Simultaneous Time Travel: What Villain? I'm the Protagonist!

The full moon hung in the center of the night sky over the Red Earth Continent, but its clear light was half-obscured by the swirling dust.

Mary Geoise, the holy city of the Celestial Dragons, was now an erupting volcano. Fiery dragons, billowing black smoke, shot into the sky, illuminating the entire Red Line as if it were daytime. The Five Elders stood side by side before the floor-to-ceiling window, silent.

At Marineford, the emergency line's Den Den Mushi (snail phone) had been ringing all night, with reports choked with sobs and hysterical orders coming in all directions.

On the waters off the Sabaody Archipelago, countless people crowded the docks, ship railings, and rooftops, gazing at the molten gold-tinged night sky in the direction of the Red Earth, erupting in cheers that could have overturned the waves. Some laughed and jumped up, throwing their hats into the air; others covered their faces and crouched down, tears streaming through their fingers.

After eight hundred years, this holy city that will never fall has finally set ablaze.

The wind swept in from the burned plaza, stirring up the ashes of burnt paper scattered all over the ground. These were fragments of the Celestial Dragons' laws, the World Government's official documents, and bounty posters, now turned into black butterfly-like ash, drifting leisurely into the long corridor and settling on Shengren's blood-stained shoulder.

He raised his hand to brush away the dust, his fingertips trembling slightly, but his eyes were frighteningly bright, fixed on the three people at the end of the corridor.

Kong stood in the center of the three, his long robe fluttering in the sweltering heat.

Somaz, on the left, had his right hand pressed tightly against the hilt of his sword at his waist, and the hatred in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Shamlock, standing on the right, had his longsword hanging at his side. He didn't even glance at Sheng Ren. His gaze swept over everyone else, landing on the raging sea of ​​fire in the distance. His eyes were empty, as if he were watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

Kong took a step forward, and with that one step, Sheng Ren felt a sudden tightness in his chest, as if a mountain was pressing down on him.

But some people move faster than mountains; the hatred suppressed in their hearts exploded out before the air could even move.

Somaz moved!

Like a black arrow slinged from a bowstring, he darted out from the left, his right hand outstretched, the fingertips spewing out jet-black spikes that, with a sharp whistling sound, aimed straight for Sheng Ren's throat.

Sheng Ren suddenly turned to the side, the sharp spikes grazing his neck, and icy blood splattered out instantly, landing on his chest and blooming into a string of tiny red flowers. He didn't retreat; at the same time, he raised his right hand, his fist exploding with surging white flames, and slammed solidly into Somaz's chest.

White flames erupted with a roar.

Somaz didn't dodge or evade, taking the punch head-on. A dull thud followed, and his shirt was instantly burned through, the flesh charred and caved in. At the same time, his left hand shot out, fingers spread wide, pressing hard against Sheng Ren's shoulder, the spike piercing more than three inches deep. Blood gushed from the wound, instantly staining half of Sheng Ren's body red.

Somaz glanced down at his chest; the burns from the white flames were healing at a visible speed, the severe injury subsiding in just three breaths. He looked up at Sheng Ren, a ferocious grin spreading across his face, revealing a set of white teeth: "Put some effort into it, I'm still capable."

Sheng Ren didn't answer, but took a half step back.

Somaz grinned maliciously, then stepped forward and swung his right hand, sending five jet-black spikes shooting out with a powerful gust of wind. Sheng Ren twisted his body to dodge, barely avoiding three, but the remaining two were unavoidable and pierced his left arm.

A piercing pain crept up his bones, and he groaned, cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he didn't even flinch. He reached out, grabbed the two sharp spikes, and pulled them out with a sudden jerk.

He casually tossed the bloodied, flesh-covered spikes to the ground, blood trickling down his arm, pooling at his fingertips, then splashing onto the stone bricks, spreading a small, glaring red.

He looked up at Somaz.

Somaz laughed even more wildly: "Again."

Before he finished speaking, he pounced like a mad beast. Sheng Ren raised his right hand, and blazing white flames erupted, burning directly at Somaz.

To everyone's surprise, Somaz did not dodge or evade, but instead charged forward with the blazing flames on his body. The flames scorched his skin and flesh, but he seemed oblivious to it. His momentum did not diminish at all, and in an instant, he was in front of Sheng Ren and punched him hard in the chest.

Sheng Ren felt a tremendous force surge through him, sending him flying backward and crashing heavily to the ground. He braced himself with one hand, flipped over, and leaped up. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with froth.

Somaz stood two zhang away, glancing down at the bloody hole in his chest pierced by the white flame. It healed completely in three breaths. He looked up at Sheng Ren, his tone filled with undisguised disdain:

"Your fire looks intimidating, but it can't even burn a person to death. What's the use?"

Sheng Ren remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the other two.

Kong remained standing with his hands behind his back, motionless, his gaze fixed intently on the scene before him, his face expressionless, like that of a detached outsider observing the situation. He then turned his gaze to Shamlock on his right, who also remained standing there, his longsword still sheathed, his fingertips never touching the hilt, his eyes still fixed on the distant sea of ​​fire, not even lifting an eyelid.

Sheng Ren suddenly laughed, a laugh laced with blood and foam rolling from his throat, tinged with mockery and a touch of reckless madness: "You two, are you just going to stand by and watch? Aren't you going to make a move?"

Kong did not answer. Shamrock did not answer either.

Somaz flew into a rage upon hearing this, stepped forward, and shouted angrily, "Why bother those two to deal with a brat like you? I alone am enough to tear you apart and take you back to face your punishment!"

Before the shout had even faded, he pounced again. This time, his movements were even faster than before. He used both hands simultaneously, and the black thorns on the tips of his ten fingers suddenly grew longer, tearing through the air with a sharp sound, aiming for Sheng Ren's throat, heart, and lower abdomen. Each move was a deadly strike.

As Sheng Ren watched him rush towards him like a mad beast, a sudden flash of light appeared before his eyes, recalling that afternoon on Egghead Island five years ago.

The prototype of the Mother Spark lay in the sterile chamber. Vegapunk looked at the machine and sighed, saying that if this thing exploded, the entire Egghead Island would probably sink into the sea.

At that moment, Sheng Ren leaned against the door frame, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and casually added, "It's not that small."

Somaz had already rushed in front of him, reaching out to grab his collar, the sharp spikes on his fingertips quietly retracting.

The Five Elders wanted him alive; he couldn't just kill him like that. He wanted to smash this kid's bones one by one, drag him before the Five Elders, and make him pay for what he had done today.

The moment his fingertips touched Sheng Ren's collar, time seemed to be paused and then suddenly sped up.

Sheng Ren moved. He suddenly raised his right hand, not to smash Somaz's chest, but to press it straight down on his face, his palm firmly against that hideous face.

Before the white flames were emitted, what rushed out first was Conqueror's Haki.

The Entangled Blade slammed into Somaz's forehead without any resistance, instantly obliterating all his consciousness, all his movements, and all his Devil Fruit abilities.

Somaz's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils dilating instantly. In that instant, he felt nothing. Pain, hatred, his body—his mind was a blank, empty void.

Then, white flames erupted from Sheng Ren's palm. Within inches of him, without any reservation, they poured into his seven orifices. The face that had just been grinning was instantly engulfed by the pure white flames. The flesh melted in the high temperature, revealing the stark white skull, which sizzled in the flames, burning to ashes along with the brain inside.

He fell backward, and just as he was halfway down, a large hand reached out from the side, grabbed him by the back of his collar, and lifted him up like a tattered sack.

It is empty.

He casually tossed Somaz three zhang away. The body crashed heavily onto the stone bricks, rolled twice, and then lay still. The burned flesh on his face was still wriggling and healing, but the speed was as slow as a snail. The terrifying regenerative power he had just possessed was shattered into nothingness by the impact of Conqueror's Haki.

Kong slowly turned around, and for the first time, a clear emotion flickered in his eyes, which had seen countless storms and even Roger hadn't moved him. He looked at Sheng Ren, his voice low and rumbling like thunder: "Conqueror's Haki enveloping you."

Sheng Ren didn't answer. He leaned against the pillar, panting heavily. That last blow had almost drained all the strength and domineering aura from his body. His legs were trembling uncontrollably, his right hand, clenched into a fist, was shaking violently, and blood was still oozing from the wounds on his shoulder and arm, staining half of his body a deep crimson.

Kong took another step forward. This time, he didn't hold back. The ancient mountain pressed down with a world-destroying aura, instantly crushing Sheng Ren's breath. His bones creaked as if he would be crushed into powder in the next second.

Sora stood before him, three feet away, so close he could smell the rust in Sora's breath. "You hurt him," Sora's voice was devoid of emotion, as if stating a predetermined ending, "That's enough."

Sheng Ren raised his head and met Kong's gaze. Kong raised his right hand, a large hand that, when its five fingers were spread, resembled an iron wall descending from the sky, pressing down on Sheng Ren's shoulder with unparalleled strength—if this press landed firmly, his entire arm would be shattered into powder.

But just as that hand was about to fall, Sheng Ren moved. He suddenly gathered the last bit of strength in his body and rushed forward like a bullet, passing by Kong's side.

He was stunned for a moment. In all his years, he had seen countless powerful figures who had dominated the seas, such as Rocks, Roger, and the Red Earl, but he had never imagined that someone who could barely stand would dare to rush to his side at this moment, towards that sea of ​​fire.

He snapped back to his senses, turned around, and reached out to grab Sheng Ren's back, but his fingertips only grasped a wisp of wind carrying the scent of blood and a wisp of burnt-out paper ash.

Shengren had already rushed out. He didn't run towards the exit of the corridor, which was surrounded by the World Government and was a dead end. He ran in the opposite direction, towards the land of the gods, which was ablaze with flames, towards the sea of ​​fire that could burn people to ashes.

Kong's expression finally changed completely. He shouted sharply, his voice echoing throughout the corridor: "Stop him!"

Somaz, who had just struggled to his feet with half his face still exposed, roared and gave chase upon hearing the shout. Shamlock also moved, his longsword clattering from its ebony sheath as it was drawn, its clear, resonant sound accompanied by a flash of lightning.

The gates to the Land of the Gods were glowing red from the flames, and inside was a sea of ​​fire capable of devouring everything. The heatwave rushed towards him, but for him, who possessed the Flame-Flame Fruit, it felt like coming home. Without the slightest hesitation, he leaped into the flames.

Behind them, Shamlock's longsword cleaved through the sea of ​​fire, the wind from the sword cutting even the flames in two. Sheng Ren turned sharply and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Run! As far as you can!"

Shamlock paused, his eyes dark and unreadable, but he still turned around, taking advantage of the moment when Kong and Somaz were not paying attention.

Sheng Ren staggered and slammed open the heavy door of the underground chamber. A tall, silver-gray metal pod stood silently in the center of the chamber—this was the prototype of the Mother Spark. It was a creation he and Vegapunk had painstakingly crafted over three years from their wildest dreams of infinite energy, a creation powerful enough to overturn the entire world.

He staggered forward, raised his hand to touch the start panel, the trembling of his fingertips slowly stopped, and only madness remained in his eyes.

With a loud crash, the hatch was smashed open by the force. Kong stood at the door, his gaze falling on the Mother Flame, his pupils shrinking slightly.

"What are you trying to do?" Kong's voice was low. "Trying to escape with this broken machine?"

Sheng Ren laughed: "A broken machine? Commander-in-Chief, have you ever seen what the sun looks like when it's on fire?"

Kong took a step forward, and an overwhelming sense of oppression instantly descended upon him: "Nonsense! What can a broken machine do for you? Surrender now!"

"Ridiculous, like a frog in a well, unaware of the vastness of the world," Sheng Ren shook his head. "What do you think it is? It's the crystallization of an era; it is—the sun!"

Kong's face darkened completely, and his domineering aura surged instantly. He sneered, "Nonsense. I've roamed the seas; what haven't I seen? You think you can scare me off with this broken machine?"

He took another step forward, his entire body enveloped in Armament Haki, intending to subdue Sheng Ren instantly and destroy the machine. But Sheng Ren merely looked at him, his smile unchanged.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

"The last three seconds," Sheng Ren's voice remained calm, "believe it or not, it's up to you."

Kong coldly stared at Sheng Ren, but suddenly turned around, his domineering aura reaching its peak. He turned and rushed out of the cabin door, his speed more than ten times faster than before, without even leaving a harsh word.

Because he knew that this kid in front of him, like Vegapunk, was a super genius that even the World Government had to be wary of.

He can gamble, but the World Government can't afford to gamble; the Celestial Dragons' 800-year legacy is too valuable to gamble on.

Outside the hatch, Somaz, who had just rushed over, was stunned to see Kong rushing out like a madman.

"Run!" Kong shouted only one word, his voice filled with unprecedented urgency, and his figure had already disappeared into the end of the sea of ​​fire.

Somaz's expression changed drastically. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned around and rushed out with all his might.

The moment the countdown reached zero, Sheng Ren suddenly tossed the Mother Flame and the Devil Fruit into the air, his eyes filled with admiration for his masterpiece: "Vegapunk, you see, I told you, it wasn't that small."

Then, the world lit up.

A beam of white light, as bright as the sun, erupted from beneath Pangaea, instantly piercing through the hundred-meter-thick layer of red earth and engulfing the entire Mary Geoise. It completely swallowed the full moon hanging in the night sky, illuminating the darkness as if it were daytime. Even those at the farthest reaches of the world could see a blazing sun rising in the direction of the Red Earth continent.

The intense heat, capable of scorching mountains and boiling seas, exploded from the core. The white jade bricks of the Land of the Gods instantly vaporized, and the palace in Pangu City, which had stood for eight hundred years, and the residences of the Celestial Dragons, melted silently the moment the white light swept across them. The Five Elders, standing by the window, didn't even have time to utter a cry of alarm before they, along with the floor-to-ceiling window, vanished into nothingness in the extreme heat.

"What's going on?" Im was a little confused, but the explosion didn't leave him bewildered.

The devastating shockwave, like an invisible giant hand, slammed down on the red earth continent. The sacred abode, which stretched across the entire world and was said to be indestructible, trembled instantly. Hundreds of meters high rock walls collapsed and tumbled down like a tidal wave, carrying massive rocks that crashed into the sea on both sides, creating towering waves.

Somaz, who had just reached the end of the corridor, was instantly torn apart by the shockwave before he could even see what the white light was, leaving not a trace of flesh or blood behind.

Kong, who was running for his life, was hit hard on the back by the shock wave the moment he crossed the boundary of Mary Geoise. He used all his domineering power to protect his vitals, but he was still thrown out like a falling leaf and crashed into the sea. He spat out a mouthful of blood, most of his bones were broken, and he almost fainted.

When the shockwave swept across the Sabaody Archipelago, it was already several times weaker, but it still shattered the bubble membrane of the entire archipelago instantly. Ships at the dock were overturned by the giant waves, and countless people covered their eyes and curled up on the ground, with the deafening roar making their eardrums bleed and all they could see was a blinding white.

The long-awaited deafening roar finally resounded throughout the world.

A continuous, sky-ripping roar, like the sound of the world's spine being smashed, traveled along the Grand Line to Marineford. All the still-screaming Den Den Mushi exploded simultaneously, and the entire Marine Headquarters collapsed to the ground, covering their ears, unable to even hear their own voices. It crossed the Calm Belt and reached the New World. Whitebeard put down his wine jar, Big Mom jumped to her feet, and Kaido's dragon-like eyes stared intently towards the Red Line.

At that moment, it seemed as if the whole world heard the loud noise.

As the white light finally dissipated and the roar gradually subsided, the entire world fell into a deathly silence. In the very center of the Red Line, Mary Geoise, the holy land of the Celestial Dragons that had stood for eight hundred years, vanished completely from the map. In its place lay a massive gaping hole, tens of kilometers wide and bottomless, like a hideous scar etched onto the spine of the world.

A mushroom cloud, tens of thousands of miles high, was still slowly rising above the gap, blotting out the sun. Where Mary Geoise stood, not a single intact rock remained.

Eight hundred years of privilege, eight hundred years of enslavement, the most indestructible core of the world government for eight hundred years, left not even a trace in the explosion of the Mother Spark.

On the sea off the Sabaody Archipelago, someone finally slowly opened their eyes. They looked at the huge gap in the direction of the Red Line, at the disappearance of the holy land that had weighed on the world for eight hundred years. First, there was a deathly silence, then a cheer that could overturn the waves erupted.

The cheers traveled through the waves, through the smoke of battle, and through eight hundred years of darkness, reaching every corner of the world!