When Saint Saturn saw the scene below, his expression twisted with rage as he cursed aloud, "Damn it! Isn't that man supposed to be fighting Lord Imu? How can he still be distracted enough to manipulate these branches?"
The black-clad fighters who had already lost their combat ability were dragged mercilessly by the vines and thrown before Kaito's clone.
"How is this possible!" Saint Peter stared in disbelief. "That's Kaito? He should be engaged with Lord Imu right now. How could this be happening!"
"Calm yourself!" Saint Mars shouted sharply. "It's a clone technique. The exhaustion will dissipate on its own. Don't let this distract you. This battle cannot afford mistakes!"
His words had barely ended when explosions of metal rang out in the distance, accompanied by the sharp stench of burning fuel.
Saint Mars turned his head, his face flushing red as his chest heaved violently. His voice grew hoarse with fury. "Kaito, that damned bastard!"
Far away, Pacifistas were being brutally pierced from the inside out by dark brown branches. No one knew how these vines had grown, but they were not only incredibly tough, they were lethally sharp. Even the reinforced steel bodies of the Pacifistas offered no resistance. In mere moments, dozens of them were destroyed outright, some detonating violently on the spot.
These were Pacifistas, many of them the latest models. Even a single laser from them could threaten an Admiral. In numbers, they were a decisive force for the World Government.
Yet before they could even receive orders, they were completely annihilated by Kaito.
Rage surged uncontrollably within the Five Elders.
"Kaito!" Saint Nusjuro shouted coldly.
If they had known this would happen, they would never have left the Pacifistas guarded by so few elite fighters.
Looking at the black-clad men who had been drained into lifeless husks by the vines, regret burned fiercely in their chests.
"Enough!" Saint Saturn took a deep breath and roared. "The Pacifistas are already lost. What matters now is this battlefield!"
His shout snapped the others back to reality. One by one, they suppressed their fury and refocused on the enemies before them.
Still, every one of them silently swore that if they survived this battle, Kaito would pay dearly for provoking the wrath of the Five Elders.
High above the battlefield, Kaito perceived everything that had happened below and exhaled slowly. With the overall balance of high level combat power already tipping in their favor, and with his clone providing support, victory was only a matter of time.
"You truly believe the battle below decides everything?" Imu's cold voice echoed behind her mask. Warm breath carrying a faint fragrance spread through the air. "Everything you've done is meaningless. The true protagonists of this war are you and me."
Her gaze sharpened.
"No matter who wins below, the outcome means nothing. As long as one of us stands victorious, the war is decided."
"I understand," Kaito replied calmly, a faint smile on his face. "But unlike you, I won't abandon my subordinates so easily. I won't discard them just because it's convenient."
Imu's expression stiffened briefly. "It isn't ruthlessness. I've simply lived long enough to grow accustomed to life and death. As long as I exist, the World Government will never fall."
Her eyes burned with battle intent. "Enough words. Let's decide this quickly. The Five Elders may be incompetent, but they've governed the World Government for decades. I don't intend to find replacements."
She raised her hand.
A dazzling white light bloomed instantly, releasing a warm, invigorating aura that lifted the spirit.
Kaito frowned slightly. "This presence… it resembles medical ninjutsu."
The light faded, revealing a long white blade in Imu's grasp. White flames danced across her body, distorting the surrounding space with every movement.
"This sword has been forgotten for a long time," Imu said softly, stroking the blade as if it were alive. "In exchange, your purple eyes will become part of my collection."
Kaito's smile turned savage. "Good. You're the First person who's made me feel real danger. You truly deserve the title of the most noble woman in the world."
Dark lightning crackled as he raised his hand. In an instant, a thunder sword formed, surging with power exceeding three billion volts.
In the next moment, both figures vanished.
Their bodies moved like phantoms, fast as streaking light.
Black and white collided.
Boom!
Thunder roared as white flames erupted. The instant their blades met, each unleashed its full might, like two living swords clashing with their own wills.
Kaito activated the Seventh Gate completely, gripping the thunder sword with both hands and slashing relentlessly. Each strike carried the power to shatter mountains.
Imu remained expressionless, meeting every blow head-on, her white blade deflecting each strike with terrifying precision.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sky trembled as they collided again and again, sword light and lightning tearing through the heavens like endless afterimages.
As time passed, neither slowed. Sword energy crisscrossed wildly, forming a massive moving field around them.
Half thunder, half white flame, the domain resembled a blue and white painting stretched across the sky. Every strand of sword energy rivaled the slash of a supreme swordsman.
The domain shifted with their movement, an unnatural and terrifying sight.
Both fighters ignored everything else. Their eyes burned with madness and battle intent, neither willing to yield.
In a blink, they vanished from above Marineford.
When they reappeared, they stood above a vast sea where clear water flowed gently. Fish swam below, and deeper still, massive unseen creatures lurked in the depths.
Hum.
Crackle! Crackle!
Lightning split the sky as Kaito's thunder sword descended, covering the sea in its path.
For a moment, the ocean seemed frozen, cleaved cleanly in two. From above, it looked like a scar torn across the world, dividing the sea from horizon to horizon.
Only after a long moment did the waters crash back together. Charred fish and sea creatures floated to the surface, filling the air with the scent of cooked flesh.
Even so, the sea along the path of the thunder slash refused to heal immediately.
Then, without pause, a white flame sword energy descended from the sky.
The temperature spiked violently.
The sea boiled.
Countless sea creatures floated to the surface, bright red and thoroughly cooked, the scene almost surreal in its devastation.