~ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
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"BASTARD!"
Seeing the brand-new Kitetsu in Zoro's hand, Nusjuro's face twisted into a grim mask.
The cursed blade that had accompanied him for so many years—Shodai Kitetsu—was shattered and stolen, used to forge a new Supreme Grade Sword for Zoro.
Even with Nusjuro's immense self-control, his features contorted with pure rage.
Supreme Grade Swords weren't a dime a dozen—only twelve existed. And throughout the long history of these seas, some had been lost to time.
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Just like the most powerful Devil Fruits would choose their own masters, the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, which stood at the pinnacle of all famed blades, also, in a sense, chose their own wielders.
A Skillful Grade blade like Sandai Kitetsu could influence whoever wielded it. Supreme Grade Swords, despite being inanimate objects, also possessed ways of affecting their users.
Earning a Supreme Grade blade's recognition was no easy feat, even for a Great Swordsman—much less the Shodai Kitetsu, the most powerful of the Cursed Swords and a unique existence among Supreme Grade weapons.
Losing it was a blow that pained Nusjuro deeply.
But there was nothing he could do. He could only watch helplessly as his Shodai Kitetsu was used to forge the ultimate weapon...
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After fusing with Shodai Kitetsu, this new Kitetsu had become the strongest sword in Zoro's possession.
Though Wado Ichimonji had been with Zoro the longest and was the sword of his oath, carrying his dream, and Enma possessed the special ability to absorb the wielder's Haki and increase its power—they were still, ultimately, among the 21 Great Grade Swords.
Compared to a Supreme Grade Sword, there was a world of difference. Only blades like the black sword Shusui, forged into true black blades, could even come close to matching a Supreme Grade weapon.
But the current Kitetsu was also evolving toward becoming a black blade.
Once it was forged into Zoro's personal black blade, this cursed sword could truly rival the weapon wielded by the World's Greatest Swordsman—the legendary Black Blade Yoru, considered the strongest sword of all.
That would also be the moment Zoro challenged Mihawk!
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Rowen looked at the smile on Zoro's lips and smiled as well.
He had never forgotten his comrades' dreams.
Whether it was finding the ONE PIECE to make Luffy the Pirate King, discovering the ALL BLUE to fulfill Sanji's dream, or helping Zoro become the World's Greatest Swordsman—
Giving Zoro a Supreme Grade Kitetsu meant arming him with a legendary weapon that could truly stand against Black Blade Yoru—and the day he would face Mihawk and claim the title of World's Greatest Swordsman was drawing near.
"GET LOST."
Having gotten what he wanted, Rowen's eyes flashed with crimson-black light as he spoke coldly to the four Elders, excluding Saturn.
'Once I get the Dark-Dark Fruit, none of you will escape.'
Then he released his Kamui. As space returned to normal, the Four Elders disappeared as well, transported back to the Holy Land Mariejois.
"Hmm?"
Rowen's eyes narrowed.
VMM!
A Pentagram Circle suddenly blazed to life beneath the unconscious Gunko. As the circle erupted with black-purple lightning and flames, Gunko's body disappeared.
"As expected, there's something special."
Rowen's eyes flashed.
He couldn't prevent Gunko from being summoned back to Mariejois by Imu—no, to the Room of Flowers.
Imu's Baphomet Fruit was incredibly powerful—even Kamui, which combined the abilities of the Door-Door Fruit and Munch-Munch Fruit, couldn't compete with it.
Gunko, as Imu's chosen vessel, was clearly different from the Five Elders.
Unlike how Imu had discarded Saturn, he hadn't abandoned Gunko. Either there was some special binding contract between them, or Gunko's bloodline and physiology were naturally unique.
This was not strange in the One Piece world—there were many special bloodlines and constitutions. For example, Kuma's Buccaneer bloodline, King's Lunarian bloodline.
The Celestial Dragons, as the descendants of the twenty kings who founded the World Government, having some special bloodlines and constitutions was perfectly normal.
And now, the only one left... was the despairing Saturn.
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"IMU-SAMA! I—"
Before Saturn's voice could fall, black flames erupted from his entire body.
"IMU-SAMA! PLEASE HAVE MERCY!"
Saturn pleaded desperately in his mind, letting out an agonizing scream. At this moment, his life force was rapidly draining away. His once-immortal body had become as fragile as paper.
This was the true power of the contract. While Imu's ability granted them immortal bodies, it also placed their entire existence under his absolute control.
"Someone... must be held responsible."
There was no pity in Imu's eyes, only extreme coldness.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A powerful surge of energy erupted from Saturn's body, the black flames and lightning raged even more violently.
But everyone present was Admiral-level or stronger. Unlike the Vice Admirals in the original story, they weren't intimidated by these fluctuations.
THUD!
Instantly, Saturn's life force completely dissipated, leaving only a skeleton.
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"He's dead??"
Kaido's gaze flickered slightly.
Kaido's dream was to ignite the Greatest War—to drag those arrogant nobles into battle and make them experience the true brutality of warfare. And the most privileged nobles in this world were the Celestial Dragons.
At the apex of all Celestial Dragons stood the Five Elders. Without question, they were the five most powerful nobles in existence.
Kaido had once believed that. After all, he'd had no clue Imu even existed. Now, watching a Five Elder die right in front of him, discarded like a disposable pawn... Kaido's heart was shaken to its core.
This was the real power behind the World Government—the one who occupied the Empty Throne: Imu.
"It really... gets my blood pumping."
Kaido showed a powerful smile.
Though Kaido's current body was a Seraphim modeled after young Doflamingo, his smile held only raw power—none of Doflamingo's malicious intent.
Kaido had witnessed it all.
Seen those arrogant World Nobles dragged down from their perch in the Holy Land Mariejois.
A new King was about to be born.
Kaido looked at Rowen and smiled.
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"NEXT TIME WILL BE THE FINAL BATTLE,"
"JOIN ME, AND LET'S BRING DOWN THE HOLY LAND MARIEJOIS ONCE AND FOR ALL."
Rowen turned to look at everyone and laughed loudly.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
With Rowen's laughter, a terrifying crimson-black lightning churned in the atmosphere.
RUMBLE!
The entire sea region began to shake.
As an Earthquake Human who had mastered the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to its absolute limit and reached Legendary-Class strength, Rowen's laughter alone could make the sea and space itself tremble violently.
His raw power meant the tremors he generated were even stronger than prime Whitebeard's—and certainly stronger than Blackbeard's.
"Hmph."
Hearing Rowen's words. Everyone smiled.
Most of the people present had already mastered Haōshoku Coating. In an instant, the air was filled with an overwhelming Haki—countless streams of crimson-black lightning churning in the atmosphere.
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The Holy Land Mariejois, Pangea Castle.
"Hah... Hah..."
The Four Elders were completely broken at this point—faces drained of color, bodies soaked in cold sweat, gasping for air as they knelt on the ground in utter defeat.
This was a far cry from the original story, where the Five Elders held absolute dominance while hunting down Luffy and the others.
But now, they were the ones being hunted, barely managing to escape with their lives. They'd endured countless assaults from Rowen's Conqueror's Haki.
Even with their immortal bodies protecting them from physical harm, the mental anguish and spiritual torment were enough to leave the Four Elders completely broken and pathetic.
TAP! TAP!
With a series of footsteps, Garling slowly walked to the sofa where Saturn had been sitting and sat down.
"GARLING? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE??"
Warcury snapped, his tone ice-cold and harsh. The other three Elders fixed Garling with deadly stares.
Having Garling—who, despite being commander of the God's Knights, was still beneath them—witness their pathetic condition made these arrogant Elders absolutely furious.
Especially after they'd just been completely humiliated by Sky Sovereign Rowen.
"I have just received an order." Garling said slowly.
"Order?" The Four Elders seemed to think of something, their eyes twitching.
"From now on... I am the new Warrior God of Science and Defense." Garling said.
The only one who could make this decision was, naturally, the World Government's true king—Imu.
The Five Elders were the highest visible authority in the World Government. Their status surpassed all Celestial Dragons, even the God's Knights who had the power to punish Celestial Dragons.
But who became a Five Elder depended entirely on Imu's whim.
With Garling's words, the Four Elders fell silent.
They already knew Saturn's fate.
Though they'd had some sense of what was coming—after all, Saturn had been left behind on Egghead, completely at the mercy of Sky Sovereign Rowen.
Even if Imu hadn't erased him, Saturn's fate was sealed...
But when his actual death was revealed, the Four Elders still felt their hearts clench.
At the same time, they could only submit.
Before Imu, any hint of disrespect would lead to the same end—Saturn's death served as the perfect warning.
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"The sea is about to be turned upside down. Let us fight together, my colleagues,"
Garling said slowly.
His combat strength exceeded Saturn's. But the position of the Five Elders, like the Four Emperors and Seven Warlords, was limited to a fixed number—only five people.
Just like becoming a Four Emperor required completely defeating a current Emperor to create a vacancy, the same principle applied here.
Until one of the established Five Elders made a major mistake and was stripped of their position by Imu—no matter how powerful someone was—they couldn't claim that title.
Just like when Rowen was called the Fifth Emperor of the Sea, the New Emperor, and other titles—despite his achievements surpassing those of the established Four Emperors, he still wasn't officially recognized as one.
It was only after the Summit War, when Whitebeard died in battle and left a vacant position, that Rowen truly became a Four Emperor.
And now, Saturn had been erased by Imu for taking responsibility for this war's failure, leaving an open position.
He, Garling, had seamlessly stepped into that role, becoming the new Five Elder—the new Warrior God of Science and Defense. Though Sky Sovereign Rowen's combat strength had exceeded all original expectations, Imu still had contingency plans in place.
Who would emerge victorious in the end remained unclear. For him, this was the chance of a lifetime. As long as he succeeded, he could hold the position of Five Elder for centuries, just like Saturn had.
Savoring the taste of ultimate power. For this, he was willing to pay any price.
The Four Elders' eyes were grim, not answering.
They had been genuinely shaken by Sky Sovereign's power. But faced with Imu's orders, they could only grit their teeth and follow through.
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