Inside the laboratory, countless precision instruments glowed dimly. At the center stood a massive cylindrical cultivation pod.
Suspended within the pod was a baby-shaped 'ginseng fruit'.
Dr. Gero stood before the cultivation pod, reporting respectfully: "Master, the perfect embryo, meticulously prepared for you, has completed all genetic stability debugging and potential activation procedures."
"Now, it awaits only the arrival of your esteemed soul to truly 'be born' and begin composing your own chapter of even greater evolution."
Setsuna nodded slightly: "Are there any precautions I should take?"
Dr. Gero's expression grew solemn: "In the initial stage after your soul enters and fuses with it, the developing embryonic body will be in a relatively vulnerable period."
"It is like the most precise super instrument that hasn't yet had its full driver loaded. While its core is powerful, its external shell and basic operational structure are still immature."
"If you unleash excessively powerful soul force during this stage, this fragile newborn body may not be able to withstand it."
"Therefore, I suggest you choose a world with a lower energy level, one without powerful beings that could threaten you, to undergo your birth."
Setsuna nodded slightly. The One Piece World likely had the lowest ceiling among the worlds he had traversed.
With his strength, he wouldn't face any threats there.
Having made up his mind, Setsuna found Sasuke, left him a few Fruits of Might, and then initiated the world crossing once more.
…
As the familiar sensation of world crossing faded, Setsuna sensed that he seemed to be in the Red Line, the former holy land of Mary Geoise.
Scanning with his soul, Setsuna found the scene before him quite interesting.
A [Pirate Expo] was being held here, and the items currently up for auction were the once-almighty Celestial Dragons.
Under the spotlights, several Celestial Dragons were bound with thick iron chains, pushed to the front like livestock awaiting slaughter.
Signs hung around their necks with labels like [Saint Helioh (Defective)] or [Princess Seraphina (Minor Damage)].
A host in flashy attire, spittle flying, shouted hoarsely through a Den Den Mushi amplifier:
"...Esteemed guests! Feast your eyes! This is the crown jewel of this Expo… former World Nobles, Celestial Dragon slaves!"
Pointing at the trembling Celestial Dragons on stage, his tone dripped with exaggerated temptation:
"Though they are completely useless when it comes to doing anything… they can barely even dress themselves, good for nothing but squandering and oppressing commoners!"
"However, they possess irreplaceable rarity and collectible value!"
"Imagine it… trampling underfoot these once-almighty 'gods', having them serve you tea, fetch water, bark like dogs. What unparalleled pleasure!"
"Or... preserving them as lifelike specimens to display in your treasure vault, demonstrating to all visitors your immense power that overturned the old era. What incomparable glory!"
"Starting bid is only 50 Belly!"
"Yes! You heard correctly! For just 50 Belly, you can take home a descendant of the former creators!"
"No upper limit! Sold to the highest bidder! A rare opportunity, ladies and gentlemen!"
The bidders below erupted in frenzied, deranged shouts, bids flying one after another, quickly pushing the price to astronomically staggering figures.
The once- arrogant Celestial Dragons, now before the frenzied crowd, could only show endless fear and tears of humiliation.
Setsuna's soul phantom hovered high above, quietly watching the scene.
"Heh, how the tides have turned."
He naturally felt no sympathy for these Celestial Dragons. Given their sins, they deserved this fate.
He simply found the scene quite symbolic.
The fall of the old gods, the revelry of a new era… though this 'newness' seemed tainted with excessive madness and disorder.
Without lingering, Setsuna's soul sense instantly locked onto a distant but familiar direction… the New World, Wano Country.
The next instant, his soul phantom seemed to merge with space, vanishing from above Mary Geoise.
Wano Country, Flower Capital.
Returning to Wano, Setsuna used his soul power directly, transforming his will into intangible ripples that cross the vast distance, transmitting to all parts of Wano.
The command was simple and direct: "All executives, assemble at the Flower Capital Palace immediately."
All who received this soul transmission felt as if jolted by electricity, their eyes filled with disbelief.
All core executives who received the order rushed towards the Flower Capital at their utmost speed, recklessly and desperately.
The first to arrive was Ace, a trail of fire streaking across the sky, his blazing aura carrying barely contained ecstatic joy.
Next came Enel's golden lightning, Cavendish's white phantom, and Zephyr's heavy, hurried footsteps...
Hancock, Uta, and Robin arrived almost simultaneously, their graceful figures trembling with unrestrained excitement.
When they rushed into the palace and saw the figure seated upon the throne, their inner excitement nearly peaked.
"Captain!" Ace's shout was filled with the joy of reunion.
"Setsuna-sama!" Hancock, Uta, and Robin, their emotions overflowing, threw themselves forward recklessly, wanting to touch, wanting to confirm the reality.
However, their figures passed through Setsuna's spectral body without obstruction, collapsing onto the cold steps.
Excitement was instantly replaced by panic.
"Easy." Setsuna said calmly. "I'm in soul form right now."
"Soul?" Ace was surprised, asking curiously, "Captain, did you perhaps eat a fruit similar to the Yomi Yomi no Mi? There's someone like that on Luffy's crew." (T/N: Revive-Revive Fruit.)
Setsuna said calmly, "Does one necessarily need a Devil Fruit to return from the realm of the dead? Simply beat the underworld into submission, and naturally, you can leave."
Those few, casually spoken words sent shockwaves through everyone present, filling them with boundless awe and pride.
"As expected of Captain!" Zephyr exclaimed in admiration. "A man not even death can bind!"
Setsuna waved his hand, getting to the point: "The reason I've returned this time is to prepare for my rebirth."
He looked at Ace and the others, issuing order: "Spread the word. I will officially revive in Wano Country three months from now. At that time, all interested parties from across the world are welcome to come and witness the ceremony."
"Revive?" Ace was first excited, then puzzled. "Captain, why make this public? Why invite others? Won't this attract a lot of trouble and enemies?"
Setsuna smiled and said, "I sense Imu's presence. She's not dead yet..."
Though he didn't know how Imu had survived the great explosion back then, Setsuna wasn't concerned.
With his current strength, even in his weakest state, Imu was no match for him.
"I can't be bothered to look for her, so I'll just let her come to me. Consider it putting a perfect finishing touch on our journey across the seas."
Understanding dawned on them. It was using himself as bait to draw the snake out of its hole.
"Also," Setsuna flicked his finger, sending a small pill towards Ace, "This is the medicine I promised Whitebeard back then, for his heart condition. Deliver it to him."
Ace accepted it solemnly, carefully storing the pill.
"Alright, business concluded." Setsuna waved his hand, several spiritual fruits appearing before him. "You've worked hard all these years. Eat these, consider it compensation, and preparation for what's to come."
Having no reason to doubt, they swallowed the fruits without hesitation.
As the fruits entered their stomachs, vast, pure energy erupted, surging through their bodies.
Everyone's strength skyrocketed. As they were reveling in the joy of their newfound power,
Hum…
The sky over all of Wano Country suddenly darkened.
Boundless shadows blotted out the heavens. Sunlight vanished, turning day into dusk.
"Master…"
The shadows stirred, revealing parts of their profile.
They were serpentine scales, each larger than a mountain range, gleaming with a dark-gold metallic luster.
It was Titan. It had grown from its 100-kilometer length when Setsuna left to a length of 1,000 kilometers.
Though still far from the 220,000-kilometer length of the Snake King, Mother Snake, in the One Piece World, it was already terrifying to the extreme, called the [Serpent That Encircles the World] by those who knew of its existence.
Setsuna's soul drifted up, level with the continent-sized, golden vertical pupil.
Titan let out a plaintive keen, as if complaining why Setsuna had abandoned it in this world.
"Don't worry, Titan. I'll take you with me when I leave this time," Setsuna soothed.
Kaguya could only open the dead space of the Amenominaka, but after he revived in his perfect form, his Otsutsuki abilities, combined with the realm of the Eighth Sense, would allow him to open up worlds capable of truly nurturing life, suitable for life to exist.
Then, he could simply leave Titan in one of the worlds he opened and take it along.