The viewers watching the live broadcast of the G-18 Fortress War suddenly noticed the dark, opaque shadow barrier flickering violently.
"What's happening? Is it over?!"
"Did the King of the World defeat Souta Kiryuu and Kaido's group, or did Imu get taken down instead?!"
Countless observers who had been focused on the surrounded Kuzan instantly shifted their attention back to the raging darkness in the sky.
In the Sabaody Archipelago, Rayleigh and the others were also watching nervously, awaiting the final outcome of this war.
Meanwhile, within the vast shadow world—
As Imu's magic teleportation array began to destabilize, the dense storm of shadow spears and arrows started disappearing in large numbers.
"How can this be?! Did something happen in the Holy Land?!"
Seeing that something was going wrong on Imu's side, Elder Wakuri clenched his fists tightly and growled in fury.
They had been just moments away from cooperating with Imu to completely eliminate these pirate rebels.
But now, another unexpected development had occurred.
If Elder Peinsu, even with the Holy Land's barrier, still failed to defend Mary Geoise…
Then once they returned, that man would be punished severely.
"Get ready. Kill Souta Kiryuu and his group! If we can't finish them here, we may have to return to the Holy Land together with Imu."
Elder Nasujuro's eyes were filled with killing intent. Now was the best moment to erase Souta Kiryuu.
If they let him escape and grow further, the next time they faced him, his primordial strength would be even harder to deal with.
"Fighting them while they're grouped together is more difficult. We should instead eliminate Kaido, Barrett, or Wald while they're isolated."
Elder Masu closed his eyes slightly, offering the strategy with the highest success rate.
"The Holy Land must not fall. We must return quickly!
If Imu returns before us, the four of us alone cannot face that many enemies!"
Elder Pita's thoughts were on the safety of Mary Geoise. Either they returned with Imu, or they fought here together.
If they were left behind alone, Souta Kiryuu could kill one or two of them instantly—just like he did Elder Saturn.
"Eheheh… Imu! The Revolutionary Army and my people have already invaded your precious nest, haven't they?!"
Souta Kiryuu laughed up toward the sky, breathing heavily, his trembling arms showing that he was already near his limit.
Imu's gaze turned cold, and just as he was about to speak, the teleportation array flickered violently again. Even the shadow world started collapsing.
The Den Den Mushi on the news-bird finally regained its signal and resumed broadcasting the battle at the glacial battlefield.
At this moment, in Mary Geoise—
Airships loaded with massive amounts of explosives were sweeping down one after another, launching suicide assaults on Pangaea Castle.
Units of moon-soldiers carrying bomb packs rushed in waves toward the colossal palace.
A platoon of Pacifistas advanced without regard for damage, firing continuous laser blasts as they forced their way closer.
"What terrifying firepower…"
Watching secretly from the shadows, Karasu and Morley couldn't help but sigh—also feeling a sting of envy.
If the Revolutionary Army had that kind of technology and funding, they wouldn't have needed to hide for twenty years.
"Damn pirates!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, in his Great Buddha form, roared in anger as he desperately blocked the devastating barrage from the Kiryuu Crew.
Navy admirals and commanders who had reached Mary Geoise rapidly joined the defense of Pangaea Castle.
Their original objective had been to repel and eliminate Souta Kiryuu's pirates.
No one expected the situation to flip into defending Imu's location instead.
"While the Navy and Celestial Dragons are fighting the Kiryuu Crew, we continue our plan."
Karasu's eyes flashed as he looked toward the inner palace of Pangaea Castle. He and Morley would infiltrate its depths.
"Got it!"
Morley immediately took Karasu underground, using his Push-Push Fruit to construct tunnels beneath all of Mary Geoise.
That was how, in another timeline, Sabo had infiltrated the Empty Throne Hall to witness Imu and the Five Elders confronting King Cobra.
Meanwhile, Law, PX Bruno, and Seraphim Kuma also disengaged once Lafitte ordered the full assault to begin.
Using the Door-Door Fruit, they passed through Sengoku and the Holy Knights' blockade and entered Pangaea Castle.
Their objective, like Karasu's group, was to locate Imu and the ancient weapon Uranus.
But Uranus wasn't hidden inside Pangaea Castle.
Imu had concealed it elsewhere.
When the three appeared in the vast Empty Throne Hall, Karasu and Morley also detected them.
Karasu revealed himself and joined them temporarily to divide their search paths.
Disrupting Imu's teleportation was a job for the Kiryuu Crew.
The Revolutionary Army's target was the ancient weapon.
"So it was you who lowered the barrier… We'll remember this favor."
Law had thought Moria's forces had blown open the Holy Land's shield, but it had been the Revolutionary Army.
"We each have our own goal. We're searching for Uranus. Imu is yours."
Karasu didn't waste a second.
After a brief exchange, the two groups split up and continued their missions separately.
"Between the flowers…"
Law recalled the clue Souta Kiryuu had left him and began searching the areas of Pangaea Castle that resembled gardens.
Meanwhile, at the G-18 Fortress—
With the teleportation array repeatedly destabilizing, Imu realized Pangaea Castle was under attack.
Yet simply letting Souta Kiryuu and his pirates leave after forcing him to exert so much primordial power was unacceptable.
He needed compensation—and blood.
"You four—kill those three!"
Imu withdrew all his shadow spears from the battlefield and focused entirely on Souta Kiryuu's group.
"Yes!"
With the shadows gone, the Four Elders immediately moved.
Elder Wakuri and Elder Masu charged Kaido.
Elder Pita attacked Barrett.
And the executioner, Elder Nasujuro, wielding the First Generation Kitetsu, lunged directly at the weakest—Douglas Wald.
Eliminate the World Destroyer first.
Then assist Elder Pita in killing Barrett.
If Wakuri and Masu struggled with Kaido, all four would combine to finish him.
"Imu… your power is weakening."
"Ledfield—now!"
"Kiryuu Six Paths! Full assault on the teleportation array!"
Seeing Imu trying to kill everyone in one stroke, Souta Kiryuu grinned savagely.
He had his own ambition as well.
If the attack on Mary Geoise forced Imu into retreat—
Then the Four Elders weren't leaving this battlefield alive.