"I'm sorry, Lord Aiolia, I am incompetent!"
The Five Elders immediately fell to their knees, humbly begging for mercy.
"You are indeed incompetent."
A second voice echoed through the room.
Another man, also wearing a golden mask, appeared behind the Five Elders. His speed was so extreme that he seemed to materialize out of thin air.
"Oh? You're awake too, Oxon."
Aiolia greeted him coldly.
"Long time no see."
Oxon's tone was equally frigid.
Though both were among the Eight Kings—figures of unparalleled nobility—their relationships were far from harmonious. Each of the Eight Kings was an unmatched powerhouse, ruthless and domineering in their own right. Naturally, none of them were willing to submit to another.
If not for Im's absolute authority, the Eight Kings would have long turned on each other.
Oxon strode forward, taking a seat on the luxurious sofa. He crossed his legs, then spoke lightly, "Evernell, Gade, and the others have awakened as well."
Then, his golden-masked face turned toward Aiolia.
"Since you were the first to awaken, tell me—what do you know about this pariah?"
Aiolia scoffed. "I was about to ask."
He turned his gaze toward the Five Elders.
"Tell me, just how powerful is this so-called Lucifer? How has he managed to humiliate you so thoroughly?"
"Yes, Lord Aiolia!"
The Five Elders immediately began detailing everything they knew about Lucifer—his origins, his abilities, and the immense strength of the Ghost Pirates.
Time passed.
After a long moment, the Five Elders finally fell silent, waiting for a response.
Aiolia chuckled coldly. "Hah. I never expected a mere pariah to reach such a level."
His voice carried an unmistakable disdain.
"You fools sure are impressive. To think you allowed an untouchable to grow to this extent without eliminating him sooner."
The Five Elders trembled, their hearts pounding wildly. Sweat dripped down their foreheads as they quickly lowered their heads further, not daring to speak.
"Enough. It's too late to discuss your failures now."
A third voice suddenly rang out.
Without anyone noticing, another figure in a golden mask had appeared near the window.
He stood motionless, gazing at the ruined landscape outside. Then, in an indifferent tone, he declared,
"Once we dispose of this untouchable, send them to the Tribunal of God."
"Since they have failed in their duties, they must pay the price."
"The Tribunal of God?!"
The Five Elders' faces turned deathly pale.
Cold sweat soaked their backs in an instant.
"Lord Everil, we—"
Everil cut them off coldly.
"What? Do you still wish to beg for mercy?"
His voice remained indifferent, devoid of emotion.
"Your incompetence has shamed the World Government. Because of you, the descendants of the gods have suffered heavy losses."
"The Tribunal of God is your only path to survival."
The Five Elders clenched their fists, their heads bowed in submission.
They knew the Tribunal of God was their only hope of staying alive.
However, it was a place even more terrifying than hell itself.
If they wished to walk out of there alive, they would have to endure all eighteen layers of torment.
Just then, a voice rang out, echoing through the sacred halls.
"All of you, come before me."
Hearing this, the Eight Kings immediately stood up.
Their expressions shifted, and they bowed deeply in reverence.
"As you command, Lord Im!"
Only one being in the world held the power to command the Eight Kings—Im, the King of the Celestial Dragons.
Without delay, Aiolia and the others made their way toward the Void Throne.
By the time they arrived, five more figures had already gathered.
Taking their places in a precise formation, the Eight Kings simultaneously bent down, placing their hands over their chests in a solemn salute.
"We greet our king!"
Unlike the Five Elders, the Eight Kings were not required to kneel before Im.
Im's gaze swept over them. Then, in a voice as cold as eternity, he spoke.
"Rise."
"Thank you, my king!"
The Eight Kings straightened but remained silent, awaiting his command.
Im's piercing gaze settled upon them.
"It has been centuries since we last gathered. I trust you are all well."
"The reason I have awakened you is simple—there is a light that must be extinguished."
"After eight hundred years, the world has forgotten the benevolence of the gods."
"This time, you must remind them of our power."
The Eight Kings bowed once more, hands still pressed over their chests.
"As you command, King Im!"
Meanwhile, beneath the towering Red Line—
Lucifer stood at the helm of the Ghost Pirates' flagship, gazing up at the colossal, blood-red landmass above.
The Red Line loomed before them like a sleeping dragon, its vast and immovable presence a testament to its ancient, indomitable power.
And yet, Lucifer's eyes held nothing but cold, unshakable determination.
The final battle was approaching.
But today, the Nether Pirates sought to conquer this colossal dragon and trample it beneath their feet.
"Cavendish!"
Standing on the bow of the Erebus, Lucifer called out.
"Understood, Captain Lucifer!"
Cavendish stepped forward, his expression unwavering.
Hundreds of pirate ships on the ocean suddenly broke free from the sea's grasp and soared into the sky.
In an instant, the fleet reached the perfect altitude, hovering above the Red Line.
"It seems the World Government is ready," Lucifer murmured.
His Observation Haki spread across the entirety of Mariejois, locking onto every living presence.
Through his perception, he detected over 500,000 troops hidden within the Holy Land—an army brimming with powerful forces.
However, what stood out the most were the nine distinct auras within Pangaea Castle.
They shone like nine blazing suns in the darkness—overwhelming and menacing.
"The Celestial Dragons have mobilized all their forces... So, this is the true extent of their power?"
Lucifer had long suspected that the Celestial Dragons possessed hidden combat strength, but now, he had confirmation.
If they had remained in the shadows, he might have felt uneasy.
But now that they had revealed themselves, he couldn't be happier.
"Let's go."
With a wave of Lucifer's hand, the fleet of pirate ships surged toward Mariejois.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Deafening explosions echoed as hundreds of ships crashed onto the sacred land.
The once-magnificent Mariejois still lay in ruins—its grandeur reduced to rubble.
The scars of Waldo's previous invasion were still fresh, and the World Government had yet to fully restore the city.
Standing before the Nether Pirates was the Marine force, led by Fleet Admiral Kong.
Behind him stood the Three Admirals, their expressions grim.
To assemble such an overwhelming force, Kong had mobilized elite troops from Marine branches across the world, forming an army of 500,000.
"Lucifer, the sinner of the world—you dare challenge the World Government?!"
Fleet Admiral Kong took a step forward, his roar shaking the battlefield.
"Do you realize the consequences of your actions?"
"Without the World Government, this world will plunge into chaos!"
"Do you understand how many innocent lives will be lost because of this?"
His voice boomed like thunder, reverberating across Mariejois.
But Lucifer remained indifferent.
At this point, there was nothing left to say between him and the World Government.
"Enough nonsense—let's begin."
Lucifer raised his hand, and an entire island descended from the sky, plummeting straight toward the Marines.
This was no ordinary island—it was the battlefield of the century, the Desert Island.
Unlike smaller islands, it was massive.
The moment it appeared, it blocked out the sun, casting a shadow over the battlefield.
The Marine soldiers below looked up, their faces filled with terror as the island came crashing down.
"W-what the hell?!"
"This is the power of the Demon Lucifer—the strongest man in the world!"
"We're doomed! What are we supposed to do?!"
"This is the end of the world!"
"Is he even human?!"
Fear spread like wildfire through the Marine ranks.
Their morale crumbled.
Even Kong, the Marine Admirals, and the highest-ranking officers momentarily hesitated.
If it were a smaller island, they might have been able to deal with it.
But an island of this magnitude?
Even with all their destructive power combined, they were helpless.
Admiral Fujitora stepped forward, drawing his blade.
A powerful slash of purple light burst forth, aimed at slowing the island's descent.
However, the Desert Island was under Lucifer's complete control.
A mere Admiral was no match for him.
The moment Fujitora's gravitational force clashed with the island, it shattered like fragile glass.
At that moment, a blinding crimson light shot out from Pangaea Castle, enveloping the island in an invisible force.
The sheer power behind it slowed the island's fall, suspending it 100 meters above the battlefield.
"Oh? So this is the hidden power of the World Government?"
Lucifer's gaze shifted toward a figure in a golden mask who had suddenly appeared.
A smirk played at the corners of his lips.
This person was far beyond a Marine Admiral—stronger than Whitebeard and Garp, at least the versions Lucifer had encountered.
Judging by his presence, he had undoubtedly awakened the advanced stage of Haki.
But just how powerful was his Conqueror's Haki field? That remained to be seen.
"Only one of the nine has shown up? How arrogant."
A cold light flashed in Lucifer's eyes as he extended his hand toward the void.
Boom!
The golden figure's power was instantly crushed under Lucifer's might.
And then—
The Desert Island resumed its descent, crashing down upon the Marine forces!
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