Red Line, Mariejois.
This place was once the holy land of the Celestial Dragons, a place that should have been filled with their laughter and joy.
But today, after witnessing Caelan cause chaos in Marineford, the Celestial Dragons could no longer laugh.
Saint Saturn and Saint Nusjuro had fled back to the Red Line in a panic along with Akainu, threw him to the doctors for treatment, and then went to Pangaea Castle to meet Imu.
"Lord Imu, our plan has failed this time," Saturn knelt on one knee, his voice trembling. "That Caelan is too powerful. We're no match for him. That God Slayer Spear of his looks like it could destroy the world."
Even though he had escaped from death in Marineford, the pillar of light that had pierced through the heavens and the earth, carrying with it a destructive aura, still lingered vividly in his mind.
It was terrifying, a shadow that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
"I saw it," Imu sat on the Empty Throne, his tone gloomy. "That God Slayer Spear is indeed terrifying. I have no way to deal with it."
"Even you can't do anything about it?"
Saturn knelt on the ground, shocked and filled with despair.
The one in front of him was the king from eight hundred years ago, the one who had created the Five Elders. A being of immense power and knowledge, far surpassing anyone else except Caelan.
If even Imu couldn't deal with the God Slayer Spear, then they were truly finished.
"Lord Imu, do you know the origin of the God Slayer Spear?" Nusjuro asked, unwilling to give up. "If it's something from that massive kingdom eight hundred years ago, we might be able to find a clue."
"I don't know the origin of the God Slayer Spear," Imu shook his head, speaking in a strange tone. "If a God Slayer Spear had existed back then, the World Government wouldn't exist today."
As an old monster who had lived for over eight hundred years, he understood better than anyone the power of the God Slayer Spear.
If it were fired at him, he would certainly die.
Compared to the three Ancient Weapons, the giant robots, or even Joyboy, Caelan was far, far stronger.
The appearance of such an unbelievably powerful and unknown force left Imu confused and full of dread.
He had no information, knew nothing about it.
"Caelan has declared war on us. He thinks victory is certain, that we have no strength left to resist." Imu continued, "Gather all available forces and prepare for the final battle."
"This world belongs to me. No one can take it away so easily."
"He has the qualifications to ascend the throne, but the moment of succession will also be the greatest war. He won't get what he wants."
Imu's voice was extremely calm, like still water.
He knew the World Government was no match for Caelan. Even if he used every card at his disposal, it wouldn't change the final outcome.
But if Caelan wanted to seize the fruits of victory without paying a price, that was impossible.
Let the world burn in war.
If he was no longer the ruler of this world, then the world had no reason to continue existing.
"But those in the Navy have already surrendered to the enemy. We no longer have the strength," Saturn couldn't help but speak.
He understood what Imu meant. They had to resist to the end, hoping for a miracle or at least making Caelan win miserably.
But they had too little power left to make that happen.
"Lord Imu, Sengoku, Borsalino, and Kuzan have all defected. The Navy is in disarray. They're basically finished," Nusjuro added.
The current state of the Navy was worse than bad. Its overall strength had fallen by more than two-thirds since the Battle of Marineford.
"We still have the Holy Knights, the CP organizations, and our weapons," Imu said calmly. "Gather every force we have. Use every means to disrupt their momentum and put up the most tenacious resistance possible."
"Understood, Lord Imu!"
Saturn and Nusjuro nodded heavily.
They understood what Imu meant clearly. Even if they couldn't win, they had to fight. The longer and harder the war, the better.
"Go. Fight him with everything you have and prepare to ignite the greatest war in the past eight hundred years."
Imu's voice grew louder.
"Yes, Lord Imu!"
Saturn and Nusjuro rose from the floor and slowly exited the hall that symbolized the highest power in the world.
"Sengoku, Kuzan, Garp, Borsalino," Saturn muttered the names of the traitors. "I should have had those traitors executed earlier."
Just thinking about how they had defected the moment they lost filled him with fury.
They were already no match for Caelan. With those traitors joining him, the situation had become hopeless.
"There's no point talking about them now," Nusjuro shook his head. "Let Akainu recover as soon as possible and take over the position of Fleet Admiral. We can't let the Navy fall completely into Caelan's hands."
"That's all we can do," Saturn sighed in slight relief. "Fortunately, Akainu isn't dead. If he were, the Navy would truly be finished."
At this moment, Akainu was lying in a hospital bed, drenched in cold sweat and feeling a deep chill in his heart.
He wanted to run, but he couldn't.
(To be continued.)