Life Key

"These phenomena match the signs of 'Void Erosion' described in my father's manuscript exactly," Kong continued. "And the Five Elders' recent orders—restricting the Navy's access to intelligence, demanding that the Revolutionary Army be wiped out rather than arrested, and now suddenly summoning every Admiral to Mary Geoise—all suggest they're accelerating some kind of plan."

Aokiji finally spoke. "If that's true, Akainu's special fleet may not be hunting down the Revolutionary Army. It may be carrying out a secret mission for the Five Elders."

Kizaru drawled, "How~ terrifying~. But Fleet Admiral, if we disobey the Five Elders, wouldn't that be open rebellion?"

"What matters is whether our loyalty lies with justice or with the Five Elders," Kong said sharply. "If they've been taken over by Void Creatures, as I suspect, and their orders will bring about humanity's extinction, how is obeying them any different from betraying humanity?"

The room immediately divided. Some officers, led by Aokiji and Tsuru, supported Kong's judgment. Others remained cautious, arguing that the accusations were too outlandish to justify openly defying the World Government's highest rulers without stronger evidence.

Just as the argument grew heated, an emergency alarm sounded from the conference room's transponder. Tsuru answered at once, and the voice of an officer on duty came through. "Vice Admiral! We've just received an urgent report. Admiral Akainu's fleet suddenly changed course and launched a fierce attack on the Revolutionary Army base on G-16 Island! But they used a weapon we've never seen before. Purple-black energy has engulfed the entire island, and we've lost contact with all our observers!"

After a moment of silence, the officer continued. "The last images we received showed the people on the island, civilians included, being consumed by some kind of black substance. They turned into... into things that didn't look human!"