Chapter 298: Standoff
Amidst the ferocious tide of demons, two powerful auras suddenly erupted. Flashes of black-red lightning and a sudden shockwave sent the demon-transformed prisoners flying.
Kong backhanded a demon away, his gaze falling on the figures now standing tall amidst the crackling Haki. His expression darkened. "They've recovered to their peak? This... Now it'll be difficult to hold them here."
In the center of the ruins, Bullet and the Red Count looked down at their hands, feeling the power surging through them.
"This long-lost strength... it's back already?" A rare flash of joy crossed Bullet's face, twisting into a ferocious grin. He had been locked in Impel Down for so long... his body had deteriorated. He'd thought it would take months to recover, but it had happened in an instant. This had just saved his life.
Beside him, the Red Count, leaning on his umbrella, let out a wicked smile. His Haki flared, his tattered prison uniform whipping around him. "I never thought I'd feel this level of power again at my age."
Unlike Bullet, the Red Count was old. His body was in a far worse state. But now, he felt like he was in his prime.
The golden chains of light faded. The demon horde closed in again, their eyes still filled with malice. But for the two legends, now back at their peak, the entire battle had changed. These monsters were no longer a threat.
At the edge of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders spotted the light and instantly changed direction.
"That's his fruit! The dead remnant's!" the Sandwyrm (Ju Peter) hissed, slithering over the rubble.
The Gyuki (Saturn) kept pace, its eight legs a blur. "The rumored Paramecia Life-Life Fruit. No one else has healing power of this magnitude!"
"ROAR!" A three-headed Hellhound burst from the ruins, wreathed in flames. On its back, Shamrock's face was a mask of cold fury. "Archangel—LOUIS! I've come to kill you!!"
The light chains at the center of the other demon horde—the one surrounding Crocodile's group—also exploded with light. A shockwave blasted the demons back. When the dust settled, Crocodile, Teach, and Shiliew stood wreathed in the golden glow, their power fully restored. But their faces were pale, sweaty, and etched with pure, unadulterated unwillingness.
As the demons charged again, the three legends tore through them like paper. Their movements were powerful and fluid, but their faces were grim and reluctant.
High above, Itsumade (Marcus Mars) saw this and sneered. "So, they're being forcibly controlled too? How pathetic. The weak can never decide their own fate. That includes you!" he thought, winging toward the source of all the light chains. "You may be the strongest we've ever faced, but before Him, you are just another ant!"
He burst through the clouds, spotted a figure on a small cloud, and unleashed a torrent of fire.
The figure on the cloud simply raised a hand. A mass of mochi shot out, forming a massive, Haki-coated shield that blocked the flames.
"!!" Itsumade's eyes widened. "The Mochi-Mochi Fruit?! You're Katakuri!"
As the flames dissipated, Katakuri stood, holding his trident, Mogura, staring silently.
Itsumade looked past him at the source of the light, which looked like a miniature sun. "Just a construct? Where is that dead remnant?!" He scanned the skies, but found nothing.
He turned back to Katakuri. "Charlotte Katakuri. Where is Louis?"
Katakuri sneered, coating his trident in black-red lightning. "Meaningless."
Enraged, Itsumade dove at Katakuri, his own talons crackling with Haki.
Suddenly, a wave of lethal danger washed over him. He froze mid-air, his feathers standing on end.
The miniature sun dimmed, revealing a golden figure standing within it, over five meters tall, with snow-white wings. The golden chains of life extended from his back, trailing down into the clouds below.
"So... it wasn't a construct."
Itsumade shook off his terror and shot toward Louis, creating a sonic boom.
Louis, looking down, simply raised one hand.
A blinding golden light flooded the sky. Particles of light streamed upward, coalescing into several golden spears.
"!!!"
The unprecedented sense of death froze Itsumade in the air. Before he could even flap his wings, the lances were upon him, impaling him.
"PUU—!"
Scarlet blood rained from the sky. A piercing, psychic shriek of agony echoed in the minds of Imu, the other Elders, Shamrock, and Junko.
"MARCUS!!"
The other Elders changed forms and leaped toward the sky. Shamrock had his Hellhound launch him, the beast transforming mid-air into a blade that slapped into his hand.
In Mary Geoise, Imu, standing atop the surviving Pangea Castle, watched the sky glow golden. Its blood-red, ringed eyes narrowed. "This world has no need for another being with such power." Imu's slender body erupted in a physical, black aura. Demonic wings sprouted, and a giant trident appeared in his hand.
"Hoo!"
Itsumade's colossal body fell from the sky, crashing into the ascending Elders and slamming them all back down onto the ruined Holy Land.
"BOOM!" The impact shook the Red Line, sending up a new cloud of dust.
A golden light descended. Shamrock, sensing the presence he loathed, shot forward to attack.
A tall figure intercepted him. A Haki-infused trident blocked his rapier.
BOOM! The clash of Conqueror's Haki blasted the dust and clouds away, letting the sun shine on the battlefield.
Shamrock's red hair flew back, revealing his face twisted with cold rage. "Charlotte Katakuri!! You dare show your face to me!"
Katakuri's killing intent was no less fierce. "After that day, I trained, gaining strength for the sole purpose of finding you. Today, Louis has given me that chance. Watch... and experience the power I've earned."
Shamrock watched as the golden figure (Louis) descended past him, but he was powerless to stop him. Katakuri was stronger, almost on par with Charlotte Linlin. No... his danger was even greater.
"You're old! This level of growth is... unnatural!" Shamrock snarled, parrying a blow.
"Loss makes one grow," Katakuri replied, lunging again, his trident a blur of Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
The golden figure hovered a hundred meters above the Holy Land, his snow-white wings spread wide.
Far below, the massive form of Itsumade was crucified to the Red Line. Three golden spears—through his head, chest, and stomach—pinned him to the rock. Golden particles streamed from his body, his life force visibly draining away.
The pain of being pinned and drained alive ripped an unearthly, suppressed wail from Marcus Mars, echoing through the ruins.
Louis looked up, his gaze traveling thousands of meters, locking with the demonic figure atop Pangea Castle.
Imu, watching Marcus's state, was displeased. But needing the forces, Imu raised the mysterious book. Black flames erupted, enveloping Marcus and consuming the golden spears. In an instant, Marcus was fully restored.
He stood, and the other four Elders, also in their beast forms, moved to surround Louis.
"Itsumade, Gyuki, Sandwyrm, Bakotsu, and Hōki..." Louis mused, his eyes scanning the monsters.