After disappearing, the Five Elders did not move toward Rōmu.
Instead, after breaking free from the restraints, they landed directly beside the high-ranking Marine officers.
Around the execution platform—
seeing the Five Elders suddenly return, Kong frowned slightly and glanced at them with confusion.
Sengoku wore the same expression.
They had originally expected the Five Elders to seize an opportunity and launch a direct attack on Rōmu.
Meanwhile, the Marines would use the time while Rōmu was entangled with them to activate the steel encirclement that had been prepared in advance—sealing off the entire crescent bay and annihilating the pirates in one decisive move.
But unexpectedly—
after Rōmu appeared, the Five Elders had achieved nothing substantial.
Even though both Kong and Sengoku felt puzzled, the thought quickly passed.
This was not the time to question their superiors.
"Why did the Five Elders retreat?"
"When they attacked earlier, they looked like they didn't even care about the pirates!"
"That kimono-wearing elder seemed ready to kill!"
"But now that Rōmu has appeared… they suddenly pulled back?"
"Could it be…"
"Are the Five Elders actually afraid of Rōmu?"
The Marines weren't the only ones confused.
The pirates were also speculating about the Five Elders' behavior.
Eventually, many of them arrived at the same conclusion:
The Five Elders feared Rōmu.
Some pirates who had sensed the Five Elders' terrifying strength looked even more astonished.
Just appearing on the battlefield had forced those ancient monsters—who had ruled for centuries—to abandon their attack.
Just how powerful was Rōmu?
"What are your orders?"
Sengoku asked the Five Elders.
Although he was the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, their presence meant that ultimate authority now rested with them.
His expression was grim.
Rōmu's earlier revelations had already dealt a heavy blow to Marine morale.
The battle hadn't even truly begun, yet they were already struggling to stabilize the situation.
Not only was Rōmu overwhelmingly powerful—
his mind was equally dangerous.
"Fight."
The kimono-clad elder answered coldly.
"The dignity of the World Government has already been trampled."
"Only our fists can restore it."
As he spoke, he exchanged a glance with the other four elders and slowly sheathed the First Generation Kitetsu at his waist.
The other elders immediately suppressed their auras as well.
They understood the meaning behind his words.
Against pirates—
only overwhelming force could re-establish the authority of the World Government.
After all,
history is always written by the victors.
But now was not the moment to act.
They needed time—
time to recover and to formulate a strategy.
When the kimono elder had broken free from Rōmu's restraints earlier, his condition had deteriorated slightly.
And the others were not much better.
Because Rōmu's strength during the God Valley battle—
combined with the terrifying pressure he displayed just now—
had left a deep impression on them.
To fight Rōmu, they needed to be in perfect condition.
Individually, they might be crushed by him.
But the five of them together—
with careful coordination—
could unleash their true power.
And besides…
they still possessed one final trump card.
Hearing the elder's words, Kong and Sengoku both straightened.
Their eyes met briefly.
The same determination burned within them.
There was no retreat now.
This was the moment they had been waiting for.
"Leave Rōmu to us."
"You deal with the rest."
The kimono elder's voice was firm and unquestionable.
They understood clearly that Rōmu's strength was on an entirely different level.
Even the so-called Marine elites would only be throwing their lives away if they faced him directly.
They couldn't threaten him at all.
Though the Marines were little more than cannon fodder in their eyes—
they could still serve a purpose against the other pirates.
As he spoke, the elder lifted his gaze toward Rōmu standing atop the crimson flower.
A faint trace of fear flickered in his eyes.
Because Rōmu still looked completely calm—
as though he were merely watching a play unfold.
Almost like he was waiting for something.
The kimono elder's gaze sharpened like a blade.
"Rōmu…"
"What other secrets are you hiding?"
After receiving the Five Elders' command, Sengoku's expression changed.
The earlier anxiety disappeared.
Only calm determination remained.
"If we must fight, then so be it."
"All that matters now is completing our mission."
At this moment, the once-famous Strategist of the Marines transformed his emotions into unwavering resolve.
Justice had to be upheld.
Sengoku's aura suddenly erupted.
Powerful Haki surged outward, sending invisible waves through the air around him.
But among all the powerful figures present—
someone moved even faster.
Akainu.
The Marine Admiral had been suppressing his fury for far too long.
If the Five Elders hadn't held back earlier, he would already have unleashed his magma and incinerated every pirate ship on the battlefield.
Now that the order had been given—
he did not hesitate.
The justice in his heart demanded action.
Akainu's body transformed completely into molten magma.
His aura surged to its peak.
Crimson lava rolled violently across his body.
Even his face was now covered in magma.
Thick streams of lava dripped from his body and splattered onto the ground.
Each drop struck the stone with a sizzling sound.
Smoke billowed upward.
The terrifying power of a Logia-type Devil Fruit Admiral was revealed in full.
Boom.
With a dull explosion—
Akainu vanished from where he stood.
His target was clear.
Among the three great pirates—
the one currently in the weakest condition.
Whitebeard.
Where Akainu had stood moments earlier, a small pool of molten magma bubbled on the ground.
"Zehahaha!"
Floating in the air, Golden Lion Shiki immediately sensed Akainu's attack.
Seeing Akainu attempt to exploit Whitebeard's weakened state, he burst into laughter.
"The Navy is getting desperate!"
"You sure know how to pick your targets!"
"But it won't be that easy!"
Shiki's expression hardened.
Even the cigar that had been hanging from his mouth fell away.
His golden hair—long enough to reach the ground—fluttered wildly in the wind.
Though time had aged his face, the power in his aura had not diminished.
His lower body—replaced with the swords Oto and Kogarashi—crossed sharply beneath him.
The blades glinted under the sunlight.
"Lion's Might — Thousand Slice Valley!"
With a cold shout—
two enormous sword slashes capable of cleaving mountains apart tore through the air,
heading straight toward Akainu.
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