Chapter 5: Whispers of Prophecy

On the other side of the world, in a chamber veiled in shadows, a congregation of the most formidable figures of the Marine world sat in an unsettling hush. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, with his commanding presence, Vice Admiral Garp, known as Garp the Fist, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and the previous Fleet Admiral Kong were all gathered. The three Admirals—Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino—occupied their respective roles with nonchalant indifference.

The silence in the room was palpable, punctuated only by the rhythmic sound of Garp munching on beans, Borsalino carelessly cutting his nails, and Kuzan indulging in slumber. But Sengoku, the embodiment of authority, shattered the inertia with his voice, a thunderclap demanding attention.

In the moment of silence, Sengoku's voice resonated with unwavering gravity. "Today, the Five Elders summoned me," he began, his words a harbinger of mystery. "They spoke of a prophecy, a prophecy that has sent ripples through the very foundation of our world."

The room transformed into a sea of attentive gazes, each figure hanging on Sengoku's every word. These Elders, ancient and shrouded in enigma, were revered beyond measure.

"They spoke of the King," Sengoku continued, his tone unyielding. "The King of the World, a being whose power defies imagination. They say that no force can even graze him, and the vast riches of our world are but a fraction of his treasure. The Devil Fruits, the very source of our world's mysteries, are believed to originate from him."

Sakazuki, a man of unyielding conviction, scoffed at the notion. "Myths and legends," he muttered with derision. "Even if this so-called King does exist, what are Devil Fruits to us? If he comes, I will personally end his reign."

But Sengoku's gaze remained firm, his voice steady. "You underestimate the gravity of their words," he cautioned. "The Elders spoke of a time when, in a fit of rage, the King struck the land with a single blow, dividing land and sea."

The room hung heavy with the weight of that revelation. The myth had taken on a tangible form, and the implications were staggering. The prophecy, once whispered in shadows, now cast a long shadow over the Marine world, and its truth would soon emerge from the depths of obscurity.

Sengoku's words hung in the air, laden with the weight of ancient secrets. The gravity of the prophecy echoed through the chamber, casting a shadow that stretched far beyond its confines.

"The Elders further spoke of a time when the King, in a surge of unparalleled fury, struck the very foundation of our world," Sengoku continued, his voice a solemn refrain. "His blow was so devastating that it created the four Grand Seas and the enigmatic New World. Paradise itself, as we know it, owes its existence to that single, earth-shattering punch."

The room fell into a reverent hush, each Marine absorbing the magnitude of those revelations. The King of the World, a figure of unfathomable power, had become more than myth. He was the architect of the very world they knew.

Vice Admiral Garp, renowned as the strongest Marine, paused in his bean-munching, his eyes gleaming with a fire that had not dimmed with age. Tsuru, ever the picture of serenity, clasped her hands, her gaze fixed on the somber visage of Sengoku. Kong, the previous Fleet Admiral, bore the weight of years in his weathered countenance.

The three Admirals, Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino, exchanged glances, their stoic facades betrayed by the gravity of the revelation. The myths and legends had given birth to an undeniable truth.

In the midst of this revelation, Sengoku's voice reclaimed the room. "This prophecy is not to be dismissed lightly. The King of the World, if awakened, could reshape the very fabric of existence. We must prepare, for the world as we know it may stand on the precipice of transformation."

As the echoes of Sengoku's words reverberated, a sense of urgency filled the chamber. The King of the World, a force that had shaped their reality, now loomed as an enigma that could redefine it. The Marine world braced itself for the inevitable awakening of a power beyond reckoning.

Sengoku's words hung in the air, each syllable etching itself into the minds of those assembled. The weight of the revelation settled heavily upon them, a harbinger of an impending era.

"It is not a mere tale," Sengoku continued, his voice unwavering. "The Elders are convinced that the King will awaken soon. And if he does, he will be a force to be reckoned with. A power akin to that of a formidable pirate, perhaps even beyond."

Garp's grip tightened around the beans, the tension in the room mirrored in the creases of his weathered face. Tsuru's eyes shone with a fierce determination, her gaze locked on Sengoku. Kong, the elder statesman, absorbed the words with a gravity befitting his years of service.

The Admirals, too, felt the weight of the revelation. Kuzan's usual calm demeanor gave way to a rare furrow of concern. Sakazuki's gaze held a steely resolve, while Borsalino's countenance betrayed a flicker of unease.

Sengoku's gaze shifted, encompassing them all. "This information," he declared, "was not obtained lightly. The Five Elders received it from the last of a species known as the Dark Sage of Aokigahara Forest. These beings possess an uncanny ability to see the future, and this Dark Sage was the last of his kind."

He paused, letting the significance of those words settle in. "In his final days," Sengoku continued, "the Dark Sage spoke of the King's impending awakening. He foretold a world where the very elements—the sun, the moon, and the dragons—would unleash their might upon the world."

The room fell into a hushed reverence. The prophecy had roots that stretched far beyond the scope of their understanding. The King of the World, the Dark Sage's final revelation, held the potential to reshape the very fabric of their existence.

As the shadows lengthened and the chamber held its breath, the Marine world stood on the brink of an era that would test their mettle like never before. The King, shrouded in myth, would soon awaken, and with him, a torrent of power that could either forge new legends or sunder the world itself.