Chapter 5

Chapter: The Abyssal Confrontation

Arlen sat in the damp, dimly lit cell of an undisclosed World Government prison. The cold stone walls pressed in on him, the chains around his wrists and ankles a constant reminder of his captivity. He'd long since stopped counting the days. Instead, he focused on keeping his mind sharp, replaying memories and plotting every possible outcome for when—if—he ever escaped this hell.

The creak of a door broke his thoughts, and a pair of black-booted feet entered his line of vision. A man in a dark suit, clearly a Cipher Pol agent, loomed over him. The agent's face was obscured by a mask, but his voice carried a sinister calm.

"Arlen," the agent began, his tone mocking yet measured. "You've been resilient. A commendable trait, though futile."

Arlen's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Over the years, he'd learned that silence often spoke louder than words.

The agent continued, stepping closer. "I thought you might like to know some... developments. A little news to break the monotony of your existence."

Arlen's muscles tensed, but he kept his expression neutral.

"Your wife and daughter," the agent said, pausing for effect, "have been rescued. Alive and safe."

The words hit Arlen like a blow to the chest. He clenched his fists, the chains rattling softly, but he refused to show the flood of emotions crashing through him—relief, hope, and a spark of anger at his helplessness. He locked eyes with the agent, daring him to continue.

The agent tilted his head, savoring the moment. "Oh, and your son? The one you thought you'd lost? He's alive. Thriving, even."

For a brief moment, the world seemed to stop. Arlen's mind raced. Could it be true? Kael—alive? He thought back to the day they had torn everything from him, the day they had made him believe his son was gone. His heart ached with a mix of hope and fear. Was this a cruel trick, or had his son truly survived?

"Where is he?" Arlen's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

The agent chuckled, folding his arms. "Now, now, that would be telling. Let's just say he's making quite the name for himself. It seems resilience runs in the family."

Arlen's mind churned, the agent's words both a balm and a weapon. If Kael was alive, he needed to know more. But the Cipher Pol agent wouldn't give anything freely.

"Why tell me this?" Arlen finally asked, his voice steady despite the storm within him.

The agent leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Because we want you to remember, Arlen. Remember what's at stake. If you try anything, if you resist us further..."

He let the implication hang in the air before straightening and turning toward the door. "Enjoy your solitude. We'll be in touch."

As the door slammed shut, Arlen slumped against the wall, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Kael was alive. His wife and daughter were safe. The knowledge was both a comfort and a burden. He couldn't rest. Not now. Not until he found a way to protect them and make the World Government pay for everything they'd done.

As the silence of the cell closed in again, Arlen's mind drifted back to the last time he had fought on the battlefield—the day he had stood against Rocks D. Xebec. It had been a battle unlike any other, one that had shattered the very skies and reshaped the seas. The World Government had called upon him, a king with the power of the Teleport-Teleport Fruit, to aid in their desperate struggle against the most fearsome pirate the world had ever seen.

He remembered the chaos: the ground quaking beneath his feet as Xebec's Conqueror's Haki clashed with the combined might of the World Government's finest. Arlen had teleported troops and supplies across the battlefield, his abilities crucial to maintaining the fragile balance of power. Yet, even with his intervention, the battle had teetered on the brink of catastrophe.

Xebec had been a monster—not just in strength, but in will. His laugh still echoed in Arlen's nightmares, a sound that carried both madness and terrifying intelligence. When the final blow came, it had taken the combined efforts of the Marines' strongest and the betrayal of Xebec's own crew to bring the pirate down.

But what no one knew, what Arlen had hidden from the World Government, was what happened in the final moments. As the island lay in ruins, with the sea churning and the skies split by thunder and fire, Arlen had made a choice that would haunt him forever.

In the midst of the chaos, Xebec had fallen to his knees, his body battered and broken. The Marines were closing in for the kill, their victory all but assured. Arlen had teleported to Xebec's side, his mind torn between duty and loyalty to his homeland. In that moment, he remembered the stories of Xebec's youth, how the pirate had once been a boy from Lumeria who had left the kingdom after a fateful encounter with a noble.

"You," Xebec rasped, his voice weak but defiant, "what are you doing here?"

Arlen didn't answer. He placed a hand on Xebec's shoulder, and in a flash of light, they were gone.

The two reappeared on a remote island in the Calm Belt, far from the reach of the Marines or the World Government. Xebec collapsed onto the sand, his breaths shallow. Arlen knelt beside him and placed a folded piece of parchment in his hand.

"I saved you because of where you came from," Arlen said quietly. "But don't think this means I agree with what you've done. You owe your life to Lumeria, and to the memory of what it once stood for."

Xebec's eyes narrowed as he looked at Arlen, but he said nothing. The king stood and turned away, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he had betrayed both sides that day. As he teleported back to the ruins of the battlefield, he knew his actions would remain a secret—a secret that could change everything if ever revealed.

As Arlen sat in his cell, the memory of that day burned in his mind. He had saved a monster, but in doing so, he had preserved a piece of his homeland's history. Now, with Kael alive and fighting, he wondered if that choice would come back to haunt him—or if it would become the key to their salvation.

Mariejois

Deep within the halls of Mariejois, the leaders of the World Government convened in a grand chamber. The room was filled with a tense energy as high-ranking officials and Cipher Pol agents gathered around a large table. At the head of the table sat the enigmatic Gorosei, the five elders who ruled from the shadows.

One of the Gorosei, a bald man with glasses, broke the silence. "We have received troubling reports from Lumeria."

A stern-looking Cipher Pol commander stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Yes, sir. Prince Kael, who was presumed dead, is alive. He has rescued his mother and sister and has been systematically dismantling our presence in Lumeria."

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions grave. "Explain," demanded another elder, his tone icy.

The commander cleared his throat. "Our agents were ambushed by Kael. He exhibited extraordinary combat abilities and new powers we have not encountered before. Despite our best efforts, he managed to evade capture and has gone into hiding. We believe he is gathering support and resources to mount a rebellion."

"How could this happen?" The bald elder's voice was sharp, his frustration evident. "We had ensured that he was taken care of. He should have been dead."

The commander bowed his head, acknowledging the failure. "It appears we underestimated him, sir. Our intelligence suggests he has been training and acquiring new abilities from various sources. His strength now rivals that of our elite agents."

One of the elders leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "What of Arlen? Does he know?"

The commander nodded. "Yes. We have informed him of his son's survival and actions, but he remains under heavy guard and has shown no signs of escape."

The room fell silent as the elders contemplated their next move. Finally, the bald elder spoke. "Kael must be dealt with. We cannot allow this rebellion to gain momentum. Increase surveillance and dispatch our strongest agents to locate and eliminate him. Ensure that his actions do not inspire others to rise against us."

"And what of Arlen?" another elder asked.

The bald elder's expression hardened. "He remains a valuable prisoner. Keep him alive, but do not allow him any chance of escape. His captivity serves as a reminder of what happens to those who defy us."

The commander bowed deeply. "As you command, sir. We will redouble our efforts to capture Kael and crush any resistance."

As the meeting adjourned, the elders remained deep in thought. The revelation of Kael's survival and his growing strength posed a significant threat to their control. They knew that the coming days would test their resolve and the might of the World Government.