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No one could have predicted that two Emperor-level warriors would fall at Byakuya's hands in just a few minutes.
Compared to his battle, the other fights seemed like nothing more than child's play.
This was especially true for Zephyr, Garp, and Sengoku, who stood out amidst the chaos, watching everything unfold like spectators.
Garp, seeing Shanks—the man he loathed—die at Byakuya's hands, felt an odd sense of satisfaction and nearly applauded.
Without that bastard Shanks, Luffy wouldn't have been obsessed with becoming the Pirate King.
At long last, this troublemaker was gone. Garp asked in confusion, "Zephyr, how the hell is Byakuya this terrifyingly strong?"
Hearing the question, Zephyr immediately puffed out his chest with pride.
Sengoku rolled his eyes at Zephyr and sneered, "You old fool, don't tell me you're shameless enough to claim Byakuya as your student?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Zephyr responded, "Isn't he?"
Garp scoffed and exposed him without mercy, "Give it a rest. With Byakuya's strength, he could flick you to death with a finger. And yet, you still have the guts to call yourself his teacher?"
After exchanging a few jokes, the three grew serious. Zephyr turned to his long-time comrades and advised, "With Byakuya's power, his victory is inevitable."
"If you keep fighting, all you'll do is increase unnecessary Marine casualties."
Both Sengoku and Garp understood this, but taking that step meant betraying the World Government and abandoning the beliefs they had upheld since childhood.
After a moment of silence, Sengoku spoke in a deep voice, "Zephyr… perhaps you're right about this."
Garp's eyes widened in surprise. "Sengoku?"
But Sengoku's expression grew even more resolute. "I've made my decision."
Responding to his call, many Marines—especially those reluctant to fight against the Night Organization—immediately followed his lead.
High above, the Five Elders were furious at this sight and angrily rebuked Sengoku,
"As a former Marine Fleet Admiral, are you choosing to betray the World Government and disgrace the Marines?"
Before Sengoku could respond, Byakuya chuckled and said, "The real disgrace is continuing to be the World Government's lapdogs."
"Night Organization, heed my command—spare those who retreat."
Sakazuki, enraged by the hesitation among the Marines, roared, "Don't forget your duty as Marines!"
"I am the true Fleet Admiral! All Marines, listen up! Any traitors will be executed on the spot!"
However, before he could act, Byakuya effortlessly kicked Reichi to death and stepped forward, coldly saying, "Did you forget your position? You're still acting tough in front of me?"
Sakazuki ignored him and launched a furious attack, shouting, "Crimson Lotus Hellhound!"
His magma-coated arm once again morphed into the shape of a vicious hound, its molten fangs snapping toward Byakuya's head.
But with a casual backhand slap, Byakuya shattered the incoming attack and, completely unfazed by the magma's heat, grabbed hold of Sakazuki's lava-infused limb.
A terrifying force surged through Sakazuki's body, spreading rapidly from his right arm.
The excruciating pain twisted his expression in agony.
Gritting his teeth, he made a ruthless decision—he abandoned his arm to escape Byakuya's grasp.
But before he could even catch his breath, a fist suddenly loomed before his eyes, growing impossibly large instantly.
Time seemed to freeze. In that fleeting moment, Sakazuki could even make out the intricate patterns on Byakuya's gloves.
Then, with a crisp crack, the darkness consumed his vision. A sharp pain struck, and in the next second, he lost all consciousness.
Kong, breathing heavily, stared in horror at the scene before him. The Marine Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki, had just been killed in a single punch.
But before Kong could react, that same monstrous man appeared right before his eyes. And just like Sakazuki, he met the same fate.
At this moment, the five top-tier warriors who had besieged Byakuya were annihilated.
Everyone present understood that as long as Byakuya stood, the Night Organization could not be defeated.
Today would mark their downfall at Byakuya's hands unless the World Government had a hidden trump card.
The Five Elders looked at the battlefield before them and let out a deep sigh—despite all their preparations, they had still reached this point.
The five of them suddenly stood from their seats and knelt toward the back, loudly declaring, "We humbly welcome Lord Imu's intervention!"
Their actions shocked everyone. No one had ever imagined that the Five Elders, the world's highest authorities, would kneel before another.
The significance of the person they were kneeling to was beyond question. Sengoku's expression darkened instantly, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Noticing Sengoku's reaction, Zephyr immediately asked, "Sengoku, do you know who this 'Imu' they're talking about is?"
Sengoku hesitated before replying, "If my guess is correct, Imu should be the leader of the World Nobles who formed the World Government eight hundred years ago."
Zephyr was stunned. "Eight hundred years ago? Are you saying he's lived for eight centuries? That's impossible!"
Sengoku slowly nodded. "It's not entirely impossible. Some of the most powerful Devil Fruits grant abilities that surpass human limitations."
He then shifted his gaze toward Law, who stood not far away.
"For example, the Ope Ope no Mi can, at the cost of the user's life, perform the Immortality Youth Operation—granting the recipient eternal life." Zephyr immediately grasped the implications.
"Imu's strength must be unimaginable if that's the case!"
Eight hundred years would be enough time for someone to cultivate power beyond comprehension.
Especially since Imu wasn't just an immortal warrior—he was the true ruler of the world, controlling all of the sea's resources.
Combining these two factors suddenly made Zephyr worry—was Byakuya a match for Imu?
As the Five Elders finished speaking, a shadow suddenly flashed from the depths of Mary Geoise's Flower Room, appearing above them instantly.
The figure was not particularly tall but exuded an aura of supreme nobility. In their hand was a long, ancient sword, its design dating back centuries.
Gold trimmings ran along the blade like a coiling dragon, and a flawless gemstone was embedded in the hilt.
Byakuya curiously examined Imu. If he wasn't mistaken, this was the true final boss of the pirate world.
Imu's entire body was concealed beneath a flowing silver-gray robe, and a white mask covered his face, leaving only two cross-shaped holes over the eyes.
Those eyes, filled with boundless indifference and wisdom, seemed to have witnessed the passage of countless eras.
It was understandable. After all, this was someone who had lived for eight centuries.
There was hardly anything in the world he had not seen.
Both those on the battlefield and the countless viewers watching the broadcast had their gazes locked on the one whom the Five Elders had addressed as Imu—the true sovereign of the sea.
With Imu's arrival, the battlefield took on an entirely different atmosphere.
While Byakuya's power had long exceeded everyone's understanding, so had Imu's existence.
Byakuya was only twenty-one, whereas Imu was over eight hundred—at least forty times his age. It was difficult to predict who held the greater power.
Tension gripped the battlefield, especially among the Marines who had chosen to follow Sengoku's lead.
If Byakuya and the Night Organization were to fall here, they would be branded as traitors to the World Government, facing an unimaginably grim fate.
Breaking the heavy silence, Byakuya spoke first, his tone filled with curiosity. "Hey, are you a man or a woman?"
"Why don't you take off that mask or at least show some kind of feature so we can tell?"
His words instantly shattered the tense atmosphere. Everyone turned to look at him in utter disbelief.
Zephyr nearly cursed out loud—this brat still acted so carefree at such a crucial moment!
Did he not realize the significance of the person standing before him?
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