BOOM!!!
Another violent clash erupted.
The collision unleashed an even more terrifying shockwave.
White shockwaves.
Crimson-gold sword energy.
Pitch-black iron fists.
The frenzied roar of Shiki's attacks.
All of it collided fiercely with the Five Elders' strange abilities infused with the power of the world's origin.
The resulting energy waves plowed across the battlefield once again, tearing apart the earth within a kilometer radius and throwing up clouds of dust.
But after this exchange—
The defenders began to show signs of disadvantage.
Whitebeard gripped Murakumogiri tightly.
He could clearly feel it.
The Five Elder fighting him—wielding Shodai Kitetsu—was still slightly weaker in pure power.
But it didn't matter.
That monster could keep regenerating during the fight.
Whitebeard could not.
On the other side, Golden Lion Shiki slashed repeatedly with his twin blades.
The golden net of sword energy he created was noticeably smaller and less sharp than before.
For the first time, he was being pushed back in his clash with Saint Garling.
Elsewhere—
Roger, Garp, Kaido, and the others weren't faring much better.
After countless brutal battles and serious injuries—
Their stamina and Haki had already been drained significantly.
The only reason they were still standing—
Was their monstrous physical endurance.
"Gurarararara… These bastards are as annoying as sticky tar…"
Whitebeard breathed heavily.
Yet his tone remained arrogant, as if he still ruled the seas.
Across from them—
The Five Elders and Garling were also injured.
But they could regenerate.
As long as Im remained alive—
No matter how badly they were wounded—
They would slowly recover.
Dark, ominous energy swirled around them.
That was Im's power.
A near-immortal regenerative force.
It visibly repaired their wounds and restored their stamina.
As the battle dragged on—
Whitebeard's group was slowly pushed into a disadvantage.
At that moment—
A slightly amused and lazy voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Oh? You're all this injured… and you're sure you can still fight?"
Lucian didn't even turn his head.
His left hand remained firmly pressed against Rocks' forehead, continuously channeling purification energy.
He sounded completely casual.
As if he were merely watching a show unrelated to himself.
But those light words—
Were like a red-hot needle stabbing into the pride of the sea's greatest monsters.
"Jahahahahaha!!!"
Golden Lion Shiki was the first to explode.
While swinging his swords to block Garling's relentless attacks—
He roared without even turning his head.
"Shut up! A few injuries won't kill us! Don't underestimate the men who rule the seas, brat!"
He slashed again.
Two intersecting golden sword beams burst forward.
Forcing Garling to retreat repeatedly.
Every movement radiated arrogant confidence.
"Hahahaha! He's right!"
Gol D. Roger grinned widely.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
"This is the first time since I set sail that I've teamed up with the Marines to protect someone!"
"This experience is pretty damn interesting!"
"Shut up, Roger!"
The reply came instantly.
Garp's face was darker than a storm cloud.
His voice rumbled with suppressed fury.
"Focus on the fight! Don't forget what we're facing!"
Garp wasn't actually angry at Roger.
He was furious at the absurd situation.
A Marine—
Standing beside his pirate rival—
Protecting another pirate.
And their enemies were the World Government he was supposed to serve.
If outsiders saw this—
They'd think Garp had become a pirate.
Before the argument could continue—
The battle exploded again.
The Five Elders had received Im's absolute order.
Their attacks became even more ruthless.
Every strike aimed directly for vital points.
They fought like madmen.
Because they knew—
If the fight dragged on—
Victory would belong to them.
Whitebeard's defensive line remained solid.
But everyone could see the truth.
They were being drained.
Each attack carried less power.
Each block grew slightly slower.
BOOM!
This time, Garp's punch clearly lacked the power of his peak.
The Elder fighting him sneered.
He actually endured the blow head-on.
The rebound force surged back into Garp's body.
The massive Marine staggered half a step backward.
"Hmph!"
Garp grunted and stabilized himself.
"Monkey D. Garp…"
The Elder mocked hoarsely.
"Have your fists grown this weak?"
"Once the rulers of the seas… now just a pack of dying old dogs!"
On the other side—
Garling roared like a madman while slashing viciously at Shiki.
"When Lord Im finishes that pretender…"
"All of you will become perfect creations like Rocks!"
Taunts.
Insults.
Vicious curses echoed across the battlefield.
Whitebeard.
Roger.
Shiki.
Each of them fought on.
But everyone knew the truth.
How long could they keep this up?
All of this—
Seemed to be "seen" by Lucian behind them.
His left hand continued purifying Rocks.
But his right hand—
Slowly rose.
Palm facing upward.
Buzz.
A golden sphere of energy appeared in his palm.
Only the size of a fist.
But it contained immense power.
Pure.
Sacred.
Lucian still didn't turn around.
His tone was casual.
As if talking about something trivial.
"Well then… consider this my 'tea money' for the trouble."
The moment he finished speaking—
The golden sphere changed.
It did not explode.
Instead—
It quietly split apart.
Blooming into more than a dozen smaller light spheres.
Each one only the size of a thumb.
Yet each radiated powerful life energy.
"Go."
Lucian flicked his hand casually.
As if swatting flies.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The golden orbs shot forward instantly.
They made no sound.
But their flight traced elegant golden arcs through the air.
They dodged every enemy attack perfectly.
And flew toward—
Whitebeard.
Shiki.
Roger.
Garp.
Every single person fighting to defend him.
"What is that?!"
Even someone like Whitebeard felt his eyelids twitch.
His battle instincts screamed.
There was a power inside those spheres that he could not understand.
They moved too fast.
Their trajectories were unpredictable.
And they were locked onto them.
Impossible to dodge.
The defenders paused for a split second—
Then steadied themselves.
They maintained their fighting stance.
Allowing the golden spheres to fly straight toward them.
They trusted their judgment.
The masked man was saving Rocks.
He had even forced Im to retreat with a single strike.
That meant—
He was not an enemy.
They chose to trust their instincts.
The instincts of powerful warriors.
A gamble.
The golden spheres grew larger in their eyes.
Across from them—
Their enemies watched with confusion and mockery.
It looked as though these fools were welcoming death.
What were those things?
A mind-control technique?
Or something else?
But Whitebeard.
Roger.
Garp.
Their expressions carried no fear.
Only confidence.
Confidence in their own judgment.
In the distance—
Im's inhuman eyes also focused on the golden spheres.
Even with his knowledge—
He could not determine their function.
Everyone's hearts rose into their throats.
Waiting for what would happen next.