Then on the screen Shaka appeared as well, his helmeted figure cutting into the broadcast beside Vegapunk, his voice calm but urgent as he spoke.
Shakka: Wait stella, you can't begin the speech right away
The scientist turned his head slightly, a hint of confusion crossing his face at the interruption.
Vegapunk: and why's that?
Shakka: you just went on air, you need to give people time to gather
Vegapunk tilted his head, considering it only briefly before brushing it off with his usual casual confidence.
Vegapunk: I wouldn't worry so much, it'll be everywhere once the news picks it, by tomorrow it'll be spread across the whole world
And already that process had begun. Across distant seas and scattered islands, the signal was being picked up, voices echoing through transponder snails as people stopped what they were doing to listen. In Dressrosa, familiar faces gathered as Kyros stood beside Rebecca, both staring toward the source of the sound, the weight of it immediately clear even without knowing what was coming.
Shaka's tone didn't waver.
Shaka: Is that wise though? What if the press manipulates the information?
Vegapunk paused at that, genuinely caught off guard.
Vegapunk: I didn't consider that? What should we do?
Shakka: let's use the navy branches all over the world as relays.,then we'll force them to output the signals at full power
The idea spread as quickly as the signal itself. In Water 7, Iceberg listened intently, his expression tightening as he processed what he was hearing, while far away in Windmill Village, the mayor stood frozen, eyes fixed on the snail as the voice carried across the quiet town. Everywhere, people were beginning to gather, drawn in by something they didn't yet understand but couldn't ignore.
Out at sea, the Marines scrambled, voices shouting over one another as they tried to shut the transmission down, but every attempt failed, the signal slipping through their grasp like it was never meant to be stopped.
Meanwhile, the battlefield hadn't slowed.
Luffy and Ryo still held their opponents firmly in place, refusing to let either of them move.
Ryo: you're out going anywhere
He forced Kizaru back down again, pressing him into the ground with enough force to keep the admiral from shifting even slightly, his grip unrelenting despite the exhaustion still clinging to his body.
Then Shaka's voice echoed again through the air, carried across the island, making Ryo's ears twitch instinctively as both brothers listened without being able to see the screen.
Shakka: anyone near a transponder snail will get the audio right away, however it could take some time to set up a video transponder snail and we want people to watch it as well
Both of them blinked, confusion flickering across their faces. Shaka had been destroyed, they had seen it, and yet here he was speaking like nothing had happened.
Luffy: wait a sec..is that helmet guy?
Ryo: Yeah..just what are we about hear?
Even Saturn seemed to pause, his gaze shifting slightly as the same question lingered in his mind.
Saturn: what are you going to say vegapunk?
Shakka: we'll give them an hour to prepare
Vegapunk reacted immediately, his voice sharp with urgency.
Vegapunk: an hour! That's too long who knows what could happen? There are many who won't like this broadcast, we can't give them time to sabotage it
All around the island, chaos continued. The giants moved like unstoppable forces of nature, tearing through structures and ships alike as they searched for Luffy, their massive forms impossible to ignore. The Marines fired relentlessly, explosive rounds slamming into Dorry and Brogy, but it did nothing, the attacks barely registering as the two captains swept through them like they were nothing more than insects.
Vegapunk's voice returned, more decisive now.
Vegapunk: hmm, very then, the broadcast will begin shortly, you have 10 minutes, see you then.
For a moment, the weight of that settled over everything.
Ten minutes.
Luffy, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered, his grin wide as ever.
Luffy: wow great! Old man apples ok! Helmet guy too! Can you believe those guys, They had me all freaked out over nothing
But Ryo didn't respond.
Something about it didn't sit right with him, something quiet and heavy settling in the back of his mind, a feeling he couldn't shake no matter how much he tried to ignore it.
Ryo: No time to think about that now, we've got some asses to kick
Luffy's grin only widened.
Luffy: Heh yeah!
Elsewhere, far beyond Egghead, the reaction was far less relaxed. The other elders watched in silence, their displeasure unmistakable as the situation slipped further and further out of their control, the broadcast spreading despite everything they had built to prevent exactly this kind of moment.
Across the world, people prepared.
Transponder snails were brought out, adjusted, tuned, entire crowds gathering around the few that could display video, waiting, watching, holding their breath for something they couldn't yet name.
Big News Morgans had already positioned himself perfectly, Vivi and Wapol at his side, eyes glued to the screen as the magnitude of what was about to happen became impossible to ignore.
And within the Revolutionary Army, the same tension hung in the air, every ear turned toward the broadcast, every mind bracing for whatever truth was about to be revealed.
The world had stopped.
And whatever Vegapunk was about to say—
No one would come out of it the same.
And that's a wrap
This was fun
