When all options are exhausted, the Marines would rather let the New World perish than lose the war. Coincidentally, Orrick felt the same way. When things can't be salvaged, he'll drag the entire New World down with him.
That's why he said, "Either way, we all die."
But handing the final choice over to the World Government wasn't as effortless as it sounded. Now that they had lost the trump card known as the END POINT, the blow was devastating. From now on, seizing the initiative in this war would be next to impossible.
Orrick ground his teeth in frustration. One misstep can lead to a thousand regrets. Just to eliminate Rowen, the price was already far too steep. And the war… had only just begun!
Inside the volcano base, Rowen noticed the trace of mad killing intent on Ryokugyu's face. He raised an eyebrow. "Judging by your face… I think I know your answer."
"I don't believe you!!" Ryokugyu roared, his expression dark. "I don't believe you can detonate the END POINT! I'll stand right here and watch you be devoured by magma. If you can do it, go ahead!"
"Heh." Rowen let out a scornful laugh, gesturing with his eyes. "In that case… be a dear and hurry up."
"You think I won't?!" Ryokugyu shouted, his fury igniting. He had once been someone with a strong sense of justice until he met Orrick. Moved by the man's grand vision, he swore allegiance and committed himself to overthrowing the corrupt World Government.
He had always believed that he wasn't far behind the famed Marine Admirals. Even Orrick had been surprised by his strength, saying, "You're as terrifying as a monster."
But in front of Rowen, Ryokugyu's confidence was eroded bit by bit. Despite holding an absolute advantage, the pressure Rowen gave off never faded. That unshakable composure was more fearsome than any power.
Smack!
With a ruthless grip on the cart's handles, Ryokugyu flexed his muscles and started to push the multi-ton cage forward.
Thud… thud…
Step by heavy step, Ryokugyu stomped forward, eyes locked on Rowen, desperately trying to see even a flicker of fear. But what greeted him instead was pure disappointment; Rowen's eyes were filled with mockery and contempt. His grin stretched wide, twisted and devilish, like a demon from Hell, radiating evil and madness.
"Normal magma doesn't go above 1,000 degrees Celsius… But the END POINT is different. This isn't ordinary molten rock; its temperature can exceed 2,000°C, rivaling even Akainu's Lava-Lava Fruit." As he pushed the cage, Ryokugyu explained, trying to get a reaction out of Rowen. But Rowen didn't even look anxious; on the contrary, he looked excited.
Whoooosh!
As they neared the slide entrance, a scorching wave of heat surged forward. Even at a distance of several hundred meters, the heat curled Rowen's hair.
"Die, bastard!!" Ryokugyu growled savagely, lifting the cart handles until the cage tilted at a 60-degree angle.
Clang!
Then, with a sudden drop of his hands, he let the cage slam to the ground.
"He really is confident, Orrick Sama!"
"Ignore him. Do it!" Orrick's firm voice rang from the Den Den Mushi Ryokugyu carried, leaving no room for discussion.
Gritting his teeth at the sight of Rowen's relaxed smile, Ryokugyu gave one final push.
"Hrah!"
KLANG! SZZZZHHHHH!!!
With the sound of screeching metal and grinding force, the multi-ton cage began sliding down the slope, friction igniting sparks from its Seastone frame. With earsplitting screeches, it slid toward the glowing orange magma below.
Then… SPLASH!
The lava pit burbled and exploded with heat, bubbles popping violently as it devoured all.
Ryokugyu stared at Rowen until the man was completely engulfed by the molten rock. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. "He… went in?"
From the Den Den Mushi came Orrick's heavy breathing. Only the two of them knew how much mental pressure this "simple execution" had placed on them.
"He went in!" Ryokugyu panted, adding with emphasis, "Fully submerged! I saw his face start to burn and melt… and then he sank into the magma."
"We did it!"
"He really was bluffing!" Ryokugyu shouted with joy. No matter how much pressure Rowen had given him… in the end, he still died! He hadn't detonated the END POINT!
Phew… Hearing that, Orrick exhaled deeply as well. "Is that so? Good. Observe for a while longer. Once you're certain he's dead, return. Our forces are already launching attacks across the Grand Line. Rest for a few days, then set out."
"Yes, sir!" At that moment, Ryokugyu felt energy surge through his body and answered loudly.
But suddenly, Ryokugyu's entire body froze in disbelief. Like a machine, he stiffly turned his head, pupils dilating violently. "N-No… Impossible!"
"What happened?! Ryokugyu! Ryokugyu, are you listening?!" Orrick furrowed his brows and shouted anxiously through the Den Den Mushi.
"This… this shouldn't be happening!!" But Ryokugyu had no time to respond. He stared at the figure climbing out of the magma, like a burning, cursed corpse, his expression filled with horror.
"Haaaa…!!" The corpse's vocal cords had long been scorched away. It could only let out a hoarse screech as it stepped atop the still-floating Seastone cage. With murky, clouded eyes, it glared at Ryokugyu, then cracked its charred lips into what could only be described as… a grin.
Splat!
Lifting a hand, the burning corpse dug its fingers into its own chest, pulling out what appeared to be a heart-shaped clump. Grain by grain, Seastone dust trickled from the ashes of its flesh and dropped into the magma below.
"How is he still alive?! How could he escape?!" Ryokugyu's face shifted from horror to madness. His jaw dropped. "WHY?!"
Whether it was surviving in that state or breaking out of the cage, either would be incomprehensible alone. But both together? It was madness.
Orrick, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, gasped sharply. "He escaped?!"
Suddenly remembering something, he asked, "Did he steal your key?!"
"Impossible! There was only one key, and I already threw it away!" That was the true reason Ryokugyu had tolerated Rowen's endless chatter all this time. The sole key had been crushed into scrap and tossed into the sea the same day they captured Rowen.
"No… I mean another key." Orrick took a deep breath, gritting his teeth. "The magma in the END POINT can reach up to 2,000°C. It can melt steel in under a minute. If all he needed was to heat and reshape the metal... soaking it briefly would be enough."
Clink… clatter… At that moment, a red-hot key, still bearing finger marks, was tossed out of the magma and clattered onto the stone by the lava pool.
"You guessed right… Orrick." The voice was hoarse and piercing, like wind sweeping across desert dunes, sand grinding against itself.
The scorched corpse grinned coldly, staring at the terrified Ryokugyu. Splurt! It clawed at its waist, ripping away a chunk of charred, melted flesh.
"What is he doing, Ryokugyu?! Answer me!"
"He… he's…" Ryokugyu didn't even notice he was trembling. With a shaking voice, he replied, "He's ripping the meat off his own body!"
"Ripping off burnt muscle… to help regenerate more easily…?"
"No!" Orrick suddenly shouted. "Kill him now, Ryokugyu! While you still can!"
"It's the Seastone powder! He's purging the Seastone from his body!"
"WHAT?!" Ryokugyu gasped, focusing his gaze, and sure enough, the charred flesh being torn away was laced with Seastone dust. By letting magma burn away his body, Rowen was shedding his old flesh like a molt, forcibly expelling the Seastone that had accumulated in his blood vessels.
Now, he only had to purge the Seastone lodged near his vital organs, and his Devil Fruit powers would return!
"Talking about toxicity without dosage is just deception." Once the large concentration of Seastone was gone, the remaining trace amounts were like raindrops during a storm, no longer effective at suppressing a Devil Fruit user.
"You… MONSTER!!!" Ryokugyu roared in rage, stomping hard and shattering the surrounding rocks, leaping toward the lava pool's center.
"DIE!!!"
BOOM!!
A massive punch dropped, magma spraying in every direction. The sheer weight of the blow caused the entire volcano to tremble. Terrified pirates throughout the base exchanged panicked looks, unaware of what was happening.
Even the magma pool was punched into a gaping chasm, plunging deep into the Earth's core. But Ryokugyu felt no relief. He turned his head and saw, leaping parallel to him, a blackened, skeletal figure. Its gums were exposed, and its flesh was nearly gone.
His heart nearly stopped. "Too slow… little guy." Rowen let out a cold, wicked laugh. His skinless fingers trembled slightly, as a crackling arc of electricity sparked into being.
Though his body was still incomplete, and even his internal organs had not fully healed, there was no doubt. Rowen had regained his power.
(End of Chapter)
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