Beneath the blinding glow of the teleportation array, a massive black wyrm emerged—its body grotesque and terrible. As its jaws stretched open, three masked figures in white cloaks and white suits burst out from its maw.
None of the three hesitated. They dove directly into the sea.
"First, we eliminate Whitebeard."
The great sand wyrm formed through Saint Peter's power swung its enormous tail in the air, forming a spiraling blur as it shot toward the glacier.
Its target: Edward Newgate, Whitebeard.
"Understood."
Saint Nasujuro stepped off the air itself with Moonwalk, streaking toward Whitebeard's position without pause.
Red-Haired Shanks saw the fifth of the Five Elders arrive, and his heart plummeted.
This was it.
The situation was utterly out of control. Today, the power of the Four Emperors might be destroyed.
The Five Elders had become the fishermen waiting to harvest the battlefield.
Shanks even found himself—just for a moment—wishing Souta Kiryuu would appear.
The man who killed his father.
Because only that monster could stabilize a situation this desperate.
"Brat of the Figarland bloodline, the pirates will be defeated today. This is your last chance.
Aid us in eradicating the Four Emperors' influence, and I will allow your Red Hair Pirates to enter under the World Government's banner.
I had intended for you to inherit your father's rank as Captain of the Holy Knight Order.
But now, you may at best achieve the rank of Shichibukai."
The monstrous bird that Saint Mars had transformed into—an enormous, ancient tengu—curved its beak into something resembling a smile.
Souta Kiryuu and the Revolutionary Army were both under their surveillance.
Souta was fighting at G1 Fortress, held in check by Isaac and Kong.
Dragon and the Revolutionary commanders were being blocked by Kizaru and Black Horse.
None of them had the time to reach G18.
The Five Elders alone possessed the power to teleport across the world. That ability was one of the cornerstones of their dominion.
"…"
For the first time, Shanks was uncertain. Retreat or continue? The decision could destroy everything.
"Shanks! Fall back! Get Kaido and Big Mom to withdraw too!!"
Beckman's voice cut through the chaos. With all Five Elders gathered and neither Souta Kiryuu nor the Revolutionaries present, there was only one move left.
They had to abandon Whitebeard.
Preserve as much of the Four Emperors' strength as possible.
Only then could they continue to wage guerrilla war against the World Government in the future.
"It has to be this way."
Shanks exhaled. His spirit dimmed.
He felt a heavy guilt toward Ace… and toward Whitebeard.
"Kaido! Big Mom! Barrett! The tides have turned—we retreat!"
Shanks guided the red dragon beneath him away from the monstrous tengu and shouted across the battlefield.
He was nearly exhausted. Whitebeard was already standing at death's door.
Continuing the fight would only increase the carnage.
The Four Emperors battling among themselves only made it easier for the Five Elders to seize everything.
"Boom!!"
On the glacier below, Douglas Barrett shattered Aokiji Kuzan's ice with a roar, fury burning in his eyes.
He lunged at Kuzan again, ignoring Shanks entirely.
"Kuzan!!"
Barrett exploded with both Armament and Conqueror's Haki, black-red lightning bursting outward as he launched himself like a cannon shell.
The impact blasted open a massive crater.
Kuzan had wanted to stall King, Enel, and Shiryu, but he was forced to retreat and block Barrett's assault.
"Bang!!"
Kuzan was launched through the air, blood streaking from his mouth—the damage so heavy that even his elementization could not disperse it.
"Roooar!!"
Drought Jack shattered the last of the ice encasing him and charged after the retreating navy.
Meanwhile, the Three Monsters of Impel Down, the Five Children of the Skies, and two of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders still struggled in frozen prison—unable to escape.
Such was the gulf between true monsters and the rest.
Seeing Barrett occupy Kuzan again, King and the others immediately began slaughtering the retreating naval fleet.
Shiryu did not continue battling Bogard. He left that troublesome opponent to King.
Instead, he rushed toward the wounded Tea Dolphin, grinning—he preferred killing the helpless.
"Enel! Take the woman!"
Shiryu called out as he targeted the weaker vice admirals, leaving Gion (Momousagi) to Enel.
"Another one of the Five Elders is incoming. Kill the navy now, quickly!"
Enel laughed madly. His Mantra had already sensed the arrival of the Seraphim reinforcement.
Which meant the boss god could descend at any moment.
The thought made him manic.
Wipe out the marines first.
Then hunt the Five Elders.
"Wurorororo!! Red-Hair, you little coward! Leave if you want—but stop whining!"
Kaido smashed the boar-like Saint Vaucholli again, laughing wildly as he went in for the kill.
Their battle had obliterated what remained of the Moby Dick.
Vaucholli's body was torn and collapsing, struggling desperately to avoid being thrown into the sea. He forced himself back toward the glacier.
Kaido transformed into his azure dragon form once more and pursued.
···
At the glacier's edge, Whitebeard landed—barely. Each breath was agony.
"You think you'll rescue him?! Not so easily!"
Whitebeard saw CP0 operatives searching the ocean for Saint Saturn—the man who killed Ace.
Whitebeard stretched his arms.
The air cracked.
Another tsunami.
The sea heaved. Waves rose like mountains. Ocean plates fractured into jagged, towering fragments.
The three CP0 agents struggled desperately to reach Saturn through the chaos.
"You decrepit fossil—you dare!!"
Saint Nasujuro's sword aura rained down like falling heavens.
The sand wyrm opened its maw, its pull devouring everything.
Whitebeard coughed blood.
"Gurararara… For my sons… I'll drag one more of the Five Elders down with me!!"
The gaping wound in his chest poured blood—but his grin was wild as he lifted Murakumogiri, pointing it at the two approaching Elders.
"Father!!!"
On a nearby sea plate, the sailors and captains of the Whitebeard Pirates wailed.
They wanted to help.
They could do nothing.
Shanks saw no one was listening.
His expression darkened.
If no pirate force retreated, then he would simply have to hold the line himself.
He steered his dragon back into the tengu's path once more.
He would stall this Elder.
Buy time.
Maybe—just maybe—Kaido, Big Mom, Barrett… would realize the danger.
And retreat.