York sprinted toward the epicenter of the battle.
Ahead of him, the world screamed.
A blinding flash of Conqueror's Haki swept across the island, followed by a vertical pillar of light.
RUMBLE... CRACK!
With a deafening groan, the island of God Valley split in two. A massive fissure, bottomless and dark, separated the landmasses.
York skidded to a halt, shielding his eyes.
"Incredible," he muttered, clicking his tongue. "So this is the peak. One day... I will be that strong."
He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, crossing the shattered landscape.
By the time York arrived, the ritual was complete.
Four pillars of darkness connected the sky to the earth. Four monstrous shadows stretched across the ruins, exuding an oppressive, ancient aura.
Imu (Possessed Woman) hovered in the air. But she was vulnerable.
Rocks D. Xebec, seizing the moment while she summoned her servants, flashed in front of her.
SLASH.
A horizontal cut ripped through her.
Because she was focusing on the ritual, Imu failed to split her body in time. The blade connected, severing her torso into four distinct pieces. The Haki lingered on the wounds, preventing immediate regeneration.
"YOU ARE COURTING DEATH!!"
A roar shook the heavens.
One of the four shadows—a colossal Wild Boar with four tusks—stepped forward.
Saint Topman Warcury (Fengxi).
He opened his maw and unleashed a roar mixed with top-tier Conqueror's Haki.
ROAR!!!
The shockwave distorted the air. York had to stop and cover his ears as the ground pulverized around him.
"That's Warcury..." York analyzed. "Imu summoned the rest of the Gorosei."
However, the primary target was unaffected.
Rocks didn't flinch. He didn't blink.
He had destroyed his own eardrums moments ago. The sound that would stun a Vice-Admiral was nothing to a deaf man. The physical shockwave merely pushed him back a few meters, but his stance remained unbroken.
The Assault.
"SCREECH!!"
Another shadow dove from the clouds. A giant Monstrous Bird with a snake-like neck.
Saint Marcus Mars (Itsumade).
Mars opened his beak, spewing a torrent of hellfire at the Pirate Captain.
Rocks didn't dodge. He swung his blade upward.
SWISH.
The flames were cut in two. The slash continued, striking Mars in the chest.
"GAH!!"
The bird screeched, crashing into the ruins of the town, causing a massive explosion.
THUD. THUD.
Two more shadows landed near York.
A Giant Sandworm.
A Skeletal Horse.
The Skeletal Horse—Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro—locked eyes with York immediately.
His upper body was that of a bald, elderly swordsman, fused to the body of a skeletal steed. Black clouds of Awakened Zoan energy floated around his shoulders.
He drew his longsword, Shodai Kitetsu.
CHING.
A slash imbued with Freezing Cold and Conqueror's Haki tore toward York.
"Sneak attack?"
York sneered. He was ready.
He punched forward.
"Fist Bone: Galaxy Crush!"
BOOM!
Fist met blade. The collision created a sphere of crimson light that expanded and exploded.
Both men were blasted back.
York skid across the dirt, shaking his numbed hand. A playful smile touched his lips.
"So this is a Gorosei? Nothing special."
In his previous life, the manga had hyped the Elders as gods. But the Egghead Incident had exposed them. Warcury was tough, but the others? Disappointing.
"An Awakened Mythical Zoan with regeneration," York noted. "Physically strong, but skill-wise? He's just a glorified Admiral."
While York analyzed the swordsman, the ground trembled.
RUMBLE...
The earth beneath him collapsed.
A massive, abyssal maw rose from the dirt. Saint Shepherd Ju Peter (Sandworm) swallowed York whole.
"GOT YOU!"
The jaws slammed shut. Darkness engulfed York.
But inside the throat, York wasn't panicking. He was grinning.
"You don't dare face Rocks, so you came for me?"
"Perfect! Let me show you... not everyone is edible!"
"Holy Light: Tentacle Web!"
THWIP! THWIP!
Hundreds of glowing tentacles shot from York's hands. They pierced the soft flesh of the worm's inner throat, anchoring him like Spider-Man preventing a train crash.
Application #2: Pleasure Injection.
"ENJOY THIS!"
Inside the worm, the pleasure receptors were overloaded instantly.
"UGHHH!!"
Outside, the giant worm began to thrash violently. It twisted, crushing buildings, trying to vomit the intruder out.
"THUNDER BAGUA!!"
CRACK!
Suddenly, a massive impact struck the worm from the outside.
Kaido, in his Hybrid Form, swung his kanabo with full force, smashing into Ju Peter's neck.
The worm gagged. The internal pressure spiked.
BLEGH!
Ju Peter vomited York out.
York rolled in the air, landing gracefully next to the dragon-man.
"York! You alright?!" Kaido asked, hefting his club.
"I'm fine," York dusted off his slime-covered coat. "Thanks for the assist."
Kaido grinned, looking at the twitching worm and the skeletal horse regrouping nearby.
"Where did these monsters come from? They're ugly as hell, but strong!"
York straightened his collar.
"Those," York pointed, "are the Five Elders. The Gorosei. The highest authority in the world."
"WHAT?!"
Kaido's eyes widened. He looked at the monsters, then at his club.
"These are the World Nobles' bosses?"
York grinned. "How does it feel? Hitting a 'God'?"
Kaido blinked. He flexed his fingers around his weapon, savoring the vibration.
A savage, joyful grin spread across his face.
"WORORORO... IT FEELS GREAT!!"
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