As Law fired the seastone cannonball, Seraphim Kuma clapped his hands together, unleashing a compressed shockwave shaped like a bear's paw. At the same time, twin laser beams shot from his eyes, converging on Imu's half-destroyed body and the massive teleportation array.
"Boom!"
"Go!!"
With the thunderous explosion confirming a direct hit, Law didn't hesitate. Grabbing Seraphim Kuma, he dove headfirst into the Gate of the Void, vanishing in an instant.
A tremendous wave of energy erupted across the vast, empty palace, shaking its very foundations.
Saint Peinzu, who was rushing toward the Void Palace, froze mid-step as he heard the blast and felt the overwhelming pressure. His pupils shrank violently, trembling with disbelief.
It's over! Those damn rats from the Araryuu Pirates actually pulled it off!
His heart pounded like a death knell. The holy fortress of Mariejois had fallen to the Araryuu Pirates. Even the domain of Lord Imu was no longer secure.
On the distant Icefield Battlefield, Imu's face twisted as the enormous black teleportation circle began to shudder and warp. His eyes turned cold, and though unwilling, he shot one last glare toward Souta Kiryuu.
But he quickly transmitted his command to the four Gorosei: retreat immediately, find a safe location, and prepare to reestablish the teleportation link.
The Gorosei obeyed without argument, though every one of them could feel how dire the situation had become. Victory had been within their grasp—and now they were simply abandoning the field.
Still, they executed Imu's orders with grim resolve.
In the distance, Saint Nasujurou roared, unleashing his full power. He sent Big Mom flying with a single blow before abandoning the navy entirely, sprinting at full speed toward the main Icefield front.
Farther away, the Red-Haired Pirates observed the shifting tides as well.
"Imu and the Gorosei are retreating. Something's gone terribly wrong at Mariejois," Beckman muttered, his eyes narrowing as his mind rapidly pieced the puzzle together.
"They're pulling out?"
Shanks, his crimson hair whipping in the icy wind, quickly weighed the possibilities and the chaos about to unfold.
"We should leave too," Yasopp said sharply. "If Imu and the Gorosei are gone, Kiryuu Souta and Kaido will turn their eyes on us next!" His tone carried a rare edge of panic—if his captain pulled another one of his reckless stunts, Yasopp might actually lose it.
"Yeah. But first, we check on the navy."
Shanks looked up at the flickering teleportation array in the sky. He knew Imu's departure was inevitable, yet he still wanted to keep some balance in this collapsing world.
The Araryuu Pirates hadn't been weakened enough; the navy needed to survive to prevent total chaos. One Emperor gone—Whitebeard—and one Gorosei dead—Saint Saturn. For now, the scales were still level.
With a beat of his wings, the red dragon form of Shanks soared across the battlefield, heading straight for the clash ahead. As long as Imu could hold out a little longer, he'd try to halt the bloodshed there.
Inside the trembling teleportation circle, Imu unleashed every ounce of his shadow power and primordial energy, sending forth a storm of attacks.
A rain of black arrows poured down on Souta Kiryuu and the others, buying the Gorosei precious time and space to escape.
The Red Count and Kuma were both struck hard and forced to retreat, blood scattering through the air.
Imu even intercepted Big Mom's advance, while Kaido and Barrett were already getting pummeled and couldn't do a thing to stop the Gorosei from withdrawing.
The ancient, undying Imu knew exactly what kind of monster Souta Kiryuu was—ambitious, ruthless, and patient. If he just left now, he had no doubt that Kiryuu would eventually find and kill one or two of his loyal Gorosei "servants."
"Next time we meet, I'll finish you myself," Imu hissed coldly.
The black teleportation circle shattered like glass, and the terrifying King of the World finally vanished from the battlefield.
Souta Kiryuu, panting heavily after the last barrage, still tried to chase down the fleeing Gorosei. But in the distance, each of the elders already stood atop a glowing magic circle of a different hue.
One by one, under Kiryuu's burning gaze, they disappeared.
Across the world, viewers watching the live broadcast were stunned speechless.
"They retreated? The rulers of the world government… just ran away?"
"So it's over? The pirates actually won?"
"Four Emperors fallen, one Gorosei dead, Admirals and Commanders wiped out—both sides took catastrophic losses…"
"Imu and the Gorosei are gone. What'll happen to the navy now?"
"Wait, look! The Red-Haired Pirates are blocking Big Mom and the Calamities!"
"They're actually helping the navy retreat!"
…
The spectators were still reeling from the aftermath when another image hijacked their screens.
Shanks's Divine Departure cleaved through the air, sending Big Mom crashing backward. Beckman and Yasopp fired waves of Armament Haki bullets, forcing King and Jack to retreat.
Kuzan seized the moment, freezing Cracker in solid ice, scattering the airborne Four Stars, and hauling the gravely wounded Bogard onto a ship. The remaining navy vessels had already pulled away, while most pirate ships were immobilized by Kuzan's ice and unable to give chase.
"Red-Haired Shanks!!"
Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin—had just been struck by Imu's shadow arrows and lost track of Saint Nasujurou. Now, ambushed by Shanks, her fury erupted skyward.
"The war is over! Leave now!" Shanks shouted, ignoring her rage as he sped off toward the next battlefield. Only Vice Admiral Garp was still surrounded, fighting to break free.
They had to move quickly; if Souta Kiryuu and Kaido regrouped, the Red-Haired Pirates would be the next to die.
Enel and Shiryu of the Rain spotted the massive red dragon cutting through the sky. Enel swore instantly.
"Not this red-haired bastard again!"
He dodged Yasopp's bullets, sparks of lightning trailing his form.
"His fleet's in ruins, yet he still can't mind his own damn business!"
Shiryu and the Corrupt King glared warily at the so-called "righteous pirates" of the Red-Haired crew.
"Garp! Get moving! I can only hold them off for a few seconds!" Shanks roared. Behind him, Big Mom and King were already closing in, and from the icy plains beyond, two colossal dragons were on their way.
Lingering meant certain death.
"Didn't think I'd live long enough to be rescued by pirates," Garp muttered, half laughing at himself. But he didn't hesitate—breaking free from Shiryu's group, he kicked off into the sky with Moon Step, reached Kuzan's ship, and began rowing furiously away.
"Shanks! You disgraceful excuse for a pirate! Traitor!!"
Big Mom's bellow shook the air as the red dragon shrank into the distance. From that day on, she swore never to acknowledge Red-Haired Shanks as one of the Four Emperors again.
Watching the Gorosei, the navy, and even the Red-Haired Pirates flee one after another, Souta Kiryuu's fury boiled over.
Neither the powers of Whitebeard nor those of Saturn could sate the monstrous hunger inside him. His ambition burned hotter still.
His gaze swept over the battlefield—should he chase down the navy with Kuzan? Hunt the Whitebeard remnants with Marco and Jozu? Or strike down his so-called "allies," Kaido and Big Mom, while their guard was down?
The flames of conquest flickered in his eyes once more.