Time rewound slightly, to just after the world-shattering clash of Devil Fruit powers between Gern and Blackbeard.
The collapsing ruins had completely buried the Five-Pointed Star Formation hall.
Saint Saturn, who had been impaled on the Pentagram Formation and buried beneath the rubble, opened his eyes as Gern's Haki faded.
Every part of his body grievously wounded by Gern's Conqueror's Haki Coating
now began to recover as that suppressive Haki gradually dissipated with Gern's departure. The "immortality" granted by the Abyssal Contract began to revive in full!
Once fully recovered, Saint Saturn did not immediately struggle free of the ruins, nor did he pursue Gern and Blackbeard.
He simply lay quietly beneath the rubble, speaking to himself in the empty darkness.
"The time has come..."
"Fellow Stars... it is time for you to descend."
The instant his words fell, four invisible bridges connected simultaneously deep within Saint Saturn's mind.
Four entirely different voices rang out directly in his consciousness, almost at the same time!
Saint Nusjuro spoke first.
"Saturn."
"What exactly is happening on Egghead? The aftermath of the Mother Flame going out of control has yet to fully subside.
"Sending CP0 was one thing, but then you recklessly descended alone, and now you are summoning us?"
Saint Saturn responded through his consciousness, concealing nothing and getting straight to the point.
"The situation has changed beyond our expectations.
"The Navy has intervened in force. 'Heavenquake' Gern Reginald Sigma himself is already on the island!"
"Heavenquake?!" This time, it was Saint Warcury's voice. "He is on the island? Then why have you not withdrawn immediately?
"Instead, you are calling us down? Have you forgotten our lord's strict orders that we must never leave the Holy Land to clash with the Navy unless absolutely necessary?!"
"Foolish!" Saint Saturn retorted. "It is precisely