Dimon and Stussy halted at once and looked toward the voice.
"Jaygarcia Saturn," the only Five Elder Dimon bothered remembering by name.
"An ambush? No… looks like you've been waiting for me," Dimon chuckled. "Good afternoon, old man Saturn."
Stussy slid a step back, placing Dimon between herself and the elder, then stared at Saturn without a word.
Saturn snorted. His gaze glided past Dimon—then snapped onto Stussy.
His pupils flashed red.
A muffled crack—thud!
Stussy's head whipped sideways as if struck by an invisible hammer, and she toppled flat on her back.
Dimon glanced over. Her face was a ruin of blood and torn skin—
—and then the spilled blood flowed back, flesh knitting shut in a blink.
Stussy sprang up, clutching her cheek and glared at Dimon.
"Some protection that was! That hurt!"
Dimon spread his hands. "How'm I supposed to block death-by-stare?"
He knew about the Fierce Eye, and sure, he could have intervened—but why bother? She wouldn't die anyway, and this was a good chance to gauge the move's bite.
He had to admit: stylish technique. If he devoured Saturn, could he learn it?
Stussy clearly wasn't appeased. She gave Dimon's shoulder a soft, angry thump, then scowled up the slope.
"Stinky old man! You ruined my makeup!"
Pain was negotiable. A carefully crafted look? Not.
Did he have any idea how long her routine took?
Saturn's face stayed placid, eyes narrowed as he watched. As reported—immortal bodies… he thought.
Dimon ignored Stussy and started up the rise, right fist turning pitch-black with Haki.
"Dimon," Saturn said mildly, "whatever the Rocks Pirates want here, I can grant you the status of Celestial Dragon—and a seat in the Holy Knights. Interested?"
Dimon blurred forward and buried a charged right straight in Saturn's face.
"Try sounding sincere first, old man!"
The impact squashed Saturn's features inward and launched him like a kicked ball. He splintered a few trunks, skipped across the dirt, and only stopped when a boulder caught him with a crack.
"Nice one, Dimon~" Stussy clapped primly, all in on the emotional support. "So cool! Hit him again!"
Dimon didn't answer. He walked on.
"You want to recruit me? Start with ten Devil Fruits to show good faith."
"Impudent cur!"
Saturn staggered up, blood masking his face, wounds already sealing. His eyes hardened—red light flared again.
Dimon tilted his head; the scarlet bolt hissed by. He slid in low like a hunting cat and whipped a sweeping kick.
The blow snapped Saturn's cane and cracked across his ribs like an iron lash, slapping him into the cliff face where he hung, flat as a portrait.
"You think the same trick works twice in front of me?" Dimon sneered.
The Fierce Eye tracked with sight—and it telegraphed with a red shine. Once you knew, it was child's play to dodge.
Being battered twice in a row finally broke Saturn's calm.
Black arcs crawled over his skin; his frame bulged, lower body splitting into six spider legs, upper torso wreathed in sooty flame.
In a breath he'd taken on his human-beast form, looming over Dimon.
"They say your brew is called the Elixir of Eternity—drink it, and gain an undying body."
"That power is useful to us… quite correct."
"But don't get arrogant, brat!"
One hooked spider limb speared down.
Dimon braced with both forearms, Armament flaring at the point of impact—boom! He held.
Then he caught the limb, planted, rolled his hips, and hurled the giant arachnid with a savage shoulder throw.
"Wha—!?"
Air punched from Saturn's lungs. What monstrous strength… is he a giant?
He slammed into the dirt, gouging out a crater.
Dimon sprang high, right fist blazing red within its black sheen—Internal Destruction wound tight.
The punch fell like a meteor.
The pit bloomed wider. The blow crashed into Saturn's chest—Organs pulped in an instant.
"Guh—!"
Saturn spat blood, veins worming over his temple. One spider leg lanced sideways, swatting Dimon away.
Dimon flipped, alighting lightly on a tree limb.
"That all the Five Elders have?"
The spider writhed up—almost comical—six legs scrabbling to lever that bulk upright. By the time Saturn found his footing, the damage had already mended.
"It's useless," he said coldly. "You're not the only one with immortality."
He gave his final offer.
"Last chance. Join the Holy Knights. Brew the Elixir for us."
Dimon's lip curled. "Confident in your immortality, huh?"
"A lapdog of Imu dares yap at me?"
Black lightning crawled over him. Demonforce curled like smoke, sheathing his frame.
It flared skyward—wings of midnight unfurled, blotting out the sun.
"W-What is that…?" Saturn's eyes widened. His instincts shrieked—predator meets prey.
A black flash.
Saturn's pupils pinholed—Dimon was there, truly in his face.
A pitch-black hand knifed forward—and punched through his eye.
"GYAAAAAAAH!"
Saturn shrieked. Six legs skittered backward in panic, wobbling like a drunk as he clutched his face.
"M-My eye… it—it's not healing!?"
Dimon hovered above on silent wings, grinning down.
"That sound," he said pleasantly, "is exactly how a dog should bark."
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