The central conference room of the Revolutionary Army base was brightly lit, though it was already late at night outside. Senior Revolutionary Army officers filled the long table, and the atmosphere was so heavy it felt tangible. Dragon stood at the front of the room, both hands braced against the tabletop as his gaze swept across every attendee's face.
"Everyone, the situation is more urgent than we imagined." Dragon got straight to the point. "Luffy, tell everyone the latest news you received from Lin Ye."
All eyes turned to Luffy, seated at the table. He rose to his feet, his usual smile absent and replaced by a rare seriousness.
"Lin Ye contacted me through Rune Energy." Luffy looked around the room, his voice resolute. "The Five Elders are performing some kind of ritual to accelerate the arrival of the next Purple Moon Cycle. They are no longer waiting for natural changes—they are actively triggering Dimensional Fusion."
A faint commotion broke out in the conference room.
"What is the Purple Moon Cycle?" one officer asked in confusion.
"According to ancient records," Rayleigh spoke from the corner, his voice steady, "every few centuries, a purple moon appears in the sky, accompanied by a weakening of the Dimensional Barrier. During that period, the connection between the two dimensions becomes exceptionally strong."
The conference room doors were pushed open, and Ace slowly walked in, his face still somewhat pale. Sabo immediately rose and helped his brother into a seat.
"You should still be resting," Sabo urged quietly. "Your injuries haven't fully healed."
Ace shook his head and looked at everyone firmly. "This concerns the fate of the world. I have to be here."
Everyone present noticed that as Ace spoke, faint Purple Patterns flickered across his chest. They resembled the ones on Luffy's body,