Chapter 26: The Day the World Shook

Sanctuary, Mary Geoise.

The Five Elders and the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, Kong, are here. Just half an hour prior, the Five Elders met with Lord Im beneath the Empty Throne.

A cold sweat drenched the backs of the Five Elders as they exited the chamber.

Im undoubtedly furious.

Im: "After Rocks, no one dared to kill Celestial Dragons."

The simple sentence held a heavy implication: Im wouldn't tolerate another Celestial Dragon slaying.

The wrath emanating from the Empty Throne left the Five Elders trembling. Despite wielding the highest earthly authority, they were merely stewards in Im's eyes. The true deity had bestowed upon them all they possessed: a glimpse behind the world's veil.

This entity wielded the mightiest Ancient Weapon and possessed unparalleled power.

"Five Elders, what's the plan?" Kong asked respectfully.

"We're putting out a two billion Belly bounty for Ling Bai. Douglas Bullet, the Demon Heir, gets an extra five hundred million on top of his existing one. This is a real pain."

"I'll post the bounties right away, but Elders... their escape from Impel Down..."

"No point hiding it now," the old man with crutches interrupted. "The video shows no sign of how they got in."

"Who was it? There's no image of him in the video at all." The First Elder, holding his ghostly bald head, spoke with a flat expression.

"And the weirdest thing? This time-freezing power... is that what they're calling it?"

"There's nothing like it in the Devil Fruit book!"

"This guy's strong enough to fight an Admiral, and with that time-freeze, he's as dangerous as a Yonko."

"Worst part? Even Bullet follows him. That guy's a monster on Kaido's level."

"Focus on the execution first, then deal with this new threat. The balance doesn't need him."

...

The incident at Sabaody Archipelago is also called the Celestial Dragons incident. It all started when Luffy punched a Celestial Dragon, but thanks to Rayleigh, things didn't get too bad at first.

News of the fight spread like wildfire. With everyone these days having access to information, it wasn't surprising. Papers were flying off the shelves, and there was even a live broadcast of a Celestial Dragon being executed live! How could people not be interested?

For hundreds of years, everyone believed Celestial Dragons were descendants of gods. Now, the world was in shock.

Back on Snake Island, it was already nighttime. Boa Hancock, usually lethargic, was wide awake after reading the news sent by Granny Nyon. Her all drowsiness disappeared in an instant.

"Beheading the Celestial Dragons and let the whole world to see the humiliation!"

The newspaper picture showed the headless bodies of three Celestial Dragons, their heads tumbling down.

A close-up, bloody and gruesome – Celestial Dragons!

This can't be right! Someone actually dared to hurt them!

Boa Hancock, one of the biggest Celestial Dragon haters in the world, couldn't believe her eyes. Shock filled her face.

"The powerful new pirates are a match for even an Admiral! Akainu is getting beaten by one of them!"

"This is terrifying beyond imagination" Elder Nyon's voice shook with shock.

"Hancock, there's something else. Navy HQ says all Shichibukai have to join the war, or they're kicked out!"

"Granny, I have no interest in such a dull war"

"Boa Hancock, you!"

"Get out, old hag!"

Today, all she cares about is the newspaper. Ling Bai, a man she's never met, has captured her heart.

"Marigold, Sandersonia! From now on, buy every newspaper with news about this man for me!"

"Yes, Empress!"

...

The news reached Dressrosa of a Celestial Dragon being beheaded.

"A bunch of idiots!" Doflamingo laughed.

Doflamingo, though once a Celestial Dragon himself, seems happy about their misfortune. He wants them gone, not ruling from Mariejois.

"Crazy guy. At this time, the Whitebeard Pirates are about to fight Marines, and the Shichibukai have to respond to the call. The seriousness of the war can be imagined."

But his ambition is far greater than his strength.

Newspapers with shocking news about the Celestial Dragons are being carried by birds all over the world.

A powerful pirate group that had just emerged appeared at such a time.

In addition, it is worth paying attention to their bounties about Ling Bai.

Ling Bai, offering a bounties of two billion Belly, beheading Celestial Dragons, humiliating them, provoking the authority of God, etc., and his strength is very powerful too.