Luffy's heart sank when he heard that.
Even these satellites of Vegapunk had no idea what was happening. Things were worse than he had thought.
"Then my friends..."
Atlas bit her lip and pointed to a violently flashing red area on the radar screen. "The last scattered signals we received about your friends...
And the location of a massive eruption of combat energy both pointed to the 'Seraphim Storage and Calibration Area.'
It looks like there's fierce fighting over there. Maybe... maybe some of your friends are there, or there might be clues to their whereabouts?"
Her tone was uncertain, but this was their only lead.
Luffy barely hesitated. "Take me there!"
Edison, however, hesitated. "But it's too dangerous over there! The energy readings are terrifyingly high. There could be more than one faction fighting for control of the Seraphim..."
"Quit talking!" Luffy's gaze was resolute. "My friends might be there!"
Atlas nodded. "All right, we'll take you! I know a relatively hidden maintenance passage that can get us close to the edge of that area..."
"Yeah!!" Luffy clenched his fists, ready to set off immediately, when...
"Ugh..."
His body suddenly swayed. His face turned visibly pale, and large beads of cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
His body, brimming with strength just moments ago, now seemed drained of all energy. His legs began to buckle slightly.
He even had to brace a hand against the wall beside him to stay upright.
An intense feeling of emptiness and dizziness swept over him.
"Luffy! Straw Hat Boy?!"
Startled, Edison and Atlas hurried forward to support him.
Luffy panted heavily and waved them off. His voice had become weak and breathless, with even a hint of a plaintive sob:
"Gear Fifth... uses up too much energy... My stomach... I'm so hungry..."