"What?!" Im and the others stared in disbelief, their eyes wide open.
"How is this possible? Impossible! How could you still be alive?!" the ancient, white-haired elder nearly bulged his eyes out.
That attack had burned away his very life force—a full-powered strike capable of annihilating everything in an instant. Yet even so, it hadn't managed to injure Lin Xuan in the slightest.
What kind of monster was this man? How could his strength be so terrifying?!
At that moment, the founding Celestial Dragons were completely stunned. After sleeping for so many years, what on earth had happened to the world? Was this really the world they once knew?
From the shadows, someone sneered.
"Heh. So that's their so-called ultimate move? It couldn't even scratch Lin Xuan. What a joke."
Uchiha Madara laughed softly.
On the surface, his expression was filled with disdain, but inwardly he cursed.
"That guy… he's gotten stronger again?"
Madara's opponent was one of the Celestial Dragon founders, a man named Gabs. His expression had turned ugly. These former rulers of the world were now being looked down upon.
"Hmph! Daring to underestimate us will be the biggest mistake of your life!" Gabs snorted coldly.
Instead of continuing his attack on Madara, he tried to rush toward Im and the others.
However, Madara stepped directly into his path.
"That guy's holding off three people alone without losing. If I let you escape, where would my pride go?" Madara sneered.
"I want to leave. You can't stop me," Gabs replied coldly.
Madara glanced at him and said lazily, "Heh. You? You're even worse than that old man. Complete trash."
"Looking for death!" Gabs roared in fury and abandoned any thought of retreat. He charged straight at Madara again.
"Trash will always be trash. Let me show you how worthless you really are!"
Madara shouted and rushed forward as well, the two clashing violently once more.
Not far away, Senju Hashirama grinned and shook his head.
"As expected of President Lin. Youth really is wonderful—always playing things so thrillingly. We old guys can only keep the kids company."
Opposite him, the Celestial Dragon founder in a purple robe darkened his face.
Who was he calling a kid?!
In front of someone over eight hundred years old, calling him young was downright insulting.
Grinding his teeth, he launched another attack. His body transformed into wood, countless leaves swirling into a raging storm of razor-sharp blades that swept toward Hashirama.
Hashirama focused and rapidly formed hand seals. A massive wooden shield rose in front of him.
"Sage Art: Wood Release—True Thousand Hands!"
Behind him, a gigantic Bodhisattva statue with countless arms appeared and slammed down toward the enemy.
Across the other battlefields, the situation was much the same. The so-called creators tried to rush to Im's aid, only to be intercepted. None of them could break through.
Earlier, Lin Xuan had broadcast the entire scene live.
Outside the Holy Land, Mary Geoise—
Whitebeard swung his Murakumogiri, sending a Marine vice admiral flying. He laughed loudly.
"Gurarararara! President Lin is still as mighty as ever. Completely invincible. Looks like my worries were unnecessary!"
"You old man, you worry too much just because you're getting older," Roger laughed while fighting Garp. "Unlike you, I don't care how things are going up there. As long as I do my own job right, that's enough!"
After speaking, he swung his sword and charged straight toward Kong.
Whitebeard wasn't angry. Instead, he laughed.
"You're right. No need to worry about the sky. Let's take down Mary Geoise first!"
Then he looked at Sengoku and said with a grin, "Sengoku, how about surrendering now?"
Transformed into a gigantic golden Buddha, Sengoku didn't respond. He only roared and continued his fierce assault.
By this point, the World Government forces were struggling to hold on. Under the relentless offensive of the New Era Alliance, they were being pushed back again and again.
Before long, the city would likely fall. And once that happened, the World Government would truly be finished.
Inside the city, the Celestial Dragons had long lost their former arrogance. Like frightened rabbits, they huddled together in fear. Some were so terrified they collapsed in despair.
Even the most foolish among them knew that once the enemy broke in, they would be captured—or killed—first.
Meanwhile, deep within Mary Geoise…
Two battered figures rushed into a massive laboratory. They were the only remaining members of the Five Elders: the long-bearded elder and the bald monk.
They quickly seized a man in a white lab coat. He was one of Vegapunk's assistants.
"Where is Vegapunk?" the long-bearded elder demanded coldly.
The man trembled and stammered, "H-He… Lord Im ordered him to continue working in the core facility…"
The elder frowned and looked at the massive object ahead.
"How is this thing coming along?" he asked.
"It's finished," the assistant replied hurriedly. "The doctor has completed the calibration. It can be used at any time. But its power is immense, and its operating time is limited. He told me to remind you to be extremely careful."
"That's enough. You may leave," the long-bearded elder said indifferently.
Soon, only the two elders remained in the room.
The bald monk stared at the object before them and asked doubtfully, "Can this really turn the tide of battle?"
"Yes," the long-bearded elder replied, nodding.
He continued in a low voice, "The ancient weapon—Uranus. Vegapunk has worked on it for so long. At last… it's ready to be used."
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T/N:
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