As Ray predicted, all the elites on the Celestial Dragons' side activated their return teleportation the moment the light appeared.
Their reactions to Imu's command varied.
Saint Garling frowned slightly, using Conqueror's Haki-infused slashes to push back Rayleigh before flashing backward to activate his return teleportation.
Saint Killingham was somewhat fearful.
Once the island-destroying light was activated, it meant his mission had failed, and he didn't know if he would be punished by the Imu-sama he admired upon returning.
Shamrock was unwilling.
His named sword, which had consumed the Cerberus Devil Fruit, was completely suppressed by Ray.
That sword reverted to its original form upon sensing Ray's aura, trembling uncontrollably.
If not for Shamrock using Conqueror's Haki to bolster the sword's courage, he would have been effectively unarmed.
Even so, he was still suppressed by Ray.
Before the outcome was decided, the light arrived.
Shamrock was dissatisfied.
He had finally gotten the chance to fight such a strong opponent—why wouldn't Imu let him continue?
He wanted to break through!!!
But he had to obey Imu's command, at least for now.
Helpless, after Ray left, he also began his return teleportation.
Saturn had the most complex expression—excited yet nervous.
He was nervous because, as a failure, he would likely be punished by Imu, perhaps even losing half his life.
Based on Saturn's understanding of Imu, a failure like him might even face death.
But now the situation was different.
Four of the Five Elders were already dead, leaving him as the sole survivor.
Thus, Saturn would probably not die.
At most, he'd suffer some physical pain—no big deal.
His excitement also stemmed from this.
Finally, he wouldn't have to face the Demon god, Ray, and the strength of the other Straw Hat Pirates members had exceeded his expectations.
Zoro alone could hold him off head-on, even in his current battle-damaged state.
Coupled with Robin's terrifying attacks and control, Saturn felt he had no way to fight back.
'No more fighting—time to run.'
As the teleportation energy enveloped him, Saturn felt the sky that once shrouded by demonic clouds, was now incredibly clear, bathed in brilliant sunlight.
'So refreshing!'
But suddenly, a silver figure appeared before him.
"RAY!"
'What kind of speed is that?'
'Wasn't Ray still two kilometers away half a second ago?'
'What is he trying to do? Instantly kill me?'
'Hmph, don't flatter yourself.'
'The teleportation array is a conceptual skill at the spatial level.'
'Once activated, unless you can cut through space, you absolutely cannot kill me, Saturn!'
'And whether it's that golden blade light of you or that black hole that can suck in everything, neither is enough to destroy the spatial teleportation array set up by Imu-sama.'
Saturn snorted coldly, "Let me show you, Ray, what absolute defense truly means!"
"Aren't you so tough?"
"Aren't you so good at killing?"
"Yonko Killer? Celestial Dragons Killer?"
"Try killing one more for me to see!"
Looking at Saturn's smug expression, Ray remained completely unfazed.
He had held back until now just to ensure he could kill Saint Saturn with 100% certainty.
Of course, when he was fighting the other Five Elders earlier, he could have completely slain Saturn then too.
But Ray chose not to.
The reason was simple - the other four Elders were all stronger than Saturn.
The least threatening one should be saved for last.
Moreover, Ray wasn't sure from the beginning how many of the Five Elders he could actually kill. So he was testing the waters while fighting.
As long as he could guarantee killing Saturn in the end, that was enough.
This was what he promised Kuma and Bonney, so naturally he had to deliver.
Mere spatial teleportation meant nothing to the current Ray.
And Saturn, protected by the teleportation, had naturally reached his most relaxed moment.
With perfect timing and conditions, how could Saturn possibly evade Ray's certain-kill strike?
Ray's Demonic Power surged dramatically as Tessaiga transformed into the Meido form, spatial power manifesting on its surface.
"Meido Zangetsuha."
Rushing to within a hundred meters of Saturn, Ray swung his blade single-handedly, sending over a dozen blade-shaped Meido sword energies straight toward the teleportation array where Saturn was.
Meido Zangetsuha terrifying blades that cut through the space where the enemy stood, devouring the enemy's severed body parts into the Meido, then transforming into over a dozen giant circular black moons that emitted overwhelming suction force.
Thus, Saturn watched in shock as his body was sliced into dozens of pieces and disappeared into the Meido sword energies.
As the spatial teleportation was broken, over a dozen giant black moons appeared behind him.
Under such tremendous suction, Saturn screamed as he, along with the land within 500 meters around him, vanished into the black holes.
All of this happened in less than one second.
The light spots 30,000 meters high in the sky had only grown slightly larger, not yet having time to crash into the island.
Meanwhile, Saint Garling, Saint Killingham, and Shamrock were so shocked by this scene that their pupils trembled.
'What the hell...'
'Anyone who tried to block this move would die.'
His heart pounding with fear, he pondered whether he would have used his sword to block if Ray had unleashed this technique against him earlier.
No amount of Haki could stop blades that directly cut through space.
Perhaps he would have chosen to dodge.
Yes, next time he encounters this technique from Ray, he must dodge - absolutely cannot confront it head-on.
While nervously contemplating, Shamrock gradually disappeared from the Sabaody Archipelago.
Saint Garling and Saint Killingham left shortly after.
Gunko looked in Brook's direction before being the last to vanish from the spot.
...
Just after all three members of the God's Knights had left, the island-destroying holy light in the sky grew increasingly blinding.
Luffy and the others all saw the hundreds of bright light spots in the sky.
And since nearly all of them had awakened Observation Haki, they all felt what a certain-death crisis truly meant.
Their subconscious warned them - RUN, or you will definitely die.
Simultaneously, Ray clearly sensed the targets of these "Island-Destroying Lights."
Four massive beams locked onto Ray and his companions.
One beam covered the positions of Ray, Zoro, Robin, Nami, and Brook.
The second beam enveloped Luffy, Rayleigh, Bonney, and Bartholomew.
The third beam targeted Sanji, Mikita, Usopp, Shakky, and other key members of the Floating Artist.
The fourth beam aimed at Merry, Chopper, and Franky.
The remaining nearly a hundred smaller points of light surged toward other parts of the Sabaody Archipelago.
The "Ruler of the World," Imu, had decided to use this unstoppable apocalyptic weapon to completely bury the Celestial Dragons' shame in history.
At this moment, Ray knew it was time to use his trump card.
He roared, "Kuma, now!"
The Shichibukai, who had been hiding in the shadows, sprang into action.
Activating his Paw-Paw Fruit ability, he slapped himself to the location of Luffy, Rayleigh, Bonney, and Bartholomeo.
His hands repeatedly struck like swatting flies.
In an instant, the four vanished from their spots, reappearing outside the island and flying rapidly in the same direction.
But Kuma's speed could only accomplish this much.
The light had already reached the sky above the island.
Three other gathering spots of the Straw Hat Pirates' key members still needed his help.
Before that, however, a massive dark moon appeared high above, where the beam was about to strike Zoro, Robin, and the others, briefly swallowing the enormous light.
At the same moment Kuma sent Luffy and the others flying, a towering diamond tornado collided with the Island-Destroying Light above Sanji and his group.
In the last location, the farthest from Ray and the others, three more people were present.
Above the spot where Chopper, Merry, and Franky were, a 500-meter-diameter Island-Destroying Light was on the verge of annihilating them.
Just then, a giant Demon Dog, appeared above them.
Channeling all his Ray Demonic Power and Haki into his left claw, the demonized Ray slammed into the Island-Destroying Light, creating a chance for the three to survive and buy time.
To reach these three in time, Ray had no choice but to turn into his demon form, pushing himself to his limit.
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