At this moment, the Five Elders' faces were twisted with rage as they stared at Caelan.
They never imagined that Caelan would be so eloquent, boldly calling the World Government pirates and worse, they had no way to refute it.
They had planned to paint Caelan as an enemy of justice, but instead, the World Government had been exposed as the greatest villain in the world.
Looking at the disheartened navy gathered in the plaza, the Five Elders' expressions twitched.
They could already imagine the global uproar and the countless people across the world ready to rise against the World Government.
Unfortunately, it was too late to cut the feed from the video-transmitting Den Den Mushi. The truth had already been exposed.
Now, their only option was to defeat Caelan in battle and reassert the World Government's authority.
"Caelan, you dared to come to Marine Headquarters alone. Today is the day you die!" Saint Jaygarcia Saturn shouted angrily, eyes locked on the calm and composed Caelan.
"What, you don't want to argue about justice and evil anymore?" Caelan asked with a hint of amusement.
They had lost the debate, so they were skipping past it altogether. These five old men truly were nothing but clowns.
"We don't have time to waste talking to you. Right and wrong can be decided by strength alone!" Saint Nusjuro drew his Kitetsu and spoke in a deep voice.
"You're in such a hurry to die? Have you already forgotten what it felt like to be cut in half?" Caelan narrowed his eyes, voice turning cold.
He had planned to keep baiting these five fools a little longer to further enshroud the Neo Navy in the veil of justice.
"Of course we haven't forgotten. But we came out unscathed from your blow!"
The Five Elders laughed in unison as their bodies swelled and transformed into terrifying phantom beasts and demons.
Five monstrous creatures towering tens of meters high appeared, radiating a suffocating black aura over the entire Marine Headquarters.
Beneath the five demonic beasts, black and red energy flowed through a mysterious magic formation.
With this magic circle, they possessed the power of infinite resurrection.
No matter how powerful Caelan was, how could he possibly kill an immortal demon?
They viewed humans as mere insects, believing they had already transcended to the realm of undying demons.
This was the source of their confidence. With five immortal generals, who in the world could possibly defeat them?
"Caelan, just because you're called the God Slayer, do you think you can really kill gods?" the Bull Demon roared, his voice shaking the air like a war drum. "We are immortal demons! What makes you think you can destroy us?"
"That's amusing. This is the first time I've heard someone say that to me."
Caelan chuckled softly as his lips curled into a smile.
He was usually the one making declarations like this, but now the roles were reversed.
However, so-called immortality in this world was meaningless in the face of true treasures.
Caelan shifted Shusui to his left hand and extended his right arm into the air.
As golden light particles surged around him, he grasped the Sun God Spear, wreathed in blazing golden-red flames.
This was not the Spear of the End gifted by Indra, the God of Thunder, but the [Immortal Blade] bestowed by Mara, the Axe-Wielding Master. In Karna's hands, this took the form of the radiant Sun Spear.
"It's finally here! That spear!"
The Five Elders' pupils contracted as they stared at Caelan, who now wielded both sword and spear.
Ever since the battle in the East Blue, they had closely monitored him, eager to learn more about the weapon.
But since then, Caelan had never drawn it again, as though no one had been worthy of facing it.
Now, the golden divine spear they had feared for so long had finally reappeared.
"What? Afraid already?" Caelan twirled the spear casually before pointing it directly at them. "I'll grant you a swift death."
"Don't be ridiculous! We are immortal. Why would we be afraid?" Saturn bellowed, full of confidence. "This is your grave. Today we prove the World Government's absolute supremacy!"
The phantom beasts formed by the Five Elders tensed, ready to charge. A suffocating, heavy pressure spread across all of Marineford.
Tens of thousands of Marines stood in tense silence, raising their rifles and preparing to open fire on Caelan.
They had seen the Five Elders regenerate without injury.
They believed the Five Elders would win. After all, they still had the three admirals and Sengoku on their side.
Caelan, who had humiliated the navy so thoroughly, would surely die here in Marineford.
Some radical officers and those who benefitted from the World Government's corruption looked at Caelan with bloodthirsty hatred.
This man who had shattered the image of the navy would pay with his life.
Once he died, the so-called Neo Navy would collapse into chaos—no longer a threat.
And even the stunned Marines whose ideals had crumbled waited for the coming battle in silence.
However, just as the confrontation was about to explode, a pink-haired Marine suddenly broke from the ranks.
"It's Vice Admiral Garp's disciple, Coby!"
"Why did he rush out?"
"Is he planning to fight Caelan head-on? That's suicide, but his courage is admirable."
"No matter what, this takes more guts than we have."
"I used to resent him, thinking he rose quickly because of Garp's backing. But I was wrong. He deserves his place."
Coby's sudden charge stunned the previously silent ranks of Marines.
No one knew what he intended to do. Many assumed he was preparing to fight, just like his teacher Garp would have.
It was reckless, but brave enough to earn their respect.
Coby stood in front of the formation, tens of thousands of eyes watching him.
His legs trembled, and tears streamed down his face as he shouted, "Stop fighting! End this meaningless war!"
"Today, an entire Yonko crew was annihilated. Tens of thousands of Marines have died. That's enough. No more fighting!"
"Look at the wounded around us. They don't want to fight anymore!"
During Whitebeard's assault on Marineford, Coby had barely held his ground in the chaos.
He had watched pirates cut down his fellow Marines, helpless to stop it.
When the Whitebeard Pirates were finally crushed, he had felt relief, thinking it was all over.
But then Shanks came. Then Caelan.
Each more terrifying than the last.
Seeing Caelan's godlike, demonic presence had left him unable to stand.
Now, with war about to erupt again, he knew someone had to speak for those who were scared and wounded.
Someone had to give voice to the countless Marines who didn't want this fight.
He wanted to be that voice.
He wanted...
To surrender.
Coby raised his head and shouted with all his strength, "Comrades, Marines, speak with me! The World Government and the God Slayer must stop fighting! Form an alliance and rule the world together!"
(To be continued.)
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