The legends of the Lunarian race are an extremely ancient matter, tracing back at least 800 years ago.
Back then, Arceus was still in his primordial egg form, and what leaked out was nothing more than a portion of the Flame Plate's power, which enhanced some Lunarians' control over fire.
As for the other legends, they were merely conjectures imagined by the older generation; after all, a race's faith without any great power behind it just wouldn't make sense.
To put it plainly, it was just a bunch of elders boasting. However, as time went on, later generations discovered that it wasn't boasting at all, but rather an objective statement of facts.
Landorus and the others had already floated off to other places, yet the impact of their abilities on this world continued to persist.
New life kept emerging as well. As certain creatures were brought here, a brand-new ecosystem had already taken shape within the Reverse World.
However, the Lunarians did not choose to settle down. Once they adapted to their new bodies, they began retraining the martial art skills that had long grown rusty. Ghost's combat methods were different from those of the living.
These people, who had been dead for over thirty years, had not used the strength of the living for a very long time. Even so, they had not forgotten it; it was a memory etched into their very bones.
Since the moment they were on the run, there had never been a Lunarian who couldn't fight. The only difference was how well they could fight.
A dead body couldn't do much, but a resurrected one had to do something. They were all prepared to rejoin the fray. If needed, these newly revived Lunarians could be converted into a considerable fighting force at any moment.
Even now, much of the land remained in a state of deathly stillness, but the winds within the Reverse World had begun to flow. A gentle breeze passed by, making the newly sprouted tender leaves rustle as they welcomed the world's rebirth.
Below, the Lunarians put away their long spears and walked toward their camp. From the flames flickering behind their backs, it was clear that they held greater hope for the future.
Unlike the Reverse World, which was only just beginning to develop, the outside Wano Country presented a completely different scene.
Its isolation and closed-door policy had turned it into a utopia, completely severed from the turmoil of the seas. When locals read the newspapers, they merely sighed at the chaos of the world while feeling fortunate that Lord Wise King protected this place.
As the weather forecast was announced, a light rain fell right on cue. By the pond, Croagunk let out croaks, while Senor pushed a wheelchair forward through the curtain of rain.
The broad umbrella shielded the wheelchair ahead, keeping his wife from getting wet. This was advice given by the local doctor—to go out more, not confine themselves to cramped hospital rooms, and breathe in more fresh air for better health.
"Rainy days worsen rheumatism, G, Senor. This kind of weather really isn't suitable for a walk."
Lao G was taking shelter from the rain at a roadside tea stall. His age was considerable, and a whole host of ailments that come with old age had already caught up to him. If not for his unique martial art, who knew how crippled he might have become by now.
Almost no one can escape the blade of time. Aside from a very few exceptions, there aren't many who can retain the glory of their youth into old age.
After coming to Onigashima, they had entered a kind of retirement phase. In a sense, it was also an alternative form of house arrest, but for Lao G and Senor, such days were actually quite pleasant.
No fighting, nothing to worry about. Lao G spent his old age leisurely, while Senor had more time to accompany his wife.
"It seems the young master has some new ideas as well."
At this moment, Doflamingo was by the lakeside. In the lake beside him, a penguin had only its eyes above the surface, staring motionlessly at Doflamingo.
No one knew what Doflamingo was thinking right now, but the sound of footsteps came from behind him.
"What, do you think your pet can't keep an eye on me, so you decided to come yourself?"
"No. I'm just here to pass along a message. It seems Onigashima is about to make a big move. They're gathering the officers, and you're on the list of attendees as well."
"Fuffuffuffu, what an honor that is."
At this time, within Onigashima, preparations for the meeting were already complete; only the list of participants was a bit unusual.
Arceus, Kaido, Yamato—the highest combat power of the Beasts Pirates—were all gathered together. Below them were Calamity-level senior officers. Even if some weren't on Onigashima, their meeting feeds were already set up.
Originally, this was a high-level meeting with limited impact. However, among the three top figures, two looked far from ordinary. Kaido had a band-aid stuck at the corner of his eye, and Yamato's head was wrapped in bandages. It was clear the two had fought not long ago.
Judging by the positions of the wounds, it was obvious that every blow had been aimed straight at the head, with no intention of holding back.
"You really didn't hold back at all. Is this how you treat your father?"
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about, ba*tard father? Weren't you the one who attacked first? And look at this, what kind of father goes this hard on his own daughter? Are you sure you're my real father, not just someone who picked me up off the street?"
As for the fight, Kaido was satisfied. The current questioning was nothing more than verbal attacks. Kaido was using his actions to show that battle didn't have to be confined to the physical.
Expressions, words, even sharing a drink with someone could all be considered part of combat. Seemingly ordinary actions might also be pieces of a larger plan.
No one below interrupted. They were already used to it. Ever since the Dressrosa incident ended, Kaido and Yamato had been fighting every few days.
Still, no one was particularly afraid. After all, Yamato was right there. She came with a built-in taunt aura against Kaido, capable of absorbing most of Kaido's aggression.
Besides, there were no weaklings here. Apart from those who weren't physically present on Onigashima, the rest could at least withstand some collateral shockwaves. Kaido wouldn't be able to send them off with just a couple swigs of wine.
Of course, no one talked nonsense either. Rashly butting in would only invite disaster. Yamato might carry taunt, but she had already mastered aggro-pulling techniques. She might even use the boss to gang up on passing mobs. Queen, in particular, had learned this lesson the hard way.
"Alright, everyone's here. Time to get down to business. You two can fight later if you have issues."
Kuzan and Doflamingo arrived late. Seeing the final attendees in place, Arceus called a halt to Yamato and Kaido's quarrel; only he could manage something like that.
There weren't many people in the meeting room, but out on the seas, every single one of them was a figure capable of dominating a region.
And in the end, the one presiding over the meeting once again became Kaido.
"You should all know that the time for the Levely has arrived. Every four years, the nations with the right to participate gather to discuss issues of global security and order.
This year's meeting, there's no doubt we'll be the focus. That's really… an exciting thing!"
By the time he finished speaking, the table in front of Kaido had experienced what Akainu's desk once did. If tables could reach the underworld, then tables belonging to different factions might just find plenty of common ground to talk about.
Being targeted by the World Government might be a headache for outsiders, but for Kaido, it only made him more excited.
The current seas were a powder keg. With time, the gunpowder was already close to spilling out. Kaido was itching for someone to light the fuse. This would be the most spectacular war he could possibly find.
"The factories have been running at full capacity these past years. We have ample manpower and high-quality weapons. But I'm not about to sit here waiting for them to come knocking!
Get ready. The order for war could come at any moment! Worororo!"
Kaido gave everyone a heads-up, informing them of his future intentions. As for when the war would begin or where the first blow would be struck, he didn't say.
The senior officers didn't find this strange at all. On the contrary, it felt perfectly reasonable. From start to finish, Kaido had always been obsessed with battle and war. Making such a decision at this time was hardly surprising.
Doflamingo even showed a hint of a smile. This had nothing to do with him personally, but with the current foundation of the Beasts Pirates, once they moved, the Red Line would not be spared. He couldn't wait to see those people dragged down into the mess.
The one most opposed to this was actually Kuzan. A war on this scale was not something he wanted to see. No matter who won or lost, countless people would be swept up in it.
Yet he also knew very well that such a war was inevitable sooner or later. The World Government used pirates to divert conflicts, deliberately allowing chaos on the seas to maintain its rule, squeezing other nations to sustain the extravagant desires of a tiny minority.
What the original intent behind the World Government's founding was, and what truly happened during the Void Century—no one knew. The World Government's stance toward history had always been concealment, and Ohara's fate had already proven everything.
It was called the World Government, but in essence it was merely Imu's one-man rule. The World Government obeyed Imu alone and protected the interests of the Celestial Dragons. Under oppression, resistance had never ceased.
If the World Government could always guarantee absolute military supremacy, then whatever it did would be deemed right.
Problems that arose throughout history were erased in exactly this way. But judging from the current situation, the World Government had already lost its absolute military dominance. Coupled with the intensifying activities of the Revolutionary Army, war was steadily approaching.
If Wano Country's situation could be expanded to the entire world, then having the Beasts Pirates emerge as the victors wouldn't be such a bad thing. As for their identity as pirates—
If the World Government won, the Beasts Pirates would forever be brutal pirates. But if the victor changed, then everything would be different.
Kaido's personality had nothing to do with benevolence, but he also had little interest in governance. The Beasts Pirates' internal affairs followed a special kind of ordered system. No matter how one looked at it, that order was far better than the one upheld by the current World Government.
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