Silas felt his body was like a massive furnace, temperature continuously rising, almost burning himself to ashes. Fortunately, the Devil Fruit's ability could still cool him down. Otherwise, he'd probably have already burst into flames.
But the power from breaking through his limits was also terrifying. Even four Admiral-level fighters couldn't stop him. The only regret was that after pouring all his Haki into his body, Silas no longer had the luxury to use Conqueror's wrapping. Otherwise, after those two head explosions, Stephens and Glyndwr should have only headless corpses remaining.
However, if he couldn't eliminate those contractors who'd gained immortality after making their pact with Imu, couldn't he at least eliminate the Marine Admirals outside? Moreover, Imu had expended such tremendous effort trying to encircle and kill him, yet he'd broken through the encirclement. The moment Silas achieved this, Imu had already lost.
What Silas needed to do now was become the final straw that broke the camel's back!
"Whi-White Wolf Silas!?"
"Why is he still alive?"
"Where are the Holy Knights?"
When Silas appeared on the battlefield, all the Marines were consumed by despair. They didn't know what had happened to Silas beneath the rift, nor did they realize Silas had only emerged because in his current state he couldn't defeat those Holy Knights. But ordinary Marines wouldn't think this way.
They only knew the Holy Knights had gone to take down Silas—yet Silas had returned while those lords hadn't. Instantly, Silas became terror incarnate.
Marine officers had kept shouting that as long as they held on, once the Holy Knights eliminated Silas, victory would be theirs. But now, all those slogans had become cruel jokes.
"I-I surrender!"
"Don't kill me!"
"We admit defeat."
The collapse of belief often happens in an instant. Not all Marines were fearless of death—even their "justice" might not match the value of their own lives. Silas's appearance shattered not just the Marines' faith but their will to fight.
The Marines were already at an absolute disadvantage. Now with the Holy Knights' whereabouts unknown while the White Wolf Pirates' leader still lived—under these circumstances, even Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen had to admit they'd already lost!
And what Silas needed was precisely this moment of Marine wavering.
"All forces, retreat!" Silas's voice rang across the chaotic battlefield. "This battle should end!"
Blood-crazed pirates still wanted to continue pursuit. Though they were Silas's subordinates, this loyalty exchanged through benefits was inherently unreliable. But after Silas and Harald exchanged glances, Harald's Conqueror's Haki erupted, immediately calming the pirates.
Simultaneously, Silas had already appeared before Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen.
"All Marine officers retreat immediately!"
Imu's voice followed Silas's command. Previously, reaching the rift had required teleportation circles, so the fastest method of returning above the rift naturally also utilized teleportation circles. But this would scatter the previously gathered group again. However, Imu couldn't care about that anymore.
Having ruled this world for eight hundred years, the moment Silas moved, she read his intentions instantly—she had to minimize the damage. Yes, the plan to encircle Silas had already failed. With Silas displaying such combat power—even though he couldn't kill those immortal fighters—those fighters also couldn't prevent Silas from leaving.
Silas had truly broken through. Now, forcing Silas to stay would mean cornering him into a fight to the death. Silas's current state was clearly temporary, but brief as it was, once he'd broken through their encirclement, Silas could still escape. At Silas's speed, no one in the world could pursue him.
Unfortunately, the opportunity to trap Silas had been squandered by her own decisions. No—as long as Silas possessed this strength, they couldn't have kept him anyway. Imu wouldn't admit her decision was wrong.
The encirclement strategy wasn't wrong—as long as Silas died, the remaining enemies naturally wouldn't matter. But as long as Silas didn't die, even if she killed everyone outside, Silas could still make a comeback. Like her, with his extended lifespan, Silas could endure setbacks!
Since Silas could endure setbacks, she likewise could. As long as Marine losses weren't too severe, then with the World Government's vast resources, they could still suppress Silas.
And what Silas was doing now was capitalizing on his advantage. Everyone was retreating—only Silas didn't retreat. Instead, he appeared before Marine veterans Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen before Imu and the others could regroup.
"You two old fellows, come with me!" Seeing Silas suddenly appear, Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen mustered their momentum, wanting to counterattack, never imagining Silas's casual slap would penetrate their Haki defense.
If they hadn't experienced previous battles, perhaps they could resist somewhat. But after fighting two Giant heroes and then being ambushed and severely wounded while supporting Harald, they could display one-tenth of their strength at most.
So the Marines could only helplessly watch their Fleet Admiral and Chief of Staff blown away by Silas, then dragged elsewhere.
"Fleet Admiral Yama!"
"Chief of Staff Portman!"
Marine officers seeing this scene had their eyes splitting with rage, but everything happened at lightning speed. Silas wasn't without thoughts of expanding his results—he even wanted to run over and punch Kong once.
But Imu had returned, including the Holy Knights and CP organization members reappearing. If Silas continued attacking the Marines, these people—even unable to stop Silas—wouldn't stand idly by. Then it would be Silas hitting Marines while they hit the White Wolf Pirates.
So an infuriating scene appeared for the Marines. Elephant Yama, Portman Nissen, Haines Oran. One Fleet Admiral, one Chief of Staff, one Admiral. The White Wolf Pirates captured exactly three Marine leadership figures.
If not for Imu's timely arrival, the still-lying-there-not-completely-dead Ortega would also be captured. Then all the Marines would have only Kong as a bare-commander Admiral.
But the current situation was already enough to make the Marines and World Government lose face completely. Beside him were Harald, Tentsuki Takiichi, Dorry, and Brogy, plus Rocks, who'd arrived at the war's end thinking he could fight greatly but now seemed completely useless.
Silas could finally release his current state.
"Phew, Imu, let's talk!"