BOOM!
This was the maximum-level Haki released by Joy Boy! The intensity of this Haki surpassed anyone else's!
Beltz couldn't match it; Shiki, Roger, and Rocks couldn't match it; even the Haki released by Imu during the previous descent paled in comparison!
That thick, boundless sea of clouds was forcibly torn apart by an invisible gargantuan force, forming a massive fissure thousands of kilometers long, as if the heavens themselves had opened an eye in that moment! Sunlight poured down through the torn gap without obstruction, illuminating Elbaf with incredible brilliance. The dark red lightning, after bursting through Elbaf, even spread across the vast ocean.
"Wha... what?!" Shiki's eyes widened. He had never felt Haki this powerful in his life! He had fought Roger before, but even Roger's maximum output likely couldn't compare to this.
However, the one who felt it most wasn't him, but the giant boar before his eyes! Saint Warcury had been teaming up with Liltotto to strangle him, but his massive frame—just as it was about to charge—was struck by the erupting dark red lightning. In the next instant, he simply vanished!
Liltotto also felt that overwhelming power. She felt as if needles were pricking her body; the powerful Haki assaulted her spirit. Being strong herself, she wasn't knocked unconscious, but she felt a sharp, stabbing pain. Her eyes widened in shock, wondering where this power had come from.
Is this the trump card Beltz kept hidden?
Beltz had said he was prepared for today's battle. At the time, Liltotto thought he intended to use his Subconscious ability to break Harald's corruption. She never imagined Beltz intended to fight Harald, the Five Elders, and even a descending Imu! Even more unexpected was that Beltz had somehow produced such a colossal force!
This strength was something she hadn't even felt within the Wandenreich, let alone the world of One Piece!
By Beltz's side, the piercing tentacles vanished instantly. The Five Elders who were about to attack also disappeared! Inside the massive royal castle, the four giant Pentagram Magic Circles that had appeared later also vanished!
This single wave of Joy Boy's Haki had sent the Five Elders and Imu straight back home!
Harald also felt this mighty Haki. A sharp pain shot through his arm as the etched Depths Covenant seemed to dissipate! Harald's eyes were filled with shock as he stared at Beltz in disbelief, unable to comprehend what that power was.
"Joy Boy!"
In the Room of Flowers within Pangea Castle at the Holy Land Mary Geoise, Imu suddenly let out a shrill cry! He screamed Joy Boy's name, his body doubling over until he nearly knelt on the floor! His eyes were dilated, showing clear signs of terror!
That Haki... No mistake, that was Joy Boy's Haki!
How? He should be dead! Dead for eight hundred years! Why would his Haki remain?! And why did it appear in the hands of that brat?!
He had clearly held victory in his grasp. Not only were Harald and Elbaf about to fall into his hands, but he was also prepared to dominate Beltz and Shiki. Yet, the moment he appeared and prepared to use Domi Reversi, he was forced back by that overwhelming Haki!
"Lord Imu!" A maid ran over, seeing Imu in such a state of disarray, but Imu only breathed raggedly and gave no response! Imu truly didn't know what to say! It was bad enough that the Great Kingdom still existed, but don't tell him that Joy Boy is actually still alive too!
The Five Elders in the Room of Authority were even more bewildered. They had held the upper hand and thought they could wash away their previous disgrace by defeating Beltz and Shiki. But suddenly, they were teleported back!
Except for Liltotto, who had traveled to Elbaf physically, the other four Elders had arrived via Abyssal Teleportation. Under Joy Boy's maximum-level Haki, their teleportation magic was disrupted, sending them directly back to where they started.
Could it be... that they were going to fail again?!
"Liltotto, what is the situation on your end?" they hurriedly asked via telepathy over the vast distance.
Liltotto was fine after enduring the Haki. Because she was there in person, she wasn't forcibly teleported back to Mary Geoise. Hearing the Elders, she said deeply, "What do you think? Harald has completely regained his senses under the influence of that Haki. I don't dare stay here any longer."
By now, she had already flown out of the castle and was heading away from Elbaf. It was no joke—Harald had truly recovered his consciousness, the kind where he no longer had to struggle with Imu for control. That meant he could exert his full combat potential. Dealing with Shiki alone was enough for her; adding Beltz and Harald would make her a complete scapegoat.
"Harald will be controlled by Lord Imu again before long! Find an opportunity to cooperate with him and attack again!"
"Stop dreaming! That guy Harald is already preparing to leave his last words!" Liltotto replied coldly.
Indeed, because of Joy Boy's Haki, even Harald's Depths Covenant had been affected. This was the best time to kill him. If they delayed and the mark recovered, he would regain his immortality and be brainwashed by Imu again. Realizing his situation, he was prepared to commit suicide immediately.
But his sword was blocked by Beltz. "Don't be in such a hurry to die. If you die like this, what happens to Elbaf?"
Shiki flew over as well. He hadn't chased Liltotto, choosing instead to stand with Beltz. "Is there no way to escape those guys' control?"
"It's difficult," Beltz shook his head. "Perhaps a Shallows Mark has a chance of being discarded, but at the Depths Covenant stage, unless you die, there's no escaping Imu's influence."
"Exactly," Harald nodded in agreement. "That's why I must kill myself, otherwise I'll eventually turn back into what I was." He then looked at Loki. "Loki, after I die, you must protect Elbaf."
"Stop joking!" Loki shouted. "I don't know what's happening to you, but you look fine right now!"
"There isn't much time!" Harald could feel the power of the Depths Covenant slowly resurfacing as Joy Boy's Haki dissipated.
"No, I can make a deal with you," Beltz said. "I can help you escape the control of Imu's mark, but the price is that you likely won't be able to return to Elbaf for a long time."
?! Harald was startled. "What do you mean?"
"I will take you to another place—a place far from the World Government and Imu. There, you will gain a brand new life," Beltz said solemnly. "Harald, your strength is great. It's impossible for me to say I'm helping you without any selfish motives. If you help me, I can let you live. While returning to Elbaf will be difficult, I can let you come back for a period every year."
Harald fell into deep thought. He was trying to figure out Beltz's intentions. "Who... are you?"
"If you agree to my terms, I will naturally tell you who I am," Beltz replied. "Make your decision quickly; you don't have much time."
He really didn't! Harald gritted his teeth, glanced at Loki, and then said to Beltz, "I accept your terms. I will be your subordinate, but you must promise me one more thing!"
"Speak."
"During the days I am away, I hope you can look after Elbaf—Ida, Loki, and Hajrudin... and once Loki grows up, I hope you can watch over him as he eats the inherited Devil Fruit."
"Fine, I promise you." Beltz nodded. This wasn't difficult for him. While he was curious about Elbaf's legendary Devil Fruit, it didn't mean he wanted to eat it himself. Beltz had already planned his own path, and there was no need to covet other legendary fruits. As for taking care of Loki and the others, it was natural; Beltz coveted the massive combat potential Loki represented.
What am I now? A regent minister?
Seeing Beltz agree, Harald called Loki over. "Loki, I am leaving Elbaf. I am a sinner of Elbaf for leading the World Government like a tiger into our home..." Pain flashed across Harald's face. Everything that happened today had destroyed the life he had built over decades. All his efforts had turned to ash. "From today, you must take up the responsibility of protecting Elbaf. Those people won't let us go. Until you grow up, you must listen to Beltz."
Beltz watched the father and son talk, having no interest in the conversation, simply counting the time in his head. When the time was right, Harald looked at Beltz himself and said, "It seems time is up. Do it."
He could feel the Depths Covenant of the Knights of God beginning to dominate him again. Beltz took a deep breath. "Don't resist."
Harald didn't resist. He thought Beltz would kill him, but Beltz simply pressed a hand against his leg. In the next instant, a force tried to pull him away! Harald had never felt anything like it, but he remembered Beltz's words and didn't fight it. The two of them vanished instantly!
Loki and Shiki in the hall were stunned. But the most shocked was Harald himself; he found himself suddenly transported from the castle to the side of a stream!
"This... where is this...?"
"I'll tell you in a moment!" Beltz held his sword with both hands, already coated in black Conqueror's Haki. Harald didn't understand—was Beltz going to kill him? Didn't he say he was taking him somewhere far away?
Well... even if he kills me, it doesn't matter. Living like I am now is just a curse. Harald closed his eyes.
BOOM!
Beltz swung forward. This strike cut Harald's head clean off! Because of Joy Boy's Haki, Harald had been freed from the mark's influence, and even his regeneration was gone. As long as Harald didn't defend, Beltz's blade was enough to finish him.
Just as he had killed Kong before, he had now killed Harald within Bleach world!
Harald's soul appeared beside the body. He opened his eyes and looked at his own "corpse" in shock. "This... what is this?"
"As you can see, you are now a soul," Beltz explained. "Only by leaving the constraints of the flesh can you completely escape Imu's control. In this world, a 'soul' is simply another form of life."
"A soul... another form of life?" Harald was confused; a native of the One Piece world found this hard to grasp.
"Yes. Look at your chest—that is the Chain of Fate," Beltz said. "This chain determines whether you become a Plus or a Hollow. Unfortunately, I am not a Shinigami, so I can't send you directly to the Soul Society. But I have a Shinigami friend. She is a Shinigami, and when the time comes, I will ask her to make you all Shinigami."
"Shi... Shinigami?" Harald was even more surprised. Not only did he die, but he was going to become a god?.
"This world is vast. As for your body..." Beltz looked at Harald's corpse. Unlike Kong, whose body was tall but human, Harald was a sixty-meter giant. Leaving such a corpse here would cause a massive disturbance in human society. He pulled Harald's body into his shadow. Since Harald possessed the bloodline of the Ancient Giants, perhaps Vegapunk could study it later.