"I am the only king of this era!!!!"
This was more than a spoken declaration. It was the ultimate expression of will and Haki!
The crushing wave of Conqueror's Haki was no longer merely a clash of power. It carried the weight of an entire era, slamming down upon Big Mom's heart!
Under this unprecedented mental assault, Big Mom's enormous pupils trembled violently beyond her control.
For a fleeting moment, behind Gern's towering figure, she seemed to see several hazy silhouettes-men who had once made the entire sea tremble, each embodying the pinnacle of a different era...
Rocks, who had sought to seize control of the world through absolute strength and ruthless ambition, becoming the King of the World!
Gol D. Roger, whose untamed smile had ushered in an era, whose very life had unleashed a tidal wave!
Edward Newgate, who had borne the name of "the strongest," sustaining an era with his faith in family!
These figures had truly stood at the summit of the seas, revered or feared as "kings" by countless people.
The will, spirit, and strength they represented!
At that moment, they seemed to resonate with Gern's supreme, domineering Haki and his desire to reshape everything, intertwining and converging within him alone!
And now, the man standing before the silhouettes of those past kings...
Was Gern!!
He was the man proclaiming a new era, seeking to trample all the glory and order of the old beneath his feet...
Heavenquake!!!
"Ugh..." An involuntary grunt escaped Big Mom's throat.
Under this crushing assault of pure spirit and will, her enormous body actually staggered several steps backward, unconsciously and beyond her control!
King...
How heavy that word was!
That title carried more than strength. It carried spirit, vision, and the greatness to make an entire era bow its head!