The person who arrived was, of course, Nao.
From Marine Headquarters to Mary Geoise — even the fastest warship would take at least a full day and night.
But for him, it took only a few short hours.
At this moment, he landed beside a bustling main avenue. The manor on the right was still brightly lit, and faint, desperate pleas could occasionally be heard drifting through the air.
It was the Celestial Dragons indulging in their nightly pleasures — they hadn't stopped even until now.
Nao turned his head slightly to look.
"Saint Rosward, Saint Charlos, I… I really can't drink anymore, please… please…"
"Enough nonsense! My son just wants to know how much water you fish-men can drink before your stomachs burst. Keep drinking when you're told to, and don't stop until we say so!"
An old, cold voice barked.
"Drink! Keep drinking! I've been waiting for so long! There are still twenty barrels left — come on, don't stop!"
A childish boy's impatient voice followed, then suddenly —
"Huh? Daddy, why isn't she moving anymore?"
"Hmph… already dead. Useless thing. Take her away! Bring in the next one."
BOOM!
In the next instant, a flash of lightning tore through the wall, engulfing the entire hall. Within the thunderlight, the two figures — one old, one young — were reduced to ash.
After a brief silence, terrified screams erupted throughout the manor.
Out on the street, Nao lowered his finger. Without even sparing the manor a glance, he raised his eyes toward the grand avenue ahead — a long red carpet stretching northward for several kilometers, leading to a magnificent complex of towering structures.
Having attended two previous Reverie, Nao was no stranger to Holy Land Mary Geoise. Those buildings were, of course, the headquarters of the World Government.
And at the farthest end of that complex stood the tallest castle — the very center of the World Government's power — the residence of the Five Elders.
"Pangaea Castle."
Dawn was approaching.
It was time to wake those old men up.
Nao exhaled softly. Without lingering any longer, lightning surged across his entire body as he shot toward the World Government headquarters.
Crackle—!
In just a few breaths, he crossed the skies above the entire complex and landed before the grand gates of Pangaea Castle.
"Who's there?!"
On the castle walls, the dozen or so guards on duty were startled. The guard captain, facing a formidable enemy, drew his sword and shouted angrily. But when he saw the face of the person before him, he froze:
"Vice Admiral White Dragon?!"
So early in the morning, with the sky just beginning to lighten, why had he suddenly come here?
Could it be that the Five Elders had summoned him for urgent business?
His heart filled with doubt, he was about to inquire in detail.
But he saw Nao, hovering in the air, not even sparing them a glance, simply raising his right palm.
Then, as their pupils contracted violently, a brilliant blue beam of light, like a thunder dragon, roared out, passing over their heads and heading straight for the majestic castle building.
BOOOOM!!!
A deafening explosion shook the heavens. The central section of the castle was instantly obliterated — the entire Pangaea Castle split apart as if cleaved by divine thunder.
Then —
Nao took a step forward and entered the castle grounds.
"FIVE ELDERS — GET YOUR ASSESS OUT HERE!"
His roar thundered through the air like a physical force.
The once-bright morning sky instantly darkened as storm clouds gathered. Thunder rumbled. At that moment, not only Pangaea Castle — but all the nearby World Government buildings — shattered their windows simultaneously!
"What's happening?!"
"Who dares to shout the Five Elders' names aloud inside the castle?!"
"Look north! Pangaea Castle — something's happened to Pangaea Castle!"
...
The furious voice, carried by rolling thunder, spread in all directions.
Throughout the entire Holy Land Mary Geoise — from south to north, west to east — everyone heard it clearly.
Many World Nobles, still half-asleep, stumbled to their balconies rubbing their eyes. But when they saw the ruined silhouette of Pangaea Castle in the distance, they froze in disbelief — wide awake in an instant.
And within Pangaea Castle itself—
The sleeping Five Elders were also awakened.
They were old men — and unless their "master" summoned them, they usually did not rise until well into the morning.
Now rudely awakened, irritation was inevitable.
In one of the luxurious chambers, the Elder who wore a kimono frowned deeply and asked his butler coldly:
"What's going on? What's all that commotion outside?"
"It's… it's the Marine Headquarters Admiral Candidate, White Dragon, sir!"
The butler, kneeling on the floor, was pale as a sheet, sweat pouring down his forehead like rain.
"Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro! It's White Dragon! He's turned traitor! He's already reached the gates of Pangaea Castle — and he's calling for you and the other Elders to come out and face him!"
"What?"
The Kimono Elder froze for an instant — then erupted in fury.
He jumped out of bed, threw on a coat, grabbed the katana Kitetsu hanging on the wall, and strode out.
"Bastard brat! He knows neither respect nor his own mortality!"
When he arrived at the ramparts, the other Four Elders were already there ahead of him, faces dark and grim.
And a hundred meters away, hovering in midair, stood a lone figure draped in a white Justice cloak.
"All five are here."
Looking down at the Five Elders below, Nao smiled slightly.
"Seems my little wake-up call worked. I just wonder — are you satisfied with the service?"
"Insolence!"
One of the Five Elders' faces turned as cold as ice as he shouted furiously:
"Yesterday, when you resigned from your position under Veil, I initially felt sorry for you and specifically called to reprimand Veil, ordering him to apologize to you. But I never expected you to hold a grudge, daring to directly assault the Holy Land for revenge the moment you left the Marines!"
"Holding a grudge?"
Nao's eyes flashed with mockery — he couldn't even be bothered to explain.
In the next instant, a flash of cold light flickered in Nao's eyes.
He drew the twin blades of Yone from his chest — and slashed downward in a crossing arc!
Hummmm—!
Under the horrified gaze of countless onlookers, this seemingly simplest of slashes erupted with a dazzling lightning radiance that made heaven and earth pale in comparison. Where it passed, the void fluctuated violently, as if on the verge of shattering and collapsing.
Under the sword's pressure, the already severely damaged Pangaea Castle began to tremble incessantly, teetering on the brink of collapse.
"How dare you!"
"Insolent White Dragon — stop this madness!"
On the ramparts, the Kimono-clad Elder's face changed drastically.
Seeing that Pangaea Castle was about to be destroyed by this single sword strike, none of the Five Elders could remain still — three of them roared and attacked at once.
The first to move was the Kimono Elder himself.
Wielding the cursed blade Kitetsu, he drew it in a flash — a wave of blood-red sword energy shot skyward, slashing directly toward Nao's raging thunder strike!
On the left, the Elder in the round hat slammed his palms together, then spread them apart.
From between them burst twin torrents of inky liquid, surging like black fountains that twisted together into a jet-black dragon — a massive, writhing serpent of darkness that roared into the sky!
On the right, the long-bearded, blond Elder with piercing blue eyes let out a low growl.
His already tall body suddenly swelled, growing into a giant over ten meters high.
His entire form gleamed with dense Armament Haki as he clenched his massive fist, neither dodging nor defending — and swung it straight at Nao in midair!
BOOOOOOM!!!
Their attacks collided head-on with deafening force.
The air around Pangaea Castle erupted — howling winds, crackling lightning — so intense that those watching from below could barely keep their eyes open.
Then —
BOOM!
Another thunderous crash.
The chaotic clash in the sky lasted only a moment before the outcome was decided.
The crimson sword energy shattered and dispersed.
The twin black dragons of ink faded and vanished.
The long-bearded Elder, still in his giant form, staggered backward several steps with a muffled groan — the Haki coating on his knuckles peeled away, revealing blood streaming from his hand.
But Nao's wind-and-thunder strike, though diminished and frayed, had not completely dissipated — its remnants still roared downward toward Pangaea Castle!
"Damn it!"
The Kimono Elder's eyes turned icy cold.
Finally, he unleashed his full strength.
An overwhelming sword energ burst from his entire body — and as he drew his blade in a lightning-fast iaido strike, terrifying visions seemed to manifest beside his head: two Asura-like specters, three heads and six arms, murmuring with lowered gazes — chilling to behold.
"Kitetsu Ittō-ryū: Three Hundred and Sixty Faces — Asura Hell Annihilation!"
With that fierce shout, the Kimono Elder slashed.
Blood-red sword energy surged forth, its power unmistakably that of a top-tier swordmaster.
Looking closely, one could even see strands of black light writhing within the crimson aura — alive, twisting like serpents.
Wielding one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, the cursed sword Kitetsu, he instantly devoured the remnants of Nao's thunder strike — and then brought that monstrous wave of killing intent crashing down toward him!
"This sword style…"
Nao's eyes moved slightly, as if confirming something.
"It carries the scent of Wano's samurai."
Ryuuou (Flowing Sakura)?
"But still…"
Nao shook his head slightly, gazing calmly at the approaching crimson torrent.
"Your technique is refined enough," he said evenly, "but the power… still falls short."
Before his voice had even faded, his twin blades, Yone, crossed once again in a flashing arc.
Two Sword Style: Flawless Jade Cutter!
With the crossing of his swords came a sudden whistling hum — and two immense arcs of sword energy, pure and white like flowing silk, burst forth!
Where the blades passed, the air itself was torn away.
The surging crimson tide — along with its Ryuuou — was instantly shredded into countless fragments, scattering like exploding fireworks before falling from the sky.
That sight alone made the faces of the Five Elders below darken, especially the Kimono Elder, who had already struck with his full strength.
"You damned brat…"
His strongest sword strike had been so easily erased — an outcome the Kimono Elder could not accept. Rage surged within him as he gripped his sword, ready to attack again.
But another Elder raised a hand, stopping him.
"Enough, Saint Nusjuro."
It was the same Elder who had spoken first earlier — the one who had not yet made a move. He snorted coldly.
"You've let anger cloud your judgment. Since when do we need you to personally act within Pangaea Castle? If we lower ourselves to fighting this boy directly, the humiliation is ours! That's enough."
"Agreed."
Another Elder who had stayed silent until now spoke up calmly.
"Blocking that first strike was sufficient. Oka has already arrived — leave the rest to him."
The Kimono Elder turned toward the east. Sure enough, he could feel a familiar presence rapidly approaching. With a cold snort, he sheathed the cursed sword Kitetsu and said no more.
...
"Finally here, huh?"
Standing atop the ramparts, Nao also turned his head slightly, gazing toward the onrushing presence in the distance.
He had come to the Holy Land today for one reason — to probe the true depth of the World Government's top combat power.
And the one now rushing toward him was clearly one of those peak forces.
As for the Five Elders themselves…
Their strength didn't even register in his eyes.
Aside from the Kimono Elder, who possessed the power of a great swordsman — strong enough to surpass most veteran Vice Admirals and stand on the level of an Emperor's deputy — the others were far inferior.
The two who had attacked earlier were, at best, ordinary Vice-Admiral level.
And the remaining two who had never lifted a finger? They were, quite simply, ordinary men — those without any combat ability at all.
That was to be expected.
After all, the reason the Five Elders stood atop the world and ruled the World Government wasn't due to their personal might.
It was because of their noble lineage, their political acumen, and their role as chosen representatives of Imu among the Celestial Dragons — not because they themselves possessed any overwhelming strength.
The real dangerous ones were the well-trained "dogs" they kept.
Namely — the two CP commanders, known respectively as the Celestial Dragons' Strongest Shield and Strongest Spear.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind —
That oncoming figure finally arrived.
Even before the man's body fully appeared, a single raised hand unleashed a terrifying surge of pale-blue flame — cold, suffocating, and vast enough to swallow the sky!
"Hm?"
Watching the raging, icy-white fire, Nao's brow lifted slightly, surprise flickering across his face for the first time.
"This is…"
"A Flame-Flame Fruit user?"