"Did you really think it would be that easy?" Marcellus's voice boomed, reverberating through the castle's shattered walls. His grin was manic, twisted with power. "You've only tasted a fraction of my true strength."
The Five Elders tensed, their senses heightened. They could feel it—the presence of another Devil Fruit's power within Marcellus, a sinister energy that clashed with the electric fury of the Goro Goro no Mi.
Marcellus raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the ground beneath the Elders exploded. A series of violent detonations erupted in rapid succession, turning the castle's foundation into a fiery inferno. The Elder with the scarred face barely had time to react, jumping back as the ground where he stood was obliterated by a massive explosion.
"He's obtained the power of the Bomb Bomb Fruit!" the white-bearded Elder shouted, his voice filled with urgency as he deflected a wave of shrapnel with a barrier of energy. "His destructive capabilities have multiplied!"
Marcellus laughed maniacally as he unleashed more explosions, his hands crackling with electricity as he combined the devastating forces of lightning and pure explosive energy. Columns of fire and electricity roared to life, spiralling toward the Elders with unrelenting fury.
But the Five Elders were not so easily defeated. The bald Elder moved with incredible speed, sidestepping the explosions with agility that belied his age. He focused his Haki into his fists and launched himself at Marcellus, shattering the air with a powerful punch. Marcellus met the attack head-on, his own fist infused with the combined power of his Devil Fruits.
The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the sky, the sheer force of their blows causing the surrounding ruins to crumble further. The explosion of power forced them apart, but neither combatant backed down.
"You think adding another Devil Fruit will make you a god?" the bald Elder spat, his eyes blazing with determination. "You're still just a man, Marcellus, and we will crush you!"
Marcellus's grin widened, his body pulsating with energy. "A man? I've transcended humanity! Witness my true power!"
He raised both hands, summoning a colossal storm cloud overhead. Lightning crackled within the dark mass, and suddenly, the cloud began to rain down bombs—each one charged with the destructive force of his Bomb Bomb Fruit. The explosions tore through the air, creating a hellish downpour of destruction that threatened to consume the entire castle.
The Elders moved with deadly precision, their teamwork flawless. The Elder with the sword carved through the bombs with swift, precise strikes, while the robed Elder with a calm demeanour summoned barriers to protect his comrades. The Elder who had remained silent until now, a towering figure with a deep, commanding presence, stepped forward and unleashed a devastating shockwave of Haki that neutralised the incoming explosions, causing them to detonate harmlessly in the sky.
Marcellus's eyes narrowed as he saw his attack nullified. "Impressive," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "But let's see how you handle this!"
In his hands, the raw power of lightning was now joined by two new abilities: the Moa Moa no Mi, amplifying his attacks a hundredfold, and the Bomu Bomu no Mi, granting him the power of explosions. The combination was overwhelming.
"You thought you could dismiss me?" Marcellus's voice boomed, dripping with malice. "Now, I am more than a god—I am destruction itself!"
Without warning, Marcellus raised his hand, and the sky itself seemed to warp under his command. A single bolt of lightning, enhanced by the Moa Moa no Mi, struck down toward the Elders. It was larger, faster, and more devastating than any attack they had seen before.
The Elders reacted instantly, but even their combined Haki could barely deflect the amplified lightning. The scarred swordsman sliced through the bolt with all his strength, but the impact still sent him skidding back, his blade vibrating from the force.
Before they could recover, Marcellus flicked his wrist, and dozens of explosive spheres, each imbued with the power of the Bomu Bomu no Mi, materialized around him. With a sinister grin, he hurled them toward the Elders. Each explosion was massive, shaking the very foundations of the castle.
The bald Elder acted swiftly, creating a massive barrier of energy to shield them, but the explosions were relentless, crashing against the shield in a never-ending barrage. The force of the explosions was amplified by the Moa Moa no Mi, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air, threatening to break the barrier.
Marcellus's laughter echoed through the chaos. "Is this all the World Government can muster? You are nothing before my power!"