Whether or not Mary Geoise can be destroyed, Sage doesn't care. Be it a Navy Admiral or the Five Elders who come to stop him, it doesn't matter if they prevent him from destroying Mary Geoise; the aftermath of the battle will surely annihilate those Heavenly Celestial Dragons living there.
Having a lair means both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is stable development and increased power; the disadvantage is having a fixed weakness that once struck, everything is over.
But the problem is, Sage isn't afraid to start over. He can always rebuild. If it's all destroyed, he'll dive into the wider Four Seas and start from scratch!
Back then, he wouldn't have entered the Grand Line had it not been for inadequate power and crew. Now with sufficient strength and foundation, starting in the Four Seas seems more advantageous.
He can bear those costs, but the Heavenly Celestial Dragons clearly cannot.
"Does reasoning make no sense..."
Saturn squints slightly; his lower half's spider legs suddenly transform into shadows and fall forward. Simultaneously, he glares ahead, filling everyone present with a unique sense of restraint and oppression.
Renedia stops in her tracks, Moriah's pupils contract, and Vegapunk is suppressed so much he can't move.
The spider leg falling like a long spear aims to pierce through Vegapunk.
Yet at this moment, a black-red flash shoots up from below, engulfing the spider leg. Following this, a whirlwind stirs within the flash, blowing towards Saturn's massive body.
As the whirlwind calms, Sage's body is revealed after a rapid spin, stopping with a heavy kick right on Saturn's face.
Bam!!
Saturn's massive body flies off, crashing into numerous buildings behind, all the way to the coastline, wrecking a warship docked ashore, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.
"Saint Saturn!"
Many Navies gasp, yet some dare not move because they're familiar with the figure in mid-air—they're not of a level that can handle him.
While some bullheaded ones ignore it all, raising their guns to fire at the silhouette in mid-air.
Bang bang bang bang!
Lead bullets infused with Haki fire out, all hitting Sage's body, yet not even a spark emerges.
In this form, mere lead bullets, even coiled with Haki, can't harm Sage.
"You sure are annoying."
Mid-air, Sage's mouth curls in disdain. He jumps in the air, extends a hand, five fingers spread, and with a single wave, unleashes a fierce black wind.
The sweep of Haki!
The Navy covered by "black wind" initially freeze, then bodies abruptly swell and explode into clouds of blood mist.
Compared to his Haki strength back when he broke out from Impel Down, Sage's has utterly transformed!
The Navies directly ahead of Sage all explode into blood mist, their blood smearing the ground and frightening surrounding Navies into retreat.
"No retreat allowed, advance! Attack for me!"
Nearby commanding and leading warships surrounding them, Doberman raises his blade to roar at those around him, "The Navy against pirates—how can you retreat? Like this, do you still count as Navy!"
After saying, he strikes down a fleeing Navy beside him. "No retreat; wear him down! Even the Four Emperors can't be unscathed under numerous attacks!"
That's indeed the truth!
On the sea, there's no possibility of overwhelming power crushing everything. Tens of thousands of elite Navies combined might force even a Sea Emperor to retreat; this sea still holds the possibility of many ants taking down elephants.
Just like the Summit War, Whitebeard as a Four Emperor even faces group attacks and gets slashed by a Navy opportunistically, or leaves a gun wound.
Even a bit, as long as it causes damage, that's enough, eventually wearing someone down.
"Doberman, huh..."
In mid-air, Sage uses Moon Step to jump once more, grinning savagely at him:
"It's been a while, you should know the difference between us. Sacrificing lives like this... trying to show off to your superiors? Why bother, no matter how you perform, you can't ascend to Admiral; your strength is lacking."
"Shut up! The Five Elders are the most noble people in the world, custodians of order, never allowed to be tainted! We Navies won't let you defile Saint Saturn as you wish! Today, we'll eliminate you, the most evil person in history, right here!"
Doberman points his sword at Sage, vicious-faced.
There's no sense of petty maneuvering. Reaching Vice Admiral level, especially elite Vice Admirals like Doberman's—the vicious ones, the benevolent ones—none have fickle willpower; they're mostly trusting in their own justice.
But sometimes, mere willpower isn't enough...
Sage raises a hand, gathering Haki, ready to send Doberman off, but just then, smoke by the warship dissipates, and Saturn's deep voice sounds.
"Enough, step down; everyone return to warships, initiate the Buster Call; everything on the island must vanish."
Saturn, engulfed in smoke akin to black flames, sees a spider leg and facial injuries rapidly healing under the black smoke. Gazing levelly at Sage bouncing in mid-air.
"Alright, since we're enemies, today you'll die here. Such a pity, a hero like you actually contributed quite a bit to world balance. Once you're dead, the New World will rampage again..."