Holy Land, Mary Geoise
The doors to the chamber of authority opened slowly.
A suffocating presence spilled out from within.
Five figures sat in silence.
The highest authority beneath the empty throne.
The Five Elder Stars.
At the center of the room, beneath their gaze—
A single man stood.
Figarland Garling.
Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights.
Unbowed.
Unshaken.
Unapologetic.
"Figarland Garling…"
The voice that spoke first was deep. Ancient. Carrying authority that pressed against the lungs.
It belonged to Topman Warcury.
"You have overstepped."
Garling said nothing.
Another voice followed. Calm. Analytical.
"You deployed three Holy Knights…" said Marcus Mars, his tone measured but cold.
"…into the territory of an Emperor."
A pause.
"…without consultation."
A cane tapped lightly against the ground.
"Do you understand the gravity of that action?" asked Shepherd Ju Peter, eyes narrowed.
Garling's lips curved slightly.
"I do."
A heavier voice cut through next.
"You risk destabilizing the balance of the world."
That came from Jaygarcia Saturn.
His gaze was piercing.
Unforgiving.
"And for what?" Saturn continued. "A personal matter?"
Before Garling could respond—
Another voice, sharp as a blade, spoke.
"You sent elite forces into a war zone."
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro rested his hand near his blade.
"If even one of them dies…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…it will not be a loss we can ignore."
Silence filled the chamber.
All five gazes locked onto Garling.
Demanding.
Judging.
Condemning.
Garling exhaled softly.
Then—
He spoke.
"I sent them…"
A pause.
"…to retrieve my son."
The air froze.
"…Your son?" Mars repeated, brows furrowing.
Saturn's expression darkened.
"Do not insult this chamber with trivialities."
Garling's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Trivial?"
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"The boy's name is Tenjin."
Recognition flickered. Subtle, but present.
"The Marine…" Ju Peter muttered.
"The one who struck a Celestrial Dragon," Nusjuro added.
Garling nodded once.
"Yes."
"And more importantly…"
His voice lowered.
"He is mine."
A tense silence followed.
Then—
Saturn leaned forward.
"You would risk the lives of Holy Knights…"
"…for a Marine recruit?"
Garling met his gaze directly.
"He is not just a Marine."
Warcury's voice cut in again.
"…Explain."
Garling stepped forward slightly.
Calm.
Composed.
Completely in control.
"Tenjin possesses potential equal to the greatest of this era."
A pause.
Then—
"With the right guidance…"
"He could stand alongside monsters like my son Shanks."
That name—
Carried weight even here.
"And my son, Shamrock…"
Garling's smile widened faintly.
"…already does."
Mars narrowed his eyes.
"You're suggesting…"
"…this is about strengthening the balance?"
Garling nodded.
"Yes."
"If Tenjin is brought to the Holy Land…"
"If his power is properly cultivated…"
"…then the authority of Imu-sama will not merely be maintained."
"It will be reinforced."
Saturn's gaze hardened.
"You speak as if you act in Imu-sama's interest."
Garling didn't hesitate.
"I do."
Nusjuro tapped his blade lightly.
"…And yet your reasoning reeks of personal ambition."
Garling smirked.
"…Of course it does."
"He is my son."
The tension in the room spiked again.
Ju Peter's voice rose slightly.
"You treat this too lightly, Garling."
"If those Holy Knights fall—"
"It will have consequences that extend beyond you."
Saturn added, voice colder now:
"For Imu-sama."
Garling's expression didn't change.
"They won't fall."
A simple statement.
"Shamrock is there."
"And the other two…"
He shrugged slightly.
"…are more than capable."
Mars frowned.
"That is not certainty."
"That is arrogance."
Garling's eyes flicked toward him.
"No."
"It is fact."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Then—
Garling spoke again.
"And besides…"
His tone shifted.
Sharper.
"You seem to misunderstand something."
All five Elders looked at him.
Garling's gaze hardened.
"The Holy Knights…"
"…are under my command."
A pause.
"I decide how they are used."
The air cracked.
Nusjuro's hand tightened near his blade.
"You dare—"
Ju Peter's cane struck the ground.
"Watch your tone."
Saturn's voice dropped dangerously low.
"You stand here because of the authority granted to you."
Garling smiled.
"…And I execute that authority as I see fit."
Warcury raised a hand.
Silence returned instantly.
He looked at Garling carefully.
Long.
Measuring.
"…If what you say is true…"
"…then this action may have merit."
The others shifted slightly.
Not agreeing—
But listening.
Warcury continued:
"A Marine with that level of potential…"
"…one tied to your bloodline…"
"…could indeed be valuable."
Saturn frowned.
"You would allow this recklessness?"
Warcury didn't look at him.
"I said it has merit."
Then—
His eyes returned to Garling.
"But do not misunderstand."
"This is not approval."
A pause.
"It is tolerance."
Garling said nothing.
But the faint smile remained.
Warcury leaned back slightly.
"…Mind your tone, Garling."
The warning was quiet.
But absolute.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Garling turned.
"…Understood."
His voice carried no submission.
Only acknowledgment.
He began walking toward the exit.
Each step calm.
Unhurried.
Unchallenged.
As the doors opened—
Saturn spoke once more.
"If this fails…"
Garling didn't stop.
"…It won't."
The doors shut behind him.
Outside the chamber.
The air felt lighter.
Insignificant.
Garling exhaled softly.
Then—
A smile spread across his face.
---
Whole Cake Island — Outskirts
The battlefield had already been reduced to ruin.
Cracked earth.
Splintered candy structures.
Air thick with killing intent.
At the center of it—
Three Sweet Commanders.
And two intruders.
Charlotte Smoothie stood tall, sword resting against her shoulder, eyes cold and focused.
Beside her—
Charlotte Cracker, biscuit armor already forming.
And Charlotte Snack, stance low, ready to strike.
Across from them—
Gunko.
Sommers.
Both… smiling.
"…You still haven't answered my question," Gunko said, her voice dripping with disdain. "What did you do with Commander Shamrock?"
Smoothie didn't respond.
Her gaze remained locked.
Unwavering.
"We're not obligated to answer you," she said calmly.
But—
Cracker scoffed.
"Tch. Doesn't matter anyway."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That man? He's in the Mirror World."
Smoothie's eyes snapped toward him.
"Cracker—"
"What?" he shrugged. "They can't do anything about it."
Snack grinned slightly.
"Yeah. Doesn't change the fact…"
He rolled his shoulders.
"…you two are weird."
A pause.
"…but still weak."
Gunko's eyes narrowed.
"…Weak?"
Sommers chuckled beside her.
"Oh, I like this one."
The next moment—
Snack vanished.
BOOM!!
His blade tore through Sommers' torso clean.
Slicing him in half.
Gunko didn't move.
Didn't react.
Silence.
"…Hah," Snack exhaled.
"Told you."
Cracker smirked.
Smoothie watched.
Carefully.
Then—
Something… shifted.
Sommers' body—
Moved.
The two halves twisted.
Stretched.
And—
Reconnected.
Flesh knitting together.
Like nothing had happened.
"…What?" Snack blinked.
Cracker's smirk faded.
Smoothie's eyes sharpened.
Sommers rolled his neck.
Crack.
Then smiled.
Wide and unsettling.
"I told you…"
His voice came out amused.
"…I don't like sneak attacks."
SHING!!
Cracker lunged first.
Sword coated in hardened biscuit armor—
Crashing down.
Sommers raised his blade to meet it.
His saber—
Dark.
Jagged.
Lined with unnatural protrusions.
"Thorn Saber."
The clash rang out—
Steel against something… wrong.
Spikes erupted from Sommers' blade mid-contact—
Driving forward—
Smoothie stepped in.
SLASH!!
Her massive blade carved clean through Sommers again.
No hesitation.
He split.
Again.
But—
Again—
He came back.
Smoothie watched it happen this time.
Every detail.
Every movement.
Every unnatural reconstruction.
"…I see," she murmured.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…You don't die."
Sommers grinned.
"Bingo."
She moved again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Each strike—
Precise.
Overwhelming.
SLASH!
Cut down.
CRASH!
Smashed apart.
TEAR!!
Ripped through completely.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each time—
He came back.
Laughing.
Mocking.
Enjoying it.
"…You're annoying," Smoothie said coldly.
Meanwhile—
Gunko moved.
Her hand lifted slightly.
A glowing construct formed—
An arrow.
Sleek.
Sharp.
She flicked it.
The arrow curved mid-air—
Bending unnaturally—
Snack charged forward—
Blade raised—
The arrow struck—
Not him—
Cracker.
BOOM!!
"…What—?!"
Cracker staggered—
Blood spilling as the redirected attack struck him clean.
Snack froze.
"…Huh?"
Gunko was already behind him.
"You shouldn't look away," she said flatly.
THRKKK—!!
Arrows.
Multiple.
Manifested at point-blank range—
Driving straight into Snack's body.
Chest.
Shoulder.
Side.
He coughed—
Eyes widening—
"…Damn…"
He collapsed.
Smoothie's head snapped toward them.
Her presence shifted.
Cold.
Heavy and deadly.
"…You."
The ground cracked beneath her step.
She moved—
Blade rising—
Power gathering—
Then—
A ripple.
The air distorted.
A mirror formed.
And from it—
Two figures stepped out.
Charlotte Brûlée stumbled forward first.
"…S-Sorry!!"
She bowed quickly.
"I messed up! He caught me—"
Behind her—
Shamrock stood calm.
Silent.
Unbothered.
His hand rested on the hilt of his saber.
"…Tch," Smoothie clicked her tongue.
"So that's your leader."
Shamrock didn't respond.
Didn't even look at her properly.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
"I don't have time," he said simply.
His blade slid free.
Then—
Something changed.
The air—
Warped.
A presence—
Ancient.
Monstrous.
Behind him—
A form began to manifest.
Three heads.
Snarling.
Breathing.
Eyes glowing with feral intelligence.
"Mythical Zoan…"
Gunko whispered slightly.
"…Cerberus."
The ground trembled.
Shamrock lifted his blade slightly.
"…You're in the way."
The Sweet Commanders didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Smoothie stepped forward.
"…Try."
---
The battlefield fell silent.
Moments later—
Shamrock stood still.
His sword—
Already sheathed.
Behind him—
The Sweet Commanders—
Laid scattered.
Broken.
Defeated.
No struggle.
No resistance.
Just—
Overwhelmed.
Gunko blinked once.
"…That was fast."
Sommers stretched slightly—
Still regenerating minor damage.
"…Aww. I was just starting to have fun."
Shamrock didn't respond.
He walked forward.
Past the fallen Commanders.
Like they weren't even there.
"We're done here."
Gunko tilted her head.
"…What now?"
Shamrock stopped.
Just for a moment.
"…Place the Abyss Mark."
His voice was calm.
"Somewhere appropriate."
Sommers grinned.
"Oh? Going all in already?"
Shamrock continued walking.
Toward the heart of the island.
"…There's no point delaying."
A pause.
"…A confrontation with Big Mom…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…is now unavoidable."
---
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