...
The light screen's perspective was like a calm observer, steadily pushing this all-encompassing chaos toward its climax while revealing one by one the ambitions hidden behind the scenes and the causes and effects of the past.
Buena Festa's mad declaration!
In a heavily guarded secret command room somewhere on the island, Buena Festa finally tore off all disguises.
He stood before a massive screen wall displaying the terrifying scenes of Bullet's rampage, the Marine-pirate melee, and the entire island sealed by a cage.
Beside him, the so-called emperors of the underworld had already begun panicking or cursing nonstop.
"Did you see, everyone!"
Buena Festa spread his arms, his face a mix of fanaticism, smugness, and twisted intoxication: "This is the true 'celebration'! This is the new era that belongs to the strong!"
He pointed at Bullet on the screen: "Using a 'demon' from the old era as a broom to sweep away the trash!"
Then Buena Festa pointed to the chaotic fighting Marines and pirates: "Let these fools bewitched by the names 'ONE PIECE' and 'Pirate King' perform to their hearts' content on this stage, fighting over that possibly illusory treasure!"
"The treasure is right here!"
He slammed the control panel hard, his voice trembling with excitement: "The treasure I believe in isn't some coordinates to Laugh Tale, not some empty legend! The treasure is power itself!
It's slaughter! It's conquest! It's the ultimate trial that eliminates the weak and lets the strongest emerge!"
"Let everyone fight to the death, heads broken and blood flowing, for one goal!
In the end, those of us new gods who have transcended the old era's rules—like me and Bullet—will clean up the aftermath!
To usher in a new epoch no longer bound by Roger's 'treasure hunt game,' one that believes only in absolute power and chaos!"
"This is my Buena Festa's 'new era'! Hahahaha!!"
Laughing wildly, Buena Festa was completely immersed in his grand blueprint, deaf to the angry rebukes from Morgans and the others around him.
In his view, with Bullet's unmatched power and the meticulously planned scheme, victory was already assured—he didn't even know how to write the word "failure."
The new Marine Headquarters meeting and Bullet's past...
At the same time, the light screen switched to the distant new Marine Headquarters.
The Marines were holding an emergency strategy meeting, with a massive screen displaying detailed information on Douglas Bullet, reported by intelligence officer Brannew.
"Douglas Bullet, born in a military nation somewhere on the Grand Line. A war orphan who grew up in the army from childhood. Due to his astonishing combat talent and fearless-of-death style, he was revered as a 'hero' by that nation at a young age."
Brannew's voice was steady, yet slowly recounted a sealed tragedy: "However, according to the top-secret intelligence we obtained and subsequent events, Bullet later... suffered complete betrayal from the nation and army he swore to serve unto death. This betrayal dealt him a devastating blow."
The footage showed some blurry images of the Kingdom of Galzburg, followed by the horrific sight of it reduced to scorched-earth ruins.
"In extreme grief, rage, and despair, Bullet... launched his revenge."
Brannew's voice carried a hint of heaviness: "Relying on his own strength alone, he nearly destroyed the entire military power of the Kingdom of Galzburg, triggering a nationwide massacre and country-destroying event of unparalleled brutality.
From then on, he completely abandoned the identity of 'hero' and became a lofty monster who believes only in his own power, hating all 'reliance' and 'bonds.'"
This past moved many in God Valley.
Especially Kaido—his vertical pupils flashed with a complex light.
"So that's how it is... Betrayed by his own nation, everything he protected turned against him..."
Kaido's low voice sounded, carrying a rare resonance: "That feeling... I've experienced it too. No wonder this guy turned out like this—trusting nothing but his own fists."
Though he understood, he didn't fully agree with Bullet's extremism.
Kaido himself revered strength but also knew how to recruit and utilize powerful subordinates, later even establishing the Beasts Pirates!
Still, he could understand the pain of betrayal.
That was a force capable of shattering any belief and pushing a person to extremes.
The light screen switched again, showing the now-retired elderly Sengoku and elderly Garp.
Sengoku held a newspaper about Bullet's escape and the "Operation Madness" incident, brows tightly furrowed.
Garp walked over from afar, seemingly nonchalant, but a trace of imperceptible complexity lay deep in his eyes.
He sighed and said to Sengoku: "This Bullet... if he could have served in the Marines, fighting for justice—with his talent and temperament—he could have become a tremendous asset protecting the world.
Unfortunately, fate plays tricks...
Sengoku "hmph"ed, not responding directly, but clearly agreeing with Garp's words.
The fall of a top-tier powerhouse, no matter the reason, was always regrettable.
Next, through elderly Sengoku's recollections or narration, the people in God Valley learned how the Marines had arrested Bullet—launching a Buster Call of the highest level targeted at him alone!
Footage flashed of the past: a much younger Garp and Sengoku personally leading a Buster Call fleet of ten top battleships, forcing Bullet—who had not yet awakened his fruit but was already frighteningly strong—into a desperate situation.
Cannon fire blanketed him, officers besieged him; only after paying a considerable price were they able to capture him and throw him into the deepest part of Impel Down Level 6.
"Buster Call..."
Golden Lion Shiki smacked his lips, his tone carrying a rare hint of wariness and acknowledgment: "To catch one person, going so far as to use such measures... those Navy guys can be truly ruthless when they get serious.
But against a monster like this, without extreme methods, they probably couldn't take him down."
Shiki's words won agreement from many.
The Buster Call symbolized the Navy's top brass' determination to destroy everything at any cost—the cruelest and most effective "ultimate weapon" when dealing with a single unbeatable strong enemy.
"So that's how it was..."
Roger stroked his chin, his face showing sudden realization mixed with a wry smile: "This kid first got betrayed by his own nation, turning into a monster who trusts only himself, then got defeated by me?
So... he came to join my crew to challenge me?
Then I died, he lost his target to challenge and... idol? So he grew more extreme, ending up like this?"
Roger's quirky yet somehow on-point thought process left many around him speechless with laughter, yet feeling like... it kind of made sense?
For someone who believes only in "the strongest," the one who defeats him might be the only one he's willing to "follow" and strive toward as a challenger.
And when that target vanishes—like Roger dying—his world might completely lose its anchor, plunging into deeper confusion and obsession.
Finally, the light screen refocused near the most dangerous center of the battlefield.
Amid blazing building ruins and thick smoke, Usopp limped along, struggling to support the completely unconscious Luffy, trying to find a relatively safe spot.
Usopp himself was covered in wounds, bruised and swollen.
Yet his mouth kept chattering nonstop, using his signature exaggerated, almost self-deceiving way to cheer himself and the unconscious Luffy: "S-See that, Luffy! That monster called Bullet must've been scared off by this great captain Usopp's invincible aura just now!
That's why he didn't dare chase further! Hmph hmph, serves him right! Once this great one rests a bit, I'll blast right through that tin can body of his..."
Usopp boasted while carefully avoiding cracks in the ground and burning debris.
However, his injuries and exhaustion eventually took their toll—one stumble, and both fell to the ground.
"Uwah!"
Usopp cried out in pain, struggling to get up, only to see a half-collapsed, burning clock tower nearby—due to flames and structural damage—emitting ominous creaks as it slowly toppled toward them!
"Luffy!!"
In the nick of time, Usopp summoned his last burst of strength from who-knows-where, lunging to Luffy's side and using his own battered body to forcibly hold up the massive flaming beam crashing down!
"Urgh!!!"
His bones groaned under the unbearable weight, Usopp's eyes bulging, blood spilling from his mouth and nose—but he clenched his teeth, refusing to let the beam fully crush Luffy.
Yet this was already his limit.
After holding it, he completely lost strength, his body going limp and collapsing beside Luffy along with the burning beam. Above, the remaining part of the clock tower continued crumbling, more burning debris about to fall!
At this critical moment—
"Yohohohoho! Found them! Luffy! Usopp!"
"Usopp! Hold on!"
Two figures arrived just in time—Brook and Chopper!
Brook swung his Soul Solid sword, instantly extinguishing the flames!
Chopper rushed forward, intending to treat Usopp first, who appeared most severely injured.
However, just as Chopper's hand was about to touch Usopp, Usopp stopped him, his lips moving with difficulty.
Though no clear sound came out, Chopper—with a doctor's keen senses and rapport with his crewmates—instantly understood.
Save Luffy first!
With his last remaining will, Usopp gave the priority for survival to his captain.
Tears instantly welled up in Chopper's deer eyes!
But he didn't hesitate, nodding firmly, immediately turning to Luffy. From his medical bag, he took out the strongest emergency drugs and injections, racing against time to save the unconscious, barely breathing captain.
Brook stood guard nearby, staying alert for any danger that might reappear.
The Marines' encirclement continued.
Buena Festa's conspiracy still fermented... The Straw Hats' future—and the fate of everyone on the entire island—hung by a thread.
...