"Find life in the midst of death?" one of the Five Elders questioned.
"Do you think this will make us compromise again, beyond simply angering us?" another added.
"Even if you've kidnapped the Celestial Dragons, you won't escape death today!" declared Saint Saturn.
At those words, the air turned heavy.
Saint Saturn, Saint Ju Peter, Saint Mars, and the others coldly fixed their murderous gazes on El.
Even though over a hundred Celestial Dragons had been abducted—some potentially direct descendants of the Five Elders themselves—the situation wasn't enough to make them abandon their plan to exterminate the Fallen Angel Pirates.
If anything, their resolve had only solidified. Today, they were determined to eliminate this threat entirely.
El's astonishing potential, combined with his cunning and audacity, had become a threat too great to ignore.
He was a madman willing to do anything, someone who couldn't be reasoned with—a man whose very existence was a danger.
If they retreated now, allowing the Fallen Angel Pirates to regroup and gain strength, they risked facing the same humiliation in the future. Would other enemies also dare to take Celestial Dragons hostage to manipulate them?
Of course not.
"That remains to be seen..." El smiled faintly, raising his head to glance around the island.
With a motion of his hand, he gestured toward the Five Elders and their forces. "Are you certain you can keep me here?"
Instinctively, Saint Saturn, Saint Ju Peter, Saint Nasujuro, and even Steel Bone Kong and Sengoku followed his gaze.
Their pupils contracted at the sight.
Surrounding the island from all directions, countless Angel Homies soldiers and mounted beast knights riding pterosaurs and pegasi descended from the skies.
Their numbers were staggering—easily over twenty thousand.
Moreover, they were strategically spread out, avoiding concentrated formations that could be easily countered.
"Roar... roar..."
"Splash..."
Simultaneously, the sea surged violently.
From the turbulent waters emerged a massive wave bearing an anthropomorphic demonic face, leering menacingly.
Alongside it, gigantic beasts surfaced—both Sea King-class and Sea Beast-class Homies, each over hundreds of meters in size and radiating ferocious energy.
There were well over a hundred of them.
The sight of these overwhelming forces caused even the Five Elders to tense, their expressions darkening.
Among the Holy Knights, CP0 agents, and Marine admirals, disbelief and unease spread like wildfire.
"T-this..."
"Is this the true power of the Fallen Angel Pirates?"
"How could someone amass such an absurdly powerful force?"
Unlike the World Government, which had received scattered intelligence from CP agents regarding the Fallen Angel Pirates' strength, Roger and his crew were stunned.
Even Rocks, with his boundless ambition, found himself momentarily silenced.
"Yahaha! What a spectacle!" Rocks muttered, his eyes flickering with a mixture of astonishment and unease. "No wonder you were able to storm Impel Down... slaughtering every prisoner without bothering to recruit anyone."
Though Rocks tried to mask his thoughts, deep down he felt a twinge of fear.
If the Rocks Pirates were to face the Fallen Angel Pirates now, their chances of survival seemed bleak.
"I know your Conqueror's Haki infused with Devil Fruit powers can suppress lower-tier Homies soldiers, but I'm not stupid enough to throw them all at you," El's grin widened as he leaned casually on his halberd.
Standing tall, he stared down at Saint Saturn, Saint Valkyrie, and the rest of their forces with playful arrogance.
"While I admit that our overall strength is slightly inferior, I'm more than confident that we could abandon these Homies soldiers and retreat safely with the rest of the Fallen Angel Pirates!"
Though the battle had only been going on for a short time, the Fallen Angel Pirates had already sustained significant losses.
Nearly half of their Queen-Class Homies—the elite "Seven Deadly Sins"—had been destroyed.
More than ten Rook-Class Four-Winged Angel Homies had also been eliminated.
Despite their technological sophistication, these angelic robots still had limitations that needed to be addressed.
Without the presence of Blood Slave Howard Saint, a Mythical Zoan Angel Fruit user capable of healing the wounded, their casualties would have been far worse.
Although the Rocks Pirates and Roger Pirates were currently willing to assist, it was clear that if the tide turned against them, they would abandon the battlefield without hesitation.
After all, they were only involved for personal gain, with no obligation to risk their lives for the Fallen Angel Pirates.
Of course, from the very beginning, El had no intention of fighting the World Government to the bitter end.
The next move depended entirely on their choices.
"Do you think this display of power will frighten us?" Hammons William's expression was cold, his voice steady and firm.
"No, no. This isn't meant to frighten you..." El's smile remained unchanged as he shook his head, replying with calm assurance. "This is merely a proposal. Let us coexist peacefully for the next few years."
"Wishful thinking...!"
"Do you really believe we'll give you more time to grow stronger?"
The Five Elders, exuding murderous intent, radiated an air of dominance.
Through telepathic dialogue, they unanimously agreed: regardless of whether they could rescue the kidnapped Celestial Dragons, they could not allow El to continue rising unchecked.
They refused to compromise again.
El, unfazed, clapped his hands.
The Five Elders and World Government forces exchanged uneasy glances.
"Splash..."
Several sea beasts swam up to the shore, their massive jaws opening wide.
From their mouths emerged large bubble-shaped Homies soldiers carrying a massive projection Den Den Mushi.
The mechanical creatures quickly assembled a large screen on the beach.
"Buzz..."
The Den Den Mushi's eyes opened, and the screen flickered to life.
Projected on the screen was the image of a towering and majestic military fortress.
The bold kanji for "Marine" stood prominently on the structure, exuding authority and grandeur.
It was none other than the Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"That's... Marineford?"
"The Marine Headquarters?"
"What is this supposed to mean?"
The Five Elders' eyelids twitched, while Hammons William, Steel Bone Kong, and Sengoku couldn't help but grimace.
A sense of foreboding swept over them.
"You've sent a Homies army to attack Marineford?" Hammons William's voice was heavy with suspicion and rage as he glared at El. "That's the Marine Headquarters! It's heavily fortified and brimming with soldiers. It's impossible for you to take it easily!"
"Mamamama~!" Currently engaged in combat with Saint Denis, Linlin burst into mocking laughter.
"Send a Homies army to attack Marineford? Do you think we'd do something that foolish?"
El smiled wider.
"Ah, and by the way... this broadcast? It's being streamed live to the entire world. Now, please enjoy the grand fireworks display we've prepared!"
"What!?" the Five Elders exclaimed.
~~~
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