The Bubble Cable Car Port.
What was once a bustling hub had now turned into ruins. Although the Bubble Cable Car Port was a crucial access point to Mary Geoise, it was destroyed rather than used to aid the rebels. The once scenic Red Port now lay in decay.
Not far from the wrecked port, on top of an abandoned bubble cable car, stood three CP0 agents, wearing white robes and masks. They silently observed the scene below.
An army of over ten thousand elite soldiers—a force capable of conquering nations—had been decimated without even slowing down Nicholas' advance.
This is the world's strongest man.
The elite of the elite, a force deemed invincible, was completely insignificant in front of this man. Against a top-tier powerhouse like Nicholas, sheer numbers were meaningless.
"Are we really just going to watch him march to Mary Geoise? Our mission is to stop him, isn't it?" one CP0 agent whispered to his two companions.
"Idiot! If you want to die, don't drag us with you," another CP0 agent retorted, disdain clear in his voice.
"You—" The first agent bristled at the mockery, but the third, who had remained silent, finally spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Enough. Stop arguing."
"Our mission is to stop him from entering Mary Geoise. If we do nothing, we'll be in big trouble when this is over," the first CP0 agent said, his voice filled with worry. They were well aware of the consequences the World Government dealt to those who failed their mission.
Even as CP0, doing nothing while Nicholas marched into Mary Geoise would be seen as a complete failure.
"Don't worry. The higher-ups won't waste their time on us. To both Nicholas and the World Government, we're nothing but ants."
The hoarse-voiced CP0 member continued, "The World Government knows full well that we're powerless against Nicholas. They sent us to stop him knowing we'd fail. We're just cannon fodder."
He paused, then added, "Do you really think Nicholas hasn't noticed us yet?"
"He's seen us?"
One of the CP0 members looked doubtful. How could Nicholas have noticed them from such a distance?
"Fool. Do you think someone like him doesn't have the observational prowess to notice us? He just doesn't care."
The three CP0 members fell silent, watching Nicholas walk toward Mary Geoise without any attempt to stop him. Once his figure disappeared from sight, they looked down at the thousands of unconscious soldiers strewn across the Red Port and the approaching ships.
After a long silence, one of the CP0 agents spoke, "It's pathetic not having power. We can't even control our own fate."
"The soldiers stationed here are just cannon fodder to the higher-ups. And we're not much better off," another CP0 agent said, his tone tinged with bitterness.
The hoarse-voiced agent added quietly, "Shut up. It's time to leave. If we get caught in this war, even we might not survive."
...
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the streets were eerily deserted, a stark contrast to the usual bustle. The grand corridors, once powered by human labor, had come to a halt.
Nicholas walked down the road, his eyes fixed on the distant outline of Pangaea Castle. Though no one could be seen, hundreds of hidden eyes were trained on him. Nicholas, however, paid no attention to them. These people were of no interest to him.
"Such arrogance..."
Even though Nicholas was marching alone into enemy territory, it felt as if he were merely taking a casual stroll through his own backyard. His overwhelming confidence made the defenders of Mary Geoise question whether they could defeat him.
The World Government's 800-year reign had instilled unshakeable confidence, but Nicholas had shown, through sheer strength, that it was not unassailable.
This was a clash between the old and the new. Would the World Government remain dominant, or would Nicholas overthrow it and establish a new order?
As Nicholas stood before Pangaea Castle, the sounds of battle erupted behind him. His army had engaged the forces of Mary Geoise.
Within the imposing structure of Pangaea Castle, many of the world's most pivotal decisions had been made by the Five Elders. Yet, Nicholas paid them no mind. His gaze pierced through the towering castle walls.
In this entire Holy Land, there was only one person who commanded his attention.
Inside the Hall of Authority, the Five Elders stood grimly before the sealed doors. They were not at the pinnacle of power simply because of their birth and lineage, but also because of their immense strength. While their minds may have grown stagnant over the years, their bodies, having undergone the Immortality Surgery, remained in their prime, and their willpower only grew stronger over time.
Crimson light flickered in their eyes as they unleashed their Observation Haki, enveloping the area around Pangaea Castle, focusing on the lone figure standing outside.
They realized then that Nicholas wasn't looking at them. His gaze was fixed beyond them, at the empty throne—the symbol of the highest authority in the world!
"That bastard," one of the Five Elders muttered as they sensed something.
At the same time, seated upon the Empty Throne, wearing a long robe that trailed to the ground and a crown atop her head, Imu slowly opened her eyes. She felt Nicholas' gaze upon her, and cold malice flickered in her golden eyes. A terrifying aura began to seep from the throne, spreading outward.
In response, the countless rusted weapons scattered around the throne seemed to come alive, emitting a faint ringing sound.
Imu's cold gaze passed over the decaying weapons and the towering steps that led to the Empty Throne, penetrating the thick walls of Pangaea Castle to meet Nicholas' eyes directly.
Both their murderous intents clashed silently.
Outside Pangaea Castle, Nicholas murmured to himself, "What incredible power..."
As Nicholas marveled at Imu's strength, the doors to the Hall of Authority slowly opened.
The Five Elders stepped out, ready to "welcome" the rebel who dared challenge the World Government's 800-year rule.
As the doors opened, the CP0 members guarding them were shocked. The oppressive aura emanating from the Five Elders made it hard for even the strongest of CP0 agents to breathe.
These five men, who stood at the pinnacle of power, now revealed their unimaginable might.
The CP0 agents could never have imagined that the Five Elders, who had long governed the world from behind the scenes, could possess such overwhelming strength.