The faces of Saint Nusjuro, Saint Mars, and the others changed. The smug, calm expressions they wore just moments ago vanished without a trace.
They had known that Caelan would arrive riding a blue dragon, but they hadn't expected such an overwhelming entrance.
The dragon dove straight down from the sky, aiming directly at the core of the execution platform where the five of them stood.
They had just shown their strength together. Not far away stood Aokiji, Akainu, Sengoku, and the rest.
Yet Caelan was charging in so arrogantly, as if none of them mattered.
The Five Elders growled as they glared at Caelan, descending atop the dragon with unstoppable momentum.
Riding a massive blue dragon, and daring to charge straight at the five of them—did he think he was Kaido?
Whether it was a clenched fist or a drawn blade, Haki was already surging.
None of the Five Elders chose to retreat. Each one began gathering their strength, preparing to confront Caelan head-on.
They would crush all enemies before the entire world.
That was the case with Whitebeard. That was the case with Red-Hair. And now, it would be the same with Caelan.
No matter who it was, no one could shake the World Government at this moment.
The giant dragon, covered in purplish-green scales, descended toward the execution platform with a massive impact. Its face twisted with fury, and its roar was filled with a destructive will.
Standing tall atop the dragon's head, Caelan looked at the Five Elders' stances and smiled. "Kaido, use Rising Dragon: Flame Torch!"
Under the powerful control of the Command Spell, the Azure Dragon responded immediately.
Intense red flames erupted from each of its scales, covering its entire body in an instant.
The surrounding air twisted and warped from the extreme heat. The temperature surpassed even magma.
The sky above Marineford turned a fiery red.
In an instant, the blue dragon became a dragon of fire.
At the same time, all of Kaido's Haki was focused into his head.
Under the Command Spell, this was an all-out, unrestricted attack.
At that moment, Caelan stood atop the dragon's head, perpendicular to the ground and unfazed by the flames.
With the Karna template, most flames held no threat to him.
However, Kaido's ultimate attack alone wasn't enough to make the Five Elders retreat.
Beneath the pressure of the descending fire dragon, Caelan's dark martial arts robes flapped violently, but the warrior himself stood unmoved like a mountain.
[Noble Phantasm: Nine Lives – Shooting the Hundred Heads!]
The long-unused Noble Phantasm was unleashed again.
It allowed Caelan to execute nine of his most powerful attacks in rapid succession.
In terms of power, it was second only to the God Slayer Spear, which required a life as its cost.
Facing the fierce wind created by the dragon's dive, the black blade Shusui was unsheathed.
He swung.
Conqueror's Haki erupted, and terrifying purple-black lightning danced across the blade.
The muscles in his arms tensed, pouring destructive power into the hilt.
He slashed.
The powerful wind was cleaved in two.
Under the dragon's head, the very air was forced back, forming a vacuum.
The power of this single strike surpassed the limit of any Yonko, enough to move mountains and split the sea.
And this was not just one strike, but nine.
The combined force of nine ultimate slashes surged outward in every direction.
Even though there was no visible Haki expanding, the oppressive physical force forced the sailors across the square to their knees.
"What! How can he be this strong?!"
The Five Elders' pupils contracted sharply. An intense sense of danger made their scalps tingle.
Looking at the descending fire dragon and the world-shattering slash, they felt nothing but disbelief.
Too strong.
Stronger than any Yonko or powerhouse they had encountered in the last 800 years.
Rocks, Roger, Whitebeard—every legendary figure they had once seen was overshadowed by this one attack.
Even Joy Boy, the mysterious figure from 800 years ago, couldn't have delivered such a shocking blow.
"Everyone, attack with full force!"
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn roared.
In an instant, he transformed into a towering bull demon, several dozen meters tall, charging straight toward the fire dragon and Caelan.
Saint Peter became a giant sandworm. Saint Nusjuro turned into a half-human, half-skeletal horse. Saint Mars transformed into a massive strange bird. Saint V. Nusjuro took the form of a giant, uniquely shaped wild boar.
In the blink of an eye, the five silver-haired elders transformed into five ferocious mythical beasts.
At the same time, Sengoku, Aokiji, and the others didn't hesitate at all. Regardless of the Five Elders' terrifying beast forms, they too attacked Caelan with everything they had.
"Great Buddha Shockwave!"
"Meteor Volcano!"
"Ice Age!"
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
The massive golden Buddha raised both hands, releasing a devastating shockwave.
Magma burst upward, erupting with volcanic force.
Freezing air that could chill the sea surged skyward, creating layers of ice from nothing.
From a distance, Kizaru unleashed a concentrated stream of golden lasers, targeting Caelan's position atop the fire dragon.
Boom!
The vibrant attacks collided, unleashing a roar that echoed across the heavens.
It was as if the sky and earth had been torn apart. Marines on the square had their minds go blank from the sheer force.
The Yasakani no Magatama, which arrived first, was instantly shredded and scattered as golden light.
Next was the bull demon.
Shusui's blade pierced directly into the toughest part of the bull's skull, splitting it in two like cutting through air.
The giant sandworm followed, even more massive than the bull, but still sliced cleanly in half.
The skeletal horse, the strange bird known as Izuna Tenma, and the wild boar named Fengxi were all bisected one after another.
Only after the destruction of all the Five Elders' beast forms did Caelan's peerless assault begin to fade.
But it still wasn't over.
Kaido's Rising Dragon: Flame Torch retained nearly all of its force as it crashed toward the execution platform.
Even Akainu's Meteor Volcano, Sengoku's Great Buddha Shockwave, and Aokiji's Ice Age couldn't completely halt the descent of the blazing Azure Dragon.
Boom!
Aokiji, Akainu, and Sengoku were blasted aside. The shattered bodies of the Five Elders' beast forms were scattered like debris.
The fire dragon carried Caelan as it crashed down onto the execution platform.
The towering execution platform instantly collapsed, and the massive buildings of Marine Headquarters were reduced to rubble.
Thick clouds of dust and smoke erupted, blanketing the sky above Marineford.
The once clear blue sky turned gray.
Within the smoke, the faint outline of a dragon could be seen swirling through the haze.
A massive shockwave spread from the execution platform outward.
Marines who were closest were instantly reduced to mist. Those slightly farther away were thrown into the air, coughing blood before dying. Even those at the outer edges suffered internal injuries.
Even the most fortunate Marines at the far edge of the square felt their blood boil and their heads ring from the lingering pressure.
After a while, the smoke began to thin. The less injured vice admirals looked toward the ruins of the execution platform, their faces filled with dread.
There.
A tall figure stood, sword in hand, with a fierce green dragon coiling behind him.
(To be continued.)