At this moment.

The icy seas off the coast of Philseque Island had become a chaotic battlefield.

All the Marines in combat shuddered simultaneously, as if sensing the descent of some terrifying monster. Fear etched across their faces, they turned toward the heart of the island.

From that direction, a torrent of wind surged skyward, faintly woven with twisted black lightning.

"What... is that?"

"What a terrifying aura!"

"It's like a real demon clawed its way out of hell!"

"Vice Admiral Daren—no, criminal Rogers Daren—just what kind of monster, no... what kind of Five Elders is he fighting against?!"

"We're so far away, and that pressure is still overwhelming!"

"..."

The Marines paled with horror, gasping in shock.

Sengoku whipped around, his face clouded with turmoil.

The Five Elders—the supreme authority of the World Government—had all descended upon this desolate, freezing land in the North Blue!

"Daren, you fool..."

A bitter feeling spread through Sengoku's chest, chilling his limbs.

The terrifying power of the Five Elders was beyond comprehension.

Even with his own strength, Sengoku knew that facing those ancient figures, who had lived countless years, he would be utterly powerless.

Monstrous bodies, overwhelming Haki and abilities, and a near-immortal mystery... On this sea, no one could truly stand against the Five Elders.

As far as Sengoku knew, the only man to ever injure them—leaving behind indelible scars—was the one once hailed as the "King of the World."

The captain of the Rocks Pirates... Rocks D. Xebec.

Under his command had once been Whitebeard, Shiki, Charlotte Linlin, Ochoku, John, Kaidou, and other fearsome pirates.

The details of that battle had long been buried and erased—known to later generations only as the "God Valley Incident."

"So what the hell is that bastard Daren doing?!"

Sengoku's eyes bulged with fury as he roared inside.

If it were just Saint Saturn, Daren could've escaped easily. After all, Saturn lacked the power of flight.

But after all this time, Daren still hadn't made a move to flee.

Instead, he kept provoking Saint Saturn—provocations that ultimately summoned all Five Elders.

What the hell was he planning?!

Though Sengoku disapproved of Daren's reckless defiance against the World Government, he didn't want him to die here.

Stabilizing the North Blue, taking down Byrnndi World, orchestrating the Edd War, single-handedly defeating Shiki, restraining Kaidou and Big Mom, intercepting the Whitebeard Pirates at Miracle Island... Daren's merits to the Marines were countless!

To lose someone so brilliant—Sengoku couldn't help but feel it would be a tremendous waste.

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't understand Daren's intentions.

Why hadn't he escaped when he still had the chance?!

One of the Five Elders, Saint Marcus Mars, could transform into the hybrid bird-serpent beast Itsumade—a Mythical Zoan with high-speed flight!

If all five moved together, no matter how strong Daren was, no matter how unique his Devil Fruit might be... he'd never make it out!

"Mamamama! Don't just stand there, Sengoku!"

Big Mom dropped from the sky with a blazing ball of fire in hand, hurling a punch like a falling meteor.

"Damn it!"

Sengoku gritted his teeth and swung his fist to block.

Boom!!

Flames and golden light collided violently, spreading in every direction.

"I didn't expect those five old fossils to still be that strong..."

Big Mom's wild pink hair whipped through the air. Her eyes glowed red as she laughed darkly.

"What's their secret, I wonder?"

With a roar, Sengoku charged forward.

"The majesty of the Five Elders is not something you can covet!"

Elsewhere, Sakazuki and Kuzan, locked in fierce battle with Kaidou, also sensed the terrifying presence of the five.

Sakazuki frowned, his attacks against Kaidou becoming even more ruthless.

Kuzan's face darkened.

"Can Daren hold out?"

A golden beam suddenly shot into the sky, firing two lasers at Kaidou, but he dodged them with ease.

Borsalino glanced toward the island's interior. Behind his glowing sunglasses, his eyes narrowed as if seeing something fascinating.

"So many unfamiliar types... How scary, Five Elders."

He turned his gaze back to Kaidou, who stood on the ice like a demonic god, swinging his kanabō. Scratching his head, Borsalino muttered,

"They're all Mythical Zoans... but they feel a little different somehow..."

...

Deep in the island.

Five towering, demonic figures cast massive shadows over the land, their overwhelming presence cracking the ground beneath them.

Stones flew, and violent winds howled.

Dragon, Kuma, and Ivankov felt an oppressive force like never before. Their skin broke out in goosebumps.

"The farce is over, Daren."

Gyūki, the "Bull Demon," looked down from above at the blood-soaked Vice Admiral and said coldly,

"Your body is reaching its limit, isn't it? In order to guard against my abilities, you've had to keep your Haki active constantly."

"Even an Indestructible Body can't last much longer."

"After today, there will be no place left for you in this sea."

"But we are willing to give you one last chance."

He glanced at Dragon and the other two, his divine demeanor cold and indifferent.

"Kill these three, and the previous conditions will still apply."

"You are still a high-ranking Admiral of the Marines. We will do everything in our power to cultivate you into the next Fleet Admiral."

"Power, status, fame, wealth... you will have it all."

Warcury, now transformed into a giant "Hōki" resembling a monstrous boar, added calmly,

"I can even give you partial command over the CP organization... You will become the World Government's indestructible sword."

His voice brimmed with the arrogance of total control.

At those words, Dragon and the others were stunned, their eyes wide.

Dragon, in particular, looked utterly incredulous.

"You old fools, are you looking down on me?!"

He suddenly roared in frustration, stomping in anger, the veins on his forehead bulging.

This couldn't be right!

He'd also killed a Celestial Dragon and defied the World Government—so why were these five old fossils offering such generous terms to Daren?!

What about me?

What about me!?

I only killed one Celestial Dragon and you chased me across the entire sea, never even trying to negotiate!

Daren's hands are drenched in the blood of Celestial Dragons—blood that can't be washed away!

And they were elite Celestial Dragons!

He nearly wiped out the elites in the Holy Land!

This situation is beyond serious, and the Five Elders still want to talk terms with him?!

What about me?!

Am I not strong enough?!

Do you want me to slaughter a bunch of Celestial Dragons just to prove a point?!

Dragon felt like he was dreaming, completely bewildered.

It wasn't that he actually wanted to be recruited by the Five Elders. He was dead set against the World Government's rule anyway.

But the fact they didn't even mention it... that stung.

Yet the Five Elders didn't even glance at the red-faced Dragon.

They simply kept their eyes fixed on the silent Marine Vice Admiral, releasing an aura of suffocating pressure.

Unlike someone like Dragon, who was full of "justice" and unwavering principles, Daren—with his blurred moral lines—was, in their eyes, far more moldable.

If they could obtain a sword like Daren, the rule of the World Government would be unbreakable.

The more powerful Daren became—his strength, talent, and ability—the more they admired him, even as it made them furious.

With him in hand, so many things could be resolved.

As for Dragon, a stubborn idealist like him had no value to them.

No matter how talented or strong he was, in the end, he'd just become another headache like Garp.

"Daren... We have shown you our utmost sincerity."