To avoid exposing their whereabouts or alerting the Marine and World Government to the Hell Pirates' arrival in the East Blue, Oboro and his group headed straight for the Goa Kingdom, giving their enemies no time to react as they reached their destination at maximum speed.
After landing on the island, Oboro harnessed atmospheric currents to propel the entire group through the air, flying directly toward the royal capital.
The island boasted a pristine ecological environment, with numerous villages and towns visible along their route, a stark contrast to the harsh lifestyle of the North Blue. The Goa Kingdom's capital walls rose before them in gleaming white stone, towering and imposing against the azure sky and verdant landscape. Emblazoned with the kingdom's royal crest, the architecture displayed the pure, orderly aesthetic that marked the most prosperous nations.
The city bustled with vibrant activity, presenting a scene of unprecedented prosperity. Many people on the streets dressed like nobility, their faces beaming with contentment and satisfaction.
However, no one could fathom the filth lurking beneath this peaceful and tranquil facade.
After entering the city's airspace, Oboro and his companions descended to low altitude. Guards and patrolling soldiers spotted the dark figures hurtling overhead, heading straight toward the royal palace. The sight sparked curiosity and animated discussion among those who witnessed their approach.
A fierce wind whipped through the air as Lucci's nerves tightened with mounting desperation.
There was no opportunity, everything was happening too fast.
He couldn't stall for time or manufacture an opening. The God Slayer wasted no precious moments, leaving him without viable excuses or alternatives.
From now on, I must protect the Celestial Dragon, no matter what... even if it means death.
Lucci had already steeled his resolve.
His status as a CP9 agent made it impossible for him to attack the Celestial Dragons, not that he harbored any personal affection for them, but duty demanded absolute loyalty. While this would mean mission failure, and he might even die in the attempt, there was no other path available to him.
If he perished here, the government would inevitably send someone else to carry out future operations. His only regret was that his life would likely end at this moment, and the chances of successfully helping the Celestial Dragon escape remained virtually nonexistent. But he had to try, after all, he had always been the one in whom the World Government had placed their highest hopes, and yet he was about to experience his first catastrophic failure.
The bitter irony struck him: before this mission, failure hadn't been part of his professional vocabulary. No matter what task his superiors assigned, he had handled each one with brilliant precision and flawless execution.
As these thoughts consumed his mind, their group suddenly paused, suspended in mid-air above an ornate garden within the palace grounds.
Below them, a hideous and degrading spectacle unfolded.
A Celestial Dragon rode on the king's back like a beast of burden, wielding riding reins while his royal "mount" was forced to bark like a dog for the amusement of his divine tormentor. Surrounding the courtyard, besides the palace's ceremonial guards, numerous marine personnel maintained protective formations. The most striking figure among them was a giant wearing a marine uniform, sitting cross-legged with apparent indifference to the Celestial Dragon's sadistic entertainment.
It was as if such scenes had become routine for him.
The individual with a rope around his neck, forced to bark like an animal every few steps to elicit the Celestial Dragon's cruel laughter, wasn't merely the King of Goa, several women shared his humiliation, including the king's wife and daughter.
"It's him," Lucci muttered with recognition, his eyelids twitching as he identified the giant.
Vice Admiral John Giant of Marine Headquarters, a member of the Giant Squad whose impressive service record had earned him significant recognition within marine hierarchy. He wore the traditional red bicorne hat, dark sunglasses, and the distinctive yellow coat that marked his rank. Unlike typical giants, his physique more closely resembled an oversized human rather than displaying the massive proportions characteristic of his race. Among giants, he would be considered diminutive, standing only about twenty meters tall compared to his peers.
A row of medals awarded by headquarters adorned his broad chest, commemorating his distinguished military achievements.
Lucci possessed limited intelligence about this particular Vice Admiral, but enough to understand his capabilities. Giant appeared to be the Marine's first giant recruit and a veteran combatant whose experience spanned decades of loyal service. If anyone could mount effective resistance against the Hell Pirates, perhaps this Vice Admiral offered their only realistic chance of survival.
Such were Lucci's desperate calculations.
The moment their seven-person formation appeared, John Giant had already detected the approaching threat. He slowly rose from his seated position, his expression shifting to grim alertness as trained instincts recognized imminent danger.
"Protect Saint Charlos!" he roared with authority that carried across the entire courtyard.
All soldiers present snapped to attention, quickly forming defensive circles around the Celestial Dragon and royal family while raising their weapons toward the aerial threat.
"Hmm? What is that?" Saint Charlos, who had been thoroughly enjoying his sadistic entertainment, glanced up with obvious displeasure at the dark figures hovering above. Rather than displaying any awareness of the sudden tension and danger, he appeared annoyed that his recreational activities had been interrupted.
Saint Charlos represented a relatively typical specimen among the Celestial Dragons, sporting the characteristic bowl cut, thin mustache, and volatile temperament that marked his divine heritage.
"Get out of here!" Before Oboro and his companions could engage Vice Admiral Giant, a sudden gunshot rang out from the courtyard below.
The Celestial Dragon had drawn a jeweled pistol and executed one of the nearby soldiers without warning, his face contorting with fury as he screamed through his protective glass helmet.
"You worthless insects are ruining my enjoyment!"
Vice Admiral Giant's expression darkened as he witnessed the Celestial Dragon's characteristically poor timing. He hadn't expected their divine guest to create additional complications at such a critical moment. Speaking in measured tones designed to project calm authority, he addressed the raging World Knovle.
"Saint Charlos, you are in immediate danger. We must ensure your protection. Please exercise patience while we handle this threat."
"What?!" Rather than showing comprehension, the Celestial Dragon erupted in even greater fury, directing a stream of invectives toward the Vice Admiral who dared suggest limiting his freedom.
Giant, recognizing the futility of reasoning with their guest, abandoned diplomatic efforts and focused his attention on the descending figures above.
Those dark silhouettes were slowly approaching their position.
As the distance closed, Vice Admiral Giant's pupils dilated with recognition and horror.
The slim, tailored black suit... the distinctive round hat casting shadows across scarred features...
And the companions flanking their leader...
The Hell Pirates, currently the most notorious criminal organization terrorizing the world's oceans.
Led by the God Slayer himself.
Time seemed to decelerate as Giant absorbed the full implications of their arrival. The moment he clearly identified Oboro's distinctive features, his lips curved into a grim expression while his eyes blazed with desperate determination. Summoning every ounce of his considerable lung capacity, he bellowed a warning that echoed throughout the palace grounds.
"All personnel, protect the Celestial Dragon and initiate immediate evacuation protocols!"
The sheer urgency in his voice caused the Vice Admiral to abandon all ceremonial protocols in favor of raw survival instincts.
"What?" Everyone present stood frozen in stunned confusion.
For several crucial heartbeats, no one could process or respond to his desperate commands.
The window of opportunity for executing his orders was catastrophically narrow.
Following Giant's warning shout, sudden bursts of black lightning erupted from the sky above, accompanied by an expanding aura of overwhelming spiritual pressure, the unmistakable signature of Conqueror's Haki.
The concentrated spiritual energy compressed into a dark sphere before suddenly exploding outward, its terrifying power sweeping across heaven and earth with the inevitability of divine judgment.
Crushing atmospheric pressure, accompanied by electromagnetic disturbances, penetrated the flesh and consciousness of every living being within the palace grounds.
Thud, thud, thud...
One soldier after another rolled their eyes back and collapsed in convulsions, the continuous sound of bodies striking the ground creating a rhythm of systematic unconsciousness. Even Saint Charlos, who had been riding the king like a beast of burden, succumbed to the overwhelming spiritual assault, his eyes rolling back as foam emerged from his mouth before he toppled to the ornate courtyard stones.
Vice Admiral Giant faced the full impact of this domineering power, raising his massive arms to shield his head while the crackling spiritual energy made it impossible to keep his eyes open against the dazzling display.
"Impossible! How did he reach the East Blue?!" Giant's mind reeled with the tactical implications of what he was witnessing.
The God Slayer should have been contained in the Grand Line, bottled up by the Marine's overwhelming response to the Twin Capes battle. His presence here represented a catastrophic intelligence failure that would have consequences far beyond this single encounter.