"There's no need to waste any more useless breath."
Saint Saturn stared coldly at Shirogai, his voice calm yet venomous. "Since you can stand against the Navy's Three Admirals at the same time, you have already surpassed the level of insects. Although you refused our invitation earlier, We have decided to give you one more chance."
"Shameless as always."
Shirogai smirked, glancing lazily at the Gorosei. "What's wrong? Realize that without me joining you to make a lineup of Six Elders, you'll get crushed?"
Saturn ignored his mockery. "We will gamble with Nico Robin, who is currently in our hands. If you win, We will cease our pursuit of her. If you lose…"
"If I lose, I become your dog? Gorosei, truly impressive. You actually have the face to propose something that stupid."
Shirogai leaned back on the candle chair he shaped earlier, eyes half-lidded with amusement. "Tell me, do you really think Robin is in CP-0's hands because they're competent? You think it wasn't because I allowed it?"
His tone sharpened into cold disdain.
"If you lose, you lose nothing. But if I win, I have to sell myself. Brilliant scheme. You're really used to treating other people's lives as your gambling chips, aren't you?"
"Then tell Us. What do you want?"
Saturn's tone subtly shifted. He could tell Shirogai was interested in wagering, just not under those conditions.
"What I want, I'll take myself, not accept as some divine charity."
Shirogai crossed one leg over the other, perfectly relaxed. "I'm a pirate, I plunder for a living. Unlike certain parasites who drain the world dry, call themselves nobles, and still shamelessly act like everyone else is beneath them."
Saturn tapped his cane against the ground, his voice dripping arrogance. "Those who have never stood at the top cannot see the truth of this world. This world has always been controlled by a select elite. Ordinary humans are like insects. Meaningless. You crush them, more appear. They hold no value. If their worthless lives can improve the world, why shouldn't they be used?"
Shirogai's smile shifted—calm, dangerous.
"This world belongs to humans of every race. Since you no longer consider yourselves human, then naturally, there is no place left for you."
His right arm shifted, transforming into a massive axe shimmering with Armament Haki. Without hesitation, he swung downward.
Crack!
The street tore open from the force.
"This is the last warning. Unless I allow it, do not appear before me again. Otherwise, there will be no Gorosei left in this world."
Saturn stared silently at the axe, watching Haki flames get split effortlessly.
"Leave."
Shirogai dissolved the axe, stood, brushed dust from his coat, and began walking away. "Tell your master this world is no longer a toy. Everything it fears will return. Let it wait for death."
A slow grin curled on his lips.
"Imu."
Saturn froze. His eyes widened. A monstrous surge of Haki erupted from him, shaking the entire Water 7.
"BASTARD! How dare a mere commoner speak that name!!!"
In a flash, Saturn exploded into his full beast form—an ox-demon hybrid with spider limbs—and launched into the sky, Haki boiling violently around him.
"You will die for this! Blasphemer!!!"
Shirogai didn't even turn fully around. His smile deepened, genuinely amused.
"Knew it. You dogs can't handle your master being… dirtied."
Saturn's killing blow descended.
"God King Sword, come."
Shirogai reached out.
A rift opened.
"Lord, We are here!"
The spiritual Homies merge instantly into the God King Sword.
A massive blade materialized, its core a deep earth-yellow, its body blazing with flame, encased by a shell of frozen crystal.
"God King Sword, World-Destroying Slash."
Shirogai swung casually.
Then he placed the sword on his shoulder and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
"Gorosei… truly weak. Pathetically weak."
Above him, Saturn floated, unmoving.
Crack.
His spider body split cleanly in two.
"Damn… you…"
Half his form disintegrated into black mist. The remaining half dropped into a re-emerging magic circle and vanished.
…
Holy Land, Mary Geoise
The three Gorosei in suits stood before the half-ruined Saturn as the magic circle dumped him onto the floor.
"What a clean cut."
Nusjuro crouched to examine the trace of sword aura, admiring the precision.
"Shirogai!!!"
Saturn returned to human form, writhing as his missing half grew back under dark flame energy. Within seconds, he was whole again. Rising, he snarled, "Have CP-0 summon me again. All of you prepare. That pirate is too dangerous. He must be erased!"
"Wait, Saturn."
Warcury narrowed his eyes. "That flame behind you… what is it?"
"Hm?"
Saturn finally noticed the thin black flames still clinging to him.
"Hmph. Trivial."
He cloaked his body in Armament Haki.
The flames vanished.
When he lowered the Haki…
They reignited instantly.
All the Gorosei paused.
"A flame that keeps burning?"
Saturn stared at it, thoughtful, then turned away. "I will go to the lab. If this flame truly burns without end, perhaps it can merge with the Holy Mother Flame. A new eternal energy source may be possible."
None of them spoke. It was clear:
The decision on how to handle Shirogai would not be theirs.
Only that being could decide.
…
Holy Land, Mary Geoise — Pangea Castle
In the deepest flower room, a tall silhouette stood calmly beneath the moon.
Softly, it whispered:
"Shirogai Yamikuro…"
_____
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