The Calamity Wargod zipped out of Loguetown, flying non-stop up the canal on Reverse Mountain.
It wasn't until they reached the peak of Reverse Mountain that Roa and Shiki the Golden Lion tacitly slowed their speed.
"It seems no one followed us," Redfield, who was very proficient with Observation Haki, nodded gently.
"The escape plan was a great success!"
Roa sheathed his sword. As the bloody aura dissipated, the enormous Calamity Wargod instantly vanished into thin air.
The four figures lightly landed on the peak of Reverse Mountain, not far from where the waterways from the Four Seas converged.
"Phew—that was close," Roa said, feigning lingering fear. "I thought we were going to get wiped out."
"What are you talking about, you idiot!" Kaido snapped in annoyance. "Did you take a single scratch from beginning to end, you bastard?"
What was he doing, putting on an act?
Roa paused.
He looked down at himself.
He really hadn't.
Taking care of the Five Elders was as easy as kicking five stray dogs on the roadside; it was light and effortless.
Then, when Imu appeared, the moment he was at a disadvantage, Uncle Shiki came to the rescue.
In the end, he even split Imu in half with a single sword stroke and forced their way out!
He truly didn't suffer any hardship.
Thinking about it now, was his battle record this time a little too astonishing?
Especially single-handedly taking on five people and achieving a pentakill—besides Imu, could anyone else in the world achieve this level of accomplishment?
Uncle Shiki and Whitebeard definitely couldn't do it, let alone a pure martial artist like Garp.
"Hahaha! Now that I look back, that was actually a lot of fun."
Roa's expression immediately shifted to one of smugness. "The mere Five Elders are nothing much!"
Kaido twitched the corner of his mouth.
"However, who exactly was that last woman?"
Redfield's tone was seriously grave. "It took the combined strength of the four of us just to knock her flying, and that attack probably wasn't even enough to severely injure her! How could anyone be that powerful!"
Roger, Whitebeard, and Shiki definitely couldn't achieve that level.
Oh, of course, Roa, who was already on par with the three of them, couldn't either.
"That's what's bothering me the most!"
Shiki also frowned. "The Holy Knights and even the Five Elders all appeared early on, yet this person waited until the Five Elders were defeated to show up."
"Is her status even higher than the Five Elders?"
Weren't the Five Elders already the highest authorities in the world, the leaders of the Celestial Dragons?
"Who knows about something like that?"
Roa played dumb, shrugging his shoulders like a little bear. "The Celestial Dragons are still too mysterious. Perhaps she's the previous generation's Five Elders?"
"How is that possible! She was such a young girl!"
Shiki immediately retorted. "The Five Elders have been the Five Elders for countless years. Those damn old geezers look as if they simply don't age anymore—hmm?"
Shiki suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Redfield and Kaido's pupils also contracted.
Roa nodded solemnly. "Perhaps it's not 'as if,' but rather, they truly don't age anymore!"
That's right!
The Five Elders have ruled the World Government for too long, so long that no one remembers exactly when they first took control of the world's highest authority.
People have just grown accustomed to it.
But is it possible that the Five Elders aren't just well-preserved and long-lived, but truly immortal?
"If that's the case, the World Government is far too terrifying!"
Redfield's tone was heavy. "If that woman is truly a monster left over from a long time ago, with this first one, why couldn't there be a second or a third?"
Shiki and Kaido both looked grim.
Could there really be more than one monster like that woman?
If so, then what's the point of overthrowing the World Government?
They might as well clean their necks and wait to die!
"There's no need to be so pessimistic,"
Roa said with a smile. "If they truly possessed such exaggerated power, would our Rocks Pirates have been allowed to run rampant back then?"
Shiki and Kaido's eyes instantly brightened.
That's right, if there were many super experts like that woman, would the Rocks Pirates have lasted until the God Valley Incident to be eliminated?
"If we recall carefully, the commander of the Holy Knights has also shown slight signs of aging in the years since God Valley,"
Roa continued. "Moreover, the ages of the Five Elders aren't consistent; some look quite a bit younger than their colleagues. Doesn't this suggest that they also need to achieve certain conditions to possess the power of eternal life?"
Is it the effect of Imu's ability, or the Immortality Surgery from the Ope Ope no Mi?
Roa was actually more inclined to believe it was the latter.
While this wasn't certain, one thing was sure: Imu didn't have many of these immortal treasures on hand.
"Gurararara! In that case, there's nothing to fear!"
Kaido laughed loudly.
"Oh, oh! Brother Kaido is truly uncommonly optimistic,"
Roa couldn't help but chuckle. "Putting aside the Navy, whose combat power is openly displayed, you're already disregarding those monsters from the World Government who are immortal and can teleport at will?"
"Speaking of those guys' immortality—"
Kaido grew angry whenever this topic came up. He grumbled, "You said Conqueror's Haki coating was the key to dealing with them, but why did my iron club have no effect on them?"
He was thoroughly beaten up by those Holy Knights. If he wasn't so thick-skinned and tough, he would likely have been minced like the Five Elders by now.
"Perhaps Brother Kaido's Conqueror's Haki isn't strong enough,"
Roa teased with a smile. "I'm sure Redfield and Uncle Shiki wouldn't have that problem."
"What did you say?" Kaido was furious.
"However,"
Roa paused, his tone becoming a little more serious. "Even I still can't truly kill the Five Elders. Even my Conqueror's Haki can only manage to suppress their regeneration!"
Redfield frowned. "In that case, aren't those guys invincible?"
Even a powerhouse like Roa can't kill them, and they can summon each other in times of crisis.
They can fight when they want and flee when they want. How do you deal with such an enemy?
"There must be a way to crack it."
Roa slowly exhaled. "Conqueror's Haki is definitely the counter, no doubt. Perhaps there are certain techniques that I haven't realized yet."
"It would be great if we could capture one of the Holy Knights. We could experiment properly."
"How do you catch one? Even if you manage to, they'll just be summoned back immediately," Kaido rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, it's really troublesome." Roa couldn't help but sigh.
Joy Boy, this is all your fault.
Just saying "Conqueror's Haki is the key to dealing with immortality"—who could understand that!
"Anyway, let's go back."
Roa stretched. "It was quite satisfying to have such a huge rampage."
"But let's all keep a low profile after we return, okay? I don't think any of us want that woman just showing up on our doorstep, do we?"
Shiki and Kaido's expressions subtly changed.
Undoubtedly, if that woman came looking for them, they would have no chance of winning. After all, the woman, who was likely an immortal, was already ridiculously strong herself, not to mention that she could summon others.
"I'm not scared!" Shiki immediately scoffed.
He flew all over the New World skies—who could find him?
Redfield shrugged. "I couldn't care less. I'm already nomadic, where would she even look for me?"
Kaido's face was slightly grim.
Perhaps I shouldn't stay in Wano Country for a while.
"That's good!"
Roa laughed cheerfully, spreading his arms. "Next, let's prepare to embrace the brand new world!"
"That Roger guy used his life to leave us with the best era!"
"Gurararara!"
Hearing Roger's name, Kaido also burst into laughter. "I don't know how many ambitious people will rush out to sea because of that one sentence from Roger! The most chaotic era is about to arrive! The Great Treasure? I'm going to claim it! Roa, Shiki, Redfield, whether it's you or anyone else, I won't hold back!"
"The Great Treasure, huh? It sounds very interesting."
Redfield also curled his lips into an evil, charming smile. "The second person to find Laugh Tale will be the new Pirate King, right?"
"Treasure hunt? Pirate King?"
Shiki sneered. "That's just a child's game! When I conquer this world, what does mere treasure matter?"
Roa wasn't surprised by Shiki's attitude; in the original story, he greatly despised the so-called Great Pirate Era.
"Go ahead and do as you please!"
Roa laughed heartily. "Isn't that what freedom means?"
"Before that,"
Suddenly, Shiki abruptly turned to look at Roa, his eyes burning with intensity, as if about to shoot a laser beam.
"Roa, fight me! I'm truly curious how far you've evolved, brat!"
Now that Roger was dead, the strongest enemy, besides the World Government, was this kid!
"Oh?"
Roa raised an eyebrow. Was he shifting his attention to him because Roger was dead?
"Sure."
Roa nodded readily.
He had already defeated Roger, so he certainly couldn't miss out on the remaining two legendary pirates.
"Je ha ha ha ha!"
In any case, let's head back to the New World first.
On a ship a considerable distance from Loguetown, the wind was exceptionally strong, blowing the ship forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Dragon stood at the bow, his mind still recalling the scene he had glimpsed as they left Loguetown.
The World Government... actually concealed such a powerful individual?
If there was one, could there be a second?
"Dragon, shouldn't we say thank you to Roa?"
Emporio Ivankov walked out of the cabin. "If that guy hadn't attracted enough attention, we probably wouldn't have been able to escape!"
Roa...
Dragon's eyes suddenly became somewhat complicated.
That guy was undoubtedly the second-largest source of chaos in the world, right after the World Government!
However, his existence was also a huge obstacle to the World Government. Furthermore, the Freedom Fighters' ability to develop to this point was inseparable from his support.
Although the price was that the Freedom Fighters had been thoroughly infiltrated, to the point where they weren't much different from a branch of the Calamity Company.
Sigh.
Dragon shook his head.
Then, the next moment, he regained his spirit. "Ivan, an unprecedented era is about to dawn! We need to be prepared!"
"Of course!"
Ivankov exaggeratedly placed a peace sign by the corner of their right eye. "The Miracle Person is going to change the world next!"
"Change the world?"
A mocking voice came from behind. "With just you lot?"
Dragon turned around and saw Crocodile, wrapped in bandages, leaning against the cabin door frame. Dragon smiled slightly. "How will we know if we don't try?"
"Oh! Little Croc, you're awake?"
Ivankov spun like a whirlwind over to Crocodile, saying cheerfully, "How about it, join us! Join us in changing this twisted world!"
"I'm not that bored."
Crocodile snorted. "Since I personally heard Roger's dying words, my goal is naturally only one thing! And,"
He glared at Ivankov in disgust again. "Little Croc? What kind of name is that now?"
"The Great Treasure, then?" Dragon understood completely.
How many people in the world could resist that Great Treasure?
"But Little Croc! I saved you! Not only did I fight alongside you, but I also brought you off the battlefield, and even treated your wounds!"
Ivankov held up three fingers. "You owe me three favors. As repayment, why don't you join our Freedom Fighters? Who says you can't go look for the Great Treasure just because you joined us?"
This kid's strength was also extraordinary. If they could bring him into the Freedom Fighters, he would undoubtedly be a great general!
"Fighting alongside you counts as a favor? And are you trying to exploit a debt of gratitude, you bastard?"
Crocodile snapped impatiently. "I'll repay the favors I owe you sooner or later, but not at the cost of my freedom!"
"Honestly, Little Croc, you're so willful." Ivankov sighed helplessly.
"Who's the willful one!"
"Never mind, I'm going back to visit family next!"
Ivankov said. "Little Croc, do you want to come back with me?"
"Why would I go with you to visit 'family'!"
The inexperienced young Crocodile was so angry at this person that the veins on his forehead were throbbing. "What does that have to do with me!"
"The World Government must also be keeping an eye on you,"
Dragon interjected at this point. "Acting alone will be very dangerous. Even if you don't join us, moving together temporarily until things calm down will at least be safer."
Crocodile's brow instantly furrowed.
It seemed that was indeed the case.
"Then what are we waiting for!"
Ivankov enthusiastically threw an arm around Crocodile's shoulder, saying with a cheerful smile, "Destination, South Blue!"
At almost the same moment.
Rayleigh was swimming.
Swimming in the vast ocean.
Shanks was gripping the still-unconscious Buggy, who was draped over his back. The red-haired youth's face was grim.
He hesitated repeatedly, finally speaking. "Uncle Rayleigh, was that man just now my—"
"If there are no surprises, he should be your father." Rayleigh said directly.
"..."
Shanks fell silent.
Captain Roger had honestly told him about his background before leaving the ship.
The fact that he was actually a Celestial Dragon, and not just any ordinary one, had hit Shanks hard.
And today, he had actually met his biological father.
But that person was Mr. Rayleigh's enemy.
"Shanks, you haven't made your decision yet, which is why I took you away."
Rayleigh's voice rang out. "Whether you return to Mariejois or continue to stay out on the sea, that is a decision you must make for yourself, not one to be made by me or your Celestial Dragon father."
"No! Mr. Rayleigh!"
Shanks immediately said decisively. "I don't want to go back to Mariejois! I just want to stay on the sea. I only want to become a free pirate, just like Captain Roger!"
"I will,"
He raised his hand and placed it on the straw hat on his head. "Inherit Captain Roger's will!"
Rayleigh smiled.
But immediately, he noticed something rolling off his back.
Shanks had originally been holding Buggy with one hand, but now that hand was pressing on the straw hat on his head.
"W-wait! Buggy! He's sinking!"
A short while later, Mariejois, Pangaea Castle, the Flower Room.
Six figures writhed in pain within this room full of blossoming green grass.
They were the Five Elders, who had been chopped into pieces by Roa earlier, and Figarland Garling, who had returned unsuccessful at the last moment.
Black aura billowed from all six of them. Their faces were incomparably twisted, and their clothes were completely drenched in sweat, as if they were undergoing some unimaginable torture.
But far from crying out, the six of them desperately controlled their struggling movements, trying their best to keep their movements small.
They endured the unspeakable pain in complete silence.
In front of a flower bed not far away, the figure wearing a tall crown crushed the blossoming flower in front of them with a single grip.
"To allow Mu to suffer such humiliation, all of them deserve to die!"
"Among them, Roa is the most deserving of death,"
The King of the World suddenly turned around, and the power exerted on the Five Elders and Garling instantly dissipated. "Do not disappoint Mu again! Mu wills Roa's death!"
"Yes! Lord Imu!"
The six didn't hesitate, flipping up and kneeling in unison before their deity.
"Furthermore, this world is spiraling out of control! Mu requires more fighting power!"
"Yes!"
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