Chapter 403: Post-War Summary!
Chapter 403: Post-War Summary!
With the enemy ship destroyed and Ilok erased by Escanor’s blazing strike, the battlefield finally fell quiet. Only the stench of smoke and blood lingered above the waves.
The fight had been brutal, but the outcome was absolute.
Those who had crawled out of their nutrient tanks, twisted and dripping with foul liquid, had been formidable. But against the Dragon Hunter Pirates, they were little more than fodder. With Ryuunosuke, Ban, Meliodas, and Escanor present—monsters among monsters—the opposition never stood a chance.
Ryuunosuke himself had taken the lead in cleaning up, crushing wave after wave of the twisted soldiers until none remained standing. Once their command structure collapsed, escape was impossible.
High above, the News Birds circled. Their lenses captured everything: the collapse of Findus, the death of Ilok, the overwhelming unity of navy and pirates alike.
Naturally, Morgans would edit the footage, trimming the most sensitive truths. But the world would see enough—the roar of cannons, the fall of a Five Elder, the navy standing tall against the World Government itself.
When the last body fell, silence spread across the port.
The marines who had fought on the frontlines stood still, muskets still raised, unable to believe their own eyes. They had faced horrors and lived.
"Are... are we still alive?" one muttered, voice trembling.
"Not a single casualty," another whispered, scanning his unit.
Indeed, aside from a handful caught in the crossfire with light wounds, not one marine had died. Against all odds, they had achieved a miracle.
Then came the wave of cheers.
"We won!"
"We triumphed!"
"This is the power of the navy!"
The voices rose higher, stronger, until even the rubble seemed to vibrate with their cries. For the first time in years, the marines felt not like pawns of the World Government, but warriors of justice.
Yet amid the celebration, Ryuunosuke gathered his crew. Together with Vice Admiral Gion, they slipped away from the battlefield.
This was Sakazuki’s stage now. The admiral would take the spotlight, announce victory, and shoulder the consequences. Ryuunosuke had no interest in fame. His purpose was sharper: to eliminate the Five Elders and uncover the secret of the black shadows writhing within their bodies.
Glory could wait. Knowledge and survival could not.
The Dragon Hunters regrouped at Gion’s private quarters. Once the gates were shut, the disguises came off.
Chelsea’s makeup and illusions dissolved, and the familiar faces of Ryuunosuke’s comrades emerged. They had blended seamlessly among the marines, but now the air in the courtyard shifted—the presence of pirates could not be hidden any longer.
Najenda quickly began organizing supplies and injuries, her voice sharp but steady. She had run logistics for years, and her efficiency made even the hardened warriors obey like recruits.
On the far side, Meelin placed several glass tubes on the ground. Within them, black-gray shadows writhed, compressed and sealed with layers of magic. Their eerie presence made even the air feel heavy.
Ryuunosuke crouched beside her, eyes narrowed. "Merlin... are these demons?"
He remembered the demons from Meliodas’s world—parasites that corrupted men into monsters. But these creatures... they were uglier, darker, less alive yet somehow more malignant.
"They’re different," Merlin replied, her voice calm, almost eager. "These are Void Demons. Exiled long ago, they shouldn’t even exist in this world." She tapped the glass gently. "How they arrived here, I can’t say. But for us, they’re priceless research material."
Her smile was unsettling. For Merlin, everything was an experiment—life, death, even extinction itself.
Meliodas stepped forward, his expression grave. "She’s right. These aren’t like the demons I knew. But they’ve absorbed power from this world. That’s why they’re strong. Stronger than they have any right to be."
The weight of his words carried more than experience—he was, after all, the son of the Demon King.
Ryuunosuke folded his arms. "How long will it take to break them down? To understand what power they’re feeding on?"
Merlin raised her eyes. "One month. That’s enough to peel back their layers without destroying the essence." She paused, then added, "If you want answers immediately, Captain, I can force it. But we’ll lose the purity of the samples."
She held one of the tubes up to the light. The shadow twitched violently, as though it could hear her words.
Ryuunosuke shook his head. "Take your time. Do it right. We’re not in a rush."
Merlin’s lips curled into a pleased smile.
By evening, the Dragon Hunters were ready to vanish once more. With Merlin’s teleportation magic, the courtyard emptied in a shimmer of light.
When the glow faded, only Gion remained—her hands brushing the air where Ryuunosuke had stood.
A squad of marines, confused and weary, stumbled into the courtyard soon after. They had been left aboard the Dragon Hunters’ vessel and swapped into place with magic.
"Vice Admiral Gion, we encountered—"
"I understand," Gion cut them off gently. "Rest. The Fleet Admiral will explain everything to you later."
The marines exchanged bewildered looks, but none dared question her further. They saluted and left.
Silence returned.
Gion sank onto the veranda, the weight of everything pressing down on her shoulders. She should have been relieved—the navy had survived, victory was theirs—but her thoughts strayed elsewhere.
To him.
That man, with his dangerous smile and unshakable resolve.
Her cheeks warmed. Why does he linger in my mind?
"I... I’ve fallen in love with him."
The confession slipped out as a whisper, shocking even herself. A vice admiral of the navy, falling for the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—it was absurd. Unforgivable. Impossible.
Yet her heart pounded all the same.
"Gion!"
The call startled her. She looked up to see Tsuru standing at the courtyard gate.
"Sister!"
Gion couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears welled up, spilling freely as she ran into Tsuru’s arms. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to break.
Tsuru held her silently. She didn’t need explanations. For now, she simply let her sister cry.
In the Fleet Admiral’s Office
Elsewhere, Sakazuki sat alone, exhaustion weighing down his frame.
The Den Den Mushi on his desk squawked. "Fleet Admiral, the video has been recorded and backed up. Do you want to see it?" Morgans’ voice purred through the line.
That bird never rested. The battle had ended mere hours ago, yet he had already prepared the footage.
"Send me both copies," Sakazuki replied. "The one for the World Government and the original."
"Of course," Morgans said. "But if you want it kept quiet, act fast. The World Government will pay handsomely for their version."
Ten minutes later, Sakazuki watched the flickering images: Findus’ arrogance, the navy’s defiance, the shadowy horrors cut down in droves. The edited copy showed a navy of unshakable justice. The raw version... told a far stranger story.
"No problem," Sakaski said at last. "Send the clean version to the World Government."
He hung up, rubbing his temples.
The truth weighed on him—this victory hadn’t been theirs alone. It had been bought with the strength of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Without them, the navy might have been crushed.
But what choice did he have?
Absolute strength dictated absolute power. And at this moment, the Dragon Hunters were strong enough to bend even the tide of war.
They hadn’t helped out of kindness. They had their own aims, their own secrets. But for now, their interests aligned.
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