At this moment, Liltotto not only wielded the power of the Five Elders but was also being remotely funneled additional energy by Imu. Consequently, she could act as a proxy for Imu to manifest Domi Reversi.
Just as Imu had transformed Rocks' family into demons at God Valley before even descending, Liltotto now unleashed Domi Reversi upon Whitebeard. A swamp-like mire formed beneath his feet, and as Whitebeard—barely supporting his frame—sank into the inversion, he emerged utterly transformed.
Already a small giant at over six meters tall, Whitebeard grew even more massive, exceeding ten meters. Savage fangs jutted from his jaw, and a pair of pitch-black wings erupted from his back.
"!" Shiki's pupils dilated at the sight. "Hey, hey, Newgate! What the hell happened to you?"
Whitebeard's eyes had lost their focus, leaving only terrifying whites. An evil, overwhelming aura billowed from him. Theoretically, he and Shiki should have been drained after using their "Maximum Haki," yet an endless well of power was now surging through him.
Terrifyingly, Shiki felt a swamp beginning to manifest beneath his own feet, threatening to pull him in. If he fell in, he knew he'd end up just like Newgate. He tried to take flight, but the suction from below was immense, threatening to invert his very world.
At the final second, someone grabbed him by the collar and yanked him clear of the mire.
"You nearly got me killed!" Shiki cursed with a relieved grin as he looked up.
"Relax, I wouldn't just watch you go under," Beltz replied. Having arrived at Sphinx via Garganta, he had witnessed the clash of "Maximum Haki"—a power so vast even he had to keep his distance until it dissipated. By then, Whitebeard had already been subjected to Domi Reversi.
To Beltz, this was acceptable. It didn't hinder his goal.
"Run, now," Shiki urged. "These two are monsters; you're no match for them."
Beltz knew he couldn't defeat Liltotto or the Demonic Whitebeard in a straight fight, but that didn't matter. He wasn't there to fight them. As Whitebeard's power stabilized, Beltz tossed Shiki into the air and lunged at the Emperor.
Though Whitebeard was demonized, the sheer exhaustion of his Haki meant he hadn't fully "recovered" yet. Beltz theorized that Domi Reversi consumed the user's life force to grant immortality. Whitebeard was at his most vulnerable during the initial transition.
Liltotto watched without interfering. She was curious to see how Beltz would navigate this crisis.
Beltz slammed a fist into Whitebeard's face, black lightning exploding on impact. As Whitebeard's power began to swell, Beltz activated his Subconscious ability to forcibly rouse Whitebeard's ego, a trick he'd perfected on the Holy Knight Harald.
Whitebeard's body, currently ruled by a demonic urge to slaughter, began to show signs of internal struggle. "Don't resist, or I can't save you!" Beltz barked.
Whitebeard seemed to hear him. In the next instant, a force acted upon him, and he vanished.
Liltotto understood Beltz's intent immediately. With a single glance of mutual understanding, Beltz stepped forward and struck Liltotto as well. She, too, vanished.
Shiki was stunned. "Where... where did you send them?"
"Nowhere pleasant, I suspect," Beltz panted. "Leave now. I still have work to do."
"I don't have a lick of strength left," Shiki muttered, slumped.
"Someone will take you," Beltz promised as Erensig descended. "He's a friend. He'll get you back to Wano. I'll explain everything when I return."
With that, Beltz vanished. Erensig quickly moved to evacuate Shiki before the surrounding Navy could close in on the incapacitated legend.
...
Bleach, Soul Society, Seireitei
Beltz had made a point to visit the Seireitei earlier so he could serve as a beacon for Liltotto. Having her immense power confined to One Piece was a waste; he intended to use this opportunity to throw the Soul Society into absolute chaos.
While Beltz was naturally at odds with the Shinigami, his goal wasn't just destruction. He was after a specific treasure: the Oken (Royal Key).
The Oken was the key to the Royal Palace, existing as the very bones of the Royal Guard modified by the Soul King's power. It was, in essence, the Soul King's power refined. Each member of the Zero Division possessed power capable of shaking the three realms.
A version of the Oken existed within the Seireitei, its location known only to Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai. Beltz had tasked Keiko with investigating, confirming that neither the Five Noble Houses nor the Great Spirit Book Library held records of its position.
The plan was simple: the ultra-buffed Liltotto and the Demonic Whitebeard would act as massive diversions, occupying the Gotei 13 while Beltz searched for the Key. If he could incapacitate Yamamoto, he'd rip the location directly from the old man's memories.
First, Whitebeard descended upon the Seireitei. Without Beltz's Subconscious suppression, his demonic persona took full control. Upon arrival, his Haki exploded outward.
BOOM!
The Shinigami, already weary from a string of crises, felt the massive pressure. The Shakonmaku proved useless yet again. But before they could even react to the first intruder, a second, even more terrifying presence arrived: Liltotto.
With a shared understanding with Beltz, she unleashed her Conqueror's Haki.
CRACK!
The sky itself split. The dual waves of Haki lanced through the air, causing countless Shinigami—including several seated officers—to collapse with foam at their mouths.
The Captains were horrified. They had faced five monsters, then a giant demon, and now these two? This world was seemingly spawning top-tier threats like they were going out of style.
Yamamoto could no longer remain idle. These two had appeared in the very heart of the Seireitei. "Chojiro, Okiba, stay and guard the First Division! Allow no one to enter or leave the Mugen!" he commanded, before charging out with Ryujin Jakka in hand.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Liltotto unleashed a barrage of fireballs, turning the ground into a sea of explosions. Demonic Whitebeard, viewing everyone except Liltotto as an enemy, struck the air with a fist.
CRACK!
Space itself shattered. The Seireitei groaned as if caught in a massive earthquake. Buildings collapsed, and the ground tilted. Under Whitebeard's sheer power, the very foundations of the Seireitei began to shift and separate. In terms of pure destructive potential, no one in either world could rival Whitebeard—especially with his demonic boost.
"Stop!"
The first to arrive was Isshin Shiba. Seeing the devastation, he released his Shikai and lunged with a flaming blade. Whitebeard met the charge with a casual swing of his naginata. The sheer force blasted Isshin back across the horizon.
"Gah!" Isshin couldn't believe it. He considered himself elite among Captains, yet he had been sent flying by a single blow. His hands were numb, and his chest felt crushed as he smashed through a row of buildings, buried under the rubble.