"Ho… Ho…"
On the devastated island, billowing smoke and dust filled the air.
Three ragged figures were sent flying in a backward arc.
In his half-human, half-beast form, Steel Bone Kong had blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
He gazed grimly ahead at Thunder Calamity Oka, Ant King Quinn, and a now two- or three-meter-tall but terrifyingly imposing Little Oars—all rushing toward him at once.
Clenching his fists tightly, his expression was full of anger and frustration.
One on one, he feared no one present and was confident he could crush any of them.
But facing three monstrous foes joined together, even he, the Navy's Fleet Admiral,
had no chance to turn the tables.
"Damn traitors…"
Saint Garling, also bleeding at the mouth and in a wretched state, had transformed into a form with a human upper body and a goat's lower half.
His eyes shone with murderous intent as he glared coldly at Kaido, and the others—who all watched him like tigers eyeing their prey.
More unfortunate still was the Deputy Commander of the Holy Knights, Saint Ronnie, who had only just barely stepped into "monster-level" strength. He was being singled out by not one but two great swordmasters, Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Shimotsuki Kouzaburou.
Covered in blood, staggering, with multiple ghastly gashes all over his body, he was gravely injured.
"Stop struggling—you can't escape. If you surrender obediently, maybe you'll suffer less."
Thunder Calamity Oka stared coldly at Steel Bone Kong, Saint Garling, and the others.
"That's not certain!"
"The outcome is still undecided!"
"You think that teleporting us here by that traitor Kaido means we can't call for backup?"
Steel Bone Kong, Saint Garling, and Saint Ronnie had no intention of yielding.
Their eyes blazed with fury as they glared hatefully at Kaido, replying through gritted teeth.
"Crack—!"
In the very next moment—without warning—
a pitch-black bolt of lightning dropped from the sky, striking the hillside behind them.
"Ho… Ho…"
Rubble flew in all directions.
The hillside exploded, revealing a massive magic circle.
Threads of black flame coiled around it, and several figures with astonishing auras stepped directly out of the circle.
"Roar—Roar—!"
Amid earth-shaking roars,
Gyuki, Fengxi, Bakotsu, Sand Worm, Itsumade…
One after another, colossal creatures emerged, radiating fierce intent.
They were the Five Elders.
"Traitors of Totto Land—"
"You go too far!!"
"You really think victory is already yours?!"
Seething with killing intent, the Five Elders glared viciously at Kaido, and the others.
"Heh-heh… now these are some pretty big players showing up…"
"Too bad—it's already over. We've won."
Upon seeing the Five Elders appear, Thunder Calamity Oka, Wind Calamity Irene, Fire Calamity Afar, and the others showed no concern or surprise. Instead, mocking smiles spread across their faces.
"Have Fallen Angel El and Charlotte Linlin come out!" ordered Saint Mars, who had transformed into Itsumade, hovering in midair. His tone was chilling.
Though Fallen Angel El's strength was unfathomably great and he seemed immortal, so were they, and thus the Five Elders felt no fear in calling for him.
"This occasion didn't include you as guests!" Fire Calamity Afar stepped forward.
Facing the Five Elders, he sneered, "Showing up uninvited, huh? That's not very polite."
"Muhuhuhuh~ El-sama said that if you were going to come all this way yourselves, you might as well go straight back to the Holy Land of Mariejois, wash up, and wait for what's coming…"
A tall, striking figure hefting a gleaming crimson scythe let out a weird laugh.
Even after all these years, Wind Calamity Irene was every bit as youthful and beautiful as ever, unchanged by time.
"How arrogant—!"
In Gyuki form, Saint Saturn's fierce eyes widened.
"Swoosh… Swoosh…" Instantly, he spat out poison bullets at Thunder, Fire Calamity, Wind, and the rest.
But all of them were monsters in human form, powerful beyond belief.
Even Kaido, after years of training and guidance from El, had become terrifyingly strong.
None were affected; all dodged immediately.
"Ho… Ho…"
Those unremarkable poison pellets
detonated with violent force in the blink of an eye.
Transformed into the monstrous bird Itsumade, Saint Mars wasted no time—his talons flashed, grabbing Steel Bone Kong, Saint Garling, and Saint Ronnie,
intending to fly off into the distance.
Meanwhile, those transformed into Bakotsu, Fengxi, and an enormous Sand Worm—namely Saint Nasujuro, Saint Valkyrie, and Saint Ju Peter—charged forward.
Murderous intent flared as they positioned themselves to block pursuit.
"Hey hey, they're our special guests—what's the hurry to get them out of here?" Fire Calamity taunted them with a sneer.
In the anxious, suspicious gazes of Bakotsu and the others, he continued calmly, "This is the gift El-sama prepared for you. Don't say we never gave you a proper welcome!"
He pulled out what looked like an ordinary scroll from his pocket.
Boldly printed on it was a single character: "封" ("Seal").
"What is that?"
"A scroll?"
"Not good—!"
In that instant,
Saint Mars, Steel Bone Kong, Saint Nasujuro, Saint Valkyrie, and the others felt their hair stand on end.
A powerful sense of danger washed over them.
They tried to rush in and stop him, but it was already too late.
"Rip!"
In the next moment, Fire Calamity's eyes flashed sharply as he tore the scroll apart.
"Boom—Boom—!"
With brilliant light bursting forth, an incomparable surge of Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku Haki) erupted, roaring outward in an overwhelming shockwave that slammed into the horrified Five Elders and Steel Bone Kong's group.
It swept over them in a massive flood.
There was no time to dodge.
"Rumble…!"
Thunderous noise filled the air.
The sea frothed, waves soared to the sky.
In an instant, the island ahead was leveled flat.
Black-and-red lightning arced chaotically, enveloping the entire island.
High above, raging gusts tore the heavens in two, creating a scene of utter shock and awe.
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
The Five Elders' faces twisted, their voices filled with agony.
One after another, they were forced out of their transformed states, back to human form—
and vanished from sight.
"Ho… Ho…"