"Rotom, there's only three hours left. Please leave the Royal City as soon as possible, everyone, make haste."
Rotom, in its loudspeaker form, was spreading this message everywhere. This was Arceus's command to them: a three-hour evacuation time. Based on estimates, three hours should be sufficient for everyone to leave the Royal City. As for those who don't leave, that's none of his concern.
The sunlight that cleared the fog and the beams that destroyed the city walls were all Arceus's handiwork. The clear skies he created could completely alter the weather.
This is the situation in Wano Kuni nowadays. Arceus can use his power to meddle with the climate there, whether it's continuous natural disasters or optimal weather—all depends on his mood.
After the clear skies came the Solar Beam. White smoke rose from the ravines; these were the marks left by the Solar Beam's high temperature. At this time, although the surrounding land appeared unchanged, it had long become like Flame Mountain.
This is what Arceus did after he arrived. He refrained from indiscriminate attacks as a final compromise. According to Mandfeish's intelligence, he had locked his target onto the Royal Family and the Imperial Guard. Others, even the soldiers—if they laid down their weapons, he would ignore them.
The Royal Army, under orders and supervision by their respective commanders, still maintained order, but the ordinary people were different, especially those who had witnessed how the city walls were destroyed.
Tears still shimmered in their eyes, caused by the bright light from the Solar Beam. Yet they couldn't be bothered with that at the moment. The previous war didn't make them flee because the battle between the rebels and the Royal Army was still within a bearable range.
But now, what's happening is beyond their comprehension. When faced with something incomprehensible, fleeing was the first thing they thought to do.
A beam capable of destroying city walls could destroy a city; they didn't think their bodies were stronger than the city walls.
"Quick, get up! Don't sleep! Hurry and leave!"
"Wha... What happened?! Did the rebels make it in?!"
"It's not the rebels. Anyway, leave quickly, you can't stay here any longer!"
The message was spreading within the city as well. More and more people chose to grab their valuables and flee. Although those outside were so-called rebels, they didn't fear them; many even had relatives among the rebels.
They were originally a group of civilians forced to revolt, opposing only the Royal Family from beginning to end.
Most of the military was still under control, but the sentinels on duty were different; even their superiors didn't stop them, having already fled themselves.
This inhuman attack didn't spark any desire to resist, and within the Royal City, the sound of Rotom's announcements could still be heard. King Sikael V didn't believe in the so-called divine punishment and even fired a gun at the Rotom in the sky.
"Shut up! You monsters, what nonsense are you shouting! I am the only king of the West Kael Kingdom! Here, I am the god!"
Bullets left a dent on Rotom's body, but Rotom didn't care about such things. Its body was just like clothing to them, easily replaceable.
"Ignorant fool, Rotom. An ignorant fool coveting the master's treasures, Rotom."
The Rotom in the sky wasn't angered by this and instead amplified its ridicule towards Sikael V.
At this moment, another change completely shattered the already fragile situation. Arceus was merely releasing attacks from the cloud layer and had even given them evacuation time, but Kaidou wasn't that considerate.
A massive Cyan Dragon appeared in the sky, unleashing a Hot Breath towards the Royal City. The intense flames split the Royal City in half, plunging the capital of the West Kael Kingdom, which had stood for centuries, into a sea of fire.
"Hey, Kaidou, the three hours aren't up yet!"
"I know, but wasn't the time meant for those civilians? Clearly, these guys in the Royal City don't count, right? I couldn't hold back. Hey, are you that so-called Fifth, yeah? You're the kid who messed with my underling, right?"
Kaidou's massive body slightly lowered, and just a breath from his mouth made Sikael V collapse to the ground.
"Tch, I thought you were someone significant, but you're just a coward? Where's the courage you had before?"
Daring to lay hands on Mandfeish, Kaidou originally thought this man at least had some guts; if not calm in the face of death, at least capable of a few words. Unexpectedly, he was scared into submission just like that.
"What are you all standing there for? Everyone outside the Royal Family and Imperial Guard can leave. But let me warn you, if any Imperial Guard or Royal Family is among you, then everyone on the entire island will die!"
Kaidou's voice, amplified by Rotom's loudspeaker, nearly echoed across the whole island. His destructive actions sped up everyone's escape and also sparked some internal chaos.
For instance, some Imperial Guards tried to sneak away, but when recognized, they were beaten back by others. Nobody believed that monster in the sky was joking; no one wanted to get implicated.
Watching the chaotic Royal City, Kaidou did nothing. He was waiting for the three-hour time because Arceus promised this evacuation time.
Kaidou's attack also made Sikael V realize reality. He attempted to explain, but whether with bribes or flattery, Kaidou ignored him completely. And when he tried to escape, Kaidou's attacks inevitably blocked his retreat.
Kaidou's attack could directly kill him, but Kaidou refused to act, while Rotom in the sky continued the countdown. For Sikael V, it was like a death sentence.
Compared to sudden death, knowing the exact moment brought more terror.
"Senior, senior, you've got a way, don't you? You had an agreement with my father, right?"
The swordsman beside him became his last hope, but the swordsman said nothing. Someone just recognized Kaidou's identity. His image frequently appeared in newspapers, the monster with a ten-digit bounty was not someone he could contend with.
The countdown from Rotom reached its end, and most had evacuated. Arceus also delivered his judgment.
"Do you not know what crime you've committed? Allow me to tell you, greed is your original sin."
He felt a familiar aura within the palace, and with his guidance, another Plate returned to its rightful place.
"Laying hands on my things is your sin. Because of your actions, the West Kael Kingdom will be erased from history. From henceforth, you will be nothing more than a passage in history."
As time completely expired, Arceus's Judgment was fully formed. The beam of judgment swept over the entire Royal City, making it history's dust within mere moments.
Whether they were Imperial Guards or Sikael the Fifth, all lives remaining in the Royal City were completely erased, leaving no evidence they ever existed.