Roar!
The deafening bellow tore through the skies above Mary Geoise, echoing endlessly between the towering palaces of the Holy Land.
Within the territory of the Topman Family, shattered stone and broken marble were flung aside as a colossal wild boar rose from the ruins.
Its massive body radiated oppressive force, black flame clouds coiling around it as if alive.
This was Saint Warcury in his fully awakened beast form.
His Devil Fruit was a Mythical Zoan, the Fengxi form, a power that symbolized calamity and unrestrained destruction.
With a thunderous snort, Saint Warcury lifted one enormous hoof and stomped it into the ground, cracking the earth apart.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto the lone figure standing before him, rage boiling as guttural, beastlike grunts escaped his throat.
Opposite him stood Figarland Garling.
From beginning to end, Garling's expression never changed.
Calm, detached, and cold, he rested one hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist and slowly drew it free.
The sound of steel leaving its sheath rang clearly through the devastated courtyard.
In the next instant, Saint Warcury roared again.
Steam erupted around his massive frame as his four thick tusks turned pitch black, hardened by Armament Haki.
His enormous body surged forward, shaking the ground with every step as he charged straight at Garling.
Garling's eyes flickered with a chilling crimson glow.
Red and black lightning crackled violently along the blade in his hand, unmistakable proof of Haoshoku Haki being forcibly coated onto steel.
Without hesitation, he swung his sword in a smooth, merciless arc.
A crescent-shaped wave of blood-red sword energy burst forth, tearing through the earth as it flew.
"White Chapter!"
The slash collided head-on with Saint Warcury.
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward, flattening everything nearby.
Buildings collapsed, debris was pulverized, and the air itself screamed under the pressure.
Crack, crack, crack!
Fine fractures spread rapidly across Saint Warcury's four tusks.
Sweat poured down his massive boar face as his charge slowed, pain flashing through his bloodshot eyes.
Finally, a sharp, unmistakable cracking sound rang out.
All four tusks shattered at once.
Just as the sword energy was about to cleave straight into Saint Warcury's forehead, a figure appeared in a sudden blur of motion, positioning himself directly in front of the attack.
A blade met the incoming slash, stopping it dead.
The newcomer was shrouded in the same black flame clouds.
His lower body was that of a skeletal horse, while his upper body remained human, an elderly bald man dressed in a formal kimono.
Cold authority radiated from him as frost rapidly spread across his sword.
This was Saint Nusjuro, one of the Five Elders.
Not only him.
The remaining three Elders arrived almost simultaneously.
Saint saturn stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the ruined surroundings, his expression heavy and grim.
Saint Nusjuro narrowed his eyes.
The frost on his blade thickened, and with a decisive slash, he completely dispersed the remaining sword energy.
The pressure vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.
Letting out a measured breath, Saint Nusjuro dismissed his hybrid form and landed lightly before Saint Warcury.
He turned his head, glancing at the clearly disheveled Elder, and spoke in a controlled tone.
"Saint warcury, what exactly happened here?"
Saint warcury reverted to his human form as well.
The damage was immediately apparent, four large teeth were missing from his mouth.
He wiped the blood from his lips, hatred burning in his eyes.
"Garling stormed into my Family's territory without reason," he snarled.
"He even released Haoshoku Haki directly in front of me. This is blatant lawlessness!"
Saint Nusjuro turned his gaze toward Garling, his voice calm and even.
"Saint Garling, would you care to explain?"
Clang!
Garling sheathed his sword.
Before he could respond, Saint Saturn had already stepped forward.
"I believe there is a misunderstanding between Saint Garling and Saint Warcury," Saint Saturn said steadily.
"We should proceed to the council hall and discuss this properly."
Saint Warcury's eyebrows shot upward in fury.
"Saturn!" he shouted.
"Look at the state of my Family's territory. You want to brush this aside as a simple misunderstanding?"
Saint saturn's expression remained unchanged, his tone as unmovable as stone.
"Then what do you propose? The disturbance you two caused is far too large. If others see this later, what will they think? Is the dignity of the Five Elders and the God's Knights worth less to you than a pile of broken stone?"
With those words pressed onto him, Saint warcury's face twisted, his expression sour and restrained.
The man wearing a crown leaned slightly toward Garling and whispered under his breath, "Captain, Saint saturn's tongue really is sharp."
Despite his age, Saint saturn's hearing was keen.
His wrinkles twitched, and after coughing lightly, he turned to the other three Elders.
"What are your thoughts?"
Saint Nusjuro cradled his sword, paused briefly, then nodded.
"He's right. We should clarify matters first."
The remaining two Elders also nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Saint saturn no longer spared Saint warcury a glance and instead looked directly at Garling.
"Saint Garling, before we move to the council hall, please have your subordinates withdraw. Their presence is still too conspicuous."
Garling gave him that courtesy.
Turning around, he issued a brief command, ordering the crowned man and the Golden Armored Guards, led by Carlos, to leave the area.
Just before departing, the crowned man spoke quietly to Garling.
"Captain, if you haven't returned before nightfall, I will immediately summon the God's Knights."
After casting a glance at the displeased Saint warcury, he turned and departed with the Golden Armored Guards.
At the council hall, the Five Elders took their seats.
Garling, just like last time, casually sat with his legs crossed, his posture relaxed and unbothered.
That casual attitude was the final spark.
Saint warcury's suppressed anger exploded as he slammed his hand down.
"Garling! If you cannot give a reasonable explanation today, then you should step down as the Chief of the God's Knights!"
Instead of anger, Garling laughed softly.
He glanced at Saint saturn, who merely spread his hands, clearly indicating he would not support that suggestion.
Saint warcury glared at him.
"I know some people won't agree. That's fine. I will report this matter directly to Imu-sama"
At the mention of Imu, the atmosphere shifted.
The remaining Elders exchanged glances, and even Saint saturn fell silent.
Only Garling remained composed.
He tapped his fingers lightly against the table and spoke indifferently.
"Very well. Then allow me to ask a question first. Who authorized you to send people to monitor my nephew? Was it Imu-sama?"
The moment those words fell, every gaze turned back to Saint warcury.
His heart sank.
In an instant, he understood.
Aramaki had betrayed him.
His thoughts raced as he searched for an excuse, but the confidence in Garling's voice made it clear he already possessed concrete evidence.
Silence now would only confirm everything.
The other four Elders quickly grasped the implication.
Saint saturn seized the opening without hesitation.
"Saint warcury," he asked bluntly, "why did you send people to monitor Saint Garling's nephew?"
Under the weight of their stares, Saint warcury's expression shifted repeatedly.
The truth was simple, and deeply personal.
He could not allow the Figarland Family's influence to extend into the Navy.
Ever since Lloyd began rising rapidly through the ranks, Saint warcury had felt an unease he could not ignore.
Lloyd was talented, cold-minded, and dangerously intelligent.
If he continued to grow, eventually reaching the highest levels of the Navy, would the World Government's orders still be carried out without resistance?
Lloyd was the heir of the Figarland Family.
Other high-ranking officers might hesitate, but Lloyd would not.
He had both the courage and the confidence to defy commands if it suited him.
If the Figarland Family ever gained full control over the Navy, then Saint warcury, as one of the Five Elders, would effectively lose an arm.
That outcome was absolutely unacceptable.