The Celestial Dragons were quite an interesting existence in the world of One Piece.
They were known as the descendants of the creators and held the status of world nobles. The men were addressed as Saint, while the women were called Palace.
In this world, they were essentially above all laws, acting however they pleased without restraint, doing whatever they wanted.
Yet, despite possessing seemingly limitless power and authority, they were, in terms of combat strength, nothing more than absolute weaklings, trash who wouldn't even rank a five in power levels.
At first glance, this seemed illogical, especially in a world where strength reigned supreme.
But at the same time, it made sense.
After all, they had the protection of the entire Marines and the World Government. Anyone who dared lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon would immediately face retaliation, whether from an Admiral or CP0.
As for why such an extreme situation existed, it was deeply connected to the lost century of history.
In short, the Celestial Dragons were a special anomaly in this world.
Hui knew that sooner or later, he would run into one. He just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
He had only just arrived on this planet, and the first city he visited just happened to have a Celestial Dragon in it.
But it didn't matter.
A Celestial Dragon was nothing. It wasn't a reason for him to avoid the situation.
Though Hui intended to keep a low profile in this world, at least initially, he didn't believe that encountering a single Celestial Dragon would suddenly unravel all of the world's hidden secrets and power structures.
When he said low profile, he simply meant not immediately launching an all-out violent conquest of this world.
As long as he didn't cause catastrophic upheaval or change the world overnight, that was already low profile by his standards.
As for beating up or even killing a Celestial Dragon?
That was completely normal to him.
So even though Hui had already sensed the presence of a Celestial Dragon in the city while still in the air, he hadn't hesitated to land.
And now that he knew the Celestial Dragon's procession was heading straight toward him, he still had no intention of avoiding them.
"The Celestial Dragons are coming! Get out of the way!"
A sudden voice rang out, sending shockwaves of fear through the crowd.
The previously bustling street instantly fell into chaos.
People who could move immediately hurried into alleys or ducked inside nearby buildings.
Those carrying goods or unable to escape in time all dropped to the ground, kneeling in submission.
This was a fear deeply ingrained in their very souls.
It had been passed down for generations, woven into their blood and their very existence.
To an outsider, such a reaction might seem utterly irrational.
But to the people of this world, it was second nature.
In an instant, the once vibrant, noisy street became eerily silent.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Everyone was simply waiting for the Celestial Dragon's arrival, anticipating their next command.
Only Hui remained standing in the middle of the street, observing the scene around him with deep thought.
He had seen such moments in manga and anime before.
But a few still images or a few seconds of animation were nowhere near enough to convey the sheer weight of what he was experiencing firsthand.
For the first time, he truly felt shaken.
Even the rowdiest, most fearless pirates he had seen earlier were now kneeling, their hearts filled with reverence, and worse, an innate servility.
It wasn't just fear.
It was a deep-rooted submission, embedded in their very souls.
This made Hui wonder, what kind of environment, what kind of indoctrination, could make the people of this world so utterly subservient to the Celestial Dragons?
Was it simply the result of 800 years of rule?
Or was there something else?
Hui didn't know.
But now, he was interested.
"That guy… he's still standing. Does he have a death wish?"
A pirate whispered, staring at Hui, who was the only one left standing in the middle of the street. His voice was filled with disbelief.
"Hah, why do you care? Let this pretty boy get a taste of how cruel the Celestial Dragons can be."
Another pirate sneered, clearly enjoying the idea.
They had already found Hui unpleasant to look at.
"Looking like that… I bet the Celestial Dragon will make him a pet."
Someone else chimed in, laughing mockingly.
"Maybe he actually wants that. Maybe he got all dressed up just to try and cozy up to a Celestial Dragon and rise to power overnight."
The suggestion was followed by scoffs of derision.
Becoming a Celestial Dragon's pet wasn't as glamorous as it sounded.
They were nothing more than toys.
Once the Celestial Dragon got bored or annoyed, they would either be discarded…
Or simply broken beyond repair.
"Why isn't he leaving? He's going to be taken by the Celestial Dragons!"
While some men looked at Hui with cold indifference, there were also women who were filled with worry for him.
"I can't just stand here, I need to warn him. Maybe he didn't hear that the Celestial Dragons are coming!"
Some of them were even willing to risk their lives to warn Hui, determined to save him from impending doom.
"Are you insane? That's a Celestial Dragon!"
A man immediately grabbed the woman's arm, stopping her in her tracks.
All of these whispers reached Hui's ears, but he simply turned his gaze toward the other end of the street.
There, the Celestial Dragon's procession was slowly approaching.
And at the same time, they had also spotted Hui standing boldly in the middle of the street.
Is that guy looking for death?
Some members of the procession thought so.
But upon taking a closer look at Hui, they couldn't help but freeze in place.
His face, his appearance, was simply too shocking.
Even the Celestial Dragon leading the procession, who had been half-asleep just moments ago, suddenly snapped awake.
She was an obese, grotesque-looking woman, her face round like a bloated pancake, her features distorted by layers of fat. Just looking at her was enough to make one feel nauseous.
But now, her eyes were locked onto Hui, and she was practically drooling.
"This one, I want him! Quickly, capture him for me!"
Her voice was filled with impatience, her desire already overflowing.
Because in her entire thirty-plus years of life, she had never seen such a beautiful man.
And she knew, she would never see anyone like him again.
To her, Hui was the most exquisite, most collectable treasure she had ever laid eyes on.
She had to have him.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Upon receiving her order, the guards immediately responded and prepared to rush forward.
But at that moment, Hui finally spoke.
"You know, I've always had a question."
His voice was smooth and elegant, carrying a tone that was almost hypnotic.
It wasn't loud, yet it traveled far and wide.
The moment those words left his lips, the entire street fell into silence, filled only with confusion.
What was this man planning to do?
Even the guards who had been rushing toward him hesitated and came to a stop.
And then, Hui continued speaking, his voice echoing through the street.
"Are the Celestial Dragons… powerful?"
He asked the question, but before anyone could respond, he answered it himself.
"Their so-called 'power' isn't even worthy of being called power."
His voice carried a tone of deep disdain, his words filled with nothing but contempt for the Celestial Dragons.
"And yet, a group of people who should have been at the very bottom of this world somehow hold the highest authority. They are treated as the rulers of this world."
"Doesn't that seem strange to any of you?"
"Just because they call themselves the descendants of the creators, does that mean you should believe them?"
"Even if their claim were true, the creators are one thing, but their descendants are another."
"Why should the descendants of the so-called creators be above everyone else? Why do they have the right to enslave others?"
Hui's voice remained calm, yet it resonated with power, reaching deep into the hearts of everyone listening.
"To answer this question, I have walked in the shadows of this world for a long time."
"My steps have crossed the span of ages, and my gaze has seen through the fabric of time."
"And finally—" Hui smiled faintly. "I understood."
"So I walked out of the darkness and into the light."
"I reappeared in this world, because I have something to tell all of you."
The entire city had fallen into a stunned silence, and even the Celestial Dragon's guards were frozen in place.
Then, Hui's voice rang out once more. Clear and unwavering.
"We are born free. No one is born above another!"
His words sent a tremor through the hearts of everyone present.
"In the face of life and death, everyone is equal."
"For instance," Hui said, shifting his gaze to the grotesque Celestial Dragon, "when she dies, she will be no different from any ordinary person."
That single sentence made everyone's hearts pound wildly.
They suddenly had a feeling—
Something world-shaking was about to happen.
And in the next instant, they found out exactly what it was.
Because Hui spoke again, his tone light and casual.
"Like this."
Then, a beam of light shot from his fingertip.
A crimson flower bloomed at the center of the Celestial Dragon's forehead—
A beautiful, blood-red blossom.
[tl/n: revolution!!!]
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