In the dim underground space, though none could see, the soul-shattering collision told them Kong Tai was battling something.
So, everyone remained silent, looking up at the mural overhead.
Just then, the mural in their eyes suddenly gained color.
A streak of gold began at the mural’s end, slowly moving upwards. Like water flowing down a deep沟壑, the gold gradually replaced the black outlines of the mural, causing it to emanate a faint golden light.
*Crack—!*
The void trembled violently, and everyone heard a sound like breaking glass.
Then, with a *clang clang clang*, a hidden door opened in the center of the mural. The door was three-layered, and the inside was pitch black. However, with the golden light of the mural and the lights held by the others, they could see several pages of dark yellow paper floating within.
Upon seeing the papers, the luck in Kong Tai’s eyes returned to normal. He beckoned, and the papers behind the hidden door automatically floated down towards him, landing in his hand.
“You must have seen this before.”
Looking down, Kong Tai glanced at Uta.
These pages were made from a special material, impervious to ordinary hard objects. Coupled with the power of the musical score, they had become indestructible.
The musical score was the altar, and the notation on it was a spell. Using the Uta Uta no Mi’s power, the musical score allowed the demon king to connect to the virtual world, the “Uta World.” This world then served as a bridge to manifest in the real world.
This was the connection between the Uta Uta no Mi, the musical score, and the demon king hidden in the unknown space.
Although complex, this was the only answer Kong Tai could think of after seeing Uta and the musical score.
“This is?”
Looking at the musical score, Uta’s expression turned thoughtful. Then, as if remembering something, her eyes suddenly lit up. “I remember! This looks like the musical score I found on the sofa backstage during the final concert nine years ago.”
“At the time, I just thought it was a normal musical score, so without a second thought, I sang according to it. Afterward…”
Uta suddenly stopped, her face visibly paling as if recalling something terrifying. She then abruptly looked up at the mural above, then back down at the Den Den Mushi in Kong Tai’s other hand.
She had heard what Robin said earlier and hadn't understood then. Now, she had some comprehension.
If this was the truth Mr. Kong Tai spoke of, then…
Looking at the Den Den Mushi, her body began to tremble at that moment.
Demon king, demon king. If she heard correctly, these papers were the musical score to unleash the demon king, and she had come into contact with it nine years ago and ultimately sang it.
“It seems you’ve guessed it.”
Kong Tai looked at the girl, a flicker of pity in his eyes. He spoke gently, “Even so, do you still want to see?”
“Yes, the truth is right before me, how could I not?”
Her pearly white teeth bit down hard on her lower lip. The force was so great that the pale skin gradually stained with a touch of red.
Uta looked up, trying to calm herself. She walked towards Kong Tai, picked up the Den Den Mushi herself, and then, without hesitation, pressed the button on its back, aiming it at the adjacent wall.
*Click—!*
As if triggering a mechanism, the Den Den Mushi’s coiled head slowly lifted.
Its two large eyes, previously hidden beneath its belly, straightened up and opened.
*Zzzzt—!*
Like intermittent static, a beam of light suddenly shot from the Den Den Mushi’s eyes towards the gray stone wall.
*Aooo—!*
At that moment, a beast-like roar emanated from the Den Den Mushi. The immense sound, carrying an incredibly strong mental pressure, seemed to make the very space in the underground chamber feel oppressive, even from just hearing it.
As the roar sounded, the light projected onto the wall by the Den Den Mushi formed an image.
It was a colossal demon king, so vast it covered the entire island.
Amidst the flames, Shanks and the others were charging against the inferno, pushing forward. Clearly, they were heroes preventing its advance, not cruel villains destroying Elegia.
At this moment, the anxious voice of the person filming the footage came from the Den Den Mushi.
“Anyone who sees this footage, be extremely careful. That little girl, Uta, is dangerous. Her song will destroy the world.”
The image on the wall made Uta’s face turn ashen. Sweat beaded on her forehead.
Her eyes widened, the light within them visibly dimming, replaced by a pallor even greater than when they first met yesterday.
She had considered many possibilities, but the one answer she never imagined was that *she* had destroyed Elegia.
If *she* destroyed Elegia, then how could her years of hatred for Shanks ever end? If *she* destroyed Elegia, how could she face Gordon, who had always strived to nurture her into a great musician? If *she* destroyed Elegia, how could she have the audacity to set foot on this land again?
At that moment, her eyes seemed to see the scene from that night nine years ago – the night countless people, countless musicians, laughed at her singing.
But in an instant, it all froze. Then, everyone turned to stare at her. Their kind and gentle smiles vanished, replaced by grotesque expressions. They roared, questioning her loudly, asking “Why?”
“Why, why, why…”
The Den Den Mushi slipped from her grasp. Uta stared with wide eyes, head bowed, hunched over, hands clutching her head, shaking her head frantically and hysterically.
Just then, a large hand caught the falling Den Den Mushi.
Shanks, cloaked in red, with fiery red hair, three scars on his face, and a rapier at his hip, emerged from the darkness, wearing slippers.
He first gave Kong Tai a deep look.
Honestly, his gaze was quite unfriendly at that moment, but Kong Tai didn't seem to mind much. After all, revealing such a cruel truth to someone's daughter, only to be met with a glare, wasn't a big deal.
He wasn't trying to harm Uta; on the contrary, he was saving her. With his intervention, their father-daughter relationship could be mended.
He was doing a good deed, helping them reunite. What was there to feel guilty about?
So, meeting Shanks's gaze, Kong Tai smiled and gestured for him to approach quickly.
Shanks didn't overthink it. Kong Tai had told him his purpose for being there yesterday. Turning to look at Uta, his eyes now held only infinite pity. Without further delay, he stepped forward, spread his arms wide, and pulled the trembling, head-shaking girl into his embrace.
“It’s okay, Uta!”
“Shan… Shanks?”
Perhaps it was hearing a familiar voice, or perhaps it was the warmth of the familiar yet strange embrace, but Uta’s body seemed to stiffen and then her trembling instantly ceased.
She then abruptly lifted her head, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with a death wish as she stared at Shanks.
“Didn’t you abandon me? What are you doing here?”
Even after learning the truth, her resentment towards Shanks was still very real.
Years of pent-up resentment couldn't be resolved by a simple truth and a hug.