...
Uta did not follow the angry crowd in pursuit of Luffy. She stood alone in the shadows of the ancient castle corridor, her eyes gazing into the distance through a broken window.
In the place she had just left, Gordon remained bound.
"Gordon…"
Uta murmured to herself, a rare trace of exhaustion in her voice: "You said too many things you shouldn't have."
Just as the many powerhouses in God Valley had guessed, Uta planned to awaken the legendary Music Demon King and use its demonic power to forcibly reshape this world.
"The new era…"
Uta's fingers traced the cold stone wall, her gaze gradually hardening: "It must come."
Gordon watched Uta holding that sheet music, his expression panicked. He wanted to call her back, but Uta walked away without even turning her head…
Outside the light curtain in God Valley, Golden Lion Shiki stroked his mane-like hair, brows tightly furrowed: "It really is that 'Tot Musica' thing… But I'm more curious—can this girl really win against her current enemies with that thing?"
As he spoke, Shiki began counting on his fingers: "We know the Marines have deployed two Admirals—Kizaru and Fujitora—plus dozens of elite warships full of troops.
The Straw Hat crew may be scattered right now, but that Straw Hat Luffy definitely won't give up. And don't forget Red-Haired Shanks…"
The Golden Lion paused, his expression turning complicated: "If Shanks finds out his daughter is doing something like this, will he show up? Adding an Emperor-level combatant to the battlefield…"
His words struck a chord.
The surrounding pirates nodded one after another, whispering among themselves: "Lord Shiki is right—this lineup is way too stacked."
"Even if that Tot Musica is as terrifying as the Five Elders say, facing so many top-tier fighters, I'm afraid it still…"
"If Uta has no other trump cards and relies solely on a legendary monster, her chances are too low."
"And Marine Admirals aren't pushovers. Kizaru's speed, Fujitora's gravity… can that kind of monster really hold up against them?"
Doubts rose one after another.
Indeed, from pure combat power alone, Uta's plan seemed like throwing an egg against a rock.
A young songstress going up against two Marine Admirals, the Straw Hat crew, possibly the Red Hair Pirates if they appeared, and the World Government's hidden CP0 agents…
But at that moment, Rayleigh pushed up his glasses. The look behind the lenses was exceptionally sharp: "Have you all overlooked two things?"
All eyes turned simultaneously to the former vice-captain of the Roger Pirates.
Rayleigh spoke slowly: "First, Uta's trump cards may not be limited to Tot Musica. There's also those…"
He pointed toward the light curtain scene.
In the image, large crowds of people were voluntarily following Uta's movements. Fanatical faith gleamed in their eyes.
These people already regarded Uta as their savior and were willing to do anything for her.
"Living hostages."
Rayleigh's voice was heavy: "If Uta uses them as shields, would the Marine Admirals dare to go all out? Would Straw Hat Luffy really strike hard against ordinary people?"
The venue fell into a brief silence.
"Second," Rayleigh continued, "don't forget Uta's Devil Fruit ability. What did she do to that white bear earlier?"
The pirates, Marines, and all the powerhouses nodded. Earlier, Uta had waved her hand, musical notes wrapping around Bepo and instantly shrinking him into a mini bear.
"Her ability can directly affect living beings."
Rayleigh stated his view word by word: "What does that mean? It means she can not only bind enemies but also… alter life forms."
"And the range?"
Shakky added from the side: "What if her ability's range is large enough to affect thousands or tens of thousands of people at once?"
Sure enough, Shakky's words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Imagine Uta standing at the center of the stage. In the span of one song, she turns all 100,000 audience members at the concert venue into dolls, into musical notes, into her puppets…
What kind of farce would that be…
"And the third point."
Whitebeard's voice rumbled like muffled thunder. He gripped his naginata Murakumogiri tightly, expression grave: "This girl's ability probably has some kind of… mental interference effect."
He looked around at everyone, recalling his earlier sensations.
"You all heard her initial singing. That irresistible urge to immerse yourself, to follow her… An ability that directly influences the mind is often the most troublesome."
Whitebeard paused, his voice growing even heavier: "If I hadn't been on guard beforehand, even I might have been briefly affected by that music.
Imagine if Uta unleashed it at full power, amplifying that 'bewitchment' effect tenfold, a hundredfold…"
He didn't finish, but everyone understood.
Marine Admirals might be able to resist, Vice Admiral-level officers might hold out, but what about ordinary soldiers?
What about pirates whose wills weren't strong enough? What about the fans who already idolized Uta?
Once Uta's ability was fully unleashed, the entire island of Elegia could become her "puppet kingdom."
At that point, the Marines wouldn't be facing one person—they'd be facing tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of "human weapons" under her control.
"The worst-case scenario,"
Sengoku removed his glasses and rubbed his brow hard: "is her combining Tot Musica's destructive power with her own mind-control ability. In that case…"
"In that case, she would become a true 'weapon of destruction.'"
Tsuru finished coldly: "A songstress who can control people's hearts and summon a demon king of annihilation… You can imagine her threat level."
The atmosphere inside God Valley grew heavy to the extreme.
The pirates who had previously scoffed at Uta's plan now dropped their contempt.
They began reassessing this seemingly fragile songstress and the destruction she might cause.
"So in that case…"
Captain John took a big swig of liquor, his eyes dangerous: "That little girl might actually manage to stir up something big?"
…
At this moment the light curtain scene switched, and what Rayleigh and Whitebeard had guessed was truly happening!
The Marines began arriving one after another, but what they saw were entire swathes of sleeping audience members—along with the Straw Hat crew, Coby and the others, and even CP0…
Everyone was sleeping exceptionally soundly. Reports from the Marines echoed across the scene: they found not a single person awake; everyone present was in a state of deep sleep!
"Don't panic—they're just asleep. But no matter what you try, you won't be able to wake them!"
While Vice Admiral Momonga looked on in astonishment, Uta walked out carrying a basket of Wake-shrooms, her expression exceptionally relaxed!
As if the whole thing had nothing to do with her—she was just passing by…
...