As it turns out, no matter how powerful a person is, they are still only human. And all humans die. The fat Elder gave a dramatic demonstration of what it means to have one's brains splattered—just without the applause.
"Bastard!"
The bald Elder with the sword at his waist roared, veins bulging on his forehead, eyes blazing with rage. He stomped the ground and shot forward like an arrow released from its bow. Drawing his sword in one swift motion, the shimmering blade tore through the air!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A storm of sword shadows slammed into the crimson barrier of the Six Crimson Yang Formation. With an enraged strike, the overwhelming force behind it was terrifying. With a resounding crack, the crimson wall shattered like glass!
The bald Elder paused in surprise. He hadn't expected the once-impenetrable barrier to break so easily. But there was no time to ponder—joy surged in his heart as he darted toward Kaguya.
"Looks like that barrier won't save you this time. Time to die!" He spun his blade, sending a sharp arc of energy hurtling through the air.
"Foolish human, why are you so ignorant," Kaguya turned to face him, raising her snow-white arm. Amid threads of shimmering light, a glowing cyan blade materialized in her palm. "Since you're in such a hurry to be reincarnated, I'll help you along—to reunite you with that fat corpse in the underworld."
As she spoke, Kaguya gripped the sword hilt and her figure moved like a dancing dragon, trailing afterimages. In the blink of an eye, she appeared right before the bald Elder!
So fast!
His pupils shrank. Her movement was ghostly—if not for his Observation Haki, he might not have even noticed her approach!
Reacting instinctively, he swung his blade—its sharp edge slicing forward as a fierce slash cut through the air.
"Cross Blade Sever!"
"Struggling only deepens your pain," Kaguya sneered. "Now, it's time for you to depart."
With a casual swing, she shattered his sword light. Then, closing in with one step, she thrust her blade straight at his heart!
A cold flash—and then—
Pfft—!
A splash of crimson blood burst outward!
The icy blade pierced through his chest and emerged from his back. Blood instantly soaked his white robes. The bald Elder's eyes widened, his mouth opening as he coughed up blood.
He reached up to grab Kaguya's sword, bloodshot eyes glaring as he struggled to speak.
"You… you…"
But Kaguya frowned, raised her leg, and delivered a powerful kick to his stomach—Bang!—launching him like a broken ragdoll.
Boom! He crashed heavily to the ground, convulsed a few times, and died.
Kaguya walked up to his body and said, "He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. Why couldn't you understand that?"
She pulled her sword from his corpse, a line of crimson trailing with it.
"Outrageous!"
A thunderous roar exploded across the battlefield, kicking up a storm of sand and dust.
Several figures leapt from behind Kaguya, fists raised high and shrouded in jet-black Armament Haki, charging at her with the speed of lightning!
"A wise man knows his limits. But charging in after learning your enemy's true strength isn't bravery—that's called..."
Kaguya turned, her lips parted.
"Stupidity."
"Mirror Flower, Water Moon!"
As soon as the words left her lips, an invisible force blanketed the space. With a thunderous rumble, countless towering trees burst from the ground. In mere moments, a dense forest had formed—lush canopies, tangled vines, and thick roots spreading as far as the eye could see.
Before the Five Elders could charge forward, their path was blocked by layers of intertwined vines.
Boom—!
A deafening crash echoed as the Five Elders punched the vines with all their might!
Woodchips flew and leaves scattered!
But to their shock, the seemingly ordinary vines were as hard as iron. Even with their immense power, they only managed to snap a small section. Normally, they could crush steel with a single blow!
"What... is this?"
The three remaining Elders halted in confusion, glancing around warily. The forest was even denser and more overwhelming than what the Great Tree had previously created. An ominous premonition began creeping into their hearts.
"Cut the tricks!" the flat-hat-wearing Elder shouted, clenching his fists.
Kaguya stepped forward gracefully, looking at the sweat-covered Elders with mockery. "Utter stupidity. What is this—senile dementia?"
The Five Elders glared at the silver-haired girl in the distance. Though rage over their brothers' deaths still clouded their minds, a growing sense of unease gnawed at them.
Kaguya stood tall, her gaze aloof and mocking. "Haven't you realized yet? The space you're in… has never changed."
The Elders' pupils shrank!
They had felt something was off, but Kaguya's words struck them like a bolt of lightning. They hadn't escaped this eerie realm at all!
From the very beginning, they had been under her complete control?
Seeing Kaguya's cold smile from afar, cold sweat poured down their backs. Regret suddenly overwhelmed them. They shouldn't have acted so rashly. Had they investigated her more thoroughly, they might not be in such a dire position.
"Struggling is pointless. Your death is certain. Instead of wasting effort trying to escape, you'd best think about your last words."
As soon as she finished speaking, Kaguya's liquid-clear eyes sharpened. Gripping her blade, she stepped forward—and in a flash of light, she rocketed through the air like lightning, charging straight at the Five Elders!
Boom—!
With a heavy thud, a figure crashed to the ground. His body twisted unnaturally, lifeless. His mouth hung open, and on his face remained an expression of terror. His bloodshot eyes were wide—he had died with his eyes open.
"Humans are truly fragile. So fragile, in fact, that they're boring to kill. Dying this easily... how dull."
Kaguya held her blade, Liuli, and walked step by step toward the remaining two. Under the moonlight, the sword shimmered with a sinister glow, crimson blood dripping from its edge.
The two remaining Elders stood pale-faced, their bodies covered in wounds, white robes stained with blotches of blood—gruesome to behold.
Once lofty rulers of the world, stripped of their power, they were now no different from ordinary old men. They could feel fear, panic—and they looked it. In Kaguya's eyes, they were just slightly more agile geriatrics.
But all humans die, eventually.
Survival of the fittest—when they once wielded power and preyed on others, did they ever consider that one day they too would fall so low?
The two remaining Elders exchanged a glance, and without a word, turned and fled in opposite directions, transforming into streaks of light!
When there were five of them, they couldn't defeat Kaguya. Now only two remained—they had no chance. Their only thought now was escape.
Avenge their fallen? Die with honor?
Forget it.
The longer one lives, the more one cherishes life. Why give up their lofty power and their lives for something as pointless as revenge?
That kind of reckless sacrifice was for idealistic fools.
For them, nothing was more precious than survival.
"Now you want to run? Don't you think it's a bit late for that?"
A cold and familiar voice suddenly rang out behind them. The two Elders spun around in shock, pupils contracting!
Two cold flashes shot toward them like lightning. They tried to dodge—but it was too late!
The twin lights flashed—and vanished!
"Ahhh—!"
The two Elders screamed as they plummeted from the sky like falling dumplings. Bang! They hit the ground hard!
"Wh-What is this?!"
Embedded in their chests were eerie bone spikes, stabbing deep into their hearts. From the wound outward, their bodies began to fall apart, disintegrating bit by bit into dust.
This was the deadly All-Killing Ash Bones!
The flat-hat Elder looked down in horror at the bone protruding from his chest. For once, his face showed true fear. He reached up to grab it, but his strength was fading rapidly. A simple motion—lifting his arm—felt as heavy as lifting a mountain.
Kaguya approached, staring at them coldly. "Apologies, but it's time for you to die."
"No... don't kill me..." the Elder begged, terror filling his eyes.
Those who once held power—once stripped of it—faced with death, were often the most pathetic.
"How ugly," Kaguya said in disgust. "If you'd resisted until the end, I might've respected you."
She turned away, walking into the distance without a second glance. "Before you die, you should think about your last words."
"W-Wait… help… help me…"
Before he could finish, red light engulfed his throat. His skin cracked like parched earth—
And with a final crack, he shattered into pieces and was gone…
And so, the Five Elders—once the most powerful figures in the world, rulers for centuries, the very symbol of the World Government—died in disgrace.
Perhaps they died with unwillingness in their hearts. But what they didn't know was that their fate had been sealed from the very beginning…
...
News of the Five Elders' demise spread rapidly. Though the World Government tried desperately to deny it, no wall can block every wind. The truth still set off a global shockwave.
The Five Elders… dead?
People were incredulous. The Five Elders were the embodiment of the World Government's authority. Even the Navy Headquarters had to obey their orders. Even the so-called Celestial Dragons didn't dare act out in front of them. And yet—these figures who had stood at the pinnacle of power were gone?
Those who knew the deeper truth, like Dragon, were stunned.
As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon understood better than anyone the immense power the World Government held. And the Five Elders—at the heart of that power—possessed terrifying strength. This was one reason why, despite his efforts across nations in the Grand Line, he had never dared to make a move on Mary Geoise itself.
Even Gol D. Roger, the former Pirate King, had been unable to shake the foundation of the World Government. Instead, he had used the legend of "One Piece" to lure pirates into action, hoping they might eventually bring change.
But now, this unbelievable event hadn't even finished shaking the world before something even more shocking followed: Kaguya—the once-wanted fugitive of the World Government—had formally declared the establishment of a New World Government.
And more incredibly, she was backed by the top brass of the Navy Headquarters.
Thus, a new era in the Grand Line had officially begun!
The newly constructed royal palace in Mary Geoise was magnificent in design and grand in scale. Inside, it was even more extravagant—plush wool carpets, famous murals, gilded furniture, brilliant crystal chandeliers—luxury radiated from every detail. Being there was truly mesmerizing.
In a certain palace chamber, faint sounds drifted through the air—melodious and alluring, though seemingly restrained. At times they were soft and languid, other times quick and urgent. The curtain swayed like rippling water under the moonlight, casting the shadows of slender figures just barely visible beyond.
Finally, after a lingering moan like the breath of a flute, silence fell once more.
The room returned to calm. Only the faint sound of breathing lingered, echoing softly in the quiet night.
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