Chapter 413: Laugh Tale
Just as Imu had expected.
For the world, making a choice was not difficult.
Just like every time the world's situation had undergone changes in the past—the strong declared the world's changes, and the people chose to accept them.
Just like during the First World, when the People of the Moon descended from the sky to become the "Gods" of the world.
Just like during the Second World, when the Abyss awoke from the shadow of the world.
And this time, it seemed there was no difference either.
After The Zodiac declared war on the World Government in front of the whole world.
Under the circumstances where almost all of the World Government's surviving armies and armaments were recalled to Mary Geoise, clearly acting out of a self-awareness that they were outmatched and preparing to hold their ground.
The rulers of most countries in the world decisively chose to surrender.
Are you kidding?
The Star Lord had already stated that The Zodiac's current goal was to fight their way up to Mary Geoise, and any obstruction along the way was purely a "simple obstacle" that would be swept away.
Just look at the strength currently under The Zodiac's command.
The Giant race, the Fish-Man race, the Warlords of the Sea, the Four Emperors, the Revolutionary Army, slaves from countries all over the world, and citizens yearning for freedom. This was a force entirely capable of sweeping horizontally across the seas, and even up to this moment, there was still a continuous stream of new troops joining them.
Obstructing this kind of behemoth?
Let alone obstructing them, just standing in front of them would require courage, right?
Therefore, although everyone knew that after surrendering, their original ruling status would inevitably be impossible to preserve—and considering The Zodiac's consistent style, as well as the fact that they cooperated with the Revolutionary Army, it was highly likely that accounts would be settled after the dust settled—compared to dying immediately, most people still made the clear choice.
Of course, there were also people who couldn't see the situation clearly, hoping that firm feudalist warriors would come out to save the day, such as the Marines who had always ruled the sea in the past.
But obviously, they were all disappointed.
Unlike any time in the past—this time, Imu's "Ancient Coffin Domination" over the Marines and the "Human Modification" carried out on Impel Down had shaken the foundation of the Marines.
Especially His decisive attack on Fleet Admiral Sengoku, leading to the latter's severe injuries, a matter that was watched by the whole world.
It was said that after the great war, it was the Lord of The Zodiac who personally took action to liberate those Marines whose bodies had been occupied by the souls from the Ancient Coffin. But even so, most of them still fell into extreme weakness.
Under such circumstances, although the Marines did not make a clear statement, they obviously no longer belonged to the "World Government's" side.
This point could be seen from the personnel changes in the Marines—Fleet Admiral Sengoku resigned after this battle, while Admiral Akainu, who had been firmly determined to "solve the pirates first before asking the government for an explanation," was temporarily dismissed. The former Head Jailer of Impel Down, Shiryu of the Rain, was directly executed.
The duties of the Fleet Admiral were temporarily replaced by the Marine Hero, Commander-in-Chief of the Star Hunting Force, Garp. The command of the Star Hunting Force was carried out by the former Vice Commander, Roy Amos.
It was said that this legend of the Marine's new era had already started preparing to lead the Star Hunting Force to Mary Geoise to demand an explanation from the World Government.
This fact also made the final stubborn resisters completely despair, because although it wasn't directly announced, the very act of following The Zodiac to Mary Geoise was enough to explain the stance of that "Black".
The World Government seemed to have finally played itself into a state of mass betrayal and separation.
"A new era is coming."
Before stepping down, the rulers of the old era almost all let out such sighs.
Perhaps some of their families had ancient histories, which was why they felt this way—whether overthrowing or being overthrown, it seemed no different from the past.
However, neither they nor Imu, who was sitting in Mary Geoise at this moment, realized a problem.
That was, this time's situation was "different from any time in the past."
In the past, whether it was "revolution," "change," or "regime replacement," it might have happened more than once.
But no matter which time, ordinary people were kept in ignorance.
The people didn't know the history, nor did they know their own situation—they just followed, swept along by the tide.
In Joy Boy's era, that warrior of freedom might have realized this and forged the Poneglyphs.
But that was obviously too late; the method to decipher the Poneglyphs failed to survive, and the world's history remained hidden in the mist.
But this time was different.
The Zodiac never hid anything—whether it was the First World or the Second World, whether it was the Abyss or the People of the Moon.
After that execution at Marineford, they told the truth of history to everyone.
The forces under The Zodiac would even distribute flyers and booklets in every country they conquered, informing the world of all the truths.
That was something unprecedented in ancient and modern times. The mist of history had never encountered such a strong and massive gale.
That gale was almost big enough to overturn the world, blowing the tinder within the hearts of all living beings into an unbroken sea of fire.
And it was exactly under such circumstances.
The Aster, as agreed, was heading towards Mary Geoise.
But what no one knew was...
At this moment, the one who was destined to... or rather, the one who had already changed the world, was not on the Aster.
The end of the Grand Line.
Laugh Tale.
Just like what Rayleigh had previously relayed.
The so-called "Final Island," at first glance, seemed to be just an ordinary small island, unremarkable to the extreme.
Its entirety really did look like an upside-down telescope, to the point that even pirates from the initial four seas would probably not have the slightest interest in this place.
But at this moment.
At the top of the pillar in the center of that island.
The Star Lord's figure was slowly stepping forward here.
Accompanied by starlight, he arrived in front of the "peephole" of the telescope, which was like a crystal.
The eyes hidden beneath the mask looked towards that peephole.
Roy knew that was the path leading to the "First World."
That was...
[Lineage Factor Source Energy Creation: Crystal of Hope]
[Method of Use — When the world falls into despair, it will melt]
"Then... let's begin."
The Star Lord murmured in a low voice, slowly raising his hand.
Vmmm!
Starlight sprinkled down, and that seal existing here, which was supposed to wait until the world was submerged by seawater before being released, silently melted away, revealing the tunnel beneath it.
The Star Lord watched that scene in silence.
Just as Joy Boy said—he had abandoned "hope" at the end of the world.
Only for... in order to allow the Joy Boy of the new era to guard that final chance when the ultimate era arrived.
But now...
"Joy Boy is no longer needed."
Someone was already here to raise it up once again.
Accompanied by such a low whisper.
The Star Lord's figure stepped forward.
The next moment, he leapt into the tunnel.