"THE SCOURGE IS UNSTOPPABLE!"
Kel'Thuzad's voice echoed like a demon rising from the abyss, drilling into the ears of everyone watching. At that moment, the only sound across Sabaody Archipelago was the collective sound of terrified swallowing.
"Remember my name well! I am the End of All Things! The most loyal servant of my Master! The absolute ruler of everything that lies beyond the Holy Light! Leader of the Scourge! Master of the Four Horsemen! I… AM… KEL'THUZAD!"
With those words, his body dissolved into a mist of freezing cold and vanished instantly.
At the same time, the broadcast screen showing the Red Line suddenly CRACKLED and went black.
"S-So terrifying…"
"I believe! I believe in the Holy Light now! I want to follow Grimm! I want to join him! I don't want to be controlled by that demon when I die!"
"After this war is over, I'm going to the New World! I'm going to find Sanctuary!"
"No way… that has to be just a Devil Fruit power! It has to be!"
Chaos erupted in Sabaody. The fear Kel'Thuzad instilled was absolute. Were the dead really returning to life? Or was it just an illusion?
Did the Holy Light truly exist? Did Hell? These questions haunted the minds of millions.
But this was the world of pirates. Such fear rarely left lasting scars. Given time, laziness and arrogance would make them forget.
Only the true powerhouses would remember the terrifying figure standing at the apex of strength.
And right now, everyone's attention shifted back to the war still raging at Marineford!
---
Meanwhile.
The Passage between Marineford and Mary Geoise.
One minute ago.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
A scream of absolute agony tore through the air, reaching the ears of Tsuru, Kujaku, Chaton, and the thousands of Marines waiting for orders.
Every single soldier felt goosebumps rise on their skin. No words could describe the level of suffering required to make a sound like that.
Chaton stood with hands in pockets, his posture slouched and lazy, somewhat resembling Kizaru, with a perpetual sleazy grin on his face. Hearing the screams, he frowned slightly. "Is that skeleton guy getting beaten up that badly?"
"No," Tsuru said sharply. "That is not his voice." She had never seen Kel'Thuzad, but she knew these two… those were the screams of the Celestial Dragon powerhouses.
"How can you tell?" Chaton asked.
"Silence, Chaton!" Tsuru snapped. Once he shut up, she turned to face her troops, her expression grave.
"Advance… It seems… the Government has fallen."
"WHAT?!"
Chaton's eyes bulged in disbelief. The jaws of every Marine behind him dropped to the floor. They watched as Tsuru and Kujaku began walking swiftly toward Mary Geoise and quickly followed.
"B-But Lady Tsuru! That can't be! They are the absolute strongest forces of the Government…"
"Exactly! They are!"
Tsuru walked at the front, her back straight. "But the Government is not invincible. Never forget who we are facing. That man stands at the very peak of the pirate world. And that Kel'Thuzad… he may very well possess the highest combat power this world has ever seen!"
Kujaku added coldly from beside her, "Never underestimate any pirate!"
---
Even though two Admiral-level fighters had been sent, the Celestial Dragons were of the highest nobility. They never took chances. Even if it wasn't Grimm, they would treat any intruder as a lethal threat.
As soon as the Five Elders confirmed Grimm's arrival, orders were sent immediately: evacuate the Celestial Dragons from dangerous zones and move them into the deepest safety of the Palace.
One of the areas considered most vulnerable to attack was the Slave Arena and the holding facilities.
In the eyes of the Celestial Dragons, slaves were mere objects, so they were kept in the outer districts of Mary Geoise.
The Colosseum of Slaves was one of the favorite pastimes for the Celestial Dragons.
Although located outside the main palace, it was decorated with such luxury it looked like a royal banquet hall, hiding the darkness and bloodshed within.
Here, slaves were forced to fight each other to the death, or pitted against wild beasts.
But they had many other twisted forms of entertainment: slave performances, viewing parties featuring different races, and even force-feeding Devil Fruits to slaves just to see what would happen.
---
Inside the performance hall connected to the arena.
A group of Government agents in deep blue suits gathered anxiously, speaking to a father and son pair of Celestial Dragons.
"Saint Mjusgard! Saint Garbatia! Please evacuate immediately! Pirates have invaded Mary Geoise!"
These two were famous collectors of mermaids and fishmen. Currently, they sat on luxurious thrones, completely ignoring the agents, fixated on the stage where two exhausted mermaids were desperately trying to perform.
After a long silence, Saint Mjusgard took a sip of wine and spoke in a haughty, nasal tone. "How boring. Then go deal with them quickly. Surely you understand the consequences of disturbing our entertainment?"
"Father," said the son, Saint Garbatia. He had messy blond hair, an ugly, fat face, and snot constantly dripping from his nostrils. He glanced lazily at the stage. "This mermaid looks like she's dying. Should we throw her away?"
Saint Mjusgard glanced over indifferently. "Mm. Yes. Drag her to the trash heap."
The next moment, the mermaid on stage finally collapsed from exhaustion and abuse. To hear those words was a death sentence… yet perhaps, it was also a release.
---
Not far away, in another private viewing room, a similar scene was unfolding.
Bodyguards were dragging a young girl off the stage. She looked no older than fifteen.
Watching them leave, the sole Celestial Dragon in the room wore an expression of disappointment.
"These slaves these days are so fragile. They die before I've even had my fun."
This was Saint Epthelm. Unlike his neighbor who collected mermaids, his preference was young girls—specifically those under fifteen, just beginning to mature. Age twelve was his ideal.
He was an expert in breaking his victims, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually, ensuring they were completely destroyed before discarding them.
"Saint Epthelm! Please, we must leave now!" the agents pleaded repeatedly.
But the Celestial Dragon waved them off dismissively. "Nonsense. Do you really think those insects have the power to reach me here?"
__________________
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