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Wrapped in lightning, Zyhark unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, forcefully creating a breach within the overwhelming pressure of Garling's Haki. The two Conqueror's Hakis clashed fiercely above Mary Geoise, with dark red lightning bursting like brilliant fireworks, covering the entire Holy Land.
The clash of pure Conqueror's Haki wasn't about strength; it was a battle of willpower between the two parties.
Both were kings, and in the absence of tangible destruction or the use of advanced techniques like Haki infusion, the clash of their auras was unlikely to result in a one-sided victory.
So, even though Garling's Conqueror's Haki was more mature and refined than Zyhark's, it still couldn't create a significant advantage.
Bang! Realizing this, Garling was the first to withdraw his Conqueror's Haki, instead gathering the scattered dark red lightning into his thin sword, compressing it into a devastatingly powerful force, with continuous dark lightning coursing through it.
This was the hallmark of a supreme fighter—Conqueror's Haki infusion!
Finally catching a breath after the storm of Haki, Zyhark didn't dare to be careless. He covered Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri with Armament Haki.
At the same time, high-temperature magma and black lightning poured out without reservation, imbuing his next strike with unparalleled explosive power.
Having fought Mihawk before, Zyhark knew just how terrifying a swordsman infused with Conqueror's Haki could be, so he went all out from the start!
Boom, boom, boom! As their powers continued to build, the unprotected streets of Mary Geoise began to crumble, revealing even more of the hidden darkness beneath the surface.
Even so, Garling's face, which bore the marks of age, remained calm and composed.
"No matter how flashy your tricks are, they are ultimately futile in the face of advanced Haki. Kid, you're still too green to challenge me!"
Zyhark ignored Garling's arrogant disdain. Sensing several gazes fixed on him, he positioned Sandai Kitetsu in front and Yubashiri behind, ready to strike.
Just as his body began to transform into elemental lightning, preparing to make the first move.
Thud, thud.
The sound of a cane striking the ground came from the direction of the Mary Geoise castle. Five indifferent figures appeared between Zyhark and Garling.
Accompanying them was a surge of ominous and eerie energy.
Seeing this, both Zyhark and Garling simultaneously canceled the terrifying attacks they had infused into their blades.
The energy storm raging above Mary Geoise gradually weakened and dissipated, finally returning to calm.
"Garling, stand down for now. We've already made a deal with this brat."
Saturn, ignoring Zyhark, turned to look at Garling.
As he had previously judged, Saturn feared that executing Zyhark here would mean losing the chance to make the World Government even stronger.
Of course, they could forcibly detain Zyhark and subject him to brutal and rigorous interrogation, but doing so would not only alienate the other Warlords but also risk completely losing the secret of how Devil Fruits could defy the sea.
Moreover, the technological power and the sea-related Devil Fruits that Saturn valued so highly might then stand in opposition to the World Government, potentially becoming a significant threat if they joined the Revolutionary Army.
Having ruled the world for centuries, coupled with the existence of Im, Saturn had absolute confidence that he could control Zyhark and his crew, gradually uncovering all the secrets he wanted to know.
As always, time was the greatest advantage of the Five Elders!
This was precisely the foundation of Zyhark's operation in Mary Geoise, based on his foresight as a transmigrator!
As the chief of the God's Knights, capable of judging even the Celestial Dragons, Garling's authority was not weaker than that of the Five Elders.
But when it came to the World Government's developmental direction and strategic deployment, he still had to follow the Five Elders' plans.
Therefore, he slowly sheathed his sword, signaling his compliance.
Seeing this, Saturn finally turned to look at Zyhark, who had also sheathed his twin swords.
"Arrogance has its limits, Zyhark. Don't forget, this is the Holy Land of the Celestial Dragons, Mary Geoise!"
His tone was much colder and more menacing than the gentleness he had shown Garling.
"If they hadn't caused me trouble, I wouldn't even bother staying in this wretched place!"
Zyhark maintained his rebellious image, spitting on the ground near the slave overseers with a look of disdain.
Slave Overseers: "..."
The sudden conflict was thus resolved, but a discordant voice broke the silence.
"Are you kidding me? Are you just going to let this bastard leave Mary Geoise?"
Charloss's son, with a bruised forehead, pointed at Zyhark and shouted furiously at the Five Elders, "What the hell are you doing? He's the criminal who killed my father, who killed a Celestial Dragon!!"
Facing this junior's outburst, the Five Elders frowned, their eyes shifting slightly as they focused on him.
"Charloss's life is worth less than dog shit compared to the interests of all Celestial Dragons," Topman said coldly.
Even the Celestial Dragons, who made the entire world tremble, were nothing more than insignificant dust in their eyes.
Such was the hierarchy within the World Government.
Clang! A flying slash cut deep into the ground just in front of Charloss's son's toes, sending a chilling gust of wind through the air.
Garling, arms crossed, remained expressionless, exuding an aura of unchallengeable authority.
"Lord Garling, he, he, you..."
Staring into those monstrous, menacing eyes, knowing full well the methods of his superior, Charloss's son was utterly terrified, stammering incoherently.
"I'll deliver the ship's blueprints as promised once I return. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
Zyhark, having no intention of staying any longer, turned and left under the silent gaze of the Five Elders.
Even his stride mimicked Doflamingo's, exuding an air of arrogance and defiance.
As he walked away, Charloss's son glared at him with eyes full of venomous hatred.
Zyhark, the Thunder of Evil, one day, I will personally see you torn to pieces!
...
On the coastline beneath Mary Geoise, a Navy battleship resumed its voyage on the sea.
"Honestly, Zyhark, for a moment there, I thought you were done for," Smoker, his Justice cloak fluttering in the wind, stood at the ship's bow, gazing out at the vast ocean.
Recalling the earth-shattering scene from earlier, he still couldn't calm the lingering fear in his heart.
In all his years as a Marine, he'd never seen or even heard of anything so absurd!
"I finally understand why Garp and Sengoku have such high regard for you," Smoker sighed in resignation.
The man beside him, who had once seemed unremarkable in Loguetown, had quietly risen to an unreachable height.
"If only it were as easy as you say. I was already drenched in sweat," Zyhark joked with a shrug.
But it was true—if the Five Elders and Garling had decided to use force, in that situation, he would have had no chance to turn the tables and would have been left to die!
Smoker glanced at Zyhark's dry, fluttering black coat.
After a long silence, he suppressed his intense curiosity about the contents of the conversation in the hall with the Five Elders.
His experience stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago on the Grand Line had made him more composed and restrained.
"Are you coming with me to Marineford? If you want to return to the Grand Line, I could give you a ride," he offered.
"No need. Your battleship is too slow."
Zyhark didn't hide his disdainful expression.
"This is the fastest ship in the Navy..." Mid-sentence, Smoker suddenly remembered Zyhark's dreamlike ship and swallowed the rest of his words.
"If I have the chance, let's meet up again when I go to Marineford to pick up something."
Pick up something at Marineford?
Before the puzzled Smoker could ask further, Zyhark had already transformed into lightning and disappeared over the sea in an instant.
"A Logia-type who can ignore the sea's curse..."
Smoker retracted his surprised gaze and looked at his smoke-covered right fist, lost in thought.
Out of sight of the battleship, Zyhark didn't head straight for Twin Cape.
Instead, he made several circuits around the sea, eventually returning to the area behind the battleship.
During the voyage, he'd kept his Kenbunshoku Haki active, sensing the surroundings for any World Government agents that might be tailing him.
Though he didn't detect any agents, he did catch an unexpected presence on a nearby deserted island.
...
On a tiny, less-than-a-thousand-square-meter deserted island, strange broad-leaved coconut trees grew.
In the bushes beneath the coconut trees, a woman wrapped in tattered rags was huddled, trying desperately to avoid the harsh, deadly sunlight.
Her once delicate skin was now covered in dense blue scales, giving her a rather eerie appearance.
Soaked and exhausted, she clung tightly to an adorable infant, trying to crack open a coconut in an effort to replenish her strength.
However, what would have been a simple task in the past was now an immense challenge for her in her current weakened state!
Certainly, continuing from where we left off:
However, what would have been a simple task in the past was now an immense challenge for her in her current weakened state!
"I can't... give up here..."
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay conscious despite her exhaustion. The baby's faint cries of hunger echoed in her ears, driving her to push through her limits.
Just as she was about to lose all strength, a shadow suddenly loomed over her.
"Need some help?"
The woman looked up in shock, only to see Zyhark standing before her, holding a coconut in one hand with a faint smile on his face.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, recognizing the notorious Warlord who had just left Mary Geoise.
Without waiting for her response, Zyhark casually cracked open the coconut with his fingers and handed it to her.
"Drink up. You need to regain your strength."
The woman hesitated for a moment, still wary, but the sight of the coconut water was too tempting. Finally, she took it with trembling hands and began drinking eagerly.
"Who... who are you?" she asked between sips, her voice weak but filled with suspicion.
"Just a passing traveler," Zyhark replied nonchalantly, crouching down to her level. "But more importantly, what's your story? How did you end up here?"
The woman paused, her gaze flickering with a mix of fear and uncertainty. After a brief silence, she sighed and began to speak.
"My name is Ginny... I was once a mermaid, living peacefully under the sea. But one day, I was captured and sold to a Celestial Dragon. They... they did unspeakable things to me, forcing me to eat a Devil Fruit that turned me into this... this monster."
She glanced down at the blue scales covering her body, tears welling up in her eyes.
"After that, I was cast out, abandoned here with no way to return to the sea. I had nowhere to go... and now, all I can think about is protecting my child."
Zyhark listened quietly, his expression unreadable. He glanced at the infant in her arms, who was now sleeping peacefully, seemingly unaware of the dire circumstances.
"So, they forced you to eat a Devil Fruit," he mused, more to himself than to her. "It seems the World Government's experiments are getting bolder."
Ginny looked at him with a mixture of hope and fear. "Please... if you can... help us. I don't know how much longer we can survive like this."
Zyhark stood up, looking down at her with a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he nodded.
"Alright, I'll help you. But first, we need to get off this island."
Ginny's eyes widened in relief, and she struggled to her feet, holding the baby close to her chest. "Thank you... thank you so much..."
Zyhark simply waved her gratitude away and turned to scan the horizon.
"There's a ship not far from here," he said, pointing in the distance. "I'll take you there, and we'll figure out our next move."
With that, he gently picked up Ginny , cradling both her and the baby in his arms. As he did, his body began to crackle with electricity, and in an instant, they were gone, disappearing in a flash of lightning.
The next moment, they reappeared on the deck of a small ship anchored nearby. Zyhark carefully set Ginny down and turned to face the sea.
"Stay here for now," he instructed. "I'll handle anything that comes our way."
Ginny nodded, too exhausted to say anything more. She watched as Zyhark moved to the edge of the ship, his back to her, his figure silhouetted against the setting sun.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, they might survive this ordeal.
Zyhark, on the other hand, was already deep in thought, considering his next move.
The World Government was clearly up to something, experimenting on mermaids and likely many others. Whatever their goal was, it couldn't be good.
And as far as he was concerned, it was high time someone put a stop to it.
But first, he had to ensure Ginny and her child were safe.
"Let's see what the future holds," he muttered to himself, a determined glint in his eyes as he prepared for whatever lay ahead.
(End of Chapter)