After bringing an island from the sky to Mariejois, Golden Lion Shiki turned and left without hesitation.
The Five Elders, despite their fury, could do nothing to stop him. They knew all too well the danger of engaging an airborne opponent. After witnessing Akainu's defeat, they understood the risks of fighting in an unfavorable environment—and they weren't about to make the same mistake.
"Damn it!"
Their rage was palpable, but it was mixed with helplessness.
Though they cursed Shiki for his shameless tactics, they conveniently forgot that they themselves were the most shameless tyrants in the world.
"How did Golden Lion Shiki come back to life?"
"Who knows? More and more strange things keep appearing on the seas… it's becoming a real headache!"
"Forget it. We'll deal with the aftermath first—damn that Shiki!"
They turned their gazes toward Mariejois, now reduced to ruins. Their expressions were filled with deep displeasure as they began issuing orders for cleanup efforts.
Then, a call came from Kizaru's unit.
"The intruders possess combat power on par with ours. We are unable to subdue them. Requesting immediate reinforcements!"
The Five Elders were momentarily stunned.
"What did you just say?!"
"We sent four Admiral-level powerhouses. That force alone is enough to destroy a Four Emperors crew. And you're telling us you still can't take them down?!"
The agent on the other end responded grimly:
"Based on our observations, only two of them have Admiral-level strength. But… they have also taken control of Magellan and Akainu, effectively increasing their Admiral-level combat power to four."
Silence.
The Five Elders felt their heads throbbing.
"You're telling us… they're using our own Admirals against us?!"
Suppressing their frustration, they quickly followed up:
"What about Momousagi and Chaton? Have they been controlled too?"
"Negative. No signs of them being compromised."
"Good. Hold your ground. Reinforcements are on the way."
After hanging up, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro spoke up first.
"The top agents stationed in Mariejois can't move. They are a necessary defensive force. If reinforcements are needed… I can go personally."
Saint Shephard Ju Peter thought for a moment.
"If Garp and Sengoku is in Impel Down, they can reach the battlefield quickly."
Saint Topman Warcury frowned.
"And what about Impel Down? If they leave, who will protect it?"
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn weighed in.
"No need to send them both. Sengoku alone should be enough. The current battlefield is evenly matched. One more Admiral-level fighter will tip the scales."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro nodded in agreement.
"Excellent. Sengoku will depart by ship, and I will personally join the fight."
At Impel Down, Sengoku was preparing to leave when Garp leaned against the wall, watching him with a disappointed expression.
"Sengoku, are you really not going to reconsider? I could go instead."
Sengoku sighed, already knowing exactly why Garp was making the offer.
"You just want to fight Akainu, don't you?"
Garp grinned, biting into a donut.
"Tch, you caught me. But does it really matter? This is a perfect chance for me to prove my strength."
Sengoku's eye twitched.
"Absolutely not. If I let you go, you'll kick his ass the first chance you get. What if he somehow gets freed and returns?"
Garp snorted.
"Return? Be serious. No matter how much I look down on him, even I can't deny his strength. But the enemy would have to be an idiot to let him come back."
Sengoku rubbed his temples.
"You say that… but should you really be talking about Akainu like this? He is the Fleet Admiral."
Garp shrugged, unconcerned.
In his eyes, Akainu was already dead.
Though Sengoku didn't respond, he knew why Garp held such hatred. Akainu had killed Fire Fist Ace—his own grandson. Then, even after that, he still pursued Luffy relentlessly.
It wasn't surprising that Garp wanted revenge.
[Chat Group]
Lucas: "World Government reinforcements are incoming. Time to retreat. I can sense their presence—ETA ten minutes."
Senju Hashirama: "Ten minutes? Understood. We should leave. Even if their ships are slow, top fighters can arrive quickly."
Uchiha Madara: "Tch… Retreating already? What a pity! That slippery Marine Admiral… I haven't taught him a proper lesson yet!"
Golden Lion Shiki: "Shihahaha! You mean Kizaru? Forget it. He's the type who avoids risks rather than taking chances to win."
Uchiha Madara: "I see… In that case, I regret choosing him as my opponent. Fighting cowards is no fun."
Senju Hashirama: "Hahaha! Meanwhile, I got lucky. I met an opponent with abilities similar to mine!"
Whitebeard: "That Logia Forest Forest Fruit ability is certainly powerful… But there's still a clear difference between it and your Wood Style."
Lucas: "It's because of Yang Release. The trees and plants Green Bull creates are just natural plants. They can be hardened with Armament Haki, but there's one thing Green Bull can't do."
Fire Fist Ace: "What's that?"
Lucas: "Life."
Pirate King Roger: "Life? What do you mean?"
Lucas: "Senju Hashirama possesses immense Yang Release. He can infuse his creations with life energy, making them behave like living beings. Haven't you noticed how his Wooden Golems and Wooden Dragons move? Once their eyes glow with golden light, they become much stronger."
Pirate King Roger: "Now that you mention it… that is true. After their eyes light up, they seem almost alive."
Uchiha Madara: "Group Leader! How exactly are we retreating? Are you using the Reanimation Summoning technique to summon us directly, or are we breaking out on our own?"
Uchiha Shisui: "If you use the Summoning technique from the Reanimation Jutsu, what about Magellan? Won't he be left behind?"
Lucas: "Take Magellan with you and break through on your own. Can you handle it?"
Senju Hashirama: "Let's try it!"
Senju Tobirama: "We're close to the sea. That should make things easier."
Gengetsu Hōzuki: "Near the sea? Perfect! We can use the ocean to escape—no problem."
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
With the decision made, Senju Hashirama immediately unleashed a massive technique. Towering roots, as thick as multiple men combined, surged upward, covering the entire island in a layer of intertwining vines.
Enormous flower buds sprouted from the vines, quickly blooming—releasing a toxic pollen cloud into the air.
"It's poisonous!"
The expressions of the Marine officers twisted in horror. The last thing anyone wanted to face was a toxin-based attack, especially after witnessing how deadly Magellan was.
"Sage Mode!"
" Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands"
Hashirama pressed his palms together, activating his most powerful Sage Art. His sage mark appeared, and behind him, an enormous wooden Buddha with a thousand arms materialized. Without hesitation, it launched a barrage of colossal fists toward Green Bull and the other Marine forces.
"Gravity Blade—Tiger!"
Fujitora's face tensed as his Observation Haki detected the massive entity approaching. He swiftly unleashed horizontal gravity waves to counter the assault, then pulled a meteorite from the sky, intending to crash it down upon Hashirama's wooden colossus.
Uchiha Madara sneered, recognizing the tactic immediately. His Rinnegan activated, summoning two enormous meteorites that plummeted toward Fujitora's position.
One after another, the battlefield erupted in cataclysmic ultimate techniques. The scientific research island trembled under the sheer force of their combined attacks.
Had it not been for Senju Hashirama's Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, which wrapped the island in layers of thick vines and roots, it would have already shattered into pieces.
"Retreat!"
"Everyone, get out of here!"
The Marine officers panicked, ordering an immediate retreat. Staying any longer meant certain death.
"Good chance!"
Seeing the enemy in disarray, Senju Tobirama and Gengetsu Hōzuki exchanged a glance before unleashing their abilities.
Together, they manipulated the surrounding sea, controlling its flow with devastating power.
The previously turbulent ocean, disturbed by the island's tremors, suddenly rose into massive tidal waves under their command.
"Tsunami?" Sengoku and Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, who were arriving by ship, looked on in horror.
"Natural disasters are the most terrifying weapons at sea…"
Their expressions darkened.
"Shit!"
"This is bad!"
"Dodge it!"
"Help me!"
Kizaru vanished in a flash of golden light, escaping the ten-thousand-ton wave crashing down.
Fujitora, reacting quickly, used his gravity powers to lift a massive rock, carrying himself, Ivory, and Green Bull to safety.
Ivory's eyes narrowed as he noticed something strange.
"They're not even trying to dodge?"
He watched as Uchiha Madara and the others remained on the island, not making any effort to escape.
Then—huge water spheres materialized around them.
"Water Style—Water Prison Jutsu!"
Encased in water orbs, Madara and his allies shot into the sea like cannonballs, using the momentum to glide across the surface before disappearing entirely.
"They're gone!" Kizaru, hovering in mid-air, frowned.
"Using water they created themselves to counteract the sea… What a terrifying ability."
Ivory sighed in frustration.
"Admiral Kizaru, please take this seriously."
Kizaru shrugged, raising his hands lazily.
"I am taking this seriously. Why are you so worked up? It's not like I let them go—I tried really hard, okay?"
Ivory's eyelid twitched.
"Tried really hard? Of all of us, you had it the easiest!"
Kizaru smirked.
"That's just the advantage of my Devil Fruit. What can I do about it? Besides… unless your battle record is better than mine, you don't get to complain."
Ivory's face darkened. He had no comeback.
Shortly after, in Mariejois, a grim report was presented to the Elders.
"The scientific research base on the island has been heavily damaged. However, our investigation confirms that Dr. Vegapunk and the SSG have been taken away.
"Not only that… The scientific equipment and experimental materials inside were also removed."
The Elders were aghast.
"How?! How did they do all this in such a short time?!"
"We don't know. Maybe some kind of Devil Fruit ability—something beyond our understanding."
Their faces turned ashen.
"Damn it!"
"Those cursed criminals… They've ruined the World Government's plans!"
Without SSG, how could they replace the Seven Warlords of the Sea?
The experimental data was gone. Vegapunk was gone. Even if they attempted to rebuild the research, it would take far too long.
"Does this mean we have to keep relying on the Seven Warlords?"
"Damn it! We were supposed to be moving toward unifying the world!"
One of the Elders clenched his fists in frustration.
"At this rate, we won't live long enough to see the World Government's ultimate vision realized!"
Their grand dream was slipping through their fingers.
All they could do now was preserve the status quo—maintain the fragile balance of power.
"We're forced to compromise everywhere—"
"Compromise with the member nations of the World Government, not interfering in their affairs."
"Compromise with the Four Emperors, allowing them to dominate the New World."
"Compromise with the Seven Warlords, granting them legal authority to plunder."
"Compromise with the Marines, tolerating their insubordination time and again!"
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter slammed his fist against the table, his voice filled with rage.
"Damn it! At this point, aren't we just ruling the world while kneeling?!"
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"We have no choice! We need their help!"
Saint Topman Warcury sighed.
"Rule the world? More like a joke."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn gritted his teeth.
His fingers trembled in anger.
"When will we finally stand up and rule this world properly?!"
...
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