The actions of the Five Elders stunned the entire battlefield. None had time to react before their attacks descended.
In Momousagi's arms, Good had been unconscious, drained from the war. But his Observation Haki, now evolved to the level of reading hearts, jolted him awake. His eyes snapped open.
What he saw first was Momousagi's face—her confusion, her anger, her helplessness.
Good didn't need to look at the incoming strikes. His heart-reading haki told him all he needed: the Five Elders' killing intent, raw and undisguised.
And so, with no thoughts of betrayal or grief, one instinct filled him:
"They want to kill me… then they are enemies."
Even at the brink of collapse, his god-level battle instincts moved his body. He tried to transform into his Dragon-Man form, tried to cover his body in Armament Haki—but only half his scales appeared before fading, his haki weak and gray.
There was no time. His body, driven only by instinct, turned to take the attacks in the least fatal way.
"BOOM!"
The combined strike of the Five Elders blasted him through the CP agents surrounding him, crushing them into the ground as he crashed.
Good's right side was gone—obliterated from shoulder to waist. Blood poured out, his immortal flames flickering like a dying candle. His body strained to heal, but the regeneration was pitifully slow.
The battlefield erupted.
"Admiral Reckless Maniac!?"
"Why!?"
"Why would they do this!?"
Marines shouted, voices breaking, but no one dared step forward. These were the rulers of the world—the kings behind the throne of the Celestial Dragons. Their authority had stood unbroken for 800 years.
Sengoku trembled, teeth clenched, but remained still.
Garp's eyes widened in rage.
The Admirals stayed silent.
In the shadows, Blackbeard's crew broke into mad laughter.
"Magnificent! Kill him! Kill the Reckless Maniac!" Blackbeard howled.
In the skies, retreating pirates froze to watch. Kaido laughed loudest.
"Hahahaha!! Reckless Maniac, so even you can fall! Hah!"
He didn't care why the Elders struck him. To Kaido, it erased his humiliation.
Dragon, Whitebeard, Shanks, Rayleigh—all of them stood in silence. To them, Good was a hero, a warrior who had shaken the world. If this was his last stand, then they would bear witness.
Ben Beckman exhaled a plume of smoke.
"Perhaps this is the price of surpassing the master…功高盖主."
Good staggered to his feet, half his body missing, flames sputtering—but still standing. The Five Elders exchanged surprised glances.
"His life force is monstrous," the third Elder sneered.
"Then we finish it here," the fifth growled.
They prepared to strike again—this time aiming at Momousagi as well.
But before they could, she stepped forward, blade trembling in her grip, blocking their path. Her body was battered, her eyes shimmering, but her gaze was resolute.
"Why? Why would you attack your own? Admiral Good turned the tide of this war—without him, everything would have been lost!"
Her voice shook, but her resolve did not.
The Elders frowned.
"I remember you. Momousagi, the vice admiral touted as a future admiral."
"Step aside," the eldest commanded coldly. "Do that, and we'll forget this ever happened. Defy us, and you die with him."
Momousagi raised her sword higher, pointing it straight at them.
The Five Elders' expressions darkened. No more words. Their attacks came again—this time targeting both her and Good.
In the crowd, Tsuru's eyes blazed with fury. She nearly moved, but Sengoku held her back.
Nearby, Tokikake gripped his sword hilt, lips pressed tight—but he did not draw.
And so, the clash was set: the rulers of the world against the reckless admiral and the woman who dared to stand with him.
(End of Chapter)
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