In the early winter of Sea Circle Calendar year 1517, a chill quietly seeped through the West Blue. Admiral Kuzan rode his bicycle along an ice path winding across the sea, approaching Chang'an, the heart of Hua Country, with a seemingly leisurely air that in fact held boundless pressure. Moonlight spilled over the crystalline ice, illuminating his languid figure and the two Cipher Pol Aigis Zero agents following silently behind him like ghosts.
At the end of the ice path, two figures in white suits and masks walked across the ice like specters, their presences almost merging with the wind and snow between sea and sky. Cipher Pol Aigis Zero, the World Government's strongest shield and sharpest Dark Blade, was already following like a shadow.
Inside Zichen Hall, a bronze beast-shaped incense burner exhaled cool wisps of smoke. The encrypted Den Den Mushi had only recently fallen silent, but the news it brought had made the air in the hall heavy as iron.
"My lord, the ice path has passed Blackwater Gorge." Guo Jia's fingertips brushed across the map of the West Blue and stopped at the mark representing Chang'an. His voice was steady and level. "He will reach the city within three days. Cipher Pol Aigis Zero is confirmed to be accompanying him. Their movements are elusive, and their intentions go beyond merely 'looking.'"
Chen Yu stood before the enormous glass window, his gaze seeming to pierce the palace walls and meet the chill approaching over the ice a thousand miles away. The vast perception granted by Arceus's Power allowed him to clearly "touch" that source of energy, mingling absolute cold with the stillness of the deep sea and unmatched immensity, as it steadily drew closer. It was not the sharp edge of provocation, but a silent questioning and