"Four sacred beasts! Unite!"
Sabo, now fully transformed into the awe-inspiring Azure Dragon, let out a thunderous roar that reverberated across the battlefield. The sheer power of his voice carried the weight of an impending storm, as the might of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form, was unleashed in its awakened state. The power to control all natural elements, a gift bestowed upon him by the Azure Dragon, surged through the air, responding to his command.
At that moment, Laki, in her Suzaku form, was enveloped in the purifying flames of the Vermilion Bird. The flames, ancient and mystical, crackled with an energy that could cleanse the world itself, burning with an intensity that defied the natural order. The heat was palpable, the air around her shimmering with the sheer force of the fire. These were not ordinary flames; they carried with them the essence of purification, a force that could incinerate anything unworthy in its path.
Gion, in her majestic White Tiger form, harnessed the murderous aura that had been cultivated by the legendary swords of the Entei Pirates. The air around her shifted as the White Tiger winds began to swirl, a gale born of sheer killing intent. These winds, razor-sharp and imbued with the ferocity of a thousand battles, tore through the atmosphere with a deafening shriek, as if the very sky itself was being sliced apart. The White Tiger winds wrapped around Gion's phantom beast body, amplifying her power to a terrifying degree.
Meanwhile, Z, in his formidable Black Tortoise form, summoned the waters of the netherworld through a gate that appeared above him. The dark, viscous liquid poured forth, cascading around his form like an unholy river. This was the water of the underworld, an ancient and malevolent force controlled by the awakened power of the Turtle-Turtle Fruit. It was thick, cold, and otherworldly, carrying with it the chill of death itself. The water didn't just chill the body; it reached into the soul, threatening to freeze the very essence of life.
As Sabo roared once more, the full extent of the Azure Dragon's elemental mastery was revealed. The power of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form, began to synchronize with the other three mythical beasts. The Suzaku flames around Laki, the White Tiger winds surrounding Gion, and the dark waters of the Black Tortoise that Z commanded, all responded to the call of the Azure Dragon.
These elements, which were already formidable on their own, began to fuse seamlessly with the bodies of their respective mythical beasts. The flames burned brighter, the winds howled louder, and the dark waters surged with greater ferocity. The power of the Four Sacred Beasts was not merely additive; it was exponential, growing stronger with each passing moment as the connection between them solidified.
The battlefield was transformed into a maelstrom of elemental fury. Fire, wind, and water collided and merged in a spectacular display of raw power. The sky darkened as the elements, under the control of the Azure Dragon, coalesced into a unified force that dwarfed anything the Five Elders had ever encountered.
The immense power emanating from the four mythical beasts made the Five Elders' expressions twist in despair. Before them stood the manifestation of four top-level Devil Fruits, their combined might far surpassing anything the world had ever witnessed.
This was the terrifying potential of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form, a Devil Fruit capable of controlling all natural elements. Acting as the central force, it linked together the abilities of the other three top-level Devil Fruits—the Cat-Cat Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, White Tiger form; the Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Suzaku form; and the Turtle-Turtle Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Black Tortoise form. Through this connection, the powers of the White Tiger's winds, the Suzaku's flames, and the Black Tortoise's water were amplified without limit.
But it didn't stop there. The Azure Dragon's wielder could also absorb the power of these other elements to further enhance his own strength. This synergy between the four Devil Fruits created a force that pushed the boundaries of their individual capabilities to their zenith.
This confluence of power marked the strongest moment in the history of these four top-level Devil Fruits, a moment where they functioned not as separate entities but as a unified and devastating force. The sheer magnitude of this power left no doubt as to why the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form was considered the mightiest among them.
"Damn it! They really know how to use this power!" Saint Saturn, now transformed into his monstrous Gyūki form, glared at the four colossal beings with a mix of rage and grim realization. His strange, bloodshot eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.
The secret that these four top-level Devil Fruits could only reach their full potential when working together was known to very few. It was a hidden truth, absent even from the pages of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. The rarity of gathering all four mythical fruits under one banner made this knowledge almost mythical in itself, a secret that the world was never meant to uncover.
Yet, they now stood against a man who not only understood this power but had mastered it to an extent that defied reason. Ace, a figure who had demonstrated time and again his unparalleled command over Devil Fruit abilities, was now wielding a force that transcended the limitations of any single fruit. The Five Elders could barely comprehend the extent of his knowledge, his ability to push these Devil Fruits beyond their inherent limits.
When these four top-level Devil Fruits emerged together on the battlefield, the Five Elders had sensed the impending doom but had clung to a faint hope that perhaps Ace would not fully grasp their combined potential. That hope, however, was as fleeting as it was naive. Just as in the Sabaody Archipelago incident, their plans were unraveling before their very eyes, leaving them with nothing but the bitter taste of defeat.
The full power of the four top-level Devil Fruits was unleashed under the guidance of Sabo, the "Dragon King," whose mastery over the Fish-Fish Fruit—Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form—served as the unifying force. The sheer magnitude of this combined power was far beyond what the Five Elders had anticipated, leaving them grappling with a situation that rapidly spiraled out of their control.
Individually, the Five Elders were confident they could overpower Sabo and his comrades. Their mastery of Conqueror's Haki infusion, combined with their formidable combat skills, gave them an edge in one-on-one encounters. They were five against four, and under normal circumstances, Sabo, Laki, Gion, and Z would stand no chance of stopping them.
But the battlefield had shifted in a way they hadn't foreseen. The unification of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, and Black Tortoise created a synergy that multiplied the power of each beast, pushing their abilities to their absolute limits. The combined force of these four mythical beasts was so overwhelming that even the Five Elders, with all their power, found themselves unable to break through their encirclement.
How could this have happened so quickly?
Saint Saturn's gaze turned to the distant figure standing on the deck of the Golden Merry, his expression darkening with frustration. He recalled the Sabaody Archipelago, where this very man had needed the combined might of the Whitebeard Pirates, Red Hair Pirates, and Kaido's forces—two complete Four Emperors' crews and one Emperor himself—just to stand against the World Government. And even then, the government hadn't unleashed its full strength, holding back the Pacifists, Seraphim, and the Knights of God.
In that battle, they had only compromised because of Ace's unique ability to wield all Devil Fruit powers and his capability to appear anywhere in the world at a moment's notice, thanks to the Gate-Gate Fruit. They had reluctantly chosen to cease fire, but that was then.
Now, barely an hour into this war, the situation was catastrophically different. The World Government's prized human weapons, the Pacifists and Seraphim, had been utterly destroyed. Their strongest forces—Naval Headquarters, the Knights of God, and the formidable warden of the Undersea Prison—had been soundly defeated.
The Five Elders themselves had been forced to enter the fray far earlier than anticipated, and yet they found themselves stalled before they could even reach their primary target. They were being held at bay by the four most powerful Mythical Beasts under Ace's command, a testament to just how much stronger his subordinates had become.
And that terrifying man, Ace, hadn't even made his move yet.
To make matters worse, Ace's younger brother, the wielder of the Human-Human Fruit—Mythical Beast Species, Nika form—the infamous Straw Hat Boy, Monkey D. Luffy, who was also one of the Four Emperors, had yet to enter the battle. The realization that the World Government had been pushed to the brink without either of these two making a move was nothing short of horrifying.
How had the power of Ace's forces grown so fast? The Five Elders, once the embodiment of control and authority, now found themselves facing an unprecedented threat, teetering on the edge of an abyss they might not escape.
"You don't seem to have the luxury of being distracted," Sabo's voice cut through the tension, his tone laced with a faint, mocking laughter. "And since when did you think this was just a four vs. five?"
The Five Elders, who had already been struggling to maintain their composure, felt a chill run down their spines as they realized the implications of Sabo's words. Their eyes, once filled with confidence, now reflected a mix of shock and dread.
Before they could fully process what was happening, Sabo and his companions unleashed a full-force assault. The combined might of the Fish-Fish Fruit—Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form—the Cat-Cat Fruit—Mythical Beast Species, White Tiger form—the Bird-Bird Fruit—Mythical Beast Species, Suzaku form—and the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast Species, Black Tortoise form—descended upon the Five Elders like a storm.
The sheer power behind these Devil Fruits was overwhelming, a force of nature in its own right. But such immense power came with a cost. The physical and mental strain on Sabo and his allies was immense. Even though they had awakened their Devil Fruits, granting them incredible strength, stamina, and recovery abilities, there was still a limit to what their bodies could endure.
Just like Kaido in the past, who had faced wave after wave of enemies and still stood tall, Sabo and his team had become formidable warriors capable of sustaining prolonged battles. However, even the strongest warriors had their limits. The toll of the battle was beginning to show, and every moment of this high-stakes fight was crucial.
Sabo, who had only just finished off Akainu, was already feeling the fatigue set in. Despite his formidable strength, he knew that in his current state, he couldn't take on one of the Five Elders alone. The weight of the battle pressed down on him, and he understood that they had to make every second count.
"Damn it! Break through them, Warcury!" Nusjuro, now transformed into his half-beast form—a towering skeletal figure with a human upper body—roared, gripping the First Generation Kitetsu with a deadly intent. His eyes locked onto Warcury, who had taken on the monstrous form of Fengxi, urging him to join the assault.
Among the Five Elders, Nusjuro and Warcury were undeniably the strongest. While Saturn grappled with Bonney, Gion, and Kuma, and Mars clashed against Laki, Sanji, and Marco, it was Nusjuro and Warcury who held the real power. Nusjuro, a master swordsman wielding the legendary First Generation Kitetsu, combined his deadly skill with the agility granted by his skeletal horse form, making him a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
For a swordsman like Nusjuro, the true danger lay in close combat. Even the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk, knew that the power of a blade in close quarters was unparalleled. While flying slashes could devastate landscapes and cleave through mountains, the precision and raw force of a direct strike with a sword were far more lethal in a one-on-one fight.
Nusjuro's terrifying mobility allowed him to close the distance between him and his enemies with frightening speed. Once in range, his mastery of the First Generation Kitetsu became apparent, as he unleashed brutal, merciless cuts that could dismember even the most formidable opponents. Moreover, his skeletal form enhanced his power, as the cold, deathly aura of the horse bone enveloped his blade, making each slash even deadlier.
On the other hand, Warcury, transformed into the monstrous Fengxi, was a juggernaut in his own right. The sheer power of his abilities, combined with his unmatched Conqueror's Haki, made him a terrifying adversary. In terms of raw strength, he was every bit Nusjuro's equal, if not superior. His monstrous form, coupled with his overwhelming Haki, made him the strongest of the Five Elders, and together with Nusjuro, they formed the ultimate vanguard.
As the sharpest spear among the Five Elders, Nusjuro and Warcury were determined to break through the blockade set by Sabo and his companions. Their combined strength and ruthless precision were enough to turn the tide of any battle, and they knew it. The battlefield trembled as they prepared to unleash their full power, aiming to carve a path through their enemies and regain the upper hand.
But Sabo and the others were not easily intimidated. They had already proven their strength by holding off the Five Elders this long, and they knew that they had to dig deep to withstand the coming storm. The stage was set for a clash of titans, as the strongest of the Five Elders bore down on them with the fury of a thousand battles. The air crackled with tension, and the outcome of this battle would be decided in the next few moments.