No matter how chaotic the outside world became, and regardless of how many forces were now targeting the Beasts Pirates, the atmosphere within Wano Country remained eerily calm. The populace adopted a patient "wait and see" attitude, their unwavering confidence rooted entirely in the strength of their ruler, Kaido of the Beasts.
Deep beneath the surface of Wano, within the cavernous drydock of the ancient battleship Pluton, a momentous gathering was taking place. Kaido stood alongside his Four Headliners—King, Queen, Jack, and Eneru—their eyes fixed on a massive, reinforced container.
"Is it done?" Kaido asked, his voice echoing against the hull of the legendary ship.
Inside the container, a singular, ethereal wisp of flame flickered. In just three days, by synthesizing the stolen research of Vegapunk, Queen had successfully stabilized the Mother Flame. The scientist was visibly vibrating with pride as he gestured toward the flame and then toward a similar container nearby holding the Sacred Lightning.
"It's completely finished, Big Brother," Queen announced, his voice thick with excitement. "I finally understand what our Artificial Devil Fruits were missing. It was this—the Mother Flame! With this power, I can finally create a perfect Devil Fruit."
He swept his arms wide, encompassing both containers. "The Mother Flame represents the raw potential of Devil Fruit abilities, and the Sacred Lightning represents the essence of Haki. With these two forces under our control, the world is practically in our hands."
The Four Headliners shared a look of pure exhilaration. Kaido let out a low, rumbling laugh—"Worororo..."—but his expression quickly hardened into a mask of solemnity.
"Now is not the time for a celebration party," Kaido warned, his gaze sharp enough to silence the room. "Only those who stand until the very end are the ultimate victors. Do not forget that even Rocks D. Xebec suffered a complete defeat because he failed at the final step. Between the 'Children of Destiny' and the hidden masterminds of the World Government, we are not yet in a position to be careless."
The excitement in the room evaporated, replaced by a heavy sobriety. Queen cleared his throat, his expression turning thoughtful. "Speaking of hidden masterminds... that being named Imu is truly terrifying. When I faced them, I felt the same overwhelming pressure I feel from you, Big Brother. I couldn't even resist. However, experiencing that power was a blessing in disguise. It gave me a glimmer of insight."
"What kind of insight?" King asked, leaning in.
Queen looked back at the Mother Flame, his brow furrowed with a hint of lingering fear. "Do you remember what Big Brother said about the Four Gods? We once speculated the God of Earth controlled magma, but during my encounter with Imu, I felt something else entirely. It wasn't the heat of the earth; it was something darker. An existence from a place deeper than the abyss, like a demon peering at you from the shadows. If I had to name it, I would call it the Underworld."
"The Underworld?" Jack asked, sounding genuinely rattled. "Are you saying souls actually exist after we die?"
"Don't interrupt me while I'm on a roll, Jack!" Queen snapped before continuing. "When Imu struck me with that trident, I didn't just lose physical strength; I lost my connection to my own body. It was as if my soul had been exiled. In that moment, I saw the Grim Reaper—a massive figure hidden in the mist, holding a scythe to reap my spirit."
A nervous silence fell over the group as they absorbed the implications. Queen summarized his new theory: the God of Earth was not a master of stone or magma, but the master of all souls—the true God of the Underworld. He proposed that the world's existence was built upon four fundamental forces: the Devil's Curse (the soul), Sacred Lightning (life), the Mother Flame (ability), and finally, a material substance called Pyrobroin.
"Pyrobroin?" Eneru asked, recognizing the term from his time on the moon and Sky Island.
"Exactly," Queen explained. "It's a special particle recorded in Sky Island documents that emits a unique energy. When these particles reach their highest density, they form Sea Stone. This is why seawater nullifies Devil Fruit abilities; the water is saturated with these particles. It's also why Sea Kings grow so large—they thrive in the Calm Belt, where the concentration of Pyrobroin is highest because the particles fall directly back into the sea instead of forming clouds."
The technical breakdown left the warriors stunned. Seeing their hesitation, Queen offered a final, confident grin.
"Don't worry," Queen reassured them. "Imu's ability might be invincible to others, but we have the power Big Brother bestowed upon us. That power already blocked Imu's soul-reaping once. Now that we have the Mother Flame, once Big Brother absorbs this energy, even the Grim Reaper himself will be nothing to fear."
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