The Sorbet Kingdom had descended into a blood-soaked hell.
On town streets, in forested valleys, the once-exalted Celestial Dragons now fled in panic.
Their splendid robes were stained with mud, their helmets cracked, revealing terrified, twisted faces.
"Help! Save me!"
"You damn lowly commoners! Do you know who I am?! My father is… Ah!"
Screams rose and fell.
Pirates from the New World grinned savagely in pursuit, dragging World Nobles into dark alleys one by one.
Some had their limbs torn off alive. Some were tied to poles as shooting targets. Others were stuffed into specially made 'hunting cages', becoming playthings for the pirates' amusement.
Savage laughter and screams interwove, composing the bloodiest symphony.
High in the palace, the Warrior God of Science and Defense, Saint Saturn, still stood by the window, holding red wine, leisurely listening to the distant, muffled screams.
"The hunting contest is truly pleasurable..."
He sipped his wine, calculating how long this game might last.
'Based on past years, the youngsters usually lost interest by the third day.'
'But this time was different. After thirty-six years, their interest should last longer.'
Just then—
Swoosh!
Countless threads suddenly descended from the sky, forming an inverted birdcage that enveloped the entire island.
Saturn's glass paused mid-air.
"Doflamingo's [Birdcage]?" Saturn frowned. "Why would he be on the island? Is he trying to prevent prey from escaping, currying favor with us?"
Before he could ponder further, the palace doors burst open.
A CP0 deputy captain stumbled in. His white uniform was stained red with blood. His mask was half-shattered, revealing a pale face beneath.
"S-Saturn-sama..."
"What happened?" Saturn's expression turned serious. "Who injured you like this?"
"It's the Beasts Pirates..." The deputy captain knelt on one knee, voice trembling. "They never wore Seastone cuffs at all! All the prisoners on the island have been freed!"
"The esteemed ones are being massacred! Communications are completely jammed! Please make a decision quickly!"
Saturn's expression finally changed.
He looked at the Birdcage enveloping the island, suddenly understanding Doflamingo's intent… this wasn't to trap the prey, but to prevent the hunters from escaping!
"Foolish rebels..." Saturn sneered. "They think jamming Den Den Mushi cuts off contact?"
He closed his eyes, communicating via thought waves with the other Four Elders.
"Rebellion in Sorbet Kingdom. The Beasts Pirates' prey has been freed by an unknown force. They are massacring our people on the island."
The other Four Elders' shock came through clearly via thought.
"No wonder the Four Emperors suddenly became active," Mars responded first. "Exactly when the hunt began, the fleets of Red-Haired, Whitebeard, and Big Mom all headed for Sorbet Kingdom simultaneously."
"We have ordered Marine Admirals to lead the Headquarters forces to intercept!" Warcury added.
"It seems Chiaki Setsuna's worry was justified. There truly are Rocks's remnants planning to rescue the D. bloodline. In fact, Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido's conflicts might have been an act for us," Ju Peter said gravely.
Saturn urgently asked. "What about Chiaki Setsuna? Can he come support?"
"We already ordered him to move..." Nusjuro's thoughts carried anger. "...but he's being held back by the combined forces of the Revolutionary Army and the Giant Tribe."
This answer made Saturn grasp the severity of the situation. "The Four Emperors, Revolutionary Army, Giant Tribe... these forces actually joined forces? What has CP0 been doing? Why didn't they detect their movements?!"
"Now isn't the time to shift blame," Warcury asked. "Should we inform Imu-sama?"
"Absolutely not!" Saturn immediately vetoed. "The situation isn't at its worst yet. Disturbing Imu-sama now will only make us look incompetent!"
"My thought is to immediately activate Abyssal Transmission. You and the God's Knights teleport to the island. Stop the massacre first."
Saturn continued. "As long as they still want to rescue Rocks's bloodline, they must come to this island. We can prepare in advance here."
"Agreed," Nusjuro responded. "Such a small matter, we should indeed handle it ourselves."
…
Dark spatial vortices suddenly expanded in the Sorbet Kingdom's palace plaza. The Four Elders and thirteen God's Knights' members stepped out from the Abyssal Transmission formation.
The air was thick with the smell of blood. Explosions and screams came from the distance.
"The situation is worse than imagined," Mars face was dark. "The entire island is out of control."
Saturn surveyed the surroundings, swiftly making a decision. "Split up. Rescue priority."
No one objected. With their immortality, acting alone was more efficient.
Garling sneered. "Time for those lowly commoners to learn the God's Knights' terror."
Eighteen figures instantly scattered, speeding in different directions.
Saint Sommers turned into a stream of light, weaving through burning streets.
As he passed a dark alley, he heard a familiar voice—
"You damn lowly commoners! How dare you treat me like this?!"
"Still calling us lowly? Go on, little black, bite her to death!"
Deep in the alley, Carlos's sister, Shalria was struggling in tattered clothes against a vicious dog.
Her knees bled. Her once-delicate face was covered in dust.
A dozen or so pirates stood around, heckling and throwing stones at her.
"You lowly commoners..." Sommers emerged from the shadows, rage burning in his eyes. "Truly audacious to the extreme!"
"It's a God's Knight!" Shalria screamed as if seeing a savior. "Kill them quickly!"
Whip!
A whip shadow flashed. Shalria instantly had a bloody welt on her face.
"Did I tell you to stop?" A lazy female voice came from above.
Sommers looked up. Black Maria leaned on a second-floor balcony, her long whip writhing like a snake.
She wore a revealing kimono, a dangerous smile at her lips.
"Beasts Pirates' Black Maria?" Sommers sneered. "You dare act tough before me?"
Maria's red lips curved. "Of course not just me~"
From the surrounding shadows, figures emerged one after another.
Big Mom Pirates' Cracker, Red Hair Pirates' Lucky Roux, Whitebeard Pirates' 16th Division Commander Izo...
"The Four Emperors truly allied," Sommers was surprised but not panicked. "So you are the vanguard that freed the Beasts Pirates? However... still not enough!"
Izo suddenly smiled. "We're just here to assist."
He pointed behind Sommers. "Your opponent... is this old gentleman."
Sommers whirled around, his pupils contracting sharply.
A white-haired old man was walking towards him, his eyes incredibly sharp.
Sommers said in terror. "Dark King Rayleigh! Why are you here?"