Entering Space-Time: The Creator Domain was not exactly a pleasant experience.
That sensation of being invaded—any living creature would be able to sense that something was wrong.
Especially since Ren had not hidden anything at all. He had very plainly explained to Dragon the scope of what he could do.
And yet, faced with the drawback that his thoughts might possibly be interfered with, Dragon still accepted without the slightest hesitation.
His answer to that was very simple.
"Those who accomplish great things need resolve.
"Someone who lacks decisiveness can never seize an opportunity. The chance of overthrowing a colossal monster would become pitifully small.
"And I was, and still am—the leader of the Revolutionary Army.
"You should know about the existence of that restriction, right? As for Kuma's situation, I am sorry, because I was the one who led the proposal of that restriction.
"Although it was before what happened with Bonney, we still carried out the contents of that restriction.
"That is a necessary factor in making decisions. Even if it is a bad decision, one that will make you feel guilt, regret, and sorrow.
"For the greater situation to continue moving forward, it is something that must be done.
"The decision back then is no different from the decision now.
"If there really is a difference, then perhaps it is…"
"Perhaps it is what?"
"I believe in you more than you believe in yourself, Ren. No matter what you say with your mouth, in our eyes, you are a good person."
"Even if my actions bring disaster upon civilians? Dressrosa hasn't been completely forgotten yet, has it?"
"Ren… in this world, among those who stand as the strong…
"The only person who can truly take civilians, secondary disasters, and similar matters into consideration through their actions is probably you.
"Even we, the Revolutionary Army, cannot do something like that.
"Protecting is far more difficult than destroying. In their eyes, morality is a weakness. The reality we face is that unless sacrifices are made, there is no way to continue moving forward."
Dragon's answer was thought-provoking.
In this world, where the common moral standard was abysmally low—or where there was simply no shared moral consensus at all—even this much could already be considered being a good person.
"Should I be glad about that?"
"That depends on how you think about it."
"I think… I hate this world even more now."
"Hahahaha, same here. I even hate myself as well."
"I thought you wouldn't say something like that."
"I'm human too, Ren. The one further removed from humanity should be a prophet like you."
"…Wrong. I'm human too."
Ren raised his brow slightly and corrected him seriously. "I'm not a good person, and I'm no saint either…"
"Merely a madman who places arrogance above all else?"
Dragon took over the conversation with a smile, seeming to have some thoughts about the theory Ren upheld.
"By placing yourself in the low ground, you no longer need to worry about the pointing and criticism you would face while standing on moral high ground.
"You are right. This world really is detestable. It has been this way for eight hundred years."
"That's why it needs to change."
Ren shrugged, then extended his hand toward Dragon.
"Then, please teach me the power to change it, would you? That technique known as Conqueror's Haki Infusion."
"Of course. I must repay you as well, mustn't I?"
Dragon laughed heartily, then began sparring with Ren.
He did not reveal too much of anything related to his Devil Fruit ability. He merely wrapped Conqueror's Haki around his fists and feet.
Even so, Ren, who was receiving the training, was thoroughly brutalized.
At this moment, he was not in his Meteor Burst state.
With his three-dimensional attributes only at A-rank, he was truly not enough in front of Dragon using Conqueror's Haki Infusion!
Just being struck in the abdomen by a single punch made Ren feel an extreme pressure.
Perhaps it was because his Conqueror's Haki Aptitude had once again received an enhancement, but the instant he was beaten, he understood the essence of Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
It was just like compressing Armament Haki. By compressing Conqueror's Haki and continuously refining its density, one could forge it into an intangible yet substantive "thing."
The ability to clash without direct contact came from this.
Of course, understanding this did not mean he had mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
Ren had to begin by learning to control his own Conqueror's Haki.
And Space-Time: The Creator Domain could be maintained for one month, while only five days passed in the outside world.
A 6:1 time-flow ratio.
Compared to last time, it was quite a bit lower.
After all, not long had passed since the last overall enhancement.
In the Battle of Dressrosa, they had also fought far too frequently. Ren had only found time to devour a few members of the Donquixote Family.
To ensure he had enough time units, he had no choice but to limit the range to roughly the size of a football field.
While Ren was busy improving himself, news also erupted one after another across the sea.
Cavendish and Urouge showed themselves frequently, and the other Supernovas from the original story were also competing for attention.
They were drawing closer and closer to the Sabaody Archipelago.
Barring any accidents, the Worst Generation would likely still appear—only with one Bege missing.
As for Marine Headquarters… it had a headache.
But not because of the Supernovas.
Or rather, not only because of the Supernovas.
"Filling the vacancies… two Warlord of the Sea positions. Do we need to replenish our combat power as soon as possible?"
Sengoku looked at the documents sent over by the World Government, feeling somewhat pained as he stared at the long list of names.
At the top were the pirate Supernovas of this year.
Cavendish and Urouge, who had definitely taken down Gecko Moria, had parted ways after the Thriller Bark incident.
It seemed they had only temporarily cooperated in order to deal with Moria.
But the fact that they defeated a Warlord of the Sea remained, and they had been extremely active afterward.
Moreover, their style was similar to the Demon Pirates'. They did not really attack civilians, so they were relatively acceptable choices.
Both were top candidates. The only issue was that their strength could not be fully guaranteed.
As for the others…
Eustass Kid and Killer.
Their conduct was far too vile. They frequently slaughtered pirates and civilians alike, and there was a high chance they would not accept an invitation.
Their demonstrated ability was also not as impressive as Cavendish and Urouge's, since they had not killed a Warlord of the Sea.
Set aside for now.
Basil Hawkins had never suffered a defeat since his debut, and his Devil Fruit ability was quite interesting.
He seemed able to avoid misfortune and seek fortune. With that matter already being prepared, he would most likely not accept an invitation… not to be considered.
X Drake was one of their own. Excluded.
Scratchmen Apoo's performance was too weak. Excluded.
"What a pain."
Sengoku sighed, then began gritting his teeth as he clenched the pen in his hand.
"That bastard… what the hell is he doing!"
Originally, they only needed to decide on one Warlord of the Sea position. Even if they misjudged and the candidate failed to show much performance in that matter, it would still have been barely acceptable.
But now, the vacancies had become two.
And the impact this brought was not as simple as -1+1.
Edward Weevil, whom they had originally placed high hopes on and had even been close to negotiating with, had his head delivered to a Marine branch base not long ago.
And then, Sengoku—who at the time had thought he only needed to fill one vacancy—learned what had happened.
Edward Weevil had encountered Ren, who had appeared there for some unknown reason. He had not even gotten the chance for a great battle before being beheaded on the spot.
His mother had vanished without a trace, while his head had been personally delivered by Ren to a Marine branch base.
And the instigator had even said that it was his greeting gift, and that they should not stand on ceremony, and so on.
Stand on ceremony, my ass!
At the time, Sengoku had almost blacked out on the spot and collapsed to the ground—because then he would not have had to deal with this rotten mess.
Edward Weevil was dead.
A pawn whose strength had been guaranteed, who could have played a role in the upcoming war, had been ruined!
And those who could replace him were merely pirate Supernovas who, although somewhat dazzling, had not actually undergone any real testing.
The loss caused by this contrast was truly the sort where 1+1 was greater than 2!
"But it could be considered a good thing as well, couldn't it?"
Suddenly, Tsuru, who was drinking tea on the sofa ahead, spoke.
"After all, Zephyr has quieted down. He does not have to face that painful reality.
"For example, the criminal who killed his students and severed one of his arms becoming a Warlord of the Sea."
"…"
Sengoku fell silent, then rubbed the space between his brows.
"Right now, the more important matter is preparing for that event.
"The pressure we have to face is too great. That world's strongest man… although he has already grown old, no one knows how much strength he still has left.
"If we fail to control the situation properly, perhaps Marineford will become history—alongside the Marines' present!"
"After all, you are Fleet Admiral."
Tsuru said those somewhat ambiguous words.
"…Such is my position. Once I sit in this seat, there is no freedom left."
Sengoku closed his eyes and did not continue the topic.
Of course he understood what Tsuru meant by those words.
Thinking from the standpoint of Fleet Admiral of the Marines was absolutely different from thinking from Zephyr's standpoint, or from the standpoint of Zephyr's comrade-in-arms.
In other words, he was the minority.
'Kuzan? Forget it. Let it be. I only hope you don't make any mistakes at this critical juncture.
'After this war, whether you can sit in my position or not is still another question entirely.'
Sengoku calmed his exhausted mind.
Meanwhile, beneath the highest office, within Marine Headquarters itself, a large number of Marines had already begun going on alert. At the same time, the number of ships entering and leaving the harbor had increased dramatically.
"What… is going on at Headquarters?"
Tashigi followed Smoker off the warship and stared blankly at the bustling Headquarters.
"Is there some major operation?"
Smoker asked Garp, who stood at the very front with a lazy expression, while he could not help calculating the number of Marines in Headquarters' plaza.
Too many.
So many that it was abnormal.
"This old man doesn't know either."
Garp picked his nose, looking relaxed and casual on the surface, while in truth, he was also very confused.
His Observation Haki swept across the area, and he roughly grasped the situation.
'This scale and the strength of these presences… have the elites from all four seas been called back?
'Did something happen?'
Before Garp could reach a conclusion, a messenger soldier ran over.
"Vice Admiral Garp! Fleet Admiral Sengoku wants you to proceed to the highest office immediately after your return!"
"Oh, this old man understands. Did something happen recently?"
"Well… I don't know either. They said Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard made direct contact earlier.
"Because they don't know what might happen, we are to begin standing guard from now on.
"And I hear the Admirals will be returning as well."
The messenger soldier was clearly not an ordinary grunt, but a Marine Headquarters officer.
"Is that so?"
Garp narrowed his eyes, and much of the relaxed laziness in his heart vanished.
Instinctively, he sensed that something was wrong.
The three Admirals, including himself, were all being called back, and the elites of the four seas had been assembled.
Were they going to fight a war?
(End of Chapter)