chsdbacks Chapter 81 Demon, I command you to come out!
Chapter 81 Demon, I command you to come out!
Chapter 81 Demon, I command you to come out!
Akainu's justice cloak, which had been tossed aside, billowed into the sky as the breeze blew.
This scene struck the hearts of the naval hawks, led by Onigumo, like a heavy hammer blow.
Onigumo's inhuman, ferocious face twitched uncontrollably, and a broken voice escaping from his throat cried out, "Mr. Sakazuki! Why—!"
The hawkish generals behind him also looked ashen-faced.
They had followed Akainu for many years and knew the admiral's temperament better than anyone else.
That is the fierce spirit of preferring to die rather than live in dishonor, the resolute determination to face even death with equanimity.
When Akainu was ambushed by Im and branded with a contract mark, his first reaction was to shut himself away from visitors, preferring to be executed by Im using his abilities rather than become that person's lackey.
Originally, Akainu's hawkish generals also intended to do the same.
However, after Akainu chose to join the battle, they changed their minds and chose to follow him.
I thought my boss would eliminate Broly first, and then turn around and settle accounts with the World Government.
However, they never expected that this iron-willed general, who believed in "absolute justice," would bend his unyielding spine in front of Broly.
Kizaru then slowly straightened up, pushed up his sunglasses, and broke the deathly silence with his voice: "Then let me explain it to you all."
Kizaru's tone remained nonchalant, yet carried an undeniable certainty: "Our boss—that is, Lord Broly—has already promised Sakazuki that after this war, he will be allowed to personally build a new navy, free from the constraints of the World Government, to fully implement the true justice of the navy."
"boom--!"
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding over the battlefield and spreading throughout the world via the signal of the Den Den Mushi (snail phone).
Whether it was the pirate ships on the sea or the taverns and villages on various islands, everyone staring at the screen showed an expression of disbelief.
Tesoro abruptly raised his hand, removing the black armor covering his head. His face, which always wore an arrogant smile, was now filled with shock. "Lord Broly, you mean—to let that Akainu take over the rule of this planet from you?"
Broly's voice was calm and even, yet it carried clearly to everyone's ears: "No. You can do whatever you want with this planet from now on. I only promised him that after the war, he could do whatever he wanted. The same goes for you."
A simple sentence, yet it overturned everyone's understanding of the future.
After this decisive battle that will determine the fate of the planet, Broly will completely relinquish control.
Akainu wants to build a new navy and purify the seas in his own way? Sure.
Kaido wants to continue chasing One Piece and become the second Rocks? Whatever.
The Khan's elite army wants to overthrow the old order and establish new rules? Go ahead.
Broly had long since lost interest in the pirate planet.
There's really nothing new to do at this point in time, and he has no interest in staying here for another ten or twenty years.
That's why he instructed Vegapunk and Tom to build a warship capable of traversing the universe—he wanted to visit other planets and seek new adventures.
Let's come back and take a look in ten or eight years.
Let's see what this planet would become without his intervention.
If anything interesting happens then, he wouldn't mind coming back for another "play".
For example, it's like how Ryuk, the Shinigami, treats Light Yagami.
I don't care what you guys are up to; I just want to see what kind of mess you can make.
When you can no longer provide entertainment, you will no longer be of any value to me.
The naval hawks, led by Onigumo, stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning, then a look of sudden realization flashed in their eyes.
So that's how it is—Broly, though powerful to the point of despair, never even considered ruling the world.
He'll leave after he's done; the future world will ultimately belong to these "locals."
Once the World Government collapses, the Navy can break free from those corrupt shackles and truly uphold justice—this is exactly what Akainu has sought his entire life.
What does it matter to bow down to Broly for this ideal?
Upon closer reflection, Akainu did not refuse the promotion to admiral like Garp did, in order to keep his distance from the Celestial Dragons; instead, he chose to comply.
This in itself is a form of "submission" to the world government.
Since they were willing to bow down to the World Government for power, it seems reasonable for them to bow down to Broly for true justice.
Moreover, Im's sabotage had already made Akainu hate the World Government to the core.
With his old buddy Kizaru adding fuel to the fire, this betrayal was a natural outcome.
On the other side of the battlefield, in the ranks of the Knights of God, Shanks' face was ashen, and his lips twitched uncontrollably.
The war had barely begun when two admirals deserted in the face of battle—a devastating blow to the morale of the World Government coalition forces.
He subconsciously glanced at Onigumo and the others, and sure enough, the eyes of those hawkish marines had begun to waver, and their feet were slightly shifting, clearly considering whether to follow Akainu to join Broly.
"We must not let them waver!"
Shanks bit his lip until it bled, then suddenly raised his voice and roared, "Akainu! Kizaru!"
Have you all forgotten that you still bear Lord Im's contract mark?!
These words were like a bucket of ice water, poured over the heads of all those who were wavering.
Yes—that troublesome mark, like a leech, is etched on their bodies and in their souls.
Im's power allows him to share vision with his contractors, ensuring that no corner of the battlefield escapes her surveillance.
Im couldn't possibly be unaware of Akainu and Kizaru's betrayal.
At this moment, the mysterious ruler hiding in the shadows must be burning with rage, ready to unleash the power of the contract and kill these two traitors on the spot.
Did Kizaru and Akainu really not consider this?
The answer will be revealed in the next second.
A voice filled with extreme rage, like a roar from hell, resounded directly in the minds of hundreds of thousands: "Sakazuki! Borsalino! You have already chosen your death!!"
It was Im's voice! Cold, sinister, and filled with undeniable killing intent.
Almost simultaneously with the sound, the deck beneath Kizaru and Akainu's feet suddenly cracked open, revealing a dark red pentagram magic circle. Strange runes swirled within the circle, emanating a chilling dark aura.
A powerful suction force surged from the magic circle, frantically draining the life force of the two.
The languid look on Kizaru's face vanished instantly, and his face turned deathly pale.
He could clearly feel the energy in his body draining away like a flood, his muscles rapidly atrophying, his skin clinging to his bones, and even his vision beginning to blur.
Akainu gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, trying to resist with his Haki, but found that the suction force was like a bottomless abyss, impossible to stop.
In less than two seconds, the two became skin and bones, with sunken eyes and high cheekbones, looking like two walking skeletons.
"Boss!!" Kizaru shouted at Broly, using the last of his strength.
Broly remained seated at the bow, calmly observing everything.
The next instant, he slightly raised his hands, and a violent, domineering aura surged from his palms.
The next instant, he slapped both Kizaru and Akainu on the shoulders at the same time.
"boom-!!"
An unimaginable surge of energy rushed into their bodies like a torrent, instantly dispersing the suction force of the magic array.
Hiding somewhere on the battlefield, Im's expression changed drastically. She could clearly feel that the contractual connection between herself and Kizaru and Akainu was being forcibly torn apart by this domineering force, like a fragile thread being severed by a sharp blade.
All eyes in the world were on the bow of the Perfume Serpent.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, the moment Broly's palm touched Kizaru and Akainu's bodies.
The two dark red pentagram formations shattered instantly into specks of black light, like ice and snow meeting fire, and dissipated into the air.
The two people, who had just looked like skeletons, returned to their original state at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The atrophied muscles were replenished, the pale skin regained its color, and the sunken eye sockets gradually filled out. In just five seconds, they returned to their original appearance.
Kizaru flexed his wrists, feeling the abundant energy within him, and a lazy smile returned to his lips: "Oh my—my prediction was right after all. The boss's strength is truly unfathomable."
Akainu lowered his head with a serious expression, looking at the palm of his left hand.
He suddenly raised his hand and ripped open the left sleeve of his military uniform with a ripping sound, revealing dark skin covered with hideous tattoos.
The dark red contract mark that was originally engraved in the center of the tattoo has now disappeared without a trace.
The battlefield fell into a deathly silence.
The Five Elders and the members of the Knights of God looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief and shock.
They have followed Im for centuries and know the horror of the covenant mark. Since the founding of the World Government, no one has ever been able to break that covenant, whether by choice or by force.
Broly—it was so easy—
Shamlock gripped the hilt of his sword, his voice hoarse. "He—he broke Lord Im's contract? That's impossible—"
The powerful Haki can neutralize the side effects of Devil Fruits, a fact well-known among Haki masters.
But no one ever imagined that someone's domineering aura could be so strong as to break Im's contract.
Whether by choice or by force, no one has ever accomplished this.
Even though there were people within the World Government who were dissatisfied with Im over the past 800 years, they dared not do such a thing.
On the one hand, they had been favored by Im for many years, enjoying the gifts of power and longevity, and were willing to be her lackeys. On the other hand, they were also aware of their own strength.
The Devil Fruit ability of Im, who has lived for a full 800 years, is not something they can easily compete with.
Broly did it.
the reason is simple.
His domineering aura has long surpassed the limits of this world, far exceeding Im's Devil Fruit abilities.
Shanks staggered back two steps, looking at Kizaru and Akainu, whose sleeves were rolled up and whose left arms were as smooth as ever, his face was deathly pale.
How could he forget?
Just because Broly has never used Haki before doesn't mean he can't!
With Broly's talent and strength, as long as he wants to learn, is there any difficulty?
Ultimately, Im's contract is similar to Doc Q's Disease-Disease Fruit ability to turn a man into a woman—it's a kind of Devil Fruit power buff.
Since Trafalgar Law could use Haki to break free, Broly could naturally do the same.
This is a classic case of the darkest place being under the lamp.
At this moment, not only the hawkish navy, but also hundreds of thousands of people on the entire battlefield were in a panic.
Especially those Seven Warlords of the Sea who were tricked into coming by the World Government, their eyes gleamed with greed and a desire to survive.
They never wanted to serve the World Government. The only reason they were standing there was because they had been forced to sign a contract with Im. If they resisted, they would be instantly killed.
But now, Broly can break the contract!
Then what's there to hesitate about?
"Thump thump thump—!!"
A series of hurried footsteps sounded, and from within the naval ranks, a figure suddenly used Moonwalk, leaping across the battlefield like an arrow and rushing towards the Perfume Serpent.
The man was incredibly fast, his cloak leaving a trail of afterimages behind him.
"Shiliu! You brat—!" Zephyr's expression changed drastically, and he shouted angrily.
He recognized the figure at a glance; it was his own student, the top graduate who had recently graduated from the naval academy but had quickly distinguished himself with his outstanding swordsmanship and ruthless style.
The burly man landed in front of Broly's camp and knelt down with a thud, shaking up the dust from the uniform of a low-ranking naval officer.
His head was bowed deeply, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "I am Shiryu! I am willing to serve Lord Broly like a dog! I humbly beg you to remove my mark!"
He is none other than Shiryu of the Rain, the future warden of Impel Down and a core member of the Blackbeard Pirates.
At this moment, although he has not yet taken up a post in Impel Down, his inherent rebelliousness and evil have already been revealed.
After being forced into a contract by Im, his dissatisfaction with the Navy and the World Government reached its peak.
Now that he has witnessed Broly's supernatural powers firsthand, he could no longer restrain himself and chose to betray him on the spot.
With Shiliu as a precedent, it was like toppling dominoes.
"Lord Broly! We are Sakazuki's subordinates and are willing to follow you!"
Onigumo was the first to react, and with a wave of his hand, he led a large group of hawkish marines towards Broly.
Their faces were filled with determination. Rather than follow the World Government to the grave, they would rather join Broly and exchange it for a glimmer of hope, which would also allow them to realize their leader's dream of a new navy.
"Brother Broly! Wait for me!"
Hanafuzha, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was also in a hurry. He ran and shouted, "I've known Kaido for a long time. We're practically friends! Please help me remove this damn mark!"
From now on, if my brother tells me to go east, I'll never go west, even if it means going through fire and water!
In an instant, the battlefield descended into chaos.
Countless people who were already dissatisfied with the World Government switched sides and rushed to Broly's camp. Some of them knelt down and kowtowed, their foreheads hitting the ground with loud thuds, blood streaming down their faces.
Some clasped their hands together, pleading desperately, their voices extremely humble.
"Lord Broly! Please, save me!"
"I am willing to submit to you! I am willing to do anything!"
"I'm willing to be your servant if I can break the contract!"
Besides Hanafzai, the other Shichibukai are also eager to make their move.
Golden Lion, Ryder crossed his arms, his brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on Broly with a complex expression.
They were legendary pirates of the previous era, and they never bowed their heads to anyone.
But when faced with the threat of death, pride seems to become less important.
Crocodile, a cigar dangling from his lips, the smoke swirling slightly at the corner of his mouth, his eyes gleaming with calculation.
Joining Broly would be much better than being a scapegoat under Im, but the question is whether he would agree.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Moria was the first to lose his temper. He shoved Crocodile aside and ran towards Broly, his voice trembling with a sob: "I don't want to die!!"
A year ago, he was utterly defeated by Whitebeard, his resolve shattered, and he slunk back to the first half of the Grand Line to carry out his zombie plan, dreaming of one day making a comeback and seizing the title of Pirate King.
But who would have thought that he would be ambushed by Im midway and forced to sign a life-or-death contract.
His hatred for Im was no less than that for Akainu.
Now that he has a chance to be free, he naturally won't let it go.
Kneeling before a five-year-old is shameful, but what does a little self-respect matter compared to one's life?
Even the Five Elders and members of the Knights of God showed hesitation on their faces.
They followed Im not out of genuine worship, but because Im could grant them endless lifespans and supreme power, and because their lives were firmly in Im's hands.
Im is eccentric and capricious, and has absolutely no personal charm.
The Five Elders had previously considered defecting, but they dared not act on it due to the threat of the contract.
Now that they see Broly able to break the contract, their old desires are starting to stir again.
At this moment, only a handful of people remain steadfastly standing in place.
Garp, Crane, and Loki's giant army—their king died at the hands of that monster, and they have a blood feud with Broly.
As more and more coalition members defected, audiences around the world were in an uproar.
People were abuzz with discussion, marveling at Broly's intimidating presence and mocking the World Government's growing isolation.
From the secret base of the Brave Army, King Sweat stood in front of a huge screen, watching the chaos on the battlefield, and sighed, "It's over."
His deputy behind him asked, puzzled, "Chief, the allied forces still have hundreds of thousands of men. Even if some defect, their strength should not be underestimated."
"Underestimating?"
The Sweat King scoffed, pointing at Broly on the screen, "What they can rely on has never been numbers, but the contract with Im. Now that Broly can break the contract, who among those wavering will still fight for the World Government? This war was decided the moment Akainu defected."
"die!!"
Just then, that sinister voice exploded in everyone's minds again, filled with earth-shattering fury.
boom-!!
The earth trembled violently, and an enormous pentagram magic circle suddenly appeared, covering most of the battlefield.
The dark red runes shimmered with an eerie light, enveloping all those who wanted to join Broly, including Onigumo, Hanafza, and Moria.
The next instant, black mist surged out from the magic circle, like greedy tentacles, wrapping around everyone's body.
A terrifying suction force came, frantically draining their life force.
Im's voice was filled with twisted glee: "Those who betray Im will all meet their demise!!"
In just a few seconds, those who were kneeling and begging for mercy just a second ago began to shrivel up at a visible speed.
Their skin instantly became wrinkled like withered tree bark, their muscles rapidly atrophied, and the outline of their bones became clearly visible.
In an instant, Khalafza's face was reduced to nothing but skin clinging to his bones. His eyes bulged out, and his mouth was wide open, as if he wanted to cry for help, but no sound came out.
With their last ounce of strength, they reached out to Broly at the bow of the Perfume Serpent, their eyes filled with despair and pleading.
"Lord Broly—help—help me—"
However, Broly simply sat there quietly, watching the scene with indifferent eyes, without making any move.
Seeing his subordinates being sucked dry and turned into skeletons, Akainu's face instantly turned ashen.
He instinctively took a step forward, opening his mouth several times as if to speak but then stopping, only to be grabbed by the arm by Kizaru beside him.
Don't go.
Kizaru's voice was low and carried a hint of warning, "We'll do whatever the boss does. Don't say anything unnecessary or do anything unnecessary."
Akainu froze, staring at Kizaru's eyes behind his sunglasses. Those eyes, which always held a lazy air, were now filled with seriousness.
He gritted his teeth and finally stopped, looking at the carnage on the battlefield with a complicated expression.
It took no more than ten seconds.
The once boisterous and clamorous defection crowd has now turned into a pile of white bones and skeletons.
Countless bones clattered to the ground, piling up into a small mountain—a terrifying and chilling sight.
The battlefield fell silent once more, everyone stunned by Im's ruthlessness and Broly's indifference.
Im's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable authority: "Those who betray Im—die!!"
Why didn't you save them?
Zephyr couldn't hold back any longer and shouted in Broly's direction.
His voice carried a hint of anger and confusion, "You clearly have that ability! They just want to survive!"
Zephyr certainly didn't want to work for the World Government, not to mention that after the Mark incident, his goodwill towards the World Government had already plummeted to rock bottom.
But he ultimately chose to stay with the Allied forces because his close friends Garp, Tsuru, and others were on the opposite side of Broly.
He didn't want to betray his friends, and he certainly didn't want to bow down to a "monster" like Broly who treated human life like dirt.
But in Zephyr's view, those people had already chosen to submit to Broly, so he had to do something in return.
Among those who died were his own disciples, such as Shiryu and Onigumo.
Although their choices disappointed him, watching them die still caused Zephyr immense pain, as if his heart were being torn apart.
Broly the monkey shrugged. "The game's barely started, and so many people's already switching sides. What's the fun in that?"
His gaze swept over the still-shaken crowd on the battlefield. "You all just obediently follow your little sister Im and continue this game."
Having said that, he turned his gaze to Shanks in the Allied Forces' rear, his eyes holding a hint of a chessboard: "Let's start the second round quickly, any other moves?"
These words immediately silenced the crowd.
Many people only realized then that Im was indeed a beast, using them as cannon fodder.
But Broly on the other side isn't much better.
Im treated them as tools to be sacrificed at any time, while Broly treated them as toys to amuse himself.
It seems that no matter which side they side with, they will not have a good ending.
All I can say is that Kizaru, that old fox, really had foresight.
He decisively betrayed from the very beginning, becoming the first to try something new.
Shanks, who had been singled out by Broly, took a deep breath, raised his still-intact left hand, and wiped the cold sweat from his face.
But he knew there was no turning back now.
He drew his sword sharply and shouted, "Don't be afraid, everyone! We still have a chance! Broly may be powerful, but he's still just one person! Charge! If we take down Broly, we can break free from Im's control and start a new life together!!"
These words were spoken with great passion and fervor; under normal circumstances, they might have truly inspired people.
But at this moment, everyone knew perfectly well that even if they defeated Broly, they would still be controlled by Im's contract, and their lives would still be in the hands of others.
The so-called "new life" is nothing more than a pie in the sky drawn by Shanks.
Even knowing it was a lie, they had no other choice.
Broly's men have already launched their attack.
Having witnessed Broly's unfathomable strength once again, the morale of Broly's camp soared.
Besides Hancock, there are Yamato and the others.
Kizaru and Akainu no longer held back.
Kizaru transformed into a golden ray of light, instantly appearing within the allied forces' ranks. With the Ama-no-Murakumo sword in hand, the power of light condensed into a sharp sword aura, sweeping across all directions: "Yasakani no Magatama!"
A hail of golden bullets rained down, instantly turning hundreds of government agents into mangled remains, a gruesome and disgusting sight.
Kizaru landed in mid-air, turned to look at Zephyr, who was a hundred meters away, shrugged, and said with a hint of apology, "I'm sorry, Zephyr-sensei. I originally wanted to persuade you to join my boss, but I didn't find the opportunity to tell you."
Zephyr looked at the dead agents, then at Kizaru, and couldn't help but laugh.
The smile held a hint of helplessness, but also a touch of relief: "You always slacked off when you were cultivating, but I never expected your workplace skills to get so good."
As he spoke, Zephyr's hands were instantly covered with a thick layer of Armament Haki, as black as ink, exuding a chilling sense of oppression.
He used Moonwalk, his body shooting towards Kizaru like an arrow released from a bow, his speed leaving only a blur: "Since you've chosen betrayal, then we have no choice but to fight!"
At this moment, Zephyr had not yet experienced the later tragedy, his arm was still intact, and his strength was still at its peak, definitely at the level of a general.
Kizaru's expression changed, and he dared not be careless in the slightest.
He quickly conjured the Kusanagi Sword and slashed at Zephyr's fist.
"clang-!!"
The deafening clang of metal colliding was deafening. Armament Haki and the power of light collided, creating a massive shockwave that swept out like a hurricane.
The surrounding naval soldiers and government agents were caught in the shockwave and were thrown backward.
"Professor Zephyr, why are you doing this to yourself?"
Kizaru raised an eyebrow and asked, a hint of reluctance in his eyes behind his sunglasses, "If you are willing to kneel down and admit your mistake to Lord Broly, he will definitely not make things difficult for you."
For someone like Zephyr who is devoted to the public good, Bro wouldn't include him in his activities, but breaking the contract was a trivial matter for him.
This can also be seen from Broly saving Tiger's life earlier.
Having followed Broly for so long, Kizaru has a very good understanding of his new boss's personality.
Although Broly was capricious and even lawless, he did not dislike a pure person like Zephyr.
Although Zephyr's adherence to the principle of not killing may seem naive in this world, he has always upheld the Navy's bottom line.
Broly didn't like being around such a person, but he certainly didn't dislike them.
Zephyr grinned, but didn't stop attacking. His Armament Haki-enhanced fists rained down on Kizaru like a storm. "I'm sorry, but I can only stand on this side. Tsuru, Garp, Sengoku—they are all my dearest friends. I can't betray them. And my sense of justice won't allow me to bow down to a monster who treats human life like dirt."
Kizaru wielded the Ama no Murakumo sword, constantly parrying Zephyr's attacks; the two fought fiercely, evenly matched.
The sounds of clashing metal, the whistling of shockwaves, and the screams of soldiers mingled together, creating the most brutal symphony of the battlefield.
"After the war ends, you'll be forming a new navy, right?"
As Zephyr attacked, he asked with a hint of anticipation, "Where do you intend to lead this world? Will you simply continue killing pirates as before? Or will you create a new order?"
While dodging, Kizaru replied, "I hadn't thought about that. Forming a new navy was Sakazuki's idea, and he decides how it's done. As for me, I'm still the same—just trying to make a living."
"Tch, what a loser." Zefa said irritably, but he increased the pressure on his hand.
He suddenly pushed his power to the limit, his muscles bulging, his entire body covered in Armament Haki, and his whole body became shiny black.
He delivered a powerful punch, slamming it into Kizaru's Ame-no-Murakumo sword.
"boom-!!"
The immense force caused Kizaru to lose his balance instantly, transforming him into a golden streak as he flew backward, crashing heavily into the ground in the distance.
The ground was smashed into a huge crater, filled with smoke and dust, triggering a series of explosions.
"After the war ends, the new Navy will no longer be under the control of the World Government!"
Zephyr stood still, shouting towards the deep pit, his voice echoing across most of the battlefield, "Don't you want to do anything? Don't you want to guide this world in a better direction? You clearly have the ability!"
As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, a golden light shot out from the deep pit and instantly landed in front of Zefa.
Kizaru dusted himself off, still holding the Ama-no-Murakumo sword in his hand, his lazy expression returning: "Please spare me, I'm not good at this kind of thing. If you want to attend class, go find Sakazuki, he should be very interested."
Zeff grinned, his gaze shifting to Akainu, who was slaughtering government agents not far away, and shouted, "Sakazuki! Come here! I'm going to teach you your final lesson!"
Akainu has just punched a CP0 agent to ashes, losing his subordinate, and now he desperately needs to vent his anger.
He paused upon hearing Zefa's shout.
Akainu glanced at Zephyr, then at Kizaru beside him. After hesitating for a few seconds, he still used Moonwalk to rush towards the two of them.
Soon, Akainu and Kizaru surrounded Zephyr from the left and right.
Zefa looked at the two disciples before him, one lazy and easygoing, the other fierce and persistent, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
Although both disciples have their own problems, it's good that both of them can stay.
He clenched his fists, his Armament Haki surging once more, making his aura even more terrifying: "You two are both geniuses of the Navy, and the hope for the future of the new Navy. Today, let me see just how much you've improved over the years! Show me your full strength, and let me see if you're qualified to protect this world!"
"boom--!!"
Zephyr launched the first attack, his figure moving like a ghost between the two, his iron fists striking back and forth, each punch carrying the undisputed power of an admiral.
Kizaru and Akainu no longer held back, their speed from the Glint-Glint Fruit combined with the destructive power of the Magma-Magma Fruit, engaging in an earth-shattering battle with Zephyr.
Fist winds, sword energy, magma, and golden light constantly collided and intertwined, and the resulting shockwaves destroyed everything around them.
Broly sat at the bow of the ship, watching the battle between master and apprentice silently, his eyes showing no emotion.
Only after Zephyr forced Kizaru and Akainu back with a powerful punch did he slowly speak, uttering three words: "Amazing."
The maid Monet beside him instantly showed an incredulous expression.
She is only ten years old this year, but she has been with Broly for almost half a year and has never seen her master give such high praise to anyone.
"Master—" Monet raised his head, cautiously looking at Broly's profile, "This is the first time you've given someone such high praise."
Broly smiled but did not answer.
He thought Zefa was remarkable not because of his strength, but because of his perseverance.
In this battlefield where everyone will do anything to survive, Zephyr clearly had the chance to live, but chose to fight for his friends and his beliefs.
Broly saw this foolish persistence as all the more precious.
In a way, Zephyr, like Smoker, is one of the few normal people in this pirate world.
As Kizaru said, if Zephyr were willing to back down now, Broly would most likely help him break the contract.
But Broly also knew that Zephyr would never do that.
His friendship with Sengoku and Garp, and his sense of justice, would not allow him to do such a thing.
He would rather die.
To borrow a phrase from Whitebeard, I am a remnant of the old era; the new era has no ship to carry me.
Since his wife and children had already been killed by pirates, there was nothing left in this world for him to cherish.
Since he didn't want to be cannon fodder for Im, nor did he want to prolong his life by kneeling before Broly.
Then I'll use my life to teach Kizaru and Akainu one last lesson.
I hope that these two disciples can truly understand the meaning of "justice" and wholeheartedly protect this broken world.
The war continues.
Although Broly's side was in high spirits, the Allied forces were simply too numerous.
Hundreds of thousands of people surged in like a tidal wave, launching attack after attack. Even though Broly's forces were incredibly skilled, they gradually began to tire.
Especially Garp, Loki, the Five Elders, and the Knights of God, who have an irreconcilable hatred for Broly and have long since disregarded life and death.
They charged frantically toward Broly with all their might, each attack carried with the determination to perish together.
Under their fierce attack, Broly's forces were gradually suppressed, their defensive line retreated continuously, and it looked like the allied forces were about to break through.
"hateful!!"
Torituma roared and transformed into his Yamata no Orochi form once more.
Eight enormous snake heads rose simultaneously, opened their blood-red mouths, and spewed out torrents of water.
The water cannons surged like a rushing river towards the Allied forces' ranks, attempting to halt their offensive.
However, Loki was already prepared.
He swung the huge iron hammer in his hand, and the power of ice instantly erupted, transforming into a huge ice wall to meet the water cannon.
"boom-!!"
The water cannon collided with the ice wall and was instantly frozen into a giant ice sculpture.
The power of ice did not stop; it spread along the trajectory of the water cannon, rushing towards Toritoma.
The chill was so intense that even Toritoma, a user of superpowers, felt a pang of fear.
"Not good!" Toritoma's expression changed drastically, and he immediately made a decision to transform from his Yamata no Orochi form back into his human form.
Her body shrank rapidly in an attempt to escape the icy chill, but it was too late.
The ice, comparable to the Ice-Ice Fruit of Aokiji, followed like a leech, instantly freezing her right foot.
The cold sensation spread along her skin, quickly covering her calves and then moving towards her thighs and upper body.
Torritoma could feel his body being frozen.
At the critical moment, a green laser beam suddenly shot from the direction of the Perfume Serpent, instantly hitting the ice that touched Torritoma's body.
"Snap—!"
The ice shattered instantly into countless small pieces, which fell to the ground and melted into water.
Torritoma stumbled and fell to the ground, panting heavily, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
She turned to look at the bow of the Perfume Serpent, where Broly was still sitting, only now he was holding up one finger; the laser beam from earlier had come from his fingertip.
"I'm sorry, Lord Broly." Toritoma slowly stood up, supporting himself on one leg, his face full of shame.
Broly waved his hand lightly, his tone indifferent: "Step down."
Torritoma nodded, braced himself on one foot, and leaped to the rear of the battlefield, temporarily escaping the fight.
Meanwhile, the allied forces had broken through Broly's defenses and surrounded the Perfume Serpent.
Shanks, Loki, Garp, Tsuru, the Knights of God, the Five Elders in their phantom forms, and the burly giants on the perimeter, densely surrounded the ship, forming an impenetrable human wall.
His eyes were cold and murderous, staring at Broly on the ship like a hungry wolf.
"Broly!!"
On the other side of the battlefield, Hancock shouted anxiously.
She was currently being held up by several naval officers and unable to break free. Seeing Broly surrounded by so many top-tier experts, her heart involuntarily jumped into her throat.
Although she knew Broly was powerful, she couldn't help but worry when faced with such a large group attacking her.
Monet stood behind Broly, trembling with fear. She clung tightly to Broly's clothes, curled up, and closed her eyes, unable to look at the menacing enemies.
She was only ten years old and had never experienced such a dangerous scene before. The aura emanating from those powerful figures almost suffocated her.
"What are you afraid of?" Yamato looked at the extremely anxious Hancock with a strange expression. "Shouldn't the people who should be worried be the World Government?"
Hancock glared at Yamato and said fiercely, "What do you know? This is love!"
Her love for Broly had long since penetrated to the bone.
Even knowing that Broly was omnipotent, she still worried and was afraid.
This worry has nothing to do with strength, but only with mindset.
"Love? I have love too." Yamato blinked and said earnestly. Although she was only five years old and didn't fully understand the meaning of "love," she knew that Broly was the most important person to her.
She would do anything for Broly.
Hancock curled her lip in disdain: "What's your little bit of love? Let me tell you, my love for Broly will always be twice as much as your love for him!"
She held up two fingers, gesturing with absolute certainty: "Multiply your love for Broly by two, and you'll barely come close to the love I have for him!"
Yamato frowned, seemingly pondering seriously what "multiplied by two" actually meant.
She tilted her head, thought for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out, so she gave up: "Anyway, I love Broly very much, that's enough."
At the same time, Broly, who was sitting at the bow of the ship, slowly stood up.
His gaze moved slowly, sweeping over his enemies one by one.
Garp, Tsuru, Loki, Shanks, the Five Elders—each of them had a different expression, yet they all carried the same murderous intent.
Broly's lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze finally settling on Shanks standing in the center: "What? Aren't you going to attack?"
Loki gripped his hammer tightly, veins bulging on his arm, ready to take a step forward and launch an attack.
However, Shanks suddenly raised his hand and stopped him.
"Wait." Shanks' voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
Shanks took a flask from his cloak.
He uncorked the bottle, and a rich aroma of wine wafted out, carried by the sea breeze throughout the entire battlefield.
"Broly!"
Shanks raised his flask and shouted in Broly's direction, his voice booming, "Although you killed my dearest friend and turned this world into chaos, I must say—you are a force to be reckoned with!"
His eyes held a hint of admiration and determination: "I've traveled the world with Captain Roger and seen countless powerful figures, but I've never met anyone like you. To fight someone as strong as you makes my blood boil!"
As he spoke, he took out a wine dish from his pocket and slowly filled the wine pot with wine.
He threw the flask at Broly.
Broly reached out and caught it.
Shanks raised his saucer and shouted, "Bottoms up! After this battle—it's either you or me!!"
Instantly, all eyes in the world were on Broly and Shanks.
The Den Den Mushi's camera was pointed at the drinks in their hands, and countless people held their breath, waiting for Broly's response.
Shanks's speech was so inspiring that it ignited the fighting spirit of many Allied soldiers.
But those with clear minds, like Marco, Doflamingo, and Shakky, immediately realized something was wrong.
Marco frowned and whispered to Kozuki Oden beside him, "Something's not right. Shanks hates Broly so much, how could he possibly be on the same page with him?"
Doflamingo licked his lips, a playful smile playing on his lips: "Fufu—that red-haired brat, he probably tampered with the drink, right? But, Broly, that monster, even if the drink was poisoned, could it really hurt him?"
Shakky stood behind the bar, her eyes full of doubt: "Shanks has no right to tell Broly it's either you or me!" That drink—there's definitely something wrong with it.
Under the watchful eyes of the world, Shanks weighed the saucer in his hand, gestured to Broly, then tilted his head back and drank the wine in the saucer in one gulp.
He wiped his mouth, a defiant smile appearing on his face.
It's as if to say, "I'll do it, you can do whatever you want."
Broly looked at the flask in his hand, then at Shanks, his smile unchanged.
He brought the wine jug to his lips, tilted his head back, and slowly poured the wine into his mouth.
"Wait! Broly!!"
Hancock's expression changed drastically, and she cried out in disbelief.
Her heart clenched suddenly, and a strong sense of unease welled up inside her.
Although Shanks also drank the wine, she always felt that things weren't that simple.
However, it was too late.
Broly’s throat visibly slid as the drink went down.
Im, who was hiding in the shadows, instantly went from anger to joy, a twisted ecstasy flashing in his eyes.
boom--!!
The massive pentagram array reappeared, this time emerging from the depths of the battlefield behind the allied forces. The array's light was even more dazzling and eerie than before.
A woman dressed in a magnificent robe slowly walked out of the magic circle.
Her long blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her skin was brown, somewhat similar to Nico Robin's skin tone in the early stages of the story.
Her features were exquisitely beautiful, like God's most perfect masterpiece, but her eyes were cold and sinister, carrying an arrogant and disdainful air that looked down on the world.
It was Im, the supreme ruler of the world government.
Upon seeing the newcomer, the Five Elders and the members of the Knights of God immediately knelt respectfully on one knee, bowing their heads deeply, their voices filled with utmost reverence: "Lord Im!!"
This scene was broadcast all over the world via video Den Den Mushi (snail phone).
Whether it was great pirates like Whitebeard and Kaido, the Riku family of Dressrosa, or ordinary people, everyone showed an expression of extreme shock.
No one expected that the mysterious ruler who stood above the Five Elders and controlled the fate of the World Government was such a young and beautiful woman!
The most shocked were the Kobra couple from Alabasta.
Because Im's face is almost identical to that of Queen Nefertari D. Lily, as recorded in their family history!
Queen Lily was one of the twenty kings who founded the World Government eight hundred years ago, and she was also the ancestor of the Kingdom of Alabasta.
The Cobras had seen Queen Lily's portrait in their family's ancient books. At this moment, Im's appearance was almost identical to that of Queen Lily in the portrait, except for differences in skin color and temperament.
"She—she's Queen Lily? How is that possible?" Cobra's wife covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Queen Lily has been dead for eight hundred years, how could she still be alive?
Ignoring the crowd's shock, Im stared intently at Broly, a twisted smile, as if possessed by Malik, spread across her stunningly beautiful face as she roared, "Broly! You've been tricked!!"
Her voice, filled with a frenzied ecstasy, echoed across the entire battlefield: "That drink contained the juice of two Devil Fruits! Each Devil Fruit harbors the soul of a demon. If you eat two, they will fight within your body, ultimately causing your body to completely collapse and explode, killing you!!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in Broly's camp changed their expressions drastically.
Hancock staggered back a step, her face ashen, her eyes filled with despair: "Broly—"
Yamato stared wide-eyed, clenching his fists tightly, looking at Broly with a worried expression.
Monet was so frightened that she burst into tears, tears streaming down her cheeks: "Master—are you alright?"
Many people looked at Shanks, because he had also drunk the wine.
However, Shanks tossed the saucer aside, a confident smile spreading across his face, and explained, "There's a hidden compartment in that wine jug. When I pressed the button, normal wine poured out. Broly, on the other hand, drank poisoned wine mixed with the juices of two different Devil Fruits!"
The whole world instantly understood.
It turns out, this was all a conspiracy from the beginning! Shanks deliberately used reverse psychology to get Broly to drink the poisoned wine!
All eyes were on Broly.
Broly frowned, clutched his abdomen, and showed a pained expression, as if something inside him was violently struggling.
On Sphinx Island, Kozuki Oden and the others wore expressions of ecstatic joy.
"Great! That monster Broly is finally going to be finished!" Denjiro shouted excitedly.
Marco frowned, his eyes full of doubt: "Legend has it that anyone who eats two Devil Fruits will instantly explode and die. But how effective would that be against a monster like Broly—"
His words calmed everyone around him down.
Yes, according to the legend, Broly should have exploded by now. But he only showed an uncomfortable expression, without anything else unusual.
But for Shanks and Im, being able to affect Broly's condition is enough.
A gleam of wild joy flashed in Shanks' eyes. He drew his sword and shouted, "It worked! Everyone, attack! Kill him while he's weakened!!"
He didn't want to let this golden opportunity slip by.
Whether or not the poisoned wine completely killed Broly, weakening him was the best opportunity.
Before he could finish speaking, Shanks had already launched an attack.
He leaped into the air, drawing a powerful arc, his sword brimming with domineering energy. With a horizontal slash, he unleashed a dark red sword aura.
It was the sword technique Roger himself taught him—Divine Evasion!
The sword energy, carrying earth-shattering power, slashed towards Broly, tearing apart the air and emitting a piercing whistling sound wherever it passed.
The others around weren't idle either.
Loki swung his massive iron hammer, unleashing an extreme chill as a huge ice blade hurtled towards Broly.
Garp's iron fist, imbued with both Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, slammed towards Broly like a cannonball, the force of the punch whistling through the air, unstoppable.
The Five Elders had already transformed into their Mythical Zoan forms and unleashed their strongest attacks simultaneously at Broly.
The members of the Knights of God also joined the fray, their swordsmanship, Haki, and Devil Fruit abilities intertwining to form an impenetrable net of attacks that enveloped Broly.
Monet, who was only a thousand years old, trembled with fear as he watched the full force of so many of the world's top experts unleash their attacks.
She huddled behind Broly, clutching her head tightly with both hands, unable to bear the impending devastating blow.
At that very moment, at the critical juncture—
She heard Broly's voice.
The voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"Is that all?"
Monet suddenly opened his eyes and stared incredulously at Broly's retreating figure.
Broly slowly lowered his hand from his stomach, the discomfort on his face long gone, replaced by a faint sneer.
He looked down at his abdomen, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"I am the master of my body."
After saying that, he slapped his own abdomen.
His voice carried supreme authority and domineering power.
"demon!"
"I order you to come out!!!"