Clang!!!
Sparks burst into the air.
Two pitch-black blades collided once more, ringing out with a crisp metallic shriek.
Seeing the pained expression on Law's face below her, Alicia Mirabelagon finally seemed to find a twisted sense of satisfaction in her revenge against the Straw Hat Pirates, an inexplicable smile curling onto her lips.
"Oh~ As expected of the legendary Ope Ope no Mi. Not only does it grant formidable spatial abilities, it can even unleash uniquely powerful lightning."
"Combined with your mysterious special ability, it truly is a sight to behold."
"But unfortunately…"
"You're still far too weak!!!"
"For such power to rest in your hands… how tragic!"
Crack… crack!
The Cursed Sword · Kikoku, wrapped in Armament Haki, suddenly split open with two glaring fractures.
Shards of steel grazed Law's cheek as they flew past, carving twin streaks of blood across his face.
At the same time, the black blade in Mirabelagon's hand surged forward, slashing directly toward Law's face.
Under the overwhelming force pressing against him, Law's body was driven backward step by step, the cracks in Kikoku deepening with each inch.
In just a few short minutes, the harbor of Abra Island had become a wasteland.
Every ship docked at the port had been obliterated by the Five Elders.
The sea was littered with burning wreckage, flames raging atop floating debris and reflecting a blazing red across the waters.
The port itself was in utter ruin—its marble ground plowed apart as if by a giant's hand, gouged with trenches and craters that left it riddled beyond recognition.
Boom!!!
Driven by Mirabelagon's relentless push, Law's body slammed into a massive cargo container, caving it inward with a thunderous crash.
Blood burst from his mouth.
Scarlet droplets splattered across the fractured Kikoku, adding a tragic beauty to its broken form.
And yet, not a single trace of surrender appeared in his eyes.
"Tch!"
"So this is all you've got!?"
He spat disdainfully, despite her earlier mockery.
"So the Five Elders of the World Government are nothing special after all~!"
"You insolent brat!"
A flash of cold fury passed through Mirabelagon's eyes as she increased the force in her grip.
She had no intention of killing him—at least, not yet.
Though she had already been granted eternal life by Lord Imu, the Ope Ope no Mi was still an ability too rare to waste.
It held immense research value… and made for the perfect scientific assistant.
If possible, she wanted Law under her command.
Seeing him cornered, she judged the moment ripe and spoke:
"Brat! I'll give you a chance to live!"
"Join the World Government. Become my subordinate."
"Anything you desire in this world—I can grant it!"
Though Law had once killed a Celestial Dragon, what of it?
Now that she had become one of the Five Elders—and even possessed authority over the others—Mirabelagon's heart had swelled beyond even her own expectations.
But Law only smirked faintly.
"Everything I desire?"
"Sorry."
"My ambition runs far deeper than you imagine."
"Hmph! And what of it!?" she sneered.
"There is nothing in this world the World Government cannot accomplish!!!"
"So…" Law's eyes darkened, amusement flickering within them."Attacking the Pokémon Sea while Straw Hat-ya and Red-ya are away counts as that too?"
"What did you say!?"
Her expression hardened.
But Law continued mercilessly:
"Just a bunch of losers sneaking in for revenge while Straw Hat-ya isn't here…"
"If you can't even face your enemies head-on, don't talk so big!!!"
Whoosh!!!
Summoning the last shred of stamina he had recovered, Law vanished and reappeared atop a ruined container using Teleport.
Exhausted, he stabbed Kikoku into the metal to support his body.
His gaze, however, stretched far across the sea.
"Still not here…?"
"I'm about to… run out of time…"
He touched the empty pouch that once held a Super Potion, letting out a bitter smile.
Below him, Mirabelagon's gaze followed.
"You bastard!!!"
Lies don't wound—truth is the sharpest blade.
Having been exposed so directly, Mirabelagon roared in fury.
The next instant, she raised her black blade high, killing intent erupting like a tangible storm around it.
"If that's the case… then take that mouth of yours to hell with you!!!"
Whoosh!!!
Jet-black wings burst from her back and flapped violently.
A streak of black light shot forth, aimed straight for Law's throat.
Facing the blade that closed in within an instant, Law could only barely lift Kikoku in defense.
Without any Super Potion left, and his stamina drained from repeated evasions, he had truly reached the end of the road.
"Is this… where my fate ends…?"
"Hawkins said my lifespan was long…"
"Don't tell me he miscalculated now of all times?!"
Countless thoughts flooded his mind.
And then—
A black shadow surged forward from the ground, launching upward and intercepting the attack midair.
Clang!!!
Steel rang sharply.
A dark-purple, onion-headed silhouette halted Mirabelagon in midair.
The sudden twist stunned everyone present.
"Hmm?!"
Both Mirabelagon and Law looked up.
"Hee hee hee hee…"
A sinister laugh echoed from above.
The dark-purple figure shifted—
Former Seven Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria.
"Moria!?"
Mirabelagon froze in surprise.
"Why are you here!?"
"Good question," Moria grinned, eyes gleaming with mockery."Too bad I'm not telling you!"
"And one more thing—"
"You've caused this much destruction to Abra Island. I hope you're ready to face the wrath of the Straw Hat Pirates!!!"
"Brick Bat!!!"
Swish!!!
A massive black shadow speared upward from the ground, transforming into a gigantic lance that stabbed viciously toward Mirabelagon's back.
"Hmph! Child's play!"
Without even turning, she used Observation Haki to perceive everything.
Her black wings rotated instantly, forming a shield that blocked the attack completely.
Clang!!!
Sparks flew.
The enormous shadow spear struck—but failed to pierce even slightly.
"That's it?"
She looked up at Moria with contempt.
Moria's eyes widened briefly at the failed strike—
Then he grinned again.
"As expected of the Vice Commander of the God's Knights. No wonder you dared attack the Pokémon Sea."
"…How do you know my identity?!"
Her brows furrowed.
She had never revealed that to Law.
Anyone in the Straw Hat crew who knew that should still be on Elegia.
A chill passed through her mind.
She looked up—
Only to meet Moria's teasing gaze.
"That's right. Lord Red informed us of your intelligence long ago."
"Including the possibility that you might attack the Pokémon Sea again."
"Though we were a little surprised—you avoided the most obvious target, Whole Cake Island, and chose this fringe island instead."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, thunderous impacts echoed through the harbor.
One ferocious giant beast after another descended from the sky, surrounding the four Five Elders.
Each was comparable in size to the Elders' monstrous forms, tails whipping behind them in varying numbers.
Zombie Tailed Beasts.
The concept Red once suggested when first meeting Moria.
Now, after extensive modifications, even the weakest among them rivaled elite Marine Vice Admirals.
The strongest—like the Nine-Tails—approached Yonko Commander level.
And more importantly—
"Roar—!"
"GRRRAAAH!!!"
"Chirp!!!"
Nine beastly cries rang out.
Their forms shifted.
Already crafted from monstrous corpses, they now transformed closer to their corresponding forms—
One-Tail: Raccoon Dog.Two-Tail: Wild Cat.Three-Tail: Turtle.Four-Tail: Giant Ape.Five-Tail: Warhorse.Six-Tail: Slug.Seven-Tail: Strange Bird.Eight-Tail: Ox.Nine-Tail: Mystic Fox.
Though Moria's zombies couldn't eat Devil Fruits like living beings—
With Vegapunk's technology and the Vinsmoke Family's scientific equipment, fusing Zoan-Type Devil Fruits with corpses wasn't difficult.
Thanks to the Straw Hats' ample Devil Fruit reserves, Red selected nine ordinary Zoan-Type fruits to strengthen the Zombie Tailed Beasts.
Truthfully—
Red also wanted to see what kind of legends these world-shaking creatures from another story would create in the world of pirates.
BOOM!!!
The Nine Tailed Beasts landed and immediately engaged the Four Five Elders.
The harbor plunged into even greater chaos.
Fortunately—
Moria and his Zombie Tailed Beasts weren't the only reinforcements.
"All civilians—board the nearby giant Heracross immediately!"
"Abra Island is about to become a battlefield! Evacuate to neighboring islands at once!!!"
In the central district of Abra Island—
A massive "dark cloud" descended from the sky.
Only when it lowered did the residents realize—
They weren't clouds.
They were gigantic Heracross.
As members of the Pokémon Sea, they were familiar with the title "King of the Insect Tribe"—Usopp.
Realizing these were allies, they quickly followed instructions and boarded the Heracross to flee.
High above—
Watching the evacuation proceed smoothly, Usopp turned to Nami, who had used storm winds to transport the Nine Tailed Beasts.
"Nami, I've got this side."
"Moria's beasts won't hold long."
"Since it's confirmed only these five attacked, head back and rendezvous with the Going Merry. Tell Zoro and the others to hurry!"
"OK~!"
Knowing she wouldn't help much by staying, Nami nodded firmly.
In the next instant, she transformed into lightning and vanished, flying toward Whole Cake Island.
Just as Moria had said—
Ever since Mirabelagon escaped, Red suspected the World Government might seize the chance to strike the Pokémon Sea.
Yet no intel came from the Marines, and Red had relaxed slightly, thinking Imu's PTSD hadn't healed enough to act.
He hadn't expected Mirabelagon to become a new Five Elder—and command this operation.
Nor that the Five Elders would risk descending personally.
Fortunately, after Red's warning, vigilant patrol zones had been established.
Usopp and Nami, masters of the skies, regularly surveyed the seas.
That was why they arrived so quickly.
The only question was—
"Without Luffy and Red here… can Zoro and the others really stop the Five Elders?"
Usopp stared toward the harbor.
The Tailed Beasts had caught the Elders off guard.
But compared to beasts that didn't feel pain—
The Five Elders feared neither pain… nor death.
At ground level—
"Quick! There's an injured person here!!!"
In ghost form, Perona darted through collapsed buildings, searching for survivors.
Hearing her, the invisible Absalom and Hogback rushed in.
One administered diluted Super Potion.
The other provided swift medical treatment.
With their coordination, many on the brink of death were saved.
Usopp's insects soon arrived, carrying the wounded away.
Abra Island, once a hellscape—
Found hope once more.
(End of Chapter)