158. Nothing

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The back garden of the palace seemed to have turned into ruins, and the originally flat square was now a desolate wreck.

The commotion caused by the incident was loud enough to attract attention from other parts of the palace.

However, Abona, who had received the notification, arrived at the palace's backyard as quickly as possible.

This was his first time in this area, and many people present were unfamiliar with him. For most, he was a complete stranger.

Haruya, the current captain of the palace guard, also arrived at the scene. Haruya, who had consumed the Bubble-Bubble Fruit alongside Daiki, assessed the situation.

However, no one knew exactly what had transpired in the back mountain. The magnitude of the disturbance had already drawn the attention of many.

Zen, who had just arrived, led a large group of guards following behind him. Fully armed and wearing solemn expressions, they cautiously approached the scene.

When they reached the entrance to the back mountain, they were met by Abona, standing firmly with his sword in hand. His demeanour was calm but resolute.

"His Majesty has issued an order no one is allowed near the back mountain!" Abona declared coldly, his eyes scanning the crowd.

The group halted. Though Abona recognized their attire as that of the Kingdom Guard, the guards were unfamiliar with him.

Zen, leading the group, furrowed his brow. He readied himself for confrontation, asking coldly, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

"Abona. From this point forward, I serve as one of the Kingdom's swordsmen," Abona replied without hesitation.

"You expect me to believe that? Step aside!" Zen retorted, his tone sharp.

Abona, uninterested in escalating the situation, calmly reached into his pocket and retrieved a Den Den Mushi.

The dawn had begun to break, and the noise had already garnered the attention of others within the palace. Thankfully, it hadn't caused widespread panic.

Holding the Den Den Mushi, Abona dialled a number. After a moment, the receiver picked up, and a drowsy voice asked, "Is this His Majesty, or someone else?"

"This is Abona. There's an urgent matter at hand. I need you to confirm my identity with the captain standing opposite me," Abona stated seriously.

The Den Den Mushi's expression shifted, mirroring the receiver's face as it transitioned from groggy confusion to alert seriousness.

"This is Daiki. Who am I speaking with?"

Haruya, still standing in the courtyard, responded, "This is Haruya, captain of the palace guard."

"What's the situation?" Daiki asked sharply from the other end, concern evident in his tone.

"There's been a major disturbance near the back mountain. The individual standing before me claims to have orders from His Majesty the King, stating no one is allowed entry," Haruya explained.

Daiki, who was stationed on Skypiea, immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

Though he couldn't fully comprehend what was happening, he trusted Abona enough to issue a decisive order.

"In this situation, follow Abona's instructions. If no clarity is achieved within two hours, you may proceed," Daiki instructed firmly.

"Understood, Captain Daiki," Haruya replied. Handing the Den Den Mushi back to Abona, Haruya turned to the group behind him and barked orders. "Send someone to confirm His Majesty's location within the palace!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Despite the tension, Abona stood his ground, clutching his sword tightly. His calm demeanour contrasted with the unease of the guards, who remained on high alert.

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Meanwhile, on the mountain's summit, a vastly different scene unfolded.

Anos, lying unconscious on the ground, seemed to have lost control after consuming a Devil Fruit.

Nine chains extended from his back, pulsating with spatial energy, hovering ominously above the square.

Although the chains' explosive growth had subsided, their presence created an oppressive atmosphere. The square, eerily quiet, bore witness to the lingering chaos.

The disturbance wasn't contained to the palace; its echoes likely reached the streets beyond, stirring curiosity and concern among the populace.

In these troubled times, controlling public perception was paramount.

Haruya, experienced in managing such crises, acted swiftly to suppress information. Even within the palace, few knew the details of what was transpiring.

Atop the mountain, however, no one dared step forward, leaving Anos and his mysterious power at the heart of the chaos.

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