Chapter 576: The Ability That Changes Everything
The Five Elders were genuinely conflicted.
Katakuri's request was reasonable enough. The battlefield had become extraordinarily dangerous — a stray shot from any of the ancient weapons would be catastrophic for anyone without the power to withstand it. Asking for shelter under those circumstances made complete sense, and in theory these fighters were allied with the government, which meant they had every right to request government protection.
The source of the Five Elders' hesitation was different.
"These people are completely useless to us now, aren't they?" Saint Nusjuro's voice was flat. "Can they help Imu-sama defeat Brett? Can they contribute anything in a war between ancient weapons?"
The entire purpose of recruiting them had been to counter the powerful fighters assembled around Brett. But the war had skipped past that stage entirely and gone straight to the final phase. The monsters gathered at Brett's side hadn't even entered the field yet, which meant these fighters had no role left to play.
The other four Elders gave quiet nods of agreement. There was no reason to bother with these people. The next step was simply to press the attack and obliterate the enemy.
But at that point, Katakuri — now ascending higher on Moonwalk until the Five Elders could nearly make out his expression — spoke again.
"I have a way to defeat them."
The Five Elders paused.
The five old men looked at each other.
"Perhaps —" Saint Ju Peter ventured carefully.
Truthfully, their side was not in an advantageous position. Even if the fighting continued, the situation was still extremely tight. What if Katakuri genuinely had a way to turn the tide?
Trusting him once wouldn't be unreasonable.
"Bring them aboard." Saint Mars said.
Below, Katakuri descended slowly back to the island and touched down beside Mihawk and his sister.
The corner of his mouth had already curved upward.
Beside him, Mihawk couldn't suppress a slight curl at the corner of his eye. It seemed this particular friend had already glimpsed a very favorable future.
Almost immediately, the massive floating ship above released a column of light downward.
This one was not a weapon. The light enveloped Katakuri and the others and their bodies began to rise.
"Extraordinary!" Mihawk tried to move his body in the weightless state and sent himself spinning like a top. "So this is how a vessel this enormous manages to float in the sky? What remarkable technology!"
He wore a broad grin. Most of the others, however, looked like they had abandoned all will to live.
Pizarro and Catarina Devon led that group.
After watching the power both sides had demonstrated, they wanted absolutely no further involvement in this war. One wrong step and there would be nothing left of them.
Damn Katakuri to every sea.
That was all they could offer, silently, through clenched teeth.
Before long the group rose through the defensive barrier surrounding the entire ship and entered through a passage on its underside, stepping officially into the interior of this vessel of destruction.
They found themselves in a bare, enclosed room. Nothing in it. It felt like a prison cell.
"Then, Katakuri — what is this plan of yours?"
The Five Elders' voices came from all directions at once. The five old men had clearly not extended full trust, and had no intention of showing themselves in person.
Katakuri paused briefly, then spoke. "Destroying those ancient weapons outright is certainly difficult. But if the target is the people operating them — that may be considerably simpler."
"What are you talking about? Without destroying the weapons, how do you get to the people inside —"
The Five Elder's voice had started to sharpen with impatience, but it lasted only a moment. Then the realization arrived.
"Wait — you mean —"
Katakuri's mouth curved into a quiet smile. "My sister. Brûlée."
He placed his hand on the shoulder of his sister standing beside him. Her unremarkable face broke into a self-satisfied grin, and she straightened up with unmistakable pride.
"She has the power of the Paramecia-type Mirror-Mirror Fruit."
Katakuri said, "She can travel freely through the mirror world, which connects to the real world through any reflective surface. As long as a mirror exists, she can reach anywhere in the world."
"There are mirrors!" A Five Elder's voice came from somewhere unknown, already charged with fierce excitement. "Any sufficiently polished metal surface can function as a mirror, can't it!"
"Even glass — transparent, yes, but it still reflects light."
Couldn't that work as a mirror too, in a pinch?
"Then she can enter the interior of Pluton and the iron bird in the sky directly." Katakuri said. "Even the most powerful weapon would struggle to withstand an attack from the inside."
"Excellent! Katakuri — well done!!"
From somewhere in the floating vessel, the Five Elders' excitement crested again. Had the situation not been an active warzone, they would likely have been on their feet.
"We'll send people to join you immediately. Use your sister's ability to enter Pluton — even if you can't take everyone down, destroy Pluton from the inside!"
"Understood. Of course." Katakuri gave a small nod. "But right now, Brûlée needs a mirror first."
"We'll have one brought to you at once!"
Then the group felt the room begin to rise. The sensation was faint, but not one person gathered here was anything less than a famous name on the sea — they all felt it clearly.
When the movement stopped, the smooth wall ahead split open down the center and divided into two doors, swinging apart on either side.
The group stepped out and had barely taken in their surroundings when figures in white appeared before them.
CP0.
Katakuri looked at the group approaching from the left — white robes, masks, the lot of them. The one at the front carried a presence that was difficult to ignore. The foremost shield, coming in person.
But more striking than that was —
Katakuri turned his head to the other side.
Coming from this direction was another group. Also in white robes.
But without masks.
So these were the Celestial Dragons' most powerful fighting force — the God's Knights.