T/N: Please have a look at my new novel (Minecraft: Transmutation Tablet & Group Chat)
-----
The delayed shockwave finally struck, sweeping up St. Saturn's corpse and hurling it through the air. His severed head rolled aside, lonely and still.
Silence blanketed the battlefield. Then hurried footsteps echoed across the shattered plaza as Sengoku arrived, face pale with panic.
When he saw St. Saturn's mangled corpse and the head lying nearby, his expression drained of all color in an instant.
"Brat… you've done it now!"
It took him a long moment to process what he was seeing. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he roared hysterically, "Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
This wasn't just some ordinary Celestial Dragon. This was one of the Five Elders—the ruling powers of the World Government. Killed here, in Marine Headquarters itself… The Navy would bear full responsibility.
In other words, his position as Fleet Admiral was finished. Everyone who had taken part in this war—every single one—would face punishment from the World Government.
And they wouldn't care about explanations or excuses. Once they decided it was your fault, there was no escape.
Garp, Akainu, and the others who had just arrived froze in disbelief at the scene.
Aokiji's eyes trembled violently, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked, something wild surging inside him.
Garp's jaw dropped as he stared at Leno, his face twisted in disbelief, even his nose nearly running into his mouth.
"Brat… you actually killed one of the Five Elders?!"
"… I suppose so," Leno said with a shrug, sounding almost uncertain.
After all, he wasn't sure how far that so-called immortality really went.
As his words fell, the plaza went utterly silent. Everyone stared at him, wide-eyed with horror.
"What a lunatic… he really just did it without hesitation!"
Even Doflamingo, who despised the Celestial Dragons more than anyone, felt a chill crawl up his spine. Hatred was one thing—but killing one of the Five Elders in public? He didn't have that kind of courage.
Moria was on the verge of losing it entirely, shrieking, "You're finished! You actually killed a Five Elder! You're dead—no one can save you now!"
Mihawk's face was unreadable as he murmured, "What a terrifying man."
Crocodile, however, scoffed in disdain. "So he killed a Celestial Dragon. Big deal."
Everyone turned to glare at him in disbelief.
At that moment, Akainu stepped forward, magma dripping from his arms and hissing as it scorched the ground. His face was twisted with fury.
"To slay a Celestial Dragon is an unforgivable crime. Thunder God—surrender now!"
The others followed his lead, closing in around Leno.
But before they could act, the unexpected happened—six-pointed magic circles appeared beneath St. Saturn's body and severed head. In the next instant, both vanished in a flash of light.
Everyone stared, dumbstruck, unsure what to do. Then Leno's voice rang out calmly across the air.
"I won't be staying for the aftermath. Farewell, everyone—until next time!"
By the time they looked up, he was gone—his body had turned to lightning and disappeared into the sky. (T/N: No farewell dragon blast?)
"Damn it! He got away! How are we supposed to explain this to the World Government now?"
Akainu slammed his molten fist into the ground, his expression twisted with rage. Sengoku, meanwhile, stood motionless, utterly defeated, his face hollow and spiritless.
Meanwhile—
Ten thousand meters above Marineford, the Gale floated quietly in the clouds. The crew crowded the railing, anxiously peering down below.
Crackle…
Arcs of lightning flickered—and then Leno appeared on deck.
"You big idiot, you're back!"
"Leno! Are you hurt?"
"Leno!"
"Brother!"
The deck erupted in relief and excitement as everyone rushed toward him, bombarding him with worried questions.
Leno grinned and scooped little Aileen into his arms. "Aileen, did you miss your big brother?"
"I did! I missed you so much!"
"Mua~ Good girl! Hahaha!"
Laughing heartily, he looked around the ship and asked, "Everyone's safe, right?"
"We're fine. But what about you? What happened down there? It was shaking like crazy!"
Kuina's brows were still furrowed. She had nearly flown back down when she saw those black lightning strikes—if not for Nojiko and Belle-Mère holding her back, she might've jumped into the chaos.
"Oh, that? Just one of the Five Elders causing trouble. A Celestial Dragon. But I killed him."
"The Five Elders?!"
Everyone gasped at once, staring at him in shock as if to confirm he wasn't joking.
Little Aileen tilted her head in confusion at their exaggerated reactions. "What's a Five Elder? Are they really strong?" she asked innocently.
"Hey, hey! This isn't about strength! That was one of the Five Elders, for crying out loud!"
"You big idiot—you actually killed a Five Elder?!"
Nami's voice cracked as she stared at him, hoping desperately he was kidding.
"Yeah. St. Saturn, to be exact. That old fossil was tough to kill, too."
The moment he said it, Nami went weak at the knees and slumped to the floor. "It's over… totally over…"
Everyone else grew grim. Killing a Celestial Dragon was already a capital offense—let alone one of the world's top rulers.
Just then, a proud and melodious voice rang out.
"So what if he killed a Celestial Dragon? What's the big deal? Lord Leno has slain worse. If I'd been there, I would've stood by him as well!"
Hancock strode gracefully through the crowd, her long legs commanding attention. Reaching Leno's side, she instantly melted into a gentle, lovestruck pose, resting against him with adoring eyes.
"He's… killed a Celestial Dragon before?"
Everyone turned to stare at Leno again, stunned.
Belle-Mère leaned toward Nojiko and whispered, "Hey, what's with that woman? Why's she so close to him?"
Then she added teasingly, "By the way, you and Nami still haven't pinned that brat down yet? How long are you planning to wait?"
Nojiko's face turned scarlet. "B–Belle-Mère! Don't say things like that! It sounds awful!"
Belle-Mère rolled her eyes and flicked Nojiko's forehead.
"Listen, look around you—every woman on this ship's gorgeous, and now there's this stunning beauty glued to him. If you like the guy, act before someone else takes him, or you'll regret it."
Hearing her words, Nojiko looked around the deck, feeling an unexpected rush of urgency. Belle-Mère was right. They were all beautiful, every single one of them.
She straightened her back and nodded seriously. "Got it, Belle-Mère."