BOOM!
Time, frozen in place, finally resumed.
A violent shockwave swept across the battlefield like a hurricane.
With the release of the slash's impact, Sabaody Archipelago's Grove 1—now a battlefield—was instantly cleaved in two.
Far in the distance, a towering tree bore Aramaki's massive face, eyes wide in disbelief, until a crisp cracking sound echoed—
CRACK!
The colossal tree split cleanly in half.
The residual force of the slash continued, stretching past him and into the sea beyond.
Watching the slash extend from tens of thousands of meters away, pass through his body, and carve into the ocean behind him—
Aramaki was stunned.
That slash… was terrifying.
BOOM!
The towering tree crashed to the ground in two halves.
Seeing the dumbfounded faces of Saint Charlos and Spandam nearby, Aramaki quickly burned through his stored nutrients to recover, then shot out a vine to wrap around Charlos.
"CP0, stay here and hold off the Admiral. I'll take the great Celestial Dragon and escape first!"
With that, Aramaki turned to flee.
Spandam was dumbfounded.
He never imagined that the Five Elders' handpicked, Admiral-level powerhouse would leave him behind to cover the retreat.
Wasn't that just sending him to die?
And this cowardice—was this really the same arrogant man from moments ago?
But as CP0 and the mission's lead, Spandam couldn't even argue.
Staying meant certain death.
Failing the mission and returning to the Five Elders? Also death.
He was paralyzed with indecision.
But before he could act, something unexpected happened.
Saint Charlos, still wrapped in vines like a dumpling, sniffled loudly.
Then, in front of everyone, he flopped onto his side and lay down.
"If even an Admiral-level fighter can't escape, I'm just going to lie down. I surrender."
His small voice echoed like a spell across the battlefield.
Seeing Charlos so unexpectedly cooperative, both Spandam and Aramaki twitched uncontrollably.
Was this really the noble, supreme Celestial Dragon they knew?
Why did he suddenly seem… heartbreakingly sensible?
Spandam, after a twitch of his own, picked up a fallen vine, wrapped it around himself, and—under Aramaki's stunned gaze—rolled onto the ground.
"Aramaki, I'll do my thing, you do yours. Never thought I'd share a moment like this with a Celestial Dragon."
Aramaki stood frozen.
Was this… if you can't beat them, join them?
He looked at Charlos, sniffling and lying obediently on the ground.
Was this really the same Celestial Dragon he knew?
If he hadn't seen it himself, he'd never believe a Celestial Dragon could be this… well-behaved.
Was this what it meant to truly fear a superior force?
Looking up at the floating boulder where Fujitora stood, and the new Admiral sipping his wine—
Aramaki finally understood why Fujitora had joined Luo Yu's crew.
This new Admiral… might really have the power to bend the rules of the world.
Otherwise, how could even a Celestial Dragon become so heartbreakingly docile?
"Admiral Luo Yu, we meet again. When it's time to board, could someone carry me? Don't worry—I'll keep my eyes closed and pretend to be asleep," Charlos sniffled and said.
Luo Yu rubbed his nose, looking at Charlos, who had fully committed to the role.
He considered telling him that someone had paid ten million Berries to protect him this time.
But seeing Charlos lying stiffly on the ground with his eyes shut tight, Luo Yu let it go.
A harmless lie, perhaps.
"Caesar, notify Smoker and the others. Have them come pick up the Celestial Dragon."
"Me?" Caesar blinked, not expecting to be assigned such a menial task.
But after glancing around, he realized—among these monsters, he was the only one who could even claim to be the strongest scientist.
In this crowd, running errands was the best he could hope for.
As the order was given, all eyes turned to Aramaki.
His face darkened.
If it were anyone else, he might try to run.
But remembering how Luo Yu had severed his connection to his Devil Fruit powers in an instant, that thought died quickly.
Looking at Charlos and Spandam lying on the ground, Aramaki's face sank.
Then he suddenly laughed and threw an arm around Fujitora's shoulder.
"Haha! Fujitora, look—I caught him, I tied him up. That's a solid offering, right?"
"We've known each other a long time. Can I still join as a special combatant?"
Dorry and the others were speechless.
Was this really the same man who had just been shouting about defending the Celestial Dragons and claiming to rival an Admiral?
His shamelessness was practically leaking onto the floor.
"Heh, Aramaki, getting on the ship isn't hard. Just look like you're worth twenty million. Admiral Luo Yu may clash with anyone—but never with money. Am I right?" Fujitora chuckled.
Luo Yu patted Fujitora's shoulder with a grin.
"You flatter me, old friend. I do love bounties—but I love hearing 'bonus' even more."
"Alright, Spandam, you can stop playing dead. You really are a walking treasure chest. If you survive, let's work together again sometime."
Spandam's face twitched violently.
Were they planning to milk him dry?
But seeing the hungry eyes around him, he forced a bitter smile.
"Admiral Luo Yu, please… let me faint first. It'll be easier to explain when I get back."
Meanwhile, at the Marineford sea gate near Sabaody Archipelago—
Sengoku's warship had just arrived when his face darkened.
Reading the latest intel, he roared:
"Those damned Five Elders! How could they do something like this?"
"Tsuru, check the situation on Sabaody immediately. We're about to go to war with two Yonko—are the Five Elders trying to sabotage Marine HQ?"
"Do whatever it takes to stop Aramaki. Don't let him lay a hand on Luo Yu!"