"Dyy!"
A huge magic circle with strange black lightning and black flames materialized out of thin air near the execution platform.
"Boom!"
Ominous fire scorched the sky, accompanied by a shocking explosion, and the dark thunder within the black flames erupted. The terrifying momentum filled the sea and the sky.
A figure emerged, seemingly summoned by the strange black lightning and black flames. Supported by spider limbs marked with fiery patterns, the huge beastly body stood tall. Black flame clouds surrounded its arms, and two giant horns displayed its majesty. The staff of power it held opened a scene of trembling hell.
From the warship, a loud proclamation echoed:
"Five Elders, Saint Saturn has arrived! All military ranks below Commodore must stand down and are not allowed to look directly at Saint Saturn! Everyone watching the live broadcast around the world, anyone who dares to look directly at Saint Saturn, will die!"
Using inexplicable power and his evil eye, Saint Saturn halted the Conqueror's Haki spear that was set to execute the three Rozwalds. The highest power in the world, one of the Five Elders, the Martial God of Scientific Defense, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, had arrived on the battlefield.
It should have been a moment of salvation, but...
"Buzz! Click!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Under the shocked gaze of the entire world, a door of air slowly opened in front of the three Rozwalds. With the sound of gunshots, three blood flowers bloomed on their bodies. From hope to despair, fear, disbelief, and collapse, countless negative emotions filled their hearts. Despite Saint Saturn's arrival and his efforts to stop the execution, they still met their end.
Rozwald's eyes were dull as he, along with his daughter and son, fell silent forever.
"Do you think I'm playing a defenseless game of rescuing and executing hostages?"
"This is a public execution! After I have sentenced them to death, do you still think you can save them, Saturn?"
Ace's declaration resounded throughout the world. Once the death sentence was handed down, it would be executed immediately. No matter who tried to intervene, it would be futile. If you are sentenced to die at this moment, you will definitely die. This was the trial of the Flame Emperor, the public execution initiated by the Flame Emperor. The three Celestial Dragons on trial—Rozwald, Charlos, and Shalulia—were dead.
"The sniper of the Entei Pirates, the user with the Gate-Gate Fruit ability, the 'Black Rose,' Nokigao!"
Sengoku stared at the air door that slowly disappeared, gritting his teeth as cold sweat covered his forehead. Once again, Ace had outmaneuvered him. Sengoku had originally thought the Gate-Gate Fruit's power would be used by Ace to lead the Entei Pirates to evacuate after the execution. But who would have thought that the terrifying sniper, hidden within the air gate, would play the role of executioner?
Ace's Conqueror's Haki spear in the sky had been a diversion. It had attracted all their attention, blinding them to the fact that the Gate-Gate Fruit's power had been quietly activated on the execution platform.
Moreover, Ace clearly knew about the Five Elders. There was no surprise or shock at Saint Saturn's appearance.
"Have you ever seen an emperor execute a prisoner himself?"
Ace looked directly at the monstrous figure emerging from the black magic circle, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. The emperor is responsible for judging.
"Portgas D. Ace," Saint Saturn leaned on his staff of power, his eyes fixated on the figure that had caused countless troubles for the world government. His gaze turned ominous.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Saint Saturn's eyes flickered suddenly. Several Marine soldiers below the rank of Commodore, who dared to take a peek at Saint Saturn's face, exploded instantly. The world screamed in horror, remembering Marine's warning: those below the rank of Commodore must not look directly at Saint Saturn. Anyone in the world who looked directly at Saint Saturn would die.
In an instant, many people refrained from watching the live broadcast, fearful of the consequences. To most, the Five Elders, wielding the highest power within the world government, were akin to gods—aloof and possessing supreme authority.
But there were still those who ignored Marine's warning and continued to watch. What about the Five Elders? Even with their arrival, they failed to prevent Ace's public execution. The three dead Celestial Dragons were living examples. Celestial Dragons were not so high and mighty after all. They too could die, shot through and killed tragically.
Such thoughts spread rapidly across the sea. Although many had become numb and fearful under the eight hundred years of world government rule, there were always those who dared to challenge authority and dream of subverting the sky. This public execution accelerated the awakening of these people, making everyone in this sea realize that the so-called descendants of the Creator, the Celestial Dragons, would die if hit by a bullet.
The arrival of the Five Elders, the most powerful figures, could not prevent the public execution orchestrated by the Flame Emperor. The world government could be resisted. This wave of thoughts spread crazily across the sea, turning into nourishment for Ace's Conqueror's Haki.
"Your heaven-defying understanding, nourished by completing a perfect public execution in front of the whole world, has greatly enhanced your Conqueror's Haki!"
"Boom!!!"
Violent black and purple lightning roared through the atmosphere, unleashing a terrifying pressure over Sabaody Archipelago GROVE-1. The ancient giant trees that stood for countless years could not withstand the force, uprooted from the ground, and torn apart by the furious lightning.
The Vice Admirals of the Naval Headquarters, engaged in battle with the Scorched Skeleton Army, knelt under the intense impact of Ace's Conqueror's Haki, faces twisted in pain. Rear Admirals, caught in the wave, fainted and were flung into the air like storm-tossed boats, while countless Marines on distant warships fell unconscious, their bodies slipping into the sea.
"Boom! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The largest and strongest warship of the Naval Headquarters shattered under the overwhelming force of Conqueror's Haki, which inflicted massive real damage across the battlefield.
"What a powerful Conqueror's Haki! Is this the Roar of the Conqueror?"
Rayleigh felt the immense impact, his eyes filled with disbelief. Conqueror's Haki of such scale and intensity, capable of causing widespread damage, was a rarity in the history of the ocean. This was beyond the peak of the Four Emperors class, the level of Haki held only by those who stood at the pinnacle of their eras—true kings, like Rocks D. Xebec and Pirate King Gol D. Roger.
Incredibly, Ace, who had only completed the first half of the Grand Line voyage, possessed this king-level Conqueror's Haki. Rayleigh wondered, if Ace truly conquered the Grand Line, how much stronger could his Haki become? Could Ace's Haki reach unprecedented levels in the ocean's history?
Rayleigh's shock was mirrored by Garp. The Vice Admiral looked at Ace's Haki, which seemed to shatter the sky, recognizing its strength as equal to that of Roger's after defeating Rocks D. Xebec. In an era, only the strongest king could wield such Haki. Was this the era of the Flame Emperor? Garp smiled slightly, acknowledging that Ace had completely surpassed him.
"Hey, this Haki is no joke," muttered Aokiji. The battle between him and Fujitora had halted due to the impact of Haki. Using his Frozen Fruit ability and Haki to resist, Aokiji dripped with cold sweat. Such powerful Haki had affected even him, an Admiral. If used against him, this Haki would be formidable.
Aokiji stared at the distant figure of Ace, unleashing Conqueror's Haki in front of the Five Elders with abandon. Was this the era of the Flame Emperor? Would Ace stand at the pinnacle? Aokiji was amazed. Only a few months had passed since their fight on an uninhabited island near Long Ring Island, and Ace's strength had grown to unreachable heights. What an amazing man, Portgas D. Ace.
"It's really ugly. The way to show his majesty is to kill Marine soldiers. Are these the Five Elders, the most powerful people in the world? In the hands of such people, does the world government deserve to call itself the guardian of justice?"
Aokiji's smile looked strained and bitter. Saint Saturn had displayed his authority by killing several Marine soldiers below the rank of Commodore with his evil eye, infuriating Aokiji. At this moment, Fujitora no longer harbored any doubts about his decisions.
"There is no justice in a world government led by such people! Even Marine soldiers are killed at his whim, treated like ants to be crushed at any moment. What of the ordinary people? His attitude towards them is even more explicit than that of the three dead Celestial Dragons! How pathetic!"
"Well, it seems that soon, I will be called the captain of the second division of the Entei Pirates' Grand Fleet," Fujitora said, his smile grim.
Aokiji, noticing Fujitora's expression, immediately understood what he was thinking. "Captain of the second division? Who is the current captain of the first division of the Entei Pirates? Captain of the Giant Pirates?" Fujitora had learned about the Entei Pirates' composition through previous exchanges with Vivi and the others.
The main ship of the Entei Pirates, except for Mr. Ace, was crewed entirely by women. Ace had established the Entei Pirate Fleet, which included a giant pirate group absorbed into their fleet. If Fujitora wanted to join Ace's command, he too would become a member of the Entei Pirates' fleet.
"Well, the captain of the first team, not yet," Aokiji said, scratching his cheek with a strange look.
Why would you say such a thing? Aokiji thought, recalling Ace's words to him, "I'll reserve the position of captain of the Entei Pirates' Grand Fleet for you, Kuzan!"
Aokiji's eyes filled with conflicted emotions. Seeing the Five Elders using the lives of Marine soldiers as tools to showcase their majesty had begun to sway his heart. Was he truly ready to make such a drastic change? The possibility lingered in his mind, his thoughts in turmoil over the choices that lay ahead.
"Conqueror's Haki's Roar?!"
Saint Saturn gazed at Ace with a solemn expression. This technique, reminiscent of Warcury's Conqueror's Haki's Roar, wasn't achieved through mere shouting but through an astonishing mastery of Haki. Even he was taken aback by Ace's control and the sheer intensity of this power.
"Saturn, let's get started." The voice of Saint Peter echoed in his mind.
"Then, I'm ready to summon you," Saint Saturn responded in an unknown, mystical manner.