Ancient Warning

"Comfortable, Dark King?" Akainu sneered as he approached. "You know what I want. Tell me where the keys are, especially the two in Lin Ye's and Ace's hands, and I might consider giving you a quick death."

Rayleigh raised his head. Though his body was restrained, his gaze remained as sharp as an eagle's. "Sakazuki... no, you're no longer Sakazuki, are you? Who are you? Or rather, what are you?"

Akainu's smile vanished instantly. He leaned down close to Rayleigh, purple light flickering in his eyes. "Clever old man. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that you will tell me everything. The Five Elders can't wait any longer. The Ascension Ritual requires all the keys."

"Ascension?" Rayleigh sneered. "What you want isn't ascension, but destruction. That thing is merely using you. Once the Void Gate fully opens, this world will cease to exist."

Akainu suddenly seized Rayleigh by the collar, his voice turning hoarse and twisted. "You think I don't know that? So what? The old world must be destroyed before a new order can rise. Now tell me where the keys are!"

"I know nothing," Rayleigh answered calmly.

Furious, Akainu raised a hand to strike, only to force himself to stop. He took a deep breath and suppressed his rage. "You think this is over? Don't worry. We have plenty of ways to make you talk. Dr. Vega's new reagent can even react with Seastone."

With that, Akainu turned and left, leaving Rayleigh alone in the interrogation room.

After the door closed, the exhaustion vanished from Rayleigh's eyes, replaced by a sudden spark of vigor. He subtly moved his wrist. One link in the chain had already begun to loosen. A mysterious smile curled across the old pirate's lips—everything was under control.

On the sixth underground level