The Five Elders fixed their stern gazes on the Seraphim standing before them.
Seven bore the youthful appearances of the Seven Warlords.
And among them—even the forms of the Three Admirals had been replicated.
Their skin was a stony gray, with black wings entwined with flames. Clearly, the genetic factors of the Lunarian clan had been utilized.
Not bad. Not bad at all. The Five Elders gave a subtle nod of approval.
But appearance alone meant nothing.
The long-haired elder with the white mane spoke with authority.
"Looks can only take them so far. What about their combat power, Sengoku?"
At these words, Sengoku's lips curled faintly upward. He held back from answering directly.
Just wait. Once I unveil the Seraphim's true power, let's see if you old men don't drop your jaws in shock.
And when that happens, my funding will be secured as well!
He led the Five Elders out to the training grounds beside the villa.
At Sengoku's signal, the Seraphim began their demonstration.
First came their laser beams, identical to those of the Pacifista. The Five Elders remained impassive.
Then came their raw strength and overwhelming speed.
At Sengoku's command, all ten Seraphim sprang into motion.
The sound of their footsteps striking the air echoed—tap, tap, tap.
In an instant, they had converged near a towering artificial mountain.
Lifting their fingers, each one pointed toward the colossal rock.
The next moment—ten compressed shockwaves blasted forth!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The devastating force struck the mountain head-on. The once-impenetrable stone collapsed instantly, crumbling into dust. Not even rubble remained—every fragment had been obliterated into fine powder.
Witnessing such destructive might, the Five Elders let out low, startled hums.
What?
Those artificial mountains had been crafted from the most durable stone money could buy, sourced from across the world at great expense.
And yet, in a single breath, ten small figures had reduced it to dust.
This destructive capability had already surpassed the level of a Vice Admiral—far stronger than the Pacifista.
"Such strength… not bad."
"And they've mastered the Navy's Rokushiki as well. Excellent!" The elder in the white kimono could not help but praise them.
And this is only the beginning… wait until you see what else they can do. Won't you be in for a shock! Sengoku's heart swelled with delight.
At his order, the Seraphim turned their powers inward. They struck one another, leaving cuts and wounds across their bodies.
And then—in a single second—every injury closed, every trace of damage vanished without a scar.
"Impossible!"
"These are machines… and yet they bleed like humans?"
"And their regeneration… it's as if they've consumed Zoan-type Devil Fruits!"
The Five Elders' eyes widened, their expressions shaken with disbelief.
It was hard to accept that these powerful war machines were the creation of a mere child.
But the evidence stood before them—they had no choice but to believe.
"Incredible… this is unlike anything I've ever seen. They truly are superior to Vegapunk's Pacifista," the blond elder muttered, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"Indeed. The Pacifista's greatest flaw has always been its difficulty in self-repair. But these Seraphim—formidable in strength and capable of regenerating—have overcome that technological hurdle. Remarkable!" the heavyset elder with the curly white hair and facial scar nodded in satisfaction.
The other Elders shared looks of approval, their faces brightening. Sengoku's funding seemed all but guaranteed.
"And that's not all. These are just their basic functions," Sengoku added with a smile. "In truth, their combat ability reaches the level of the Seven Warlords."
He had deliberately held this card close to his chest. When he first pitched the project to the Elders, he promised only that his machines would surpass the Pacifista. He had never revealed that they could reach Warlord-level power.
The words caught the Five Elders off guard.
For a moment, silence hung over them. Then they rose from their seats in unison, their composure cracking.
Surpassing the Pacifista was already shocking enough
But to reach the level of the Seven Warlords?!
Sengoku had not promised them this before.
And they knew all too well what that meant.
If the Seraphim truly possessed Warlord-level strength, the balance of the seas—the triad of the Navy, the Four Emperors, and the Seven Warlords—would be utterly overturned.
The entire world order could change.
They had to make sure they hadn't misheard.
"Did you just say… Warlord-level combat power? Are you certain of this?" the Elders asked suspiciously, needing confirmation.
Sengoku smiled calmly.
"Of course. I will stake my position as Fleet Admiral on it—my words are absolute."
With his assurance, the Elders trembled in unison, joy flickering across their usually stone-like faces.
"Then tell us—what else can they do? Show us more!" Their eyes shone with barely restrained anticipation.
If Sengoku spoke true, then the Celestial Dragons would enjoy unparalleled protection. With such an invention, rebellion itself could be stamped out forever.
Smoothing his uniform, Sengoku chuckled softly before continuing.
"They have also mastered both forms of Haki, as well as the Devil Fruit powers once wielded by the original Seven Warlords."
"WHAT?!"
Two-color Haki—and Devil Fruit powers as well?
The Five Elders' eyes flew wide, shock painted across their faces.
Machines, cold and lifeless, possessing Haki and Devil Fruits?
That meant they weren't just imitations of the Warlords—they were Warlords, but perfectly obedient. Unlike the originals, who could betray or refuse orders, these machines would follow command without question. To the Navy, they were far more valuable than the Seven Warlords ever had been.
But how could this be…?
It bordered on the fantastical.
Watching the Elders reel in disbelief, Sengoku chuckled inwardly. A bunch of old men who've never seen the world. Have you forgotten? When I first witnessed the Seraphim's abilities, my own jaw nearly hit the floor. My face must have looked even more ridiculous than yours right now…
"This, I have already verified personally," Sengoku declared. "Seraphim—demonstrate your Armament Haki!"
In the next moment, all ten raised their arms, jet-black armor spreading across their limbs. The Five Elders recognized it instantly: Armament Haki.
And not at a low level—their control was refined, their strength evident.
Then, in pairs, they clashed with one another, each blow reverberating with advanced Haki techniques.
The training ground rang with the crackle of Ryuo, flowing like streams of invisible power.
Even the Five Elders—men who stood at the very summit of authority—could only gape in awe, their mouths hanging open.
Two-color Haki. The Seraphim truly wielded it.
And their mastery… it was unmistakably on par with the Seven Warlords.
Sengoku's smile widened as he pressed on.
"Seraphim—show them your Devil Fruit powers!"
In an instant, the battlefield lit up.
One conjured searing magma.
Another blazed with dazzling light.
Another unleashed icy cold.
Another spun threads sharp as blades.
Another exuded petrifying power…
The Five Elders' eyes darted frantically, overwhelmed by the display.
Their throats went dry; they swallowed hard, hands trembling as they fumbled for their teacups, gulping down mouthfuls in an effort to steady themselves.
Even for men who prided themselves on absolute composure, it was difficult to mask such astonishment before their subordinates.
At length, after calming themselves, one Elder finally spoke.
"Remarkable… these creations truly possess the might of the Seven Warlords…"
"Not so fast." Sengoku's grin widened. "In truth, they also possess a special coordinated technique—one capable of withstanding a full-force strike from an Admiral… even from a Yonko."