"Garp..."
Sengoku stared at Garp, pausing for a moment. "He was injured recently and is in poor condition. Sending him into battle now would only cause more chaos."
"Then..." Saturn frowned slightly.
"There are others at Headquarters."
Sengoku turned toward the door. "Someone! Contact Zephyr immediately! Have him drop the new recruits' training and head to Sabaody at top speed!"
"Zephyr?"
Saturn nodded, clearly satisfied with the decision. "If he can be mobilized, that's an even better choice."
"Black Arm" Zephyr.
Though he had stepped back from the front lines, he was still a former Marine Admiral, his strength undiminished.
More importantly, even Mariejois was now aware that Garp, that old fool, had some past connection with Xiano—they seemed to have known each other many years ago.
Zephyr was different.
After losing his arm following the deaths of his students, Zephyr had become fiercely righteous, despising Pirates. Moreover, he had never had any prior contact with the Curtain Closer.
Undoubtedly, he would deliver a far more reassuring outcome.
...
Marine Headquarters, New Recruit Training Grounds.
The fading light of sunset bathed the training field, dyeing the sand a deep crimson. Young Marines, drenched in sweat, were paired off in sparring matches.
"Ten more sets!"
Zephyr stood at the edge of the field, a toothpick clenched between his teeth as he roared, "Don't tell me you're tired! Real Pirates won't stop attacking just because you're exhausted!"
The recruits grimaced but gritted their teeth and continued throwing punches.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached from the edge of the field. A messenger stumbled forward, nearly tripping in his haste.
"Chief Instructor Zephyr! Emergency orders!"
Zephyr unfolded the document, scanning it briefly before his brow furrowed deeply.
Celestial Dragons again?
Hmph, so they wanted him to clean up after those spoiled nobles? He wasn't even an Admiral anymore—no longer directly under their command. Why should he obey?!
Zephyr nearly refused outright on instinct.
But then it occurred to him—he hadn't received emergency orders like this in a long time.
If even a retired old-timer like him was being called into action, Headquarters must truly be short-handed...
"Sengoku's decision?"
Zephyr narrowed his eyes as he asked.
"Yes, sir."
Unable to bear making things difficult for his old friend, Zephyr hesitated before finally sighing. He turned to his Lieutenant and ordered:
"Tell Ain and Binz to gather their teams at the docks immediately. They're coming with me. This will be good experience for them."
"Understood, Teacher Zephyr!"
The Lieutenant hurried off. Zephyr grabbed his Justice cloak and threw it over his shoulders, glaring toward the distant horizon with clear irritation as he muttered:
"So this time, I'll be fighting alongside Borsalino, huh..."
——
Sabaody, Amusement Park Entrance.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Jack sat atop the two Celestial Dragons, growing visibly bored. He yawned, stretched, and occasionally let out a loud fart, eliciting agonized groans from Charlia Palace and Pulmin Saint beneath him.
The surrounding Marines watched the scene wide-eyed, expressions varying, but none dared make a move.
"Hm? So it's Teacher Zephyr who's coming?"
Kizaru was on the phone, scratching his chin with a slightly odd expression. "Admiral Sengoku, aren't there any other candidates to send?"
"This is no time to be picky! Don't worry, several vice admirals will accompany you. The forces deployed are enough to blockade all of Sabaody."
Sengoku's voice was firm:
"However, the final decision still lies with the God Knights. Once the esteemed ones from the Holy Land arrive, you'll hand over command and follow their orders."
"Ah, understood."
Kizaru hung up and looked up at the sky. "But there's still no movement yet. We're almost out of time… What a headache."
"Six minutes. Time's up."
Almost the moment he muttered those words, Xiano, who had been sitting cross-legged on a rock, glanced at Kizaru and spoke calmly:
"Borsalino, it seems the God Knights are even slower than I imagined. Go ahead, Jack."
"Yes, boss!"
Jack immediately reached behind his back and drew his crescent scythe. "A choice between two, huh? So tricky. Well then, who should I start with?"
"N-no, please…"
Pulmin Saint's lips trembled as he sobbed and begged. "Cut Charlia's first, okay? Please, cut hers first! This Saint… This Saint can't be disabled! I'll give you money, lots and lots of money—"
"Pulmin!"
Charlia Palace trembled with rage. Struggling to lift her head, she shrieked hysterically, "Y-you coward! How dare you— Hey! Big guy, no matter how much he offers, I'll double—no, triple it! Cut him first! Cut him for me!"
"You filthy bitch!"
"Useless mushroom-head!"
The two began hurling vicious insults at each other, their faces twisted in ugly desperation.
"Shut the hell up!"
Jack roared, his face darkening. Once they fell silent, he cast a disdainful look at Pulmin Saint.
"Didn't even hesitate before betraying your own kind. Typical Celestial Dragons—disgusting. Hey, mushroom-head, since you sold her out first, you're up."
"No!"
Jack remained unmoved. With a cold flash of his scythe, he swung down without hesitation.
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
A shrill scream tore through the air as Pulmin Saint's right arm was severed, blood gushing out. He convulsed in agony, howling uncontrollably.
Kizaru's expression darkened as he took a step forward, seemingly unable to bear it, but Kuina had already drawn Wado Ichimonji, blocking his path with a cold glare.
Kizaru sighed and retreated.
After five minutes, every additional minute meant another limb lost—and a minute passed quickly.
Before Pulmin Saint's screams could even fade, Xiano raised a second finger. "Jack."
"Got it, boss!"
Jack turned to Charlia Palace, scratching his head sheepishly. "Well, to be fair, it's your turn now."
Charlia's face drained of color in an instant.
"D-don't come near me!"
Her voice trembled with unprecedented terror as she scrambled backward in panic. Suddenly, a warm liquid trickled down her thighs, soaking her expensive Celestial Dragon robes.
The air was instantly filled with a foul stench, causing nearby Marines to instinctively frown and cover their noses.
—This lofty World Noble had actually lost control of her bladder in front of everyone!
Charlia Palace was utterly humiliated, her face burning crimson. She wanted to curl up and hide, but Jack's foot pinned her down, leaving her unable to move. Tears streamed uncontrollably, mixing with snot and smearing across her swollen cheeks.
"Please, I beg you!" she finally wailed in complete breakdown. "Don't cut me... I was wrong, I know I was wrong! I'll never come to Sabaody again, never ride slaves or buy them again, wuuu..."
"You don't know you were wrong—you just know you're about to die," Jack said darkly, his voice low and ominous.
Then, under Kizaru's astonished gaze, he grinned and pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Pretty cool line, huh? Boss taught me that!"
Whoosh!
The scythe rose high once more, its target: Charlia Palace!
"Halt this instant!!!"
Boom!
Almost simultaneously, a sharp cry rang out as black lightning erupted violently!
A massive Pentagram Array materialized, within which three figures gradually became visible.
As the dust settled, the newcomers' appearances were revealed.
On the left stood a petite, slender figure wearing goggles and a wide-brimmed hat, draped in a cloak with a double-breasted coat. Bandages wrapped around her mouth and much of her body.
A member of the God Knights: Gunko.
On the right was a figure resembling an ordinary Celestial Dragon, adorned with a Bubble Helmet and sporting Qilin Horns. His neck was serpentine, with long whiskers and a flowing beard, his eyebrows like rising Flames.
Another member of the God Knights: Quillingom.
At the center stood a man bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Four Emperors' Shanks, his crimson hair flowing, exuding an aura of calm indifference.
The vice-captain of the God Knights: Saint Shamrock.
"So the main players have finally arrived?" Xiano finally looked up with a smile.
The last time he'd seen them in person was just after leaving Fish-Man Island and entering the New World. Half a year had passed in the blink of an eye.
"Xiano!"
Before Shamrock could speak, Gunko stepped forward, her gaze icy as she scanned the two Celestial Dragons pinned down by Jack. Anger flickered in her eyes:
"And you, you oversized brute! How dare you insult the gods like this? You're courting death!"
"Courting death?" Xiano rested his chin on one hand, studying her with amusement. "Weren't you God Knights always going to great lengths to recruit me? Changed your minds now?"
"Recruit?" Gunko snorted coldly. "I won't deny we once considered it. But after such horrifying atrocities, that chance is gone!"
"Isn't that right, Vice-Captain?" She turned to Shamrock, her tone carrying a hint of challenge.
"Indeed. I've abandoned that notion as well," Shamrock replied, unfazed by her attitude. A trace of regret flashed in his eyes as he regarded Xiano coldly.
"Your actions have truly disappointed me, Xiano. It seems our connection ends here."
"Glad we're clear on that, Vice-Captain. I've long advised there was no need for courtesy toward mere mortals."
Gunko turned her face, glancing at Jack. Though she had to look up at him, there was an inexplicable air of condescension in her gaze:
"Hey, you big oaf, let those two go. Even if they've disgraced the face of the Creator's descendants, they're still our kin. This is your final warning, or else..."
"Or else what?"
The deep voice that had been dozens of meters away a moment ago was now right beside her ear.
Shamrock's pupils contracted as he turned his head, instinctively drawing his sword.
But... he was still a step too late!
BOOM!!!
Gunko was still maintaining her arrogant, commanding expression when a fist wreathed in black and red Haki smashed violently into her face!
The punch was swift as lightning.
Before Gunko could react, her vision went black as she was sent flying like a cannonball, spewing blood before crashing heavily into the distant ground.
But it wasn't over yet!
Whoosh!
Xiano flashed forward, instantly catching up to the airborne Gunko. With a vicious grin, he raised his right leg like a battle axe, wreathed in black-red lightning, and brought it crashing down on Gunko's spine!
CRACK!
Gunko screamed as her spine snapped instantly, her body driven into the ground with enough force to create a ten-meter-wide spiderweb crater.
"Cough... you..."
Covered in blood, Gunko struggled to lift her head.
SLAM!
Xiano's foot ground her face into the rubble, rubbing it back and forth for several seconds.
"God Knights seem even more delusional than ordinary Celestial Dragons."
Xiano bent down, grabbed her hair and yanked her up, then delivered a brutal kick to the back of her knee. "A worthless trash who can't even use her Devil Fruit powers in my presence - who gave you the right to speak to me like that?"
Now kneel!
CRUNCH!
The sickening sound of Gunko's kneecaps shattering echoed as she was forced heavily to her knees. Her bloodied face twisted in agony, yet she still strained to lift her head, eyes filled with hatred.
"You... how dare you..."
"Shut up."
Xiano backhanded her across the face.
Gunko's neck bones cracked audibly as her head snapped to the side, several broken teeth flying out with blood. Her eyes glazed over, losing focus.
Only then did Xiano withdraw his foot, leaving Gunko kneeling motionless like a broken ragdoll, head hanging.
He wasn't in a hurry to finish her off.
Like the Five Elders, the God Knights possessed immortality granted by Imu - even decapitation would result in near-instant regeneration.
However, it seemed an overwhelming amount of high-quality Conqueror's Haki could temporarily suppress this regeneration ability?
Xiano narrowed his eyes slightly. Today finally presented an opportunity to test this theory.
"GUNKO!!!"
Quillingom finally snapped out of his shock, roaring in rage. A ring of purple-black Flame Clouds ignited behind him as he instantly transformed into his half-Qilin Form, charging forward.
"Mortal! Mortal! How dare you-"
"You shut up too!"
A crimson glint flashed in Xiano's eyes as he extended one hand toward Quillingom, palm open.
HUM!
Terrifying Conqueror's Haki surged forth like a raging torrent, crashing down upon the Qilin!
BOOM!!!
Quillingom's Qilin Form was instantly pressed down, his limbs slightly bending. The purple-black Flame Cloud, symbolizing his Awakened Zoan abilities, trembled violently under the Conqueror's Haki shockwave, nearly extinguishing.
He instinctively took half a step back. The fiery rage in his beastly eyes abruptly cleared, replaced by a flicker of fear.
"Lord Shamrock!"
Quillingom turned his head, shouting urgently, "Are we just going to stand by and watch Gunko be humiliated like this?!"
"Calm yourself, Qilingom."
Shamrock took a deep breath, his expression beneath his red hair shifting unpredictably.
Had he not wanted to intervene just now?
But in that very moment, the terrifying aura erupting from Xiano had momentarily stunned even him, causing him to hesitate just long enough to miss his chance.
At such close range, he was absolutely certain—the oppressive pressure radiating from Xiano was an entire level stronger than when they had first clashed half a year ago!
At least in terms of Conqueror's Haki, that much was undeniable.
This monster… was his strength still growing?!
Of course.
Without power of this caliber, how could he have fought Kaido for days on end without a clear victor?
How could he dare to bring only a handful of men to Sabaody Archipelago, just a stone's throw from Marine Headquarters, and provoke so brazenly?!
Even among the world's top-tier powerhouses, there were still gaps in strength.
Just like between himself and Shanks… No matter how proud he was, even he had to admit that now, he seemed slightly inferior to his own younger brother.
"Hey, Borsalino."
Shamrock tilted his head slightly, glancing at someone as he spoke calmly:
"You've been watching the show long enough, haven't you? There's no chance for negotiation now. I intend to personally wipe out these insolent fools right here. Shouldn't you… lend a hand?"
"Watching the show?"
Kizaru pointed at himself in exaggerated surprise. "Eh? Me? Lord Saint Shamrock, whatever do you mean by that?"
(End of chapter.)