The Revolutionary Army might still have its doubts, but within the Hunter Guild, things were becoming much clearer.
Mihawk and Issho had already contacted Crocodile, and at this stage there was little reason for him to keep hiding what he knew.
The moment Cyrus began fighting openly above Mary Geoise, Crocodile understood that the war had finally entered its last stage.
Cyrus was still the one who had to bring it to an end personally, but the conclusion was now in sight.
"That's the situation. The Chairman told me beforehand that he might leave for a while once this is over. I don't know how long he'll be gone—he never gave me a specific answer."
"Oh?"
Mihawk's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"So Cyrus was already confident about the outcome before he started?"
"That seems to be the case. But I wouldn't recommend that you and Issho rush toward Mary Geoise now. You wouldn't reach it in time, and even if you did, that battle isn't something either of you could meaningfully interfere with."
Crocodile's expression remained serious.
"Besides, the Chairman doesn't appear to need anyone's help."
"Understood. We'll leave it there for now."
The Den Den Mushi closed its eyes as Mihawk ended the call.
Crocodile looked as though he still wanted to say something, but eventually shook his head.
He had actually hoped to use the opportunity to call Mihawk and Issho back.
Even if Cyrus's battle ended soon, Crocodile's work certainly wouldn't. If anything, he expected things to become even busier afterward.
The World Government's collapse would create an enormous vacuum, and Crocodile intended to make certain the Hunter Guild retained the influence and interests it had spent so much effort building.
"We should put more pressure on your father."
He turned toward Reiju.
"It may be time to reveal a little more to him."
"Should we tell him what's happening with the Chairman too?"
Reiju nodded, then asked.
"No. Don't mention the Chairman's plans."
Crocodile shook his head.
"Your father will probably make his own guesses anyway."
What Crocodile needed from Germa now was simple: clone soldiers, and as many of them as Judge could produce.
"I understand."
Reiju nodded.
Officially, she was still a member of Germa, but in practice she had already separated herself from the kingdom to a considerable extent.
When making decisions now, her first consideration was the Hunter Guild.
Judge understood that too.
Even if he knew exactly where Reiju's loyalties had shifted, he had no reason to interfere.
Her position within the Guild brought Germa far more benefits than forcing her back ever could.
…
Cyrus's actions were stirring countless currents beneath the surface of the world.
The confrontation above Mary Geoise, however, was anything but subtle.
Once Cyrus stopped suppressing his strength, the difference between him and Imu became obvious.
Even after revealing powers she had hidden until now, Imu was still being steadily overwhelmed.
Her darkness did possess a strange ability to interfere with flames created through a Devil Fruit.
But the heat of something resembling an actual sun was another matter entirely.
And Cyrus understood perfectly well why Imu continued pouring so much power into resisting him despite the obvious disadvantage.
The Menos Grande she had taken away was already approaching the designated location in the Calm Belt.
Imu was waiting.
So was he.
His sudden attack had another purpose as well: keeping her too occupied to activate any additional abilities elsewhere.
Cyrus maintained the pressure while calmly reviewing every part of his plan.
He could sense roughly how much strain Imu could endure, and he deliberately kept forcing her to remain right at that limit—not enough to finish her immediately, but enough that she could never spare the concentration to deal with anything else.
Cyrus might have claimed that he didn't care what happened to the world, but if fewer people could be transformed into demons before this ended, all the better.
After all, he intended to return someday.
He had no desire to come back and find a dead world emptied of nearly everyone who once lived there, or a barren planet inhabited by only a handful of survivors.
So the pressure continued.
And both sides waited.
Meanwhile, the scale of their battle kept expanding.
The extreme heat had already melted a massive gap into the Red Line.
Rivers of magma poured down its sides and crashed into the ocean below, causing the surrounding seawater to boil and evaporate.
Even Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters beneath the surface, was beginning to feel the effects.
…
Countless bubbles drifted upward around Fish-Man Island before bursting softly in the water above.
Large numbers of Fish-Men and merfolk had gathered before a projected broadcast, watching the battle taking place far overhead.
Madam Shyarly stared at the image for a moment, then lowered her gaze to the crystal ball in her hands.
"Queen Otohime, this battle will decide the future, but the outcome itself has already been determined."
Her voice was quiet.
"Afterward, Fish-Man Island must maintain a good relationship with the Hunter Guild. Our people's circumstances have improved, but they haven't fundamentally changed yet."
"I agree. That was always our intention."
Queen Otohime kept her eyes on the projection.
"His power is beyond anything I could have imagined."
"Princess Shirahoshi also possesses tremendous power, but she still needs time to grow."
Shyarly's words drew a small shake of Otohime's head.
"Even after she grows up, it won't be power like this."
There was unmistakable envy in her voice.
If Fish-Man Island could produce someone capable of standing at that level, perhaps their people would never again need to fear persecution from the surface.
But Otohime quickly dismissed the thought.
No.
Fish-Man Island had always been divided between conflicting beliefs about humanity and the surface world.
If someone among them actually possessed power comparable to Cyrus, that strength might not necessarily bring hope.
It could just as easily bring disaster.
Fortunately, it was only a passing thought.
"The situation below isn't good either."
King Neptune approached with two of his sons, his expression grave.
"The effects of the battle above have already reached the surrounding waters. Even ten thousand meters beneath the sea, we can't completely escape it. And there's also the magma falling from the Red Line. Once it cools and sinks, the situation may become even worse than last time."
"We should wait."
Otohime considered his words for a moment.
"The effects should remain manageable unless this battle raises the temperature of the entire world's oceans."
"That's true."
Neptune nodded.
"As for whatever falls down here, we can clear it away afterward."
He turned toward the projection again.
"How much longer do you think the battle will last?"
"Not very long."
Otohime glanced toward Shyarly.
"The result has already been seen."
"A prophecy?"
Neptune followed her gaze and immediately understood.
His expression relaxed somewhat.
"I see."
…
In the Calm Belt, Robin raised one hand and quietly sensed the change in the surrounding temperature.
"Looks like Cyrus has started."
Hancock had noticed it too.
"What do we do now?"
"Nothing."
Robin remained calm.
"We follow Cyrus's plan and wait here."
Then she turned toward a distant stretch of sea.
Something had appeared there.
At first glance, it resembled a mirage hovering over the water—a faint, almost transparent island that seemed to exist somewhere between illusion and reality.
But with every passing moment, its outline became clearer.
More solid.
More real.
It was an island made entirely of desert.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but endless yellow sand.
Robin stared at it, anticipation gradually appearing in her eyes.
That was the other world.
And soon, she would be able to step into it herself.
Robin had always been curious about anything unknown. The forgotten history of her own world had captivated her for most of her life.
Now an entirely unfamiliar world was about to open before her.
Naturally, she could hardly wait to discover what secrets it held.