"A Space Domain? A Time Domain? And control over lava?" Elior was genuinely surprised. After fully processing the information flooding his mind, even he couldn't help but feel shaken. Time-based and space-based abilities were among the most terrifying powers in any world. In the pirate world alone, spatial abilities were already absurdly strong.
For example, the Door-Door Fruit, which allowed instant movement between locations, had limits that were unclear, but its potential was terrifying. Unfortunately, its former user had been far too weak to exploit it properly. Then there was Bartolomeo's Barrier-Barrier Fruit, a Paramecia that created absolute defense. In theory, as long as Bartolomeo remained within his barrier, even Elior himself wouldn't be able to touch him. That was no exaggeration. After all, Oden, whose sword could slash through Kaido's monstrous defense, had once encountered a previous user of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, and even Oden had been unable to break through it.
Those were the spatial abilities Elior was familiar with, and none of them were weak. As for time-related powers, this world had even more terrifying examples. Toki's Time-Time Fruit allowed its user to leap forward through time. Though it only traveled into the future, Elior was convinced that with sufficient mastery, even reversing time or rewriting the past might not be impossible. There was also Ain's Return-Return Fruit, which reversed age, and Bonney's age-manipulation ability, both terrifying manifestations of time-domain power.
There was no doubt: abilities related to time and space were both rare and overwhelmingly powerful. And now, Elior possessed both. Not only that, their starting level was already absurd. For instance, Spatial Gate, allowing jumps up to three kilometers, was a perfect assassination tool. Elior didn't need to escape from anyone, but if he chose to infiltrate Mary Geoise, even Imu wouldn't be able to stop him.
As for lava control, after gaining the ability, Elior could faintly sense magma deep beneath the frozen battlefield, tens of thousands of meters below. As long as he willed it, that lava would answer his call. He could now unleash devastating lava-based attacks similar to Akainu's. No, they were far stronger than the Mag-Mag Fruit. It lacked elemental intangibility, but Elior didn't care in the slightest.
"Even stronger. When the time comes to face Im, I'll have far more leverage." Elior had always feared Im. Im was beyond reason, an existence that transcended the world's understanding, like Kaguya in another world: something fundamentally alien to common sense.
On the other side of the battlefield, Tsuru clenched her fists tightly, staring at Kaido in the sky. Kaido demanded surrender. As long as the Marines surrendered, they would be allowed to leave. But Marine surrendering to pirates? Tsuru saw it. In the distance, a marine held Akainu's severed head with trembling hands. She saw young marines shaking uncontrollably, terror etched into their faces. Finally, Tsuru's strength gave out. Her fists loosened.
"Perhaps surrender is the right choice," she murmured. "Behind those marines are families waiting for them to return alive. But now..." Her heart felt like it was being torn apart. She desperately wished this were just a nightmare, but reality was merciless. The pain from her palms, where her nails had pierced flesh, was vivid and undeniable. The Marines had lost. They had lost utterly and terrifyingly.
That demon... what was truly terrifying wasn't the alliance; it was him. Elior. He was approaching, coming straight toward Tsuru. Gion stood beside her, supporting her weakened body. Gion looked at the young man with complex eyes. He seemed completely uninjured, and that alone put her at ease. Her body, her mind, and her heart already belonged to Elior.
Tsuru's body trembled, not just from grief, but from fury. Soon, Elior stopped in front of her, standing about two meters away.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru. Among everyone here, your reputation carries the most weight." Elior's tone was calm.
"You monster!" Tsuru shouted. "Release Hina and the others! You devil!" She ignored his words entirely. All she wanted was to retreat with the surviving Marines. Surrender or not, casualties could not continue. Hina, Ain, and Tashigi had to be saved.
"Release them?" A playful smile curved Elior's lips. "It's not impossible," he said lightly. "How about trading those three for the woman beside you?"
"You! Bastard!" Tsuru clenched her fists again. She had never felt such rage in her life.
Elior continued calmly, "If there's no deal, then there's nothing left to discuss. Do you really want to keep fighting? Because if this drags on, my people might accidentally kill them all. Tsuru, can you accept that?"
Her vision spun. She nearly spat blood. Trading Gion was impossible. Gion was one of the Marines' strongest remaining combatants. Marine couldn't afford to lose her. Negotiating with a devil was meaningless. Tsuru knew that if Elior got Gion, he would still keep Hina and the others. Was Elior merciful? Obviously not. She believed without doubt that Elior coveted Gion. What Tsuru didn't know was that Gion had already been taken by Elior countless times.
"Sister Tsuru..." Gion whispered softly. She knew that if Tsuru angered Elior further, he wouldn't hesitate to kill her. Begging for Tsuru's life was already her limit.
Finally, Tsuru closed her eyes. "Marine surrenders."
At that moment, tears streamed down her face. She understood that Hina and the others could not be saved. They would fall into that devil's hell. Guilt crushed her heart.
With Fujitora and Kizaru allowing Tsuru to handle negotiations, her authority was absolute. The Marines surrendered. They had no other choice. This war had shown them the true horror at the pinnacle of the sea. Before such monsters, they were nothing but ants. What could they possibly use to resist? Even staking their lives wasn't enough.