Silence.
Deadly silence.
York's death-seeking behavior made the top masters who were fighting fiercely all stop involuntarily, looking up at the sky with dull eyes.
One second... ten seconds... half a minute...
Finally, Rocks was the first to react.
He laughed loudly to the sky.
"Wahahahaha..."
"You have today too! King of the World!!"
"Well done! York!! Didn't embarrass me!!"
"Wahahahaha..."
Rocks' rampant laughter broke the silence, but the Five Elders still couldn't believe what happened before their eyes.
"Gouge out eyes!!"
Old Mercury suddenly roared, transforming from boar form to hybrid form.
Decisively and resolutely, he gouged out his own eyes.
Although they would definitely recover later, at least at this moment, they couldn't have vision.
Similarly, except for Old Jupiter and Old Saturn who had lost body control, the remaining skeletal horse Old Venus and monster bird Old Mars also transformed into hybrid forms and gouged out their own eyes.
Meanwhile, Garling, hiding in another corner, still stared blankly at the sky.
"Family... Family Head..."
"No, that's Junko's body..."
"Still wrong, controlling Junko's body now is the Family Head..."
But regardless, York really kissed her.
Garling could even see York extending his tongue.
Yet Imu had no reaction at all, just pupils dilating.
Clearly, she was also a bit stunned at this moment.
Finally.
A full minute passed, and Imu finally reacted.
She struck York's chest with a palm, repelling him, then raised the double-barreled shotgun again, pulling the trigger with cold eyes.
*Bang!!*
The bullet left the chamber, piercing York's body once again.
"Hahahahaha..."
However, York laughed loudly while spitting blood.
His goal was achieved.
Not only indirectly kissing Imu, he also injected a sufficient amount of pleasure seeds into the uniformed woman's body.
For a full minute, he didn't care to count, just pouring ability into the uniformed woman's body.
Until now, he actually didn't know how many times it was amplified, only knowing this multiplier level could absolutely send the uniformed woman to heaven in bliss.
Hypothetically, if the remotely possessing Imu could also be affected along the ability link, she would probably suffer too.
So, to avoid complications, York snapped his fingers directly while falling in the air, detonating the pleasure seeds just injected.
"Ah—!!"
The uniformed woman possessed by Imu suddenly let out a miserable scream. Her body, which had been hovering high in the sky, fell downward uncontrollably.
"Family Head!!"
The Five Elders cried out in alarm, surrounding Imu's landing spot immediately, while not forgetting to attack the falling York.
But Rocks swung his sword to scatter their attacks, protecting York to distance themselves.
York used the life force previously absorbed and stored in his body to rapidly repair physical injuries.
Before long, he returned to peak condition.
Compared to him, the similarly falling uniformed woman showed no movement at all.
Three of the Five Elders transformed into giant beast forms again, protecting her behind them, completely obscuring her current state.
"Wahahahaha..."
Rocks continued to laugh wildly.
After so many tragic events today that broke his heart, finally there was one thing that made him happy.
One must know he had seen Imu's true face up close, knew what that guy was about.
Just thinking of that guy's current miserable state and distorted expression, Rocks couldn't stop laughing.
"Wulolo lololo!"
Kaido's laughter followed closely.
"Truly worthy of you! York!!"
Although his dream was to drag all nobles down and settle superiority on the battlefield.
At least the current him didn't have enough guts to do what York did.
And this made Kaido develop genuine respect for York inwardly.
Only such a man! Could truly possibly achieve everything he said!!
"Gurarara..."
Whitebeard also stood by laughing along.
He didn't expect York's guts to be this big, and he actually succeeded.
"Truly incredible!"
"But, we might face real trouble next."
York's behavior, while indeed boosting morale, correspondingly provoked the enemy's anger to the limit.
That uniformed woman's fall just now was likely due to York's fruit ability.
But York's fruit ability wasn't omnipotent, and Whitebeard didn't believe the opponent would be defeated so easily.
"Wahahahaha... Enough!!"
Rocks' laughter finally ceased, and he suddenly said this.
"York! Newgate! Kaido! You've done enough; let's call it a day."
"What?!"
Kaido was stunned, not understanding what Rocks meant.
York and Whitebeard's faces darkened simultaneously.
The former anticipated the future, while the latter understood Rocks well enough to know what he wanted to say next.
"You guys go!!"
Four simple words, Rocks said with relief, but York, Whitebeard, and Kaido were shaken inwardly.
"These guys can't be killed, staying at peak state always, while our stamina will be gradually consumed."
"While in good condition now, leave quickly; I'll cover your rear!!"
Kaido expressed incomprehension, shouting back: "Why!! Only three left opposite! Finish them and we win this battle!!"
"Can't win."
Rocks, who had repaired his eardrums at some point, shook his head gently.
"Without York's move, maybe could win, but York thoroughly enraged the opponent..."
"Dignified King of the World, unleashing true full strength, isn't something you small fries can handle now."
Kaido opened his mouth to argue but was pulled by York grabbing his pants leg.
The former shut up, the latter asked Rocks: "What about your ambition? Rocks! Does it end here?"
"Ah~ ends here."
Rocks didn't laugh as usual but answered York calmly and seriously.
"Perhaps you were right; I overly trusted my own ability. A disjointed team can never realize my ambition!"
"So!!"
Rocks' tone rose suddenly.
"I decided to leave you few seeds! To complete my unrealized dream!!"
"Get lost!! While the opponent's main body hasn't arrived yet, run as far as you can!!"
Rocks swung his sword backhand, a Conqueror's slash hitting York and the other two simultaneously.
But this slash wasn't lethal, mainly repulsive force like cannon fire.
The three were blasted far away, thoughtful looks in their eyes.
York and Whitebeard exchanged glances, understanding the message in the slash, and mutually agreeing to Rocks' retreat proposal.
"Hey! Kaido! Let's go!!"
York beckoned Kaido.
Although Kaido understood Rocks' will, he was still unwilling.
"If unwilling, use full strength to become stronger! Later I'll lead you to storm the real Mary Geoise!!"
"Current you can't even beat me; don't waste the Azure Dragon Fruit you just got!!"
"Argh!!!"
Kaido gritted teeth in frustration, smashing the ground with a fist.
Finally followed York and Whitebeard, fleeing the battlefield without looking back.
Hiding Garling watched their retreating figures.
He was tempted to move.
But looking at the three there, then at Rocks here, finally decided to join the righteous gang beating.
...
Back to Shakky and Charlotte Linlin's location.
A great battle had also occurred here just now.
Rocks Pirates members, except Charlotte Linlin, Streusen, and the absent Gloriosa and Stussy, were almost all corpses on the ground.
York glanced briefly, no wasted words, just one word.
"Retreat!!"
Before long, the group arrived at a coast in eastern God Valley.
Gloriosa and Stussy, almost invisible throughout the God Valley operation, had already seized a warship waiting here.
Everyone boarded. York had Kaido use flame clouds to lift the ship, fleeing the still-battling island directly through the air.
Peripheral Marines wanted to pursue, but Whitebeard unleashed a tsunami punch, forcing all Marines to watch him depart helplessly.
And just as York and the others successfully evacuated, in the Holy Land Mary Geoise...