(Note: Chapter 34, has been revised)
The sea was calm but carried a strange tension. As the Voidreign Ship descended into the depths of the ocean, protected by its shimmering high-tech barrier dome, the crew stood on deck, silently watching the breathtaking underwater world unfold before them.
Vast coral reefs stretched like glowing forests, and bioluminescent fish darted around in brilliant patterns. Majestic sea kings loomed in the distance, their eyes briefly acknowledging the ship before swimming away.
Jessie stood at the front, arms crossed, wind brushing his coat. His eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Fish-Man Island... we're coming," he muttered, the corners of his lips curling into a smirk.
The Voidreign Ship, unlike any ordinary vessel, was powered by advanced energy cores and infused with a fusion stone—allowing it not just to fly through the skies and teleport but dive into the deepest depths. The barrier shielding the ship was strong enough to withstand pressure, sea monster attacks, and even a blast from an Ancient Weapon.
Behind him, Uta and Kuina stood close, marveling at the glowing trenches
"This place… it's beautiful," Uta said softly.
Kuina nodded. "But peaceful seas usually come before storms."
Vash, leaning lazily on a rail with a drink in hand, chuckled, "As long as the mermaids are real and pretty, I don't care how big the storm is."
The crew laughed… for a moment, forgetting the chaos they left behind.
Meanwhile… The World Was Shaking
The news spread like wildfire.
"BIG NEWS! MERUEM DEFEATS AN ADMIRAL, CP0, AND THE HOLY KNIGHTS!"
Morgans had done it again. The seagulls flew across every ocean, dropping the freshly printed front page across the world. Pirates dropped their mugs in shock. Marines choked on their cigars. Nobles cried in horror.
The bold headline was above an image of Meruem, calm and cold, standing atop a battlefield littered with the fallen. His shadow loomed like a demon's silhouette—Kizaru's unconscious body just feet away.
Marine Headquarters – Panic Unleashed
Inside Marineford, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Fleet Admiral Akainu stood in his office, smoke billowing from his clenched fists as he waited impatiently.
Bruu-Bruu... Bruu-Bruu... KACHA!
The Den Den Mushi opened. A panicked voice came through.
"Fleet Admiral Akainu, sir! This is Vice Admiral Barou!"
Akainu's voice was like magma erupting from a volcano. "Did you capture that bastard!? Is he dead!?"
"...S-Sir... All forces have been wiped out—CP0, the Holy Knights... all of them... dead..."
A deadly silence.
"...And Kizaru...?"
The Vice Admiral trembled. "Unconscious... badly injured. We've retrieved him."
A sound of something shattering echoed across the halls of Marineford. Akainu's desk cracked in two, magma dripping from his fists.
"DAMMIT!!"
The room ignited as flames burst from the ground around him. Every officer outside instinctively took a step back in fear. Akainu's rage could melt steel—and he wasn't just angry. He was humiliated.
Holy Land – Mary Geoise
The Five Elders sat in their lavish chamber in eerie calm, sipping tea.
Until—
KRRASH!!
The door burst open. A lone CP0 agent stumbled in, bloodied and pale.
"...Elders... The Holy Knights… They're all gone… Wiped out... And CP0 with them..."
The teacup in the balding elder's hand dropped, shattering against the pristine floor.
"...What did you say?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
"Only Admiral Kizaru survived... and even he was defeated."
A heavy silence followed.
The elder with the sword clenched his jaw. "It has been over 800 years since anyone dared touch a Celestial Dragon. And now… someone not only kills one—but destroys our entire sacred guard?"
Another elder growled. "This cannot be ignored. Mobilize the Saturn Protocol. Alert the rest of the Gorosei. The traitor who humiliated the gods must be eliminated. We will descend ourselves if necessary."
Back Beneath the Sea – A New Journey Begins
As the Voidreign Ship continued its elegant dive, Jessie gathered the crew on deck.
"It's time," he announced. "We're heading to Fish-Man Island first—but after that, we sail toward the Lulusia Kingdom."
Uta tilted her head. "Why Lulusia?"
Jessie didn't answer at first. He stared into the glowing abyss ahead. "There's something there… something ancient. I want to know what kind of power was used to erase it once… and prevent it from being used again."
The crew exchanged glances. They knew by now not to question Jessie's instincts. His calm was terrifying—but his foresight? Even scarier.
A Storm Is Brewing
While the Voidreign crew marveled at the beauty of the sea, the surface world trembled in the wake of Meruem's power.
Every pirate crew, marine officer, underworld broker, and revolutionary spy now had one name written in blood-red ink across their notes:
Meruem – The King of Chimera.