bars...
Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard, widened his eyes.
"What happened?!"
Shiryu of the Rain narrowed his gaze.
"They disappeared...?"
Only moments earlier, the place had been crowded.
After the incident at Whole Cake Island, the Blackbeard Pirates had suffered devastating losses.
Only four members had managed to escape.
Catarina Devon pointed at the broadcast screen.
"The moment that singer started singing... everyone vanished!"
"The Song Fruit?!"
Teach's expression turned ugly.
"Damn it... retreat!"
He immediately understood.
However, the very moment he stood up...
Four colorful lights passed through the entrance of the bar.
Zoro appeared first.
Without hesitation, he drew his sword and slashed directly toward Blackbeard's neck.
Clang!
Shiryu intercepted the attack at the last moment.
"So the live broadcast was a trap..."
Shiryu's expression darkened.
He observed the newcomers.
Monkey D. Luffy.
Jinbe.
Portgas D. Ace.
And Roronoa Zoro.
"Teach!"
Flames began to envelop Ace's body.
His voice carried suffocating rage.
"You killed Thatch and betrayed the old man!"
"Today we're settling our accounts!"
Teach was furious.
"What nonsense! I wasn't the one who killed the old man! During the Marineford War it was Akainu who killed him!"
"So what?"
Ace's flames erupted violently.
"You're the source of everything!"
"You're the one person I will never forgive!"
A punch was thrown.
The flames instantly engulfed the interior of the bar.
Akainu killed Whitebeard.
Ace would never forget that.
But that had been a battle.
A war.
A fight between enemies.
Teach was different.
Teach was betrayal.
A knife from someone who had once called himself a comrade.
And that was even more unforgivable.
BOOM!
An entire wall of the hotel exploded.
Several figures were blasted outside.
Blackbeard covered himself in the darkness of the Yami Yami no Mi, rapidly swallowing the flames.
"Damn it! Don't fight! Let's retreat first!"
"And where exactly do you plan to run?"
A figure appeared before him.
Luffy.
A faint smile on his face.
"This is the World of Song."
"Once someone is brought here, running is useless."
"Unless the user of the ability allows it, you cannot leave."
"Wait, Monkey D. Luffy... Sun King!"
Teach became alarmed.
"I don't have any direct grudge against you, do I?"
"Marshall D. Teach."
Luffy answered calmly.
"You are different."
"You are a true schemer."
"I cannot allow someone like you to remain free."
Luffy snapped his fingers.
Immediately, vegetation appeared everywhere.
Roots, vines, and trees grew around Teach and Ace.
"Whitebeard was a remnant of the old era."
"You're merely an opportunist trying to climb onto the stage of the new era."
"But your role ends here."
As he spoke...
His body began to disappear.
Little by little.
Until he vanished completely.
"I still have other people to find."
"Ace... he's yours."
---
Inside the World of Song, on the sea near Elegia...
The Red Hair Pirates' ship sailed peacefully.
Benn Beckman was the first to notice the anomaly.
"It's Uta's ability."
Yasopp scratched his head.
"What exactly does that mean?"
"She brought everyone watching the broadcast into this world?"
"What do we do now?"
"I'll explain."
Suddenly, Shanks turned around at the bow of the ship.
The next instant, three colorful lights appeared.
Luffy.
Uta.
And Usopp.
When she saw the red-haired man, Uta's eyes became extremely complicated.
The first thing she said was:
"Luffy told me the truth about what happened back then."
"Uta..."
Shanks stood still for a moment.
Then he glanced at Luffy.
Luffy merely smiled.
"Shanks, I want to ask a question."
"Maybe you're the only person who knows the answer."
"Half a month ago, I destroyed the World Government."
"But Imu escaped."
"Where did she go?"
The Red Hair Pirate remained silent for several seconds.
Finally, he answered:
"If nothing has changed..."
"Then she should be in that place."
"God Valley."
"The place where the gods descended."
(End of Chapter)