...
One second earlier, it was still a place brimming with murderous intent and boiling battle lust, where the top powerhouses from both sides were about to clash and spark flames of destruction—God Valley.
The next second, it was as if the most absurd pause button had been pressed.
Just as Saint Topman Warcury's fangs were about to collide with Rocks' long blade, Saint Marcus Mars' poisonous tentacles were charging up once more, Roger's blade aimed at Saint Marcus Mars, Whitebeard's Murakumogiri surging with shockwaves,
Dorry and Brogy's Giant Warrior weapons raised high...
At the critical moment!
"Buzz!"
That familiar, heart-palpitating buzzing sound arrived without any warning, yet more swiftly and fiercely than ever before!
It did not come from somewhere in the sky, but seeped out simultaneously from every corner of space!
Immediately after, an extremely blazing white light was born out of thin air, instantly filling everyone's field of vision, spreading and intertwining at an unprecedented speed!
In the blink of an eye, a gigantic light curtain barrier—far larger, more complete, and almost without any blind spots—enveloped the entire God Valley and its surrounding seas!
Like an inverted, semi-transparent giant bowl, it was slammed into existence!
The light was gentle yet indisputable, emanating a soul-shivering, forcing "calming" rule power!
"Damn it! It's here again!" Rocks forcibly halted his forward momentum, the surging aura around him instantly restrained as if doused with ice water.
"Calm your minds! Suppress hostility!" Roger almost reflexively barked in a low voice, reminding his own side.
The Marines and pirates who had experienced the previous few "suppressions" reacted unusually quickly and in unison this time!
No matter how furious or overflowing with killing intent they had been a second ago, the moment the light curtain lit up!
Everyone, without prior agreement, used every ounce of willpower to forcibly push that boiling desire for battle and murderous intent back to the deepest depths of their hearts!
They strived to adjust their mindsets to an almost "ethereal" or "spectator" state.
The same went for the Five Elders' side.
Though their eyes were filled with unwillingness and raging fury, faced with this completely incomprehensible and irresistible "rule," they could only grit their teeth and comply.
Saint Marcus Mars folded his wings, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro sheathed his blade, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter stopped wriggling, Saint Topman Warcury lowered his body, and Saint Jaygarcia Saturn—enduring the freshly healed pain and humiliation—swiftly dispelled his ox-demon form and reverted to human shape.
Members of the God's Knights, such as Saint Figarland Garling and Saint Sommers, also restrained their auras one after another.
The God Valley, which had been on the verge of explosion like a powder keg just a second ago, strangely regained an almost "peaceful" silence within mere seconds after the light curtain descended.
Only heavy panting and the lingering palpitations of having survived a calamity silently spoke of the earlier peril.
"Jihahahahaha! So this is the weird thing you mentioned? A light curtain? It's really... kind of interesting!"
Dorry looked up at the semi-transparent barrier covering the sky, his massive hand stroking his chin as he let out an intrigued laugh.
He did not feel too strong a suppression—perhaps because his heart held only curiosity at the moment, with no clear killing intent.
"Gababababababa! Indeed, I've never seen this kind of light before. It looks like bubbles but not quite, and it glows! Harald, this world sure has a lot of strange and bizarre things! Our understanding of the sea is still too shallow!"
Brogy also shouldered his axe, looking around curiously like a big child who had discovered a new toy.
Meanwhile, after a brief adjustment, most of the Marines and pirates had—whether skillfully, helplessly, or simply resignedly—sat down on the ground.
Some even pulled out unfinished rations from their bosoms, munching while looking up at the sky, their faces showing a complex expression that was almost "resigned" yet tinged with a bit of "anticipation."
Well, fighting was temporarily impossible.
So... let's keep watching the "movie"!
The previous content had been pretty exciting anyway.
The light curtain did not make them wait long. After the familiar startup light and shadow flow, the previous title of Fervent Operation slowly faded away.
Immediately after, four large characters in completely different yet equally impactful styles appeared in the center of the light curtain, accompanied by some rousing yet mysterious background music!
[Red-Haired Diva]
The font was ornate, seemingly blending musical notes with the imagery of sword blades.
However, the title did not remain static after appearing. Almost simultaneously, three extremely sharp claw marks—as if torn by the sharpest claws—streaked across the entire title with scarlet trails!
"Swish"—they ripped right through the four characters of "Red-Haired Diva," leaving shocking, gaping wounds!
Red hair! Three claw marks!
...