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"Move!!!"
Ayr's voice was resolute.
Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido didn't hesitate. They bolted toward the edge of the Holy Land Mariejois, their forms blurring with speed as they leaped from rooftop to rooftop, their combined Haki suppressing the air around them.
The ground beneath them cracked from the sheer force of their departure. The ancient city, once a symbol of absolute power, now bore the scars of their battleāa testament to their audacity.
As they vanished into the distance, the colossal crater left behind in their wake began to clear. From the depths of the destruction, two figures emerged.
The two Five Eldersābattered, their robes torn, and their once-immaculate appearances marred with bloodāslowly climbed out of the abyss. Their breathing was ragged, their bodies aching from the brutal clash.
The elder wielding a blade spat out a mouthful of blood, his grip tightening around his weapon.
"They escapedā¦"
The long-haired elder scowled, his eyes burning with frustration.
"Damn it! I underestimated them. Their joint attack was more powerful than expected. Even with our defenses up, we still sustained injuries!"
The battle had not gone as they anticipated. Had they relied on Observation Haki to evade instead of meeting the full brunt of the assault, things might have been different. But their arrogance had cost them.
The elder with the sword glanced at the ruins, his expression dark.
"They're more troublesome than I thought."
His companion crossed his arms, his voice serious.
"Their current strength is not the real threatāit's their potential. We saw firsthand what they could do together. If left unchecked, in a few years, they could become a force that even the World Government cannot ignore. Especially that bratā¦ Ayr."
Even among the legends of the Rocks crew, Ayr stood out. His fusion of devil fruit abilities and unorthodox fighting style had made him the true anomaly of their generation. He had unlocked a form of power that no one else had dared to wield.
The elder with the sword smirked.
"You're mistaken. They have no future."
The long-haired elder raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Their goal was the Eternal Pointer to the Valley of the Gods."****"
The elder's smirk deepened as he continued.
"And what lies in the Valley of the Gods? Uranus."
The long-haired elder's eyes widened.
"So it's true? Lord Imu sealed Uranus there?"
"Indeed. And that means we know exactly where they'll be heading next."
A sinister aura radiated from the two elders. They would prepare for their next confrontation. This time, there would be no escape.
"Contact the Marines immediately. If the Rocks Pirates dare set foot in the Valley of the Godsā¦ we'll wipe them from existence."
Meanwhile, Somewhere in the New Worldā¦
The Queen Mama Chanter, Moby Dick, and Golden Lion's flying fleet sailed under the darkened sky, cutting through the ocean like celestial beasts returning from war.
Kaido stood at the bow of the ship, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the distant Red Line.
"Hmphā¦ looks like those Five Elders bastards aren't chasing us."
They had put considerable distance between themselves and Mariejois. If the World Government had planned to pursue them, they would have done so already.
Golden Lion, still battered but grinning, exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Jihahaha! That was exhilarating. Going toe-to-toe with the Five Elders, the highest echelon of the World Government, and making it out alive? I'd say that's a win!"
But in truth, he had doubted their survival.
The power of the Five Elders was beyond comprehensionāan overwhelming force that reminded them all why the World Government ruled unchallenged for centuries. If it hadn't been for Charlotte Linlin and the others arriving when they did, he would have been killed.
And Ayrā¦
His strength had reached terrifying heights. He had single-handedly taken down Deros, the infamous captain of the CPO's elite assassination unit. If Deros had been able to fight alongside the Five Elders, escaping would have been impossible.
Charlotte Linlin, still fuming, turned toward Golden Lion with a menacing glare.
"Shiki, you idiot! If you had told us you had already found the Eternal Pointer, we could have left long before that second Five Elders arrived!"
Golden Lion shrugged, taking another puff from his cigar.
"You never asked."
Linlin's face twitched with rage.
"Youā¦ absoluteā¦ imbecile! Do you have any idea how close we were to dying in that hellhole?!"
"Calm down, Linlin," Whitebeard interrupted with a hearty laugh. "We made it out alive, and we got what we came for. That's all that matters."
But Linlin wasn't done. She jabbed a finger at Golden Lion, her Conqueror's Haki flaring slightly.
"If it weren't for Ayr taking down Deros early, we would have been facing three enemies instead of two. And you were just standing there, with the Eternal Pointer, acting like an idiot! You nearly got us all killed!"
Golden Lion waved her off.
"Relax, relax. The mission was a success, wasn't it? Besides, we got to see Ayr go all out with that monster of his."
Kaido, who had remained silent, finally spoke up.
"ā¦That power."
The others turned toward him. Kaido's eyes were still locked on Ayr.
"The Tailed Beast Bomb. That wasn't just raw destruction. That was something else. Something unnatural."
Ayr, who had been leaning against the mast, finally smirked.
"Oh? You noticed?"
Kaido's eyes narrowed.
"That wasn't just your devil fruit, was it? You've been holding back this entire time."
Silence hung in the air.
Charlotte Linlin's curiosity piqued.
"Explain, Ayr."
Ayr chuckled.
"Let's just sayā¦ I've tapped into something beyond what any devil fruit can provide."
Golden Lion raised an eyebrow.
"Jihahaha! You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"
Whitebeard stroked his beard.
"Hmph. Whatever it is, if it means we get to drink another day, I won't question it."
Ayr's smirk didn't fade.
They weren't ready to hear the full truth yet. But soon, they would all understand.
Because the power he had awakenedā¦
Would change the world.
And with the Eternal Pointer in their possession, the next destination was clear.
The Valley of the Gods awaited.
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