Beneath the surface of Pangaea Castle in Mariejois, deep underground.
Mori was using his Paramecia-type Push-Push Fruit to carve out tunnels through the Red Line, pushing entire chambers of soil aside to create hidden passageways.
From time to time, he and Karasu would pop their heads up like a pair of oversized moles, scouting the ground-level layout of Mariejois and sketching rough maps.
But their primary goal wasn't cartography.
They needed to find the control switch for the massive dome barrier. Break that barrier, and the raid could begin.
A thunderous BOOM shook Mariejois from within.
Karasu and Mori both peeked upward.
"Did Souta Kiryuu's crew leave someone strong behind on the airborne fleet?" Karasu muttered.
Another airship slammed into the barrier overhead, erupting in yet another massive explosion.
Karasu clicked his tongue. "These maniacs are actually using airships as battering rams. Truly wasteful. At this rate, they'll burn through their fleet before they even get inside."
"Which means we'd better find that switch soon," he added sharply, already dragging Mori onward through the subterranean route.
They were still in ongoing contact with the Revolutionary Army intelligence operators stationed at headquarters. Reports of the G18 battlefield were flowing in.
But if they accidentally stumbled upon Imu's teleportation nexus, the two of them would not dare make a move.
If Imu got alerted and came hunting, they would not survive ten seconds.
Let Souta Kiryuu's crew deal with that insane risk.
Their job was simple: Open the barrier. Let the dragons in.
Whether the raid force could actually disrupt Imu's teleportation magic was their problem.
On one of the battleships in the airborne fleet—
PX-Bruno activated his Door-Door Fruit, tearing open a shimmering void doorway. Even Trafalgar Law's ROOM was able to slip through the barrier.
They confirmed the critical point:
A direct breach into Mariejois was possible.
"First, have S-Bear enter and leave as many concealed Paw Marks as possible. Once we're ready, the full assault begins," Lafitte said. His pale, elegant face twisted into a delighted smile.
Their second invasion of the Holy Land.
This one had to be flawless.
"Understood."
Law didn't bother using his own teleportation. He and S-Bear stepped into the void doorway with Bruno, vanishing into the interior beneath the barrier.
"Hyihihihihi! Pacifistas, form up! Fire laser barrage!"
"Charge the electromagnetic cannons! Blow that barrier apart!"
"The Holy Knights... Let's see how you react when your former commander comes knocking!"
Moria's laughter echoed across the sky, mad and unrestrained.
He picked up the massive zombified corpse of Saint Figarland Garling and hurled it directly into the transparent dome.
The Celestial Dragons and the Holy Knights were thrown into shock and rage.
If he could provoke them into opening the barrier themselves, all the better.
"You vile pirate scum!!"
Saint Peins, who once respected Garling deeply, now saw his corpse desecrated like a toy. Pure hatred surged through him.
"Hold your temper, Commander Peins!"
Old Knight Saint Prezes grabbed his shoulder before he charged.
Imu was currently suppressing Souta Kiryuu at the G18 Fortress.
If an emergency forced Imu to return, the advantage at G18 would collapse instantly.
Peins clenched his fists. "I know... Once Imu and the Five Elders finish off the Four Emperors and Souta Kiryuu, not a single one of these remaining beasts will live."
He stared at the airborne fleet—and especially at Moria.
He swore he would personally kill him.
What he didn't know was that the intruders were already inside the barrier.
Law and Bruno, leading S-Bear, infiltrated Mariejois and began placing Paw Mark warp points everywhere they could.
"Who are you?!"
A few Celestial Dragons and guards stumbled into them.
They were sliced apart by Law before they could scream.
However, elite CP0 agents and Holy Knights with sharp Kenbunshoku quickly detected their presence.
A pursuit began.
Meanwhile, underground, Karasu and Mori heard the commotion.
"So Souta Kiryuu's crew made it in too."
Karasu narrowed his eyes.
He didn't reveal himself. Instead, he sought a faster method.
If the invaders were inside, high-ranking Celestial Dragons would surely check the barrier controls.
That was Karasu and Mori's moment.
Soon, just as expected—several Holy Knights broke away from the chase and hurried in a specific direction.
Karasu smirked. "Mantis stalks cicada; the oriole waits behind. Looks like we are the oriole."
"I'm not an oriole. I'm a crow," Mori whispered earnestly.
He had been utterly corrupted by Emporio Ivankov's 'New Human' ideology.
Karasu froze. "...Stop talking. Move."
Mori nodded and pushed open another tunnel section.
Inside the barrier, the sudden chaos made Commander Peins increasingly nervous. He sent out most of the Holy Knights and CP0 agents to intercept the intruders.
He remained to command the defense and monitor Moria's sky fleet.
"Damn it! Another Devil Fruit ability... They pierced the barrier directly!?"
Peins' expression darkened further.
The transparency of the dome trembled again under Garling's zombified sword.
Every blow felt like it hammered his heart.
Meanwhile, at the G18 Fortress glacier battlefield—
Imu's shadow spears and arrows assaulted Souta Kiryuu mercilessly.
"Souta! This won't work! We must retreat, get away from that teleportation cir—"
The Red Earl's voice strained. For the first time, he felt a pressure he had never experienced even before Roger or Whitebeard.
"I know!"
Souta's entire body burned red-hot, white steam rising from him. He had been fighting at full explosive output for too long.
Imu's three types of Haki, his Primordial Power, and his Devil Fruit abilities were all at the very peak.
Boa Hancock fed Souta another shimmering Blood Crystal Dandelion, sustaining his overwhelming output.
These crystals were extracted from captured legends—Wang Zhi, Zephyr, and even from Souta and Barrett's own hoarded reserves.
And yet—
This one battle was draining all of it.
Such was the terror of the King of the World.
...
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