Chapter 56: The Shadow of the Future — A Throne Divided
The golden screen didn't just show an image; it began to hum with the sound of life itself—the wet, cracking sound of seeds splitting and the heavy, humid scent of a jungle. The "Future" watermark pulsed with a neon green light, casting an eerie glow over the confused faces of the world.
In the Sabaody clearing, the "Lost" curse was reaching its peak of absurdity. Monkey D. Luffy was currently trying to "steer" a nearby rock as if it were a ship, while Eustass Kid stared at his own hand, seeing the magnetic ley lines of the earth but unable to realize he was standing on his own goggles.
But the world wasn't looking at the rookies anymore. They were looking at the two names that threatened to redefine the hierarchy of the World Government.
Inside the fortress of Marineford, the atmosphere was thick enough to suffocate. Sengoku sat at his desk, his eyes wide as he stared at the words "FUTURE ADMIRAL RYOKUGYU."
"Future Admiral...?" Sengoku whispered, his voice cracking. "We currently have three. Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino. If a new one is being named... what happened to the balance? Who fell? Or... who left?"
> [Sengoku]: "GARP! Look at the screen! If there is a 'Future Admiral' named Aramaki, it means the current structure of the Navy is destined to collapse! Is this the aftermath of the Whitebeard War? Does someone die?!"
> [Monkey D. Garp]: (Flexing his Prime 38-year-old bicep) "Bwahaha! Maybe one of them just got tired of your complaining, Sengoku! Or maybe they realized being an Admiral is too much paperwork. Look at that man on the screen—Aramaki. He's young. He looks like a vagabond, not a soldier."
> [Tsuru]: "The 'Death' tattoo on his ribs... he doesn't carry the 'Absolute Justice' of Sakazuki. He looks like a man who follows his own hunger. This is a dangerous omen for the Navy's discipline."
>
> [Kuzan (Aokiji)]: "Arara... a replacement? That's cold. I haven't even finished my nap in this stall and someone's already taking my coat?"
> [Borsalino (Kizaru)]: "Moshimoshi? A 'Living Forest'? How scary~. I wonder if he's faster than light? Though, if I'm being replaced, I hope the retirement pension is good. But the main point is when should my punishment end? I am still from start of screen broadcast."
> [Akainu]: "SILENCE! If a new Admiral is needed, it means the current generation failed to purge the pirate filth! SENGOKU! Find out who this Aramaki is! If he's in the recruits, I want him under my command immediately!"
>
While the Marines panicked over their ranks, the rest of the world was staring at the second name: Saint Shepherd Sommers.
In the shadow of the Red Line, the Revolutionary Army was in an uproar. Monkey D. Dragon stood on the balcony of Baltigo, his eyes narrowed as the wind howled around him.
> [Monkey D. Dragon]: "Sommers... Is he part of those Holy Knight. As far we got the information, they are one they send when a bloodline needs to be erased from history."
> [Emporio Ivankov]: "Dragon-boy! A Saint at Rank 44?! That means he has the combat power of an Admiral! If the Celestial Dragons start fighting their own wars, the Revolution just got ten times harder! Hee-Haw!"
>[Scopper Gaban]: "It's been a long time, hasn't it Rayleigh? These Holy Knight are still same."
>[Silvers Rayleigh]: "Yeah I remember them. It's hard to damage their immortal body without Conquerer Coding."
[Monkey D. Dragon]: "Thanks for information Dark king."
The screen began to play a clip. It wasn't Wano yet. It showed a younger, leaner Aramaki sitting in a bar, refusing to eat. He looked bored, his fingers tracing the wood of the table until small sprouts began to bloom from the grain.
> [Donquixote Doflamingo]: "Fuffuffuffu! Look at him! He's not even a Marine yet! He's just a wanderer with a god-tier fruit! And look at the chat... the World Government is silent. They don't want us to know about Sommers, do they?"
> [Charlotte Linlin]: "MAMAMAMA! A Saint who hunts? Let him come! I'll turn his 'Stars' into homies and eat his bow for dessert! Sengoku, your 'Future' looks like a playground for monsters!"
> [Vegapunk]: "The 'Living Forest'... it's not just plant manipulation. It is the ability to drain the life-force of the planet itself and convert it into pure vitality. A man who never needs to eat because he consumes the world. Fascinating... and terrifying."
>
As the images of the young Aramaki and the hooded silhouette of Saint Sommers flickered, a question began to circulate through every pirate ship and Marine base:
If these two are only Rank 44, who is Rank 1?
Nami sat on the ground in Sabaody, protecting her gold coins while Luffy tried to "fight" his own shadow due to the directionless curse.
"An Admiral and a Saint," Nami whispered. "The World Government is hiding monsters like this, and we're just... we're just rookies. Luffy, we need to get stronger. Fast. Oi, Robin what do you think should we buy Prime Card for Luffy using 5 coin? We should still have 1 coin after that."
>[Nico Robin]: "Let his punishment end. And don't worry no one gonna attack us now. Everyone start to pepare for Marineford War. And we also going there to save Ace so keep the coins for now."
The screen suddenly shifted. The young Aramaki stood up, his eyes flashing with a sudden, violent intent as a group of pirates entered the bar. The ground beneath the building began to groan as massive, black-tinted roots began to coil like snakes.