*Swoosh—Bang!!*
Suddenly, a dark silhouette descended from the sky, crashing heavily onto a dome-shaped factory in the industrial district.
Nearby, Kid and Saint Nusjuro were drawn by the sudden commotion and turned to look.
Amidst the dust, the outline of a figure faintly appeared. A black pirate coat fluttered in the wind as Allen stepped out slowly, his eyes cold.
"Demon Lion... Francis Allen...!"
Saint Nusjuro's brow sank as he stared intently. At that moment, he noticed another figure in the sky.
A giant pink dragon soared through the clouds, its long body winding through the air. Carrying several people on its back, Saint Nusjuro focused his gaze and realized it was Vegapunk and his satellites!
"Vegapunk...!!"
Furious, Saint Nusjuro's eyes flashed with intense killing intent. He immediately notified the other Five Elders through their pact connection.
"Everyone! Vegapunk has appeared. They are heading toward the east coast!"
In the city square, countless buildings were covered in highly corrosive purple venom. Saturn, in his Gyuki form, stood in the center of the plaza.
The moment he received the message in his mind, Saturn instinctively turned toward the east and immediately spotted the pink dragon flying in the sky.
"Is Vegapunk over there... that traitor...!"
Saturn's eyes instantly darkened.
At that moment, Saint Nusjuro's voice echoed in his mind again.
"Do not get entangled with the Demon Lion's crew! Don't forget our goal in coming here. Everyone, focus all your efforts on killing Vegapunk!"
"I understand."
Saint Saturn replied in a deep, brief tone. The crippled spider legs on his lower body rapidly regenerated amidst black flames.
He glanced back at Robin, then suddenly turned around, using all eight legs to sprint toward the east coast.
Seeing this, Robin frowned in surprise. 'What's going on? Was he talking to someone just now?'
She looked up in the direction he had just been gazing and saw Sanji's figure, instantly realizing what was happening.
"I see. Don't even think about it!"
Robin's eyes darkened as she immediately activated her ability to pursue Saturn, who was trying to flee the battlefield.
"[Gigantesco Mano: Fiery Tree Silver Flowers]!!"
Countless flaming arms sprouted from the ground and the exterior walls of several tall buildings, rapidly weaving into long, slender arms that reached for Saturn from all directions like striking vipers.
As long as she could see it, any place could instantly become a battlefield!
"Nico Robin...!!"
Seeing the countless giant flaming hands intercepting him, Saturn roared in anger, snapping his head back to glare at Robin, his eyes bursting with a fierce, crimson light!
*Boom!!*
An invisible shockwave erupted through the air. Robin's expression changed as she was instantly blasted off the roof of the building.
At the same time.
The other Five Elders fighting across the city also received Saint Nusjuro's message. They all deployed their techniques, attempting to shake off Gin and the others to converge on Vegapunk.
However.
"Hey, where do you think you're going in the middle of a fight? Stop right there, you giant wild boar."
The giant warthog sprinted wildly down the street on all four legs, with Gin in hot pursuit.
*Bang!!*
Gin kicked off the ground fiercely, launching himself forward like a projectile!
"[More-More: Tenfold Acceleration]!!"
He used his ability to instantly increase his speed tenfold, appearing above the warthog's head in the blink of an eye, swinging his two iron tonfas down viciously!
"[Demon Tonfa: Chaotic Waves]!!"
*Bang!! Bang!!*
The two massive, pitch-black iron balls smashed heavily onto the warthog's head, forcing its body down and plowing its entire head into the ground, carving a trench dozens of meters long.
"Bastard...!!"
Saint Warcury gritted his teeth, lifting his head to glare viciously at Gin.
He didn't know how the others were faring, but he probably had no chance of escaping Gin's grasp. With the acceleration of the More-More Fruit, he couldn't shake him off at all.
"Mere lowly scum! Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"
Saint Warcury roared in a low voice, opening his mouth to unleash a sonic attack infused with Conqueror's Haki at Gin!
"Roar!!!"
"Tch! This move again."
Gin gritted his teeth and scoffed, bending his knees to firmly root himself in a horse stance, crossing his arms in front of him to block.
Although his opponent lacked diverse combat techniques, his copper skin and iron bones provided formidable defense, and combined with the nearly unstoppable sonic attacks infused with Conqueror's Haki, he was able to fight Gin to a standstill.
The same scene played out across various parts of the city.
Meanwhile, in the industrial district.
Being the closest to Vegapunk and the only one with a speed advantage, Saint Nusjuro transformed into a pale skeletal warhorse and sprinted toward Vegapunk at top speed!
Allen cast a faint glance at him, then turned to look at the giant monstrous bird struggling out from under a collapsed building.
Kid immediately jumped out from the side, grinning as he turned his back to Allen.
"Hey, that's my prey."
"Then I'll leave it to you. I'll handle the other one."
Allen said casually, then turned to face the galloping skeletal horse. He lowered his body and crouched down deeply.
His legs transformed into the hind legs of a locust, his bulging, powerful muscles pulling taut.
Allen's eyes darkened as wings sprouted from his back, spreading out flat. He pushed off the ground with explosive force!
*Bang!!!*
The roof of the dome instantly exploded! Allen shot out like a cannonball, turning into a streak of black light that tore across the city sky, crossing a distance of over a thousand meters in an instant!
'So fast!!'
The galloping Saint Nusjuro's expression changed drastically. A strong, fatal threat loomed from behind, carrying a suffocating pressure.
*Clang!!*
Saint Nusjuro spun around abruptly. Without even thinking, he instinctively drew his blade and slashed horizontally!
A massive flying slash imbued with freezing cold swept out! The buildings on both sides of the street were sliced in two, their upper halves sent flying instantly!
Facing this exaggeratedly powerful slash, Allen seemed to have seen through it long ago. A red glint flashed in his eyes, and with a slight adjustment of his wings, his flight trajectory shifted instantly.
*Swish!!*
The freezing slash brushed right past his body, condensing a layer of frost on his chest.
After the attack was dodged, before Saint Nusjuro could even swing his blade again, Allen had already arrived right in front of him!
Haki wrapped around his arm as he used his wrist like a blade, using his momentum to viciously chop down on the skeletal horse's neck!
*Bang!!*
Saint Nusjuro's pupils shrank in shock. The moment the wrist-blade made contact, fragments of bone cracked and splintered off the skeleton. The immense force sent him flying, crashing heavily into a Ferris wheel in an amusement park!
*Boom!!!*
The massive Ferris wheel shuddered violently, countless steel pipes snapping as it collapsed onto the ground!
Allen landed on his feet. Black mist surged in his hands, and a pitch-black, blunt heavy sword was summoned from it, grasped firmly in his grip.
*Boom!!*
Powerful Haki erupted from his body. Allen's eyes darkened, the black tips of his hair dancing wildly in the wind. He bent his knees into a half-crouch, pushed off the ground, and launched himself forward once again!
Saint Nusjuro stood up from the ground, black flames igniting all over his body as his broken bones rapidly regenerated.
He snapped his head toward the outside of the amusement park, saw Allen flying toward him, and hurriedly gripped his longsword with both hands, raising it high!
*Whoosh!*
"Haa!!"
Crimson flames ignited on the slender blade. Saint Nusjuro focused his gaze and swung down forcefully in a vertical cleave!
Allen arrived in front of him, swinging his heavy sword horizontally with tremendous force!
Rather than a slash, it was more like a smash.
*Clang!!*
The pitch-black, blunt heavy sword and the Cursed Sword Kitetsu clashed heavily together!
Under the mountain-crushing force, the blade in Saint Nusjuro's hands vibrated violently, nearly being knocked out of his grip.
'What terrifying strength!'
Saint Nusjuro gritted his teeth, secretly alarmed.
*Clang!!*
He gripped the hilt tightly with both arms, swinging upward with all his might to deflect the heavy sword.
Then, just as he raised his blade to follow up with a downward slash, he saw Allen let go of the heavy sword, tossing it high into the air. At the same time, Allen bent his legs together and delivered a vicious dropkick right into his wide-open guard!
*Bang!!*
The heavy impact forced Saint Nusjuro's four horse legs to stumble backward several steps. His chest caved in from the kick, clearly indicating that all his ribs had been shattered.
If it were a normal person, they would have been lying on the ground, unable to move by now.
However, Saint Nusjuro acted as if nothing had happened. Holding his longsword horizontally at his side with both hands, a cold glint flashed across his glasses as he thrust the tip of the blade forward fiercely!
*Shing!!*
The sharp blade emanated a chilling light. But in the next second, Allen did something that left him utterly shocked.
*Squelch!!*
Facing this fast and powerful strike, Allen actually reached out his left hand to grab it. The tip of the blade pierced straight through his palm, sending blood splattering into the air.
Ignoring the intense pain in his hand, Allen took a large step forward. His palm slid down the blade to the crossguard, his five fingers curling to grip it tightly, and he gave it a violent pull!
"You...!!"
Saint Nusjuro's eyes widened. Not wanting to be disarmed, he didn't dare let go, and his body was pulled forward as a result.
Allen curled his lips into a savage grin. The muscles in his right arm bulged as he raised his fist, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, and smashed it ruthlessly onto his opponent's shiny, bald forehead!
*Bang!!*
Haki erupted violently! Dark red lightning flashed wildly from his fist, indiscriminately blasting all the surrounding structures!
*Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!*
In an instant, the entire area was practically consumed by the lightning manifested from the Haki, blasting countless rocks into pieces.
As for Saint Nusjuro, he was blasted hundreds of meters away by this single punch, crashing through countless rides in the amusement park before finally smashing heavily into a haunted house!
Allen raised his hand to catch the falling heavy sword. Black mist surged from his left palm, and the bloody, mangled hole that had just been pierced through was restored to its original state in the blink of an eye.
In the distance, amidst the ruins of the haunted house, Saint Nusjuro stumbled as he struggled to stand. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and a clear fist imprint was caved into his bald forehead.
"Blergh—!!"
Unable to hold it back, Saint Nusjuro spat out a large mouthful of blood. Using his longsword to support himself against the ground, he raised his head and glared at Allen with venomous, ruthless eyes.
Conqueror's Haki Infusion. Sure enough, the opponent had also mastered this technique, and it was extraordinarily strong.
Although he tried to activate his immortality to heal his injuries, the residual Haki on his head stubbornly prevented the ability from taking effect.
"As expected of an Emperor of the Sea who stands at the pinnacle of the world. Facing him alone is indeed too much to handle," Saint Nusjuro muttered heavily.
Right now, let alone fighting back, just escaping from the opponent's grasp would be no easy task.
And it wasn't just Allen. Since he sent the message earlier, none of the others had arrived, clearly indicating that they were all bogged down in their own battles and unable to break free.
'To think even his subordinates possess such immense power. Do we have no choice but to initiate the other plan...?'
Saint Nusjuro's gaze was solemn, tinged with a hint of hesitation.
Thinking of this, he immediately transmitted his thoughts to the other Five Elders, proposing his idea.
A second later, their responses quickly echoed in his mind.
"Saint Nusjuro, do you wish to request the descent of Lord Imu...?"
"But there is a price to pay for Lord Imu to leave the Holy Land."
"That exalted one just descended upon Elbaf with the Holy Knights yesterday. To descend again today..."
"It would be fine if we could eliminate the Demon Lion's crew, but if we fail..."
"It will inevitably leave a fatal hidden danger for the great war in the future."
"Or perhaps..."
In his mind, Saturn's voice suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Offer a body, allowing Lord Imu to descend in the form of possession. That way, there will be no need to personally leave the Holy Land."
"Offer a body..."
Saint Nusjuro frowned upon hearing this. It was a good idea, but the question of whose body to offer was...
Suddenly, Saint Nusjuro's pupils shrank as a figure flashed through his mind!
"Lucci...!!"
"I see. He is indeed a suitable vessel."
"Failing to assassinate Vegapunk is already a sin. Becoming the Vessel of Divine Descent for Lord Imu is an honor for him."
"Seconded."
"In that case..."
*Boom!!*
A sudden loud crash startled Saint Nusjuro, and he snapped his head up.
A figure descended from the sky, standing atop the ruins. Allen held his heavy sword, his eyes looking down at him coldly.
By now, the injuries all over Saint Nusjuro's body had healed, but the caved-in fist imprint on his head, struck by the Conqueror's Infusion, still remained clearly visible.
"It seems Conqueror's Haki really can suppress your immortal bodies. Next..."
Having personally verified the effects of Conqueror's Infusion, a cold smirk curled on Allen's lips. He reached out his left hand toward the ground below, spreading his five fingers to release black mist.
"[Blackwater]!!"
"What!!"
Seeing this, Saint Nusjuro's expression changed drastically, and a rare look of panic appeared in his eyes!
A powerful gravitational pull suddenly acted on his body. He hurriedly turned around, trying to sprint away, but under the gravitational pull of darkness, not even a single ray of light could escape!
"Damn it!!"
His uncontrollable body flew backward toward Allen. Saint Nusjuro gritted his teeth in panic.
Realizing he couldn't resist, he quickly spun his body back around, gripping his longsword tightly, and used his forward momentum to thrust fiercely!
*Clang!!*
Allen raised his heavy sword with his right hand to block. With a slight shift of the blade, he easily deflected the force, letting the longsword slide past him, while his left hand accurately grabbed Saint Nusjuro's throat!
*Bang!!*
Allen slammed his opponent's head into the ground. Black mist surged wildly from his palm, rapidly spreading across the skeletal body of the horse bone!
"Aaaargh!!!"
Saint Nusjuro let out an agonized wail, his Mythical Zoan form gradually reverting back to human!
In the next instant, an even more bizarre scene occurred.
As soon as he reverted to human form, his previously firm muscles rapidly became flabby, and his skin shriveled up as if dehydrated!
In the blink of an eye, Saint Nusjuro became incredibly emaciated, like a dying old man, his face looking as ghastly and terrifying as a starving ghost!
"As I thought, your current state is also due to Imu's power."
A ruthless glint appeared in Allen's eyes. The power of darkness continued to surge from his hand until it completely submerged his opponent's entire body in the black mist!
Gradually, the wailing ceased, and Saint Nusjuro stopped moving completely.
Allen stood up. By the time the black mist beneath his feet fully dissipated, all that remained on the ground was a pile of pale, withered bones.