At first, the warmth was little more than a thin current spreading from the Strength of a Hundred Seal on Zaraki's forehead.
Then he opened the seal further, allowing the stored chakra to pour through his body.
It could neither replace the Reiatsu Nozarashi had consumed nor erase his exhaustion, but it could do something far more important at that moment: repair him.
Creation Rebirth accelerated, closing the deep wound across his abdomen and shifting his cracked ribs back into alignment.
Torn muscles knitted together, and damaged blood vessels sealed before further blood loss could put him beyond recovery.
The process consumed a staggering amount of chakra.
The reserve inside the seal was falling far faster than it had after Vergo stabbed him; this battle had done considerably more damage.
By the time his worst internal injuries had stabilized, the diamond mark on his forehead was noticeably fainter.
Zaraki drew several long breaths, still in pain and exhausted, but no longer on the verge of his body failing completely.
"Useful," he said hoarsely, looking across the devastated reef.
Nusjuro was still regenerating.
His head had almost completely reformed, but his eyes remained closed, and his human body had yet to move.
Zaraki watched for several seconds.
There was no mistaking it: the bastard was alive, or whatever passed for alive in something capable of growing back its head.
"So much for the trophy." He pushed himself upright, ignoring the trembling in one leg.
Near Nusjuro's body, a small personal Den Den Mushi lay half-buried beneath shattered rock.
Its shell had cracked during the battle, but its connection indicator still blinked weakly.
Zaraki bent down and picked it up.
The creature's eyes opened halfway, and static crackled from the receiver, accompanied by the faint rustle of voices. Someone was on the other end.
"Hey. Anyone listening?" He brought the receiver closer, and the line went silent. Looking back toward Nusjuro, he added,
"Your old man lost."
There was no answer.
"He isn't dead," Zaraki continued, sounding almost disappointed. "But I chopped his head off and he's still putting himself back together, so I'm calling that my win."
A sharp intake of breath came through the receiver, confirming that someone had heard him.
Zaraki grinned.
"You can come pick him up when he finishes growing the rest of his face."
The Den Den Mushi trembled as he ended the call.
He had no reason to smash it; he wanted them to hear exactly what had happened.
Nusjuro's fingers moved again, drawing Zaraki's attention.
The regeneration was almost complete, and staying until the Elder woke would restart a fight he no longer had the Reiatsu to finish.
That sounded stupid rather than entertaining.
He sheathed Nozarashi and took another look across the ruined reef. Nusjuro had pushed him harder than almost anyone he had fought in this world.
Without the Elder's immortality, the battle would have ended with his head on the ground.
Then again, if Zaraki had not obtained Creation Rebirth shortly before arriving at Mary Geoise, several of his own injuries might have proved fatal before he could escape.
It had been a good fight against an extremely irritating opponent, and their business remained unfinished.
"Next time, old man," Zaraki said with a smile, turning toward the sea. "Maybe I'll figure out what actually keeps you alive."
Moving far more slowly than he would ever willingly admit, he began making his way toward the small Government emergency craft that had been wrecked against one side of the reef during the battle.
...
Deep inside Pangaea Castle, a bitter chill hung over the Chamber of Authority. Director Dapus stood several steps behind the Elders, no longer pretending to have the situation under control.
Beside him stood Kira, one of Aegis's senior communications officers, still gripping the receiver through which Zaraki's voice had just come.
The four Elders remaining in Mary Geoise had heard every word.
Saint Topman Warcury looked so furious that Dapus avoided meeting his eyes.
Saint Marcus Mars stood perfectly still, while Saint Shepherd Ju Peter's fingers tightened against the armrest beside him.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn stared at the Den Den Mushi without blinking.
Several seconds passed before Warcury broke the silence.
"He defeated Nusjuro."
Defeated rather than killed, but the distinction offered little comfort.
One of the Five Elders had pursued a rebellious Marine away from Mary Geoise with every advantage, only for Zaraki to decapitate him.
Nusjuro's unnatural regeneration would restore his body, but it could not erase the humiliation.
If anything, it made the result more disturbing: Zaraki had inflicted enough damage to incapacitate an Elder despite apparently knowing nothing about the power sustaining them.
"There are several possible explanations," Dapus said, swallowing.
Warcury looked at him, and he immediately regretted speaking.
Still, he forced himself to continue.
"He may have possessed more strength than our estimates indicated. Nusjuro may also have underestimated him after the battle moved away from Mary Geoise, or—"
"Enough." Saturn's voice cut through the explanation, silencing him.
Mars looked toward the communications map.
"The problem is no longer the battle itself," he said quietly. "It is who knows what happened."
That was the real disaster.
Kings had seen Zaraki kill Saint Charlos, and Marines had witnessed the Government turn the Warlords against him, only for the Warlords to refuse.
CP0 had then watched Zaraki leave Mary Geoise with Nusjuro in pursuit.
If Zaraki returned publicly, no one could credibly claim the World Government had maintained control.
"Then he does not return publicly," Ju Peter said.
Dapus raised his head, but Warcury understood immediately. "You intend to announce him dead."
"Yes." Ju Peter's expression did not change. "The witnesses at Mary Geoise saw Nusjuro pursue him. They did not witness the end of the duel."
"So the official account is simple." Mars's gaze hardened. "Zaraki rebelled and murdered a World Noble. Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro pursued him from the Holy Land and executed him away from Mary Geoise."
Saturn slowly nodded. "His body was destroyed during the battle."
Dapus felt cold. Everyone in the room knew it was a lie, and that no longer mattered.
"Director Dapus." Warcury turned toward him, and Dapus immediately straightened.
"Yes, Saint Warcury."
"Use CP0's highest-priority network." Warcury's voice hardened. "Control the story before that brat reappears."
"At once." Dapus bowed as Kira moved to the secondary communications station.
"Highest-level CP0 directive," Kira said into the secure line. "Codename: Requiem. Target: former Marine Headquarters special envoy War Demon Zaraki." His voice remained steady despite the tension in his hands.
He paused before continuing. "Official account: after murdering Saint Charlos and rebelling against the authority of the World Government, Zaraki fled Mary Geoise. Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro pursued and engaged him in an isolated sector near the Red Line."
Kira glanced at the Elders, but none stopped him. "Zaraki was defeated and killed. His remains were destroyed during the battle. Distribute the official statement immediately."
The message entered the World Government's intelligence network, spreading the lie while, somewhere far from Mary Geoise, the man they had just declared dead remained very much alive.