Time seemed to slow at that moment, and the world fell into an eerie silence.

The Five Elders had already returned to their human forms.

They stood there in silence, faces shifting between rage and disbelief, staring at the spot where Daren and his group had vanished—as if struggling to accept the outcome. The suffocating killing intent radiating from their bodies was overwhelming.

Not far away, Sengoku climbed out of the crater. The surrounding Marines, seeing the grim and iron-faced expressions of the Five Elders, kept their heads low and dared not even breathe.

They were gone.

Just like that—gone.

The Five Elders couldn't believe it. A mission they were certain would be a guaranteed success had been unraveled so easily by that Marine brat!

Over 400 elite Celestial Dragons were killed during the so-called "hunting competition."

The ultimate prize— the overwhelmingly powerful Fuwa Fuwa no Mi—had been snatched by Daren.

The Five Elders had descended personally upon Philseque Island in the North Blue and even revealed their hidden "undying bodies."

Even Mary Geoise, the Holy Land, had been half-destroyed. Over a thousand Celestial Dragons who resided in the Land of the Gods were reduced to ashes by the North Blue Fleet's bombardment...

And yet in the end, that bastard Daren still escaped!

The most terrifying part of all was—

Most of the World Government's trump cards had been exposed under Daren's probing, while they still knew next to nothing about that mysterious and powerful flying fleet.

Recalling that threatening, defiant grin on the Vice Admiral's face just moments before departure, and the chilling warning—

"I will make you all lose sleep..."

A heavy chill sank into the hearts of the Five Elders. Cold sweat seeped down their backs.

The enemy knew everything about them.

They knew nothing about the enemy.

The enemy possessed overwhelming strategic mobility—now vanished without a trace across the sea. Meanwhile, Mary Geoise, once thought unassailable atop the Red Line, had become an open target for aerial bombardment, completely without shelter.

This meant that—just as that brat Daren said—

From this day forward, the World Government would live beneath the looming shadow of the North Blue Fleet.

That elusive, unstoppable fleet would become a fearsome ghost, floating eternally above the World Government's "cross" of supreme power.

This battle…

The World Government had suffered a total defeat.

The Five Elders exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes, they saw a shared weight—unease and fear they could no longer hide.

Just then, two loud, mocking laughs echoed in the air.

"Wororororo! The show's over... and you've lost all your dignity!"

"Mamamama! You arrogant worms thought it was in the bag—and got bitten by your own prey!"

Kaidou and Big Mom couldn't help but cackle, their voices filled with unrestrained malice.

A massive shadow stretched across the ground. A graceful, voluptuous figure stepped onto a cloud-riding azure dragon and soared into the sky.

"Five Elders! You suffered a crushing defeat back at God Valley, and now the same ending on Philseque Island... The 'authority' of the World Government is downright laughable! Mamamama!!"

Big Mom's sharp and flirtatious laughter pierced the air.

The Five Elders' faces turned ashen.

"Big Mom, do you want us to descend upon Totto Land and sink Whole Cake Island into the sea?"

Topman Warcury's voice was as cold as a blade encased in ice.

"Mamamama... You lot have enough to worry about already, you decrepit old fossils!"

Big Mom laughed with scorn painted across her face.

"I'm guessing that from today on, you won't even dare step outside Mary Geoise!"

"After all, who knows when that terrifying flying fleet might descend on the Red Line again?"

"Enjoy your fear. Savor it."

With that, the savage azure dragon rode the clouds and carried Big Mom away, vanishing into the distant skies.

"Damn it!!"

Saint Saturn cursed under his breath. His face was twisted with fury, both hands gripping his ancient cane with force. Veins bulged and pulsed across his forehead like writhing worms.

The others didn't look any better.

Humiliated.

After all the years they had ruled from the clouds above the world, never had they suffered a disgrace so deep.

Daren, that brat, was one thing.

After today, they were forced to recognize just how terrifying his strength and talent truly were—so far beyond this era it was absurd.

Just the concept and execution of that flying fleet alone proved that his thinking was visionary.

And then there was his power—enough that even the five of them together couldn't take him down.

A strange feeling flickered through their hearts.

Perhaps their decision had been too arrogant. Too hasty.

But they quickly shook their heads, forcing those doubts away.

It was too late now.

What mattered most was containing the damage.

Minimizing the fallout from pushing Daren into rebellion.

As for Big Mom and Kaidou...

For now, they weren't worth worrying about.

They could be left to Marine Headquarters to deal with.

"That little brat Daren..."

Saint Saturn spoke in a grim, icy tone.

But Saint Nusjuro shook his head and cut him off.

"Let's return and discuss this later."

As he spoke, Nusjuro cast a seemingly casual glance toward the Marine commanders standing not far away.

Saturn hesitated, then gave a slight nod and fell silent.

Seeing the Five Elders say nothing, Sengoku took a deep breath, stepped forward slowly, saluted, and cautiously asked,

"Elders, how should we proceed from the Marine side?"

"...In my humble opinion, Daren doesn't seem to have any intention of defecting from the Marines. Perhaps... we could use that as a buffer to open negotiations?"

"Negotiations?"

Saturn's brows arched sharply in disapproval, his gaze darkening as he turned to Sengoku.

"Sengoku, are you saying... that Rogers Daren, after killing so many Celestial Dragons, openly waging war against us, and even commanding a fleet that devastated most of Mary Geoise—that we should now lower ourselves and initiate peace talks with him!?"

His voice was filled with a biting, ruthless edge, and his eyes blazed with a harsh warning.

"To you, are we—the highest authority of the World Government—truly that insignificant?"

"Or do you believe the World Government's 800 years of authority and legacy are so utterly worthless?"

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