Inside the monitoring room, Lilith and the others watched the scene unfold with clear surprise.
"He looked like he was trying to summon someone with a Magic Circle, but it failed," Lilith said, frowning slightly. "What exactly happened?"
Jozu and the others exchanged confident smiles and took over the explanation.
"That was the precise suppression of Conqueror's Haki," Jozu said calmly.
Vegapunk looked a little surprised. As a scientist, he understood the theory behind Haki, but he himself could not use it.
Jozu continued explaining, "Since the Whole Cake Island War, Marco's Conqueror's Haki has grown much stronger. It has reached a level where it can suppress Devil Fruit powers. He once tested it on me. That overwhelming Conqueror's Haki felt like it pierced straight into my soul, and I couldn't activate my Devil Fruit ability at all."
He paused briefly before adding, "So the reason Saturn Saint's Magic Circle disappeared earlier was most likely because Marco's Conqueror's Haki suppressed it."
"Marco once said that when Conqueror's Haki reaches a certain intensity, it can temporarily nullify a Devil Fruit user's ability, almost like Sea Prism Stone."
Hearing this, Vegapunk's eyes widened in shock.
"So that is how it works. Haki truly is an extraordinary power," Vegapunk said, clearly fascinated. "I have studied it before. Conqueror's Haki is a manifestation of spiritual force. It directly attacks the opponent's spirit, causing mental instability, confusion, or even unconsciousness…"
Before he could continue, Vista interrupted him.
"Doctor, this is not the time to discuss theories," Vista said urgently. "Marco is almost here. We must open the dome immediately so he can enter."
Vegapunk suddenly realized the situation and quickly turned toward Edison.
"Edison, hurry," Vegapunk ordered decisively. "Open the dome and let Marco in."
"Understood," Edison replied immediately.
His fingers moved quickly across the console as he entered the password. Moments later, the dome defense system opened a passage.
Outside the dome, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn stared at Marco as he approached.
A powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Saturn's body and surged forward to confront him.
Almost instantly, Marco's own Conqueror's Haki burst out as well.
As one of the Gorosei, Saturn had lived for an extremely long time. Their immortality came with a weakness against Conqueror's Haki, which forced them to cultivate their Haki to an extraordinary level. Because of their long reign at the peak of power, the pressure they emitted was overwhelmingly imposing.
The two immense auras collided violently in the air.
The moment the clash began, Saturn felt his strength return.
Without wasting another second, Saturn quickly took out a syringe from his pocket and stabbed it into his arm.
The drug flowed directly into his bloodstream.
Almost instantly, veins bulged across his body. His Conqueror's Haki, which had only been barely matching Marco's moments ago, surged dramatically, multiplying several times in strength.
Marco immediately felt the sudden change.
Shock flashed across his mind.
At the same time, he noticed Saturn had injected some kind of drug into himself.
Just as Marco stepped toward the entrance of the dome, Saturn raised his hand again and activated another Magic Circle.
This time, the circle formed instantly.
White light flashed.
White smoke poured outward.
Four figures slowly emerged from the Magic Circle.
They were the remaining four members of the Gorosei.
The moment Marco saw all five Gorosei standing together, his expression turned extremely grim.
In the end, he had failed to stop Saturn from summoning the others.
Worse still, Saturn's current appearance looked unnatural. The veins on his cheeks, arms, and exposed skin bulged violently, writhing beneath his skin like living worms. His entire body had turned crimson, as if his blood had been completely stimulated by a powerful drug.
Marco clearly remembered the syringe Saturn had just used.
Without hesitation, Marco activated his detection ability.
Jaygarcia Saturn
Devil Fruit Ability: Ushi-Oni
Estimated Strength: King Level, Demonized State
Seeing the situation escalate so quickly, Marco immediately took out his Transponder Snail and urgently contacted Kaido and Big Mom.
Each member of the Gorosei originally possessed strength comparable to the highest level of power in the world. However, it now seemed that the strength they displayed during the Whole Cake Island War had not been their true limit. With the assistance of this mysterious drug, they were capable of pushing their power even further.
And since they possessed immortality to some extent, even severe side effects from the drug would mean very little to them.
Inside the monitoring room, Vegapunk watched as all five Gorosei appeared.
His mind nearly collapsed from the shock.
His body went weak as he sank helplessly to the floor.
"The Gorosei… all five of them are here," Vegapunk said with a trembling voice. "It's over. We have no chance of winning."
Vista and the others felt their hearts sink as well.
They had personally witnessed the terrifying abilities of the Gorosei during the battle on Whole Cake Island. Their bizarre powers and unnatural immortality were far beyond what ordinary fighters could handle.
And judging from Saturn's current state, the drug he injected was clearly meant to amplify their strength.
Despite the overwhelming pressure, none of them retreated.
Marco had entrusted them with protecting Vegapunk, and they would not abandon that responsibility.
Jozu stepped forward with a firm expression.
"Doctor, please don't worry," he said seriously. "We will do everything we can to protect you."
However, the fear inside Vegapunk did not disappear.
At that moment, Stussy spoke softly in her gentle voice.
"Doctor… if the situation truly becomes irreversible," she said carefully, "then perhaps abandoning Egghead Island and ensuring everyone's survival would be the wisest decision."
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