When Escanor's body swelled and he came to a halt, the temperature of the entire island increased by several degrees.
At its core, it seemed as if the blazing sun had fallen, spewing flames of extremely high temperatures.
Where the Sin of Pride stood, all things were incinerated!
This was Escanor's ultimate move, which burned his very life as the price: "The One and Only Supreme - Ultimate!"
At this moment, the Grace of the Sun was fully unleashed, allowing Escanor to maintain his peak state, akin to one minute at high noon, before exhausting himself completely.
He might not be able to execute a clean and swift one-hit kill like King, but Escanor had absolute confidence and arrogance to sweep away all enemies before him!
No conventional means could solve their current predicament. Rather than allowing everyone to fall here, making King's sacrifice a waste…
It would be better for him to end this battle once and for all!
A terrifying, suffocating aura swept through the battlefield.
With King as the precedent, the World Government forces, like startled birds, quickly gathered together, their nerves taut as they stared at Escanor, who was bathed in flames.
They had even less intelligence on Escanor than on the Emperor's Engine. All they knew was that this newcomer had blocked an attack from Big Mom during the World War and defeated the so-called invincible Katakuri.
And then, of course, there was the battlefield of the Land of the Gods they had just witnessed.
The strength he had displayed was indeed not inferior to that of an admiral or a Yonko, but this was the first time they saw his eyes blazing and his entire body exuding such a terrifying aura.
Recalling King, who had disappeared with just one punch, they naturally realized that Escanor was ready to put his life on the line!
"Do not hold back! Combine everyone's strength and reduce that man to dust!"
From the back of the group, Topman Vochuli issued a solemn order.
As one of the supreme authorities who had looked down upon the world for centuries, he couldn't remember the last time he had felt such fear.
Human or monster, when faced with death, they all showed their unbecoming side.
Saturn's fate was fresh in his mind, and he had no intention of joining his old comrade so soon.
Thus, at a time like this, pride and face were out of the question!
"If we can block this attack, victory will be ours!"
Nasujurō shared the same thought. Whether Escanor's display was mere bluffing or if he truly had the power to annihilate them all…
As long as several admiral-level forces attacked with all their might, no one in this world could stop them—not even the Liberation Warrior, Joy Boy!
Upon receiving the order, Galland and Gairas were the first to unleash their power, imbuing their swords with Conqueror's Haki, tinged with red lightning.
The reluctant Sengoku and Zephyr followed suit, preparing their strongest moves.
Nasujurō and Vochuli also unleashed their full power, though their abilities were more about amplification and stabilization, perfectly fusing the otherwise conflicting forces of the four admiral-level attacks.
Just as Vochuli was about to call on the Seven Warlords to help, he glanced sideways and almost exploded in rage.
He saw Mihawk, Jinbei, Crocodile, and Doflamingo had already retreated several hundred meters away, standing idly by with a watching-the-show attitude, showing no intention of participating in this final showdown!
What a joke! They were indeed in a cooperative relationship with the World Government, but in essence, they were shrewd and crafty pirates.
If they were to be summoned to fight the Sea Restaurant, they'd comply. But to bet their lives?
Sorry, but they didn't hear that!
"Those fickle bastards!!!"
Vochuli couldn't help but curse.
In the end, it was the heavily injured Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, along with a group of Vice Admirals, who stepped forward.
Various powerful techniques merged into the vortex of power created by the two Five Elders.
Red lightning raged, terrifying energy accumulated, compressing the surrounding space until it collapsed into an endless black hole filled with destruction!
This was the ultimate combined attack of several top-tier fighters—unprecedented!
"It sure was a long wait. I almost fell asleep," Escanor sneered as he felt the destructive aura emanating from the depths of the black hole.
He could have attacked before they completed their combined technique, but that would've been too dull.
Allowing them enough time before shattering their so-called hopes was the ultimate form of arrogance!
With that in mind, Escanor slowly drew his golden battle axe from his back and assumed a stance, ready to fully unleash the power of the burning sun.
At this crucial moment, arcs of electricity flickered in his vision.
"Wait, Escanor!"
Escanor looked puzzled, surprised to see Zyhark suddenly appear in front of him.
"Don't be in a rush to release your energy. Let me try first. Maybe I can block their attack," Zyhark said seriously.
Gazing at the deep black hole formed by the World Government forces, an insane idea sprang into his mind.
If it worked, not only would they avoid more casualties and save Aqua's resurrection spell for facing the even more troublesome World King Imu…
They could also turn the tide of the battle in the Nation of Gods!
Escanor stared intently at Zyhark for a few seconds. Trusting him, he stopped burning his life force, maintaining a critical state where he could explode at any moment, ready to prevent unforeseen situations.
Almost simultaneously, the World Government's super combined attack reached saturation.
With the enraged shouts of the two Five Elders, the black hole that could obliterate everything came barreling forth!
Just a slight touch from the escaping shockwave was enough to make the entire ground vanish without a trace!
The fierce wind carried an overwhelming sense of despair, stinging Zyhark's face painfully.
Enduring his body's limits, he moved his arms, releasing blinding lightning that formed a lightning shield before him.
With just this method, there was no chance of stopping the endless black hole—it would collapse upon contact.
Therefore, the lightning shield was merely a cover for something else.
After all the times this thing had let him down, it was time for it to be of some use!
Deep within the lightning shield, a dazzling light emerged, interwoven with rainbow hues, constructing a mysterious, pitch-black bead.
Indeed, the inspiration Zyhark took from the endless black hole was none other than the "Fake Wishing Pool Bead"!
After completing its automatic upgrade, he and his comrades had tested the bead's hardness. Neither Aqua's Divine Purification nor Kanna's full-strength dragon strike could budge it.
This thing seemed to transcend the rules of the pirate world, impervious to any form of attack!
As for why Zyhark had been bored enough to test its hardness…
Of course, it was because this cheat item was just as ridiculous as the idiot goddess!
The suddenly summoned Wishing Bead hadn't even figured out what was going on when the combined super attack from several admiral-level forces crashed down upon it!
Wishing Bead: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ!!
A-are you kidding me?
A-are you kidding me!!!
…
To rewind slightly, back when King successfully unleashed his full-force punch.
After escorting Laboon to Fishman Island and settling the Land of the Gods followers, Aqua, Meowth, Brook, and Uta returned to the Endless Dream.
The group stared intently at the Vivre Cards belonging to Zyhark and the others—the only way they could gauge the situation on the battlefield.
The long and difficult wait left the already impatient goddess even more agitated.
She thought about her devout followers (or so she believed) fighting a bloody battle, while she, the noble water goddess, hid in the deep sea awaiting the outcome.
Aqua's stubborn nature flared up, and she started clamoring to go and attack the Celestial Dragons' stronghold to avenge the fallen followers of the Land of the Gods.
Though Meowth and Brook tried their utmost to dissuade her, without Zyhark present, how could they possibly control the troublemaking goddess?
Realizing that doing nothing would only lead to worse consequences, Meowth eventually relented, steering the fully-powered Endless Dream toward Mariejois.
Since Mariejois was directly above Fishman Island, they quickly reached the surrounding waters—just to be safe, Meowth kept the Endless Dream at sea level.
Despite her frustration, Aqua wasn't foolish enough to risk entering their base alone.
After much heated discussion, they reached a compromise: flood Mariejois!
Thus, under Aqua's full-powered summoning, a massive magic circle appeared directly above Mariejois.
A flood on par with a tsunami descended from the sky, instantly drowning the entire Celestial Dragons' sanctuary and destroying countless opulent buildings!
At this time, the Revolutionary Army led by Dragon was locked in a fierce battle against the World King Imu!
The unexpected super deluge threw both factions into chaos, and under the rush of water, everyone was swept down the Red Line.
Dragon never would have imagined that the final attack to strike him would come from an ally…
When he learned the truth, Dragon couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. Rather than blaming Aqua, he felt immense gratitude.
Because, despite how it happened, Aqua's flood indirectly saved the entire Revolutionary Army!
After a direct confrontation, Dragon deeply realized how foolish his previous goal of overthrowing the World Government had been.
The crushing power displayed by World King Imu was something no human could ever defeat.
It was a truly terrifying monster!
But that's all in hindsight.
After casting her magic, Aqua, along with Meowth, Brook, Uta, and the Endless Dream, were enveloped in a brilliant, sudden light.
In an instant, they disappeared from where they stood!
(End of Chapter)