With Lucien's current strength, once he went all out, he already stood at the very pinnacle of this world. When Dragon lost his strength in a single exchange, what followed was not a battle but a merciless execution. There was no opportunity for recovery, no time to breathe, only an endless storm of destruction.
Eight black red thorns bound Dragon tightly, piercing deep into his flesh. Blood surged into him in violent waves, flooding his veins with foreign corruption. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably, his teeth grinding as his body convulsed. Slowly, the resistance in his eyes faded. His struggles weakened, then diminished altogether. His body began to distort, his humanity dissolving as he transformed into a Demon under Lucien's control.
"Marshal, what should we do?"
A Vice Admiral stepped before Sengoku, his expression grave as he surveyed the battlefield that had already descended into chaos.
Vice Admiral Garp was being besieged, Even a legend like Garp could not withstand the Emperors at once. Against one, he could fight. Against two, he might endure for a day or two. But three, that was an entirely different matter. He was being steadily crushed, forced back step by step.
Kizaru's situation was no better.
Blackbeard, Queen, and Van Augur coordinated flawlessly. The Dark Dark Fruit's gravitational pull restricted Kizaru's movement, dragging his light body back into tangible form. Queen met him head on in his ancient Zoan form, while Van Augur's bullets rained down from afar. Even with his speed, Kizaru was being cornered, and it was clear he could not hold out much longer.
The rest of the Marines had not yet joined the fray.
"Do not act rashly," Sengoku said after a long pause, though his voice lacked certainty.
His expression was dark. On the surface, it seemed as if the Marines were watching the tigers fight from a distance. But once the Revolutionary Army was crushed, who could say they would not be next?
Who exactly was that man?
Even Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom had fallen under his command. Blackbeard, Magellan, countless notorious figures, all bowed before him. In terms of sheer power, perhaps only the World Government could stand against him now.
High above, Silver Dragon hovered in mid air, his azure pupils filled with solemnity.
How had this so called fellow countryman gained control over such monsters? What was his true goal?
"Bastard!"
Belo Betty was blasted backward, crashing into broken stone. Blood spilled from her red lips, staining her pale face. Before her stood Crocodile and Burgess, their eyes cold and merciless.
The Revolutionary Army's commanders were being targeted by two or even three powerhouses at once. Every opponent was a notorious figure who had shaken the seas. The disparity in strength was overwhelming.
At the lower and middle levels, the Revolutionary Army had already collapsed. They were outnumbered and outmatched. The criminals of Impel Down fought like rabid beasts, howling with manic laughter. Jailer Beasts rampaged through the battlefield, driving the Revolutionaries from one side to the other. Behind them followed a tide of bloodthirsty lunatics, biting and infecting anyone they caught with Demon blood.
Those bitten would tremble, scream, and then rise again with vacant eyes, turning their blades on their former allies.
The snowball effect was terrifying. The Revolutionary Army retreated steadily, their lines crumbling. Only the highest tier fighters still resisted, and even their defeat was only a matter of time.
Golden lightning crackled in the sky.
Lucien hovered amidst the flames, his amethyst eyes glowing with cold satisfaction as he surveyed the devastation. A hurricane spiraled beside him. Dragon, now fully transformed into a Demon, stood obediently at his side. In raw power, Dragon now surpassed even Kaido's highest state, though he still fell slightly short of Whitebeard. Whitebeard remained Lucien's strongest subordinate, followed by Dragon, then Kaido.
Lucien's gaze shifted toward Kizaru.
Kizaru clutched Ama no Murakumo, unease flooding his heart. For the first time in years, fear crawled along his spine.
"Great Might Heavenly Dragon."
A colossal divine dragon, stretching for ten thousand meters, roared across the battlefield and smashed into Kizaru's back. The surrounding mountains and frozen ground fractured for miles. Kizaru crashed into a massive crater, his body drenched in blood, his face barely recognizable.
Lucien descended and unleashed a thousand meter Rankyaku. At the last moment, Kizaru managed to evade by instinct alone.
"Black Vortex."
Blackbeard was already prepared. Gravitational force surged, dragging Kizaru back mid flight. Queen, in his Brachiosaurus form, smashed down violently, leaving Kizaru disoriented.
Three black red thorns pierced straight through Kizaru's chest. His eyes widened as he stared at the blood blooming from his wound. A scorching current surged into him. His body convulsed violently as Demon blood took hold.
Blackbeard and Queen did not linger. They moved on to support other battles.
Lucien extended a crystalline finger and pierced Kizaru's forehead, calmly altering his memories with cold precision.
"Dragon, why!"
Lindbergh lay sprawled on the ground, blood soaking his fur. His eyes were filled with disbelief as Dragon appeared before him and struck without hesitation.
"It seems you have become one of us," Lafitte said softly, tipping his hat.
With Dragon, Kizaru, and Lindbergh defeated, the remaining commanders soon followed. Belo Betty, Mori, Karasu, Ivankov, Koala, Hack, and others all fell in succession.
The mysterious Great Swordsman, Genzo, also collapsed. Because of the Sunflower Manual, Genzo had become strangely effeminate and sinister, his presence lacking the firmness it once had.
Garp was dragged across the battlefield by Kaido, blood leaving a gruesome trail behind him. His body was broken, yet his eyes still burned with defiance.
Lucien hovered above the battlefield.
Behind him stood the Whitebeard Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates, the Blackbeard Pirates, the forces of Impel Down under Magellan, and now the shattered Revolutionary Army led by Dragon. Doflamingo, Kuma, Crocodile, and Jinbe also stood among the ranks.
A massive fissure split the frozen sea as Lucien faced Sengoku and the Marines.
"Bring those three here," Lucien ordered calmly.
In the distance stood Moriah, Mihawk, and Hancock.
A dozen powerhouses surged forward, including Kaido, Dragon, Kizaru, King, Katakuri, Blackbeard, Marco, Cracker, and Oven. Faced with such overwhelming numbers, even Mihawk's sharp gaze tightened. Moriah and Hancock's faces turned pale.
The outcome was decided before it began.
Lucien did not bother to watch.
Instead, his coccyx thorn pierced through Garp's body. Demon blood flooded into him like a raging torrent. Garp's powerful physique endured the same volume of corruption as Whitebeard. His shattered bones healed rapidly as his body transformed.
"Who exactly are you!" Sengoku roared, helplessly watching his lifelong comrade convulse at Lucien's feet.
"You may call me Savior," Lucien replied, amusement flickering in his amethyst eyes.
The title had never existed before, but from this day forward, it would be etched into history.
Hancock, Moriah, and Mihawk were hurled back, their bodies battered and bloodied.
Lucien lowered his gaze toward Hancock. Her clothes were torn, revealing pale skin beneath the fabric. Even wounded, she possessed breathtaking beauty.
He lifted her by the throat with a thorn and drew her close. His finger tilted her chin upward.
"Hancock, my beloved woman."
Her breath was warm, her eyes filled with hatred and humiliation.
Without hesitation, the thorn pierced through her heart. Demon blood surged into her delicate body, disregarding her beauty entirely.
Moriah suffered the same fate.
Just as Lucien turned his attention toward Mihawk, an unexpected change occurred.
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