At that moment, when Bins and Redfield saw Rosinante surrounded by the four Admirals, both of them were shocked and immediately moved to help.
But just then, several CP0 agents and Sengoku stepped in to block them.
"Red the Aloof, Redfield. I never expected you to escape from Impel Down too... and to be standing together with Rosinante. So, have you thrown your lot in with him? Looks like we'll just have to lock you up again," Sengoku said.
"Sengoku, I won our last battle," Redfield replied coldly.
"You only won because you happened to collapse a little later than I did," Sengoku shot back.
"A win is a win," Redfield said flatly. "Winning is winning."
"Hmph!" Sengoku let out a cold snort.
That battle had always been regarded by Sengoku as one of the greatest humiliations of his life.
And today, he had decided, would be the day he erased that disgrace.
On the other side, Bins was also surrounded by several CP0 agents.
These CP0 operatives were all formidable, each possessing strength close to Admiral level, and every one of them had unique Devil Fruit abilities, making it impossible for Bins to break through and support Rosinante.
"Waaah, so scary, so scary indeed. Four Admirals at once, and with Sengoku and Garp backing them up from behind... this lineup is even stronger than it was ten years ago," Rosinante said.
The strength of Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru had all grown enormously over the past ten years. They had already stepped into the realm of peak Admirals.
Purple Steed was a little weaker than them, but he could amplify the fighting spirit of others.
And with Sengoku, Garp, Fujitora, Momousagi, and the others standing behind them, the formation before him was indeed even more terrifying than the one from ten years ago.
"Well now... against someone like you, Dragon King, we wouldn't dare be careless. This time, we've already made up our minds to leave you here for good," Kuzan said.
"There's no need to care about fairness when dealing with a sinner like you," Sakazuki said coldly.
"Rosinante, today this place will be your grave!" Purple Steed said bitterly.
Rosinante's earlier attack had devastated over a hundred thousand of his army troops.
Purple Steed hated him so much he wished he could skin him alive.
"Looks like you really think you've got me cornered," Rosinante said with a faint smile.
"What exactly gave you the illusion that your strength is enough to defeat me? What made you think you ever had even the slightest hope of winning against me?" Rosinante said coldly as he stepped forward.
The moment he took that step, an unmatched, tyrannical presence burst outward in all directions.
His overwhelming Conqueror's Haki shook the air itself.
The atmosphere trembled.
It boiled.
It was as if Rosinante were the true ruler of this world.
As if he alone were the monarch who decided all things.
As if he were the one and only king standing above all others.
"What overwhelming Conqueror's Haki..." Sengoku said, his face growing grave.
"As expected... he has the potential for that," Garp said with equal seriousness.
Hearing Garp's words, Fujitora showed a trace of confusion.
Potential?
Potential for what?
"Sovereign Domain?" Sengoku spoke the answer aloud.
The moment he heard that, Fujitora's face changed in shock.
Sovereign Domain was a legendary state said to exist only when Conqueror's Haki reached a mythical level.
According to rumor, it was a kind of domain that could command all things.
But Sovereign Domain had only ever existed in legends.
Even Fujitora had never heard of anyone truly possessing such a power.
Perhaps the Pirate King himself had wielded it.
And yet now, Garp was saying that Rosinante possessed the potential to reach that level.
"He's still a little short, but Rosinante's current Conqueror's Haki is already very close to the level Roger had before advancing into Sovereign Domain. At this point, Rosinante is likely only one step away from it," Garp said.
"Then all the more reason he cannot be allowed to live," Sengoku said darkly after hearing Garp's words.
Fujitora was shaken as well.
From Garp's words, he had finally confirmed it:
The Pirate King, Roger, really had possessed Sovereign Domain.
And the next king capable of reaching that level...
might very well be Rosinante.
"If that's the case, then even I can't hold back. Otherwise, Dragon King Rosinante may truly bring about an even greater upheaval," Fujitora said.
Both Sengoku and Garp looked a little surprised at that.
Ever since Fujitora had joined the Marines, he had been extremely proactive in hunting down pirates and even corrupt Marines who committed evil.
But toward pirates who had not harmed civilians, he often turned a blind eye.
And given Fujitora's age, he should know that Rosinante was not the type of pirate who preyed on ordinary people.
"Because if a great upheaval begins, the ones who suffer in the end are still the common people," Fujitora said as he stepped forward.
"That's true. We can't allow this man to go unchecked. If we do, a world-scale war is entirely possible," Sengoku said solemnly.
"In that case, let's all go all out together. That guy isn't someone half-hearted attacks can deal with," Garp said.
As he spoke, Sengoku, Garp, and the others all stepped forward as well, completely surrounding Rosinante.
"What a luxurious lineup. If that's the case... then I'll have to get serious too," Rosinante said as he looked at the crowd encircling him.
Then Rosinante slowly spoke, each word heavy and deliberate:
"Eight... Gates... Release...!"