Unexpectedly, Ivankov and the others were swallowed whole by the Sandworm.
"Ivan-chan! You guys!"
Sabo's heart sank instantly.
Too much time had passed. With the level of Molly's Push-Push Fruit, they should have already moved far beyond the range of his Observation Haki. Yet somehow, the Sandworm had still caught up.
That could only mean one thing. The Gorosei's Observation Haki surpassed his.
The situation was already critical, and hesitation now would cost lives.
With a slight flap of his wings, Sabo vanished from where he stood and reappeared directly in front of the Sandworm. At the same time, he coated his pipe in Armament Haki and swung it down with full force toward the creature's head.
The Sandworm showed no surprise. Its massive white teeth were instantly coated in both Armament Haki and Haoshoku.
Clang!
It bit down on the pipe in a single motion.
Black lightning crackled violently as the impact tore through the already ruined ground, splitting it apart inch by inch.
Sabo's attack stopped completely.
It felt as if his entire body had been locked in place, unable to push forward even slightly.
Before he could react, his Observation Haki picked up a sudden surge of sword energy behind him.
He abandoned the pipe without hesitation and shifted to the side.
A massive crescent-shaped slash of green and white energy swept past his face. It tore through everything in its path, slicing buildings cleanly in half as if nothing stood in its way. The attack continued for thousands of meters before finally crashing into a distant cathedral and shattering it to pieces.
Sabo turned sharply, his brows tightening.
That slash came from Nusjuro.
Both enemies before him were Gorosei, and neither was weaker than him.
Worse still, this was Mary Geoise. Not Baltigo, not Windmill Village, and certainly not somewhere safe.
One mistake here, and everyone would die.
Inside the Sandworm's stomach...
"Hell Wink!"
Bang!
"New Kama Kenpo: Chaotic Flurry!"
A rapid barrage of strikes echoed through the confined space.
"Okama Kenpo: Okama Whirlwind Leg!"
Bang!
Ivankov unleashed continuous attacks against the dark red inner walls, but nothing worked.
"What kind of monster is this? Its insides are tougher than steel! How many things like this does the World Government even have?"
Crow and Dellinger watched in shock.
Normally, a creature's interior should be its weakest point, yet even Ivankov's attacks could not leave a mark.
What they did not realize was that this was unique to this Gorosei. The Sandworm's body was designed for this exact purpose.
"If only Kuma could still fight," Dellinger muttered.
With the Paw-Paw Fruit, Kuma could at least repel them out, even if he could not defeat the creature.
Ivankov turned toward Kuma.
Bandages wrapped his entire body, and the eyes visible through the gaps were completely lifeless.
Kuma had always been quiet and cold on the surface, but among them, he was the kindest. In every critical moment, he was the first to step forward.
Now, there was nothing left in his gaze.
Ivankov's expression hardened.
"Damn those World Government bastards. They took everything from him."
The three of them launched more attacks, but it was useless.
The Sandworm's stomach was filled with corrosive digestive fluid mixed with Haki. A green mist filled the air, eating away at their bodies with every breath.
"We need to act fast, or we'll be digested alive," Crow said, his head spinning slightly.
Ivankov injected all three of them with hormones.
"This isn't enough. At this rate, we'll die in here."
Outside...
Sabo could feel the disturbances inside the Sandworm growing weaker.
There was no time left for strategy.
"Damn Sandworm! Spit them out!"
He shot forward again at full speed.
Before he could reach it, a massive blade cut across his path.
He raised his arm, using his pipe to deflect the strike, then immediately changed direction, pushing forward again.
Nusjuro's eyes narrowed.
"Ant."
Sabo ignored him completely.
Every second wasted meant greater danger for the others.
But in his rush, he failed to notice the Sandworm gathering power.
As he approached, its massive body suddenly stretched outward.
Its head, coated in Haoshoku, slammed straight into him.
By the time Sabo realized it, it was too late.
Bang!
The impact sent him flying like a kicked ball, his body launching violently into the distance.
"Ah...!"
A sharp pain surged through his chest as he spat out blood mid-air. His transformed state collapsed, reverting him back to human form.
Crash!
He smashed through multiple buildings one after another before finally slamming into the ground.
Dust filled the air, completely obscuring him from view.
"An ant trying to challenge a god. Pathetic," the Sandworm said coldly.
Purple-black smoke rose from its body as it shrank, transforming into an old man with yellow hair dressed in a suit.
Saint Shepherd X. Piet.
Beside him, four figures lay on the ground like discarded trash.
Ivankov, Kuma, Crow, and Dellinger.
All unconscious.
Nusjuro also returned to human form, glancing toward the distant ruins where Sabo had fallen.
At that moment, a group of guards in black suits rushed over. Some carried Seastone handcuffs.
They dropped to their knees immediately.
"Saint Izanbaron V. Nusjuro! Saint Shepherd X. Piet!"
Every one of them trembled uncontrollably.
They had never stood before the Gorosei before. The pressure alone made it hard to breathe.
Piet spoke without even looking at them.
"Tie them up."
The guards moved quickly, binding Ivankov and the others tightly, terrified of making even the smallest mistake.
Nusjuro sheathed his blade slowly.
"There's another one over there. Bring him as well."
He gestured toward Sabo's direction.
The guards nodded repeatedly and began moving out.
But before they could take more than a few steps...
A terrifying aura erupted from the distant ruins.
Red and black lightning surged violently into the sky.
As the pressure swept across the battlefield, the guards collapsed instantly, foaming at the mouth.
Nusjuro and Piet both narrowed their eyes.
From within the ruins, Sabo stepped forward slowly.
Red and black lightning crackled around his body as his aura surged wildly.
He lifted his head, locking eyes with the two Gorosei.
"So this is how Haoshoku can be used."