Lulusia.
At the edge of the enormous crater where the royal capital had stood, a flash of lightning sliced through the last smoking layer of rock.
Rock raised a hand. Several fragments melted into black crystals floated before him, then dropped into the sealed container held by a Marine.
Beside him, the needle on a detector jumped sharply.
At the other end of the Visual Den Den Mushi, Vegapunk stared at the graph, his expression growing grimmer.
"I can confirm it."
"The energy signature is identical to that of the core we sent up."
Rock said nothing. His gaze remained fixed on the crater.
"What about the forty-percent limit?"
"Judging by the residual signature and energy decay, it should have activated."
Vegapunk pulled up another set of data.
"The actual firing records are still in the Holy Land. I can't access them right now. But this destruction clearly didn't achieve the result they originally wanted."
Rock looked into the distance.
Several Marines were lifting a stretcher together. A white sheet hung over its edge, swaying gently in the wind.
Vegapunk saw it too.
He opened his mouth, then spoke more quietly.
"At least that limit kept the people outside alive."
"I know."
Rock looked away.
"Is the core still where it was?"
"Yes. Its location signal hasn't disappeared."
"What about York?"
"I can't reach her. The signal only proves the core is still there, not how she's doing."
For a moment, both ends of the call fell silent.
Rock fastened the sealed container.
"Keep watching it."
"Send the samples back, and give the rescue equipment priority. I'll go up and get everything else."
Vegapunk jerked his head up.
Rock had already handed the Den Den Mushi to a communications officer.
"Take it to the medical ship."
"Yes, sir!"
At