With the energy core transformed, the Hextech Flying Gate would operate stably once the outer frame was complete—a matter of mere waiting.
Hearing this, the canyon's people hastened their pace. The finish line in sight, they sprinted toward it.
Ivankov and Ginny stuck to their plan. To prevent last-minute mishaps, they aimed to seize the devil fruit prize during the pirates' chaos.
First, they joined a new hunt—this time, as hunters, not prey.
"Oran, rest. We'll handle the rest," Xiong urged.
Transforming the core wasn't physically taxing but drained mental energy. Kate, who stabilized the electric field, now slept, exhausted.
Oran seemed fine, but Xiong and others worried.
"My body's unique. I can go days without sleep. If I rest now, I might not wake soon. Is everything I assigned ready?"
"All set," Xiong confirmed.
Seeing Oran's resolve, Xiong didn't press. Their brief time together showed Oran's stubbornness; further persuasion was futile.
"Good. Proceed as planned. But first, I have something to say."
Oran climbed a protruding rock platform, grabbed a simple loudspeaker, and addressed the toiling crowd:
"You know a Celestial Dragon is near.
You've been lucky—no one's found us yet. But these past days, the Celestial Dragons have razed your homes, killed your kin, all for sport!
Luck today doesn't guarantee tomorrow. I can get you out now, but who's safe from this happening again?
Is resistance hard?
You've lost everything, and they want your lives. Won't you fight back?
Their knives are at your throats—will you reason with them?"
The crowd paused, but silence reigned. No surprise there.
If words alone sparked rebellion, the Celestial Dragons' rule wouldn't endure. Even Oden's charisma would falter here.
Their aura cowed most, even stranded on a deserted island.
"I'm not saying storm the Red Earth Continent—that's suicide. But when opportunity knocks, inaction is weakness. A murderer's out there!
Who'll take revenge?"
Silence persisted, but a few stood—mostly born slaves and locals who lost kin. Few in number, but a start.
Breaking the Celestial Dragons' myth, watering seeds with their blood, would make them sprout.
"Report to Saint Eladin! Saint Grimm orders all to return to base. The game's paused."
"Grimm thinks he's boss? Does the Figarland family order me? I'd have his position if I ran," Eladin scoffed.
A black-suited agent, kneeling before the masked Celestial Dragon, held a jewel-encrusted Den Den Mushi, his tone deferential.
Around him, similar agents stood—no navy, just scorers and loyal hounds for the Celestial Dragons' hunt.
The navy wasn't even worthy of being their dogs.
"Saint Eladin, pirates are approaching, so…"
The agent ignored Eladin's rant. Interrupting risked execution.
"Useless fools! The navy's here for nothing? If they can't handle this, what's their point?"
"You're right. We'll act now."
"I'll search this area, then return. I'm short on points. Is Grimm scared I'll outscore him?
You lot, stop idling! Find my prey! Touch them, and I'll execute you all!"
"Yes!"
Eladin grumbled but followed Grimm's orders. Among Celestial Dragons, status varied, and Grimm led now. Ignoring him risked punishment.
Low scores nagged Eladin. A poor showing would earn family mockery.
Luck seemed to turn.
"Saint Eladin! A great find! The SR-level Bakhanian slave!"
Xiong, acting as bait, drew attention with his high-point status.
"Chase him! Lose him, and it's your head!"
The Celestial Dragons believed none dared resist. Eladin saw Xiong as a mere 10,000-point rabbit.
Xiong, familiar with the terrain, led them into a canyon. Eladin and his hounds followed.
Seeing Xiong pause at a dead end, Eladin smirked. "No escape, brat. I'll make it quick—less pain."
A one-hit kill earned extra points. Eladin planned no torture, but Xiong ignored him, vanishing around a corner.
Without orders, the agents charged. Unseen, mechanical lotus traps lay among the leaves.
Crack!
An agent triggered a lotus. It snapped shut, trapping him. Purple energy gathered at its base.