Moments after Leno left the others, a massive pillar of pitch-black lightning shot up from the plaza below, soaring straight toward them.
Boom!
Leno, wreathed in countless bolts of lightning, clashed head-on with the dark thunder column in midair.
The two forces of lightning twisted together before exploding, filling the sky with blinding radiance that forced everyone to shield their eyes.
When the glare finally faded, the plaza below was a chaos of raging black lightning, each surge tearing through the surroundings with devastating force.
A strange, suffocating pressure spread outward, and the shockwaves shattered what little remained of the ruined plaza.
Witnessing the horrifying scene, the remaining people were left frozen in shock—each new wave of destruction pushing their minds closer to numbness.
"What… what is that this time?"
"Black lightning? Why does it feel so terrifying?"
The few vice admirals still able to stand trembled, gazing in confusion and dread toward the center of the storm.
"Down there—what's that? Black lightning!"
"Looks like something serious just arrived…"
From high above, Nami, Kuina, and the others looked down at the plaza filled with dark lightning, gasping in alarm.
Nojiko tightened her grip on her sword, her expression filled with worry. "Leno…" she murmured softly.
Crackle, crackle—!
At the center of the black lightning, a six-pointed star-shaped magic array appeared. Then, with an explosive roar, a colossal monster emerged.
It had a spider-like body with multiple legs, two horns on its head, and the face of a man.
Sengoku and Garp, who were still trying to hold up the falling island, both shouted in disbelief, "St. Saturn?!"
Casting a glance at the sky where Sengoku and Garp struggled, St. Saturn turned his cold gaze upon the lightning-wreathed Leno before him.
"Insect. Your arrogance ends here."
"Hah?"
Hearing himself dismissed like an ant, Leno couldn't help but laugh. He casually dug a finger in his ear and said mockingly, "What did you just say, old man? Say it again!"
The onlookers were dumbfounded. Leno had actually dared to insult one of the Five Elders in public.
The Five Elders—masters of the world, the so-called 'gods' of creation. For a mortal to insult a 'god'? It was pure defiance of heaven.
"That old bastard…"
Doflamingo muttered under his breath. The moment St. Saturn appeared, he recognized the very man who had once blocked his reinstatement as a Celestial Dragon.
Memories flooded back—the humiliation of kneeling, begging, presenting his father's severed head, only to be coldly rejected.
Rage burned in Doflamingo's heart. He wanted nothing more than to tear that smug old face to pieces.
'Just wait. One day, I'll drag you all down from your thrones and make you repent in hell for what you did to me.'
But for now, neither of the combatants paid him any attention. St. Saturn's expression darkened at Leno's taunts.
Boom!
A massive crater appeared where Leno had been standing. From the edge of the pit, Leno glared mockingly.
"Oh? Old man, is that all you've got—cheap sneak attacks? How about facing me head-on like a man?"
He knew well the nature of St. Saturn's "Evil Eye" attack. Whether it was spatial or sonic, he couldn't tell—but his Observation Haki could trace its movement. The real problem was that old monster's undying body.
St. Saturn no longer bothered with words. The creature's many legs lunged toward Leno like spears.
Boom, boom!
As Leno dodged the flurry of stabbing limbs, the island above—under the combined bombardment of Sengoku, Garp, and two admirals—finally shattered into countless fragments that began raining down.
To avoid being caught between them all, Leno decided to end things quickly. Without realizing it, his blade was now crackling with black-violet lightning.
"Old man, I'm done playing with you."
"Dragon Force—Dragon Fang."
Slash!
Caught off guard—or perhaps too arrogant to defend—St. Saturn was cleaved through by the massive black-violet arc of energy.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed as his gigantic body was sent hurtling backward, crashing into a pile of ruins.
Before he could rise, arcs of electricity flashed before his eyes. Leno appeared atop his massive head, blade raised high, lightning dancing across it.
St. Saturn's pupils shrank violently—he could feel the threat of death.
With surprising agility, the huge body flipped over, its spear-like legs stabbing wildly upward.
But Leno stuck to him like glue, dodging every strike while never leaving the top of St. Saturn's head.
Finally, the lightning-charged blade came down.
Slash!
Boom!
The sound of metal slicing flesh echoed, and St. Saturn's enormous frame convulsed as black-violet lightning surged through him.
Dust and debris exploded outward, but Leno wasn't done. Gripping the hilt tight, he twisted the blade sharply.
Crack!
St. Saturn's entire body went rigid, his eyes rolling white.
"Five hundred million volts—Discharge."
"AAAHHHHHHH!"
The blinding flash of lightning illuminated the sky as St. Saturn's agonized scream shook the heavens.
"!!!"
Sengoku, who was using his power to deflect falling debris, turned in shock just in time to see Leno, his lightning blade gleaming, swing down at St. Saturn's charred neck.
"Stop!"
"Damn it—Buddha Shockwave!"
Just moments earlier, St. Saturn's body had turned to charcoal under Leno's five-hundred-million-volt attack.
But as soon as the lightning ceased, black flames began to burn across his blackened flesh—and incredibly, his horrific wounds started to heal.
Realizing that the Five Elders' immortality was even greater than he'd imagined, Leno decided to take it further—by severing the old monster's head completely.
Now, ignoring Sengoku's terrified shout, Leno's strike did not falter. The blade fell.
Slash!
Blood erupted like a fountain, raining down across the ruins. St. Saturn's massive body convulsed a few times before slowly beginning to shrink.
Rumble, rumble.