Chapter 594: Vegapunk's Sudden Rise!
Ryuunosuke was genuinely bothered by what Adam had just said.
His partnership with Vegapunk had always been a clean trade. Mutual benefit, nothing more. If he looked at it purely from his own interests, choosing Adam actually sounded better.
Adam had clearly mentioned "world limitations."
But Ryuunosuke also knew things were never that simple.
Adam and Lilith had been planning for far too long. Their true goal had to be breaking through this world's limits and becoming an eternal existence, a god.
Trading with people like that was the same as reaching into a cage to bargain with a tiger.
You might get a deal.
You might also lose your arm.
Most importantly, the power inside those two was not something anyone could truly control.
Vegapunk, on the other hand, was simpler.
His goal was to create a god.
And he did not want Lilith and Adam to merge into a new god.
Between those two options, the choice was already obvious.
Ryuunosuke lifted his gaze.
"Even though I'd love to cooperate with you… I refuse."
For a brief moment earlier, Adam had been confident. Ryuunosuke's silence had looked like hesitation.
Now Adam realized it had only been Ryuunosuke thinking.
And the answer was no.
"You know I want to break through this world's limits because of my ship, right?" Ryuunosuke continued before Adam could speak.
It was worth remembering.
During the ship's evolution and assimilation, that little broken boat had devoured more than a few special hulls.
When it devoured the Ark of Proverbs, the ship still did not have its own consciousness.
And that was also when he met Jorah Mormont.
Back then, Joracle had glanced at Ryuunosuke's ship with a meaningful look.
The Ark of Proverbs had used an alter ego of Adam, the precious tree in the West Blue, as the ship's trunk.
So it was very likely Adam had already learned what Ryuunosuke and Meliodas were saying back then.
Adam's expression did not change.
"As expected of Captain Ryuunosuke."
"But since you already have the idea of breaking through the limitations of this world, cooperating with us is the best choice."
"Without our power, Vegapunk alone is completely useless."
"Your power?"
A new voice cut in.
Vegapunk.
He had been ignored for long enough, and he was done being invisible.
"You're not even using your own power right now, are you?"
Lilith turned her gaze toward Vegapunk, and her tone softened in a way that could melt steel.
"Vegapunk, my child… why have you become like this?"
"Come back to my embrace."
"Mother never abandoned you."
It had to be said.
Lilith's appearance, paired with words like that, was lethal.
Gentle.
Perfect.
A sweetness that made the air feel warm.
Vegapunk's eyes flickered with affection.
But it was not the affection of a child toward a parent.
It was the kind of affection a man held for a woman.
Seeing that look, Ryuunosuke became almost certain about one thing.
This was why Vegapunk wanted to create a god.
"Lady Lilith," Vegapunk said, voice rising, "everything I've done is because of you!"
"A god… I will create it for you."
"And as for that disgusting Adam, I do not want you cooperating with him for this so called godhood."
"At the end of it, he will devour you!"
Lilith's face showed genuine surprise.
Ryuunosuke could disobey her because he had never accepted her blessing.
His power did not come from Lilith. It came from the Heart of Eternity.
But Lilith's essence was inside Vegapunk's body.
Under normal conditions, Vegapunk should have had no way to resist her will.
And yet here he was.
"Child," Lilith said after a pause, "do you understand what you're saying?"
"Lady Lilith, there's no need to try and influence me with your mark," Vegapunk replied, eyes steady.
"Over the years, my research into divine genes and bloodline factors has devoured everything that once bound me."
"The only reason I never showed it… was because I didn't have the ability to resist."
"But now, things are different."
As Vegapunk spoke, Nirvash beneath him returned to its previous state.
The anti god armor on his body blazed with dazzling light.
He turned his head, staring straight at Adam.
"Adam."
"Are you ready?"
"Today I'll show you whether the god I created can kill a god!"
With that, Vegapunk charged.
Nirvash surged forward with him, a massive shadow of metal and intent.
These artificial combat creatures were called God Eaters for a reason.
Because they carried Vegapunk's wish.
His obsession.
His dream.
He was going to kill a god.
Adam's eyes narrowed.
In response, he immediately summoned the Spear of Longinus.
The two forces collided head on.
Lilith stepped forward, intending to assist.
But Gaino moved, and the enormous figure blocked her path.
"Lady Lilith," Ryuunosuke said with an easy smile, "behave yourself for now."
"Just look at Vegapunk's determination."
"Maybe he'll surprise you."
Ryuunosuke also wanted to see it.
Just how powerful was Vegapunk's so called strongest God Eater?
Meanwhile, on News Island.
"I can see it!"
"Mr. Morgans, I've got a picture!"
"It's a super giant and someone I don't recognize is fighting!"
A subordinate who had been observing from Marine Headquarters relayed the report the moment the footage became clear.
Morgans stared at the image and his feathers bristled.
"Adam!"
The instant he saw the giants clashing, he remembered the information Ryuunosuke had provided earlier.
That entire being was the existence the Evictors believed in.
Adam.
The problem was, when Ryuunosuke first sent the information, Morgans had not yet had time to input it into the system.
And because Adam's identity was too special, it had not been widely passed around.
Even many of the so called subordinates of god would lose their courage just hearing the name.
They would not even dare to approach.
"Sir," the subordinate asked cautiously, "are we really going to broadcast this live?"
They had already been broadcasting the Dragon Hunter Pirates' movements.
The war against the Aragami had earned them enormous rewards.
If a god level battle was made public, it would cause an explosive upheaval across the world.
"No."
Morgans rejected it instantly.
"This kind of battle cannot be public."
If news of a clash on this level spread, the world would fall into panic.
These things were far beyond ordinary people's understanding.
At the same time, Ryuunosuke had stopped attacking the giant Aragami.
That alone was devastating enough for anything he had created.
Morgans' eyes sharpened.
"Send the information to the major pirate crews instead."
"The Four Emperors."
"The former Seven Warlords."
"And any other major powers."
He made the decision without hesitation.
Those people were strong enough.
They could handle knowing what was really out there.
And Morgans had built his so called press department for one reason.
So some truths would survive.
Otherwise, history would keep disappearing into time, just like it did nine hundred years ago.
"Understood, sir!"
The orders went out immediately.
Soon, the intelligence spread.
Even the Straw Hat crew in Wano received it almost at once.
After all, they had a handyman squad from the Dragon Hunter Pirates stationed by their side.
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