Crack!!!
A series of sharp, shattering sounds rang out around Usopp.
"Huh?! What is that sound..."
Usopp glanced around in shock, then suddenly remembered Uta in his arms. Instinctively, he puffed out his chest, gritted his teeth, and scanned the surroundings with nervous eyes. He quickly summoned thick green plants, wrapping them around himself and Chopper to guard against any surprise attack.
Swish!
"What happened? Did Shirogai do something?"
Zoro kicked off the crumbling ground below, using Geppo to propel himself upward. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene.
"This dream world is breaking apart."
Crack!
The moment Zoro finished speaking, the entire dream began to fracture at a visible speed.
"Ahh... Look, the sky, it's collapsing!"
Chopper's hooves trembled as he stared upward in terror.
Crack...
A massive black void tore open across the sky.
"Ooh..."
A suffocating aura of destruction poured from it. Multicolored particles swirled outward, forming a terrifying suction force that devoured everything nearby into the endless abyss.
Fragments of the dream peeled away, pulled upward, then shattered into nothingness.
"If we get sucked in, we're finished! Hurry, we need to get down!"
Panicking, Usopp clutched Uta tightly and tried to swim downward through the air.
"Special Move, Vine Giant Shield!"
A massive vine erupted above them, splitting into countless branches to shield the group.
"It's useless."
Zoro's Observation Haki had already glimpsed what was coming. His expression hardened as he barked orders.
"Chopper, stay still. Usopp, hold onto her, don't let go!"
In an instant, Zoro lunged forward, grabbing both of them. His Haki surged outward, forming a protective barrier around their bodies.
Whooo!!!
The next second, an overwhelming suction force burst from the void above.
The vines disintegrated instantly, offering no resistance.
"Tch!"
Zoro's Haki pulsed outward in waves, but it only weakened a fraction of the pull.
"Ahhh!"
Usopp and Chopper screamed as the force tore them upward. The four of them spun helplessly before being swallowed by the black void.
Boom!!!
At the same time, countless fragments of the dream shattered simultaneously, releasing a devastating surge of energy that completely collapsed the entire dream world.
...
"Imu..."
Just before the dream fully broke apart, time seemed to freeze.
"...As expected of you. A ruler with no regard for lives. To kill me, you would even sacrifice hundreds of thousands without hesitation."
Shirogai appeared within the collapsing dream, a faint smile on his face.
He could clearly sense it. The dream created through Admiral Verglas, who was being controlled by Imu using the Dream-Dream Fruit, was on the verge of complete destruction.
Once it shattered, the accumulated energy from the giants, Marines, and pirates trapped within would be enough to wipe out all of Elbaf, reducing it to nothing.
"No... that cannot be your true goal."
Shirogai shook his head, dismissing the obvious conclusion.
"What are you really planning by sending these Marines after me?"
He looked around the collapsing world as a faint, ethereal glow spread from his body, stabilizing the dream.
"You are preparing for something bigger, planting something within them... something meant for me. Hidden inside their dreams, perhaps."
In an instant, the crumbling world stabilized.
Beyond the collapsing void, another dream appeared, far larger and more complete.
It was Shirogai's dream.
Using the power of the Dream-Dream Fruit, he poured his own Dream Energy into the failing world, reinforcing it.
"You're betting I would save them."
His dream expanded, engulfing and merging with Verglas' collapsing one.
"But it does not matter."
Shirogai's smile deepened before his figure vanished.
"Your schemes mean nothing to me."
...
Elbaf.
"What just happened?"
Marines who had collapsed moments earlier suddenly regained consciousness.
"Why did we all faint?"
They looked around cautiously, but nothing seemed out of place.
"I feel like... we were somewhere strange."
"Yeah, like some kind of nightmare."
"There were monsters... things I didn't want to see again."
Several Marines shuddered, their expressions pale.
"Where are the Admirals? Why aren't they here?"
One of them suddenly noticed their absence.
"Look, over there!"
Following a colonel's shout, they turned toward the sky above Elbaf.
The battlefield burned in the distance, flames staining half the sky crimson.
...
High above Elbaf, on a massive branch of the Treasure Tree Adam.
"Hell Hound!"
"Avoid Slash!"
Fleet Admiral Sakazuki launched a blazing punch toward Shanks, his voice filled with fury.
"Red Hair, why are you interfering? Are the Red Hair Pirates trying to start a war with the Marines?"
Shanks raised Griffin, effortlessly blocking the attack. He stood firm, unmoving, a faint smile on his face.
"No need to get worked up, Sakazuki. I just happen to be here."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Besides, you came to my territory with an entire fleet. That sounds more like provocation to me."
Boom!
"Move."
Sakazuki's voice turned cold as magma surged around him.
"My target is the Straw Hat Pirates, not your crew."
"That's unfortunate."
Shanks' cloak fluttered violently in the heat.
"I cannot allow that."
His grip on Griffin tightened as he pointed it directly at Sakazuki.
"I gave Shirogai my word. I won't let you harm his allies."
Behind Shanks, Nami peeked out, her orange hair swaying.
"You really don't give up, do you? First you attack us in that dream, now this?"
She stuck out her tongue at Sakazuki.
"If you've got the guts, go after Shirogai instead of picking on us."
Seeing his expression darken, she smirked.
"What's wrong? The great Fleet Admiral can't beat him, so you take it out on us?"
"Pathetic."
"Hmph! Insolent pirate!"
Sakazuki's glare burned with rage. Nami quickly ducked behind Shanks, but her voice didn't lower.
"It's true! The Marines always act like this, but can't Galdinohandle being called out!"
"Enough!"
Sakazuki roared. Molten magma surged and condensed around his body, forming massive waves of blazing destruction that rained down toward them.
"Then die here!"
===
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