After that, everyone settled in for a long wait.
Inside the Underworld Realm, a vast white desert stretched out beneath a blood-red crescent moon.
"ROAR!!"
A deep roar rippled through the air, sending shockwaves in every direction as thunderous explosions echoed across the desert.
Following the sound, one would first see a pair of crimson eyes filled with intricate patterns and tomoe. Then came the terrifying figure itself, a massive, bone-white skeleton.
'Crack!'
Its razor-sharp tail whipped through the air, tearing it apart before carving a deep trench across the sand.
"Just one more step!"
"Just one more step!!"
"Break through already!!"
The growls sounded like a beast on the verge of madness.
The white skeleton radiated an overwhelming aura as black-and-red energy spread across half the sky, filling the surroundings with an ominous presence.
"The power the Sword and Fairy World gave me... isn't enough!"
"I need to become stronger!"
"There are too many powerful people in this world!"
"I have to become even stronger!"
Each roar grew more desperate, showing that its owner was on the brink of losing control.
Suddenly, the skeleton threw back its head and let out another earth-shaking roar. Its aura surged violently, shaking space itself. The power that had already reached its limit swelled once more...
...and broke through.
"Starlight Level 7..." the figure muttered.
But the next instant, it shot into the sky.
"Still... not enough!!!"
Its entire body tensed. The grinding of its joints produced chilling cracking sounds as thicker bone spikes erupted from its body. On its pale forehead, another eye suddenly opened.
Within that eye, three tomoe slowly revolved among blood-red patterns, making it look horrifying. This was Hollowfication pushed to its absolute limit.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
The figure roared toward the heavens before muttering to itself, "I can still become stronger... I can feel it... I can become even stronger!!"
Its violent aura exploded like a bomb in midair. At that moment, an invisible shackle inside its body shattered.
An unimaginably vast and terrifying pressure erupted into the sky, spiraling upward like a massive tornado. It ripped apart the dark clouds overhead, while fierce winds swept across everything within a ten-thousand-meter radius.
---
Outside the Divine Nation's Tower, the Parliamentary Institute's staff suddenly froze.
"What happened?" Gandalf immediately noticed and asked in a deep voice.
"Uchiha Madara... broke through!"
"How many levels?" Gandalf asked. He had already seen the shock in their eyes and had a feeling what the answer would be.
"Three..." one of the staff members managed to say, taking several deep breaths to steady himself. "Three whole levels! His power has already begun to break through the barrier of Starlight Level 8 and reached an unimaginable realm!"
Silence instantly fell over everyone gathered outside the tower.
Three levels. No one had ever imagined Hollowfication could allow someone to leap three entire levels.
Even Shuu Ouma, who had shocked everyone earlier, had only gone from Starlight Level 5 to Starlight Level 7, a two-level jump that was already considered the absolute peak.
Yet now, someone had surpassed even that. Three levels. It was terrifying.
"Just... how powerful is that?" someone muttered, unable to even imagine what a Starlight Level 8 expert would be capable of.
Even Gandalf's pupils contracted in shock. "As expected of Madara..."
---
Elsewhere in the Underworld Realm, above a dense forest, stood a tall, slender figure.
Its white skeletal body was covered with strange patterns, colorful markings decorated its cheeks, and waves of overwhelming power surged endlessly from its body.
"Hollowfication really is an incredible technique. To think it can increase one's strength this much..." The figure let out a sigh. "I can feel it. If I keep releasing more of its power without holding back, I could probably reach Starlight Level 8."
"But the damage it does to my mind is severe. The negative energy is simply too overwhelming."
"That's enough. I'll stop here."
As soon as he finished speaking, his body trembled slightly and returned to its normal appearance. It was Senju Hashirama.
---
Outside the Divine Nation's Tower...
"Senju Hashirama. Hollowfication increased his strength by two levels. Current combat power: Peak Starlight Level 7," the Parliamentary Institute staff quickly announced the results.
At the same time, elsewhere in the Underworld Realm...
The earth split apart. Space itself cracked open as countless fissures spread across the ground, and violent tremors extended for thousands of kilometers.
"Gurarararara! This old man has become young again!"
"With the power of Hollowfication added on top of that, I've never felt this strong before!"
Whitebeard stood there in his towering frame. Only a Hollow mask covered part of his face, yet the power radiating from him was more terrifying than ever.
"To think reaching Starlight Level 7 could be this easy. Hollowfication alone was enough. It's truly unbelievable." He shook his head. "Once I can cover my entire body with Hollowfication, I'll reach Starlight Level 8."
"But Qin Yi is in a hurry to summon us. I'd better head to that world first and see what's going on."
The moment he finished speaking, he disappeared.
These experts from different worlds had all followed the same path after traveling to other worlds. They built upon their original powers, cultivated new abilities, combined them with the experience they had accumulated over a lifetime, and forged fighting styles best suited to themselves. That was how they continued breaking through their limits and becoming stronger.
---
"Whitebeard. Hollowfication increased his strength by two levels. Current combat power: Peak Starlight Level 7," the staff outside the Divine Nation's Tower announced his results as well.
Among the reports for the three experts, Madara's was the most astonishing. He had already broken into Starlight Level 8, reaching a realm that everyone else could only dream of.
Of course, all three of them had originally started at Starlight Level 5.
---
About a quarter of an hour later, the gates of the Divine Nation's Tower opened once more.
A towering figure carrying a naginata strode out, laughing loudly enough to shake the surroundings.
"Gurarararara! My sons, have you missed your old man?" Whitebeard strode forward, overflowing with heroic spirit and overwhelming power.
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates immediately erupted into excited cheers. Ever since Madara's group had returned, they had gone straight into the Underworld Realm, so this was the first time everyone had seen them.
"Chief Gandalf, this old man has returned. I'm ready to enter the Shinigami Realm at any time!" Whitebeard declared loudly as he walked over.
"No rush. We'll wait until everyone else comes out," Gandalf replied with a smile.
Soon after, Senju Hashirama also emerged. Wearing his usual warm smile, he accepted everyone's welcome before joining the crowd.
The last person to walk out was Uchiha Madara.
His gaze was cold and domineering. With his arms folded across his chest, he carried an imposing dignity. Even from a great distance, the aura radiating from him was enough to make people shiver.
Most surprising of all, a closed slit had appeared in the center of his forehead.
"Looks like Madara has awakened a new power," Whitebeard said with a grin.
"What I'm curious about..." Sengoku stroked his chin, his eyes full of interest, "...is how he'll face His Majesty after entering the Shinigami Realm."
"Hahaha! He actually forced that woman into our world. That guy really does whatever he wants without caring about the consequences!" Garp burst into laughter.
"Garp, keep your voice down!" Whitebeard's expression changed immediately. He hurriedly covered Garp's mouth with one hand while nervously looking around. "We were involved in that too!"
(End of Chapter)
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