However, the scene that followed struck everyone with terror.
Above Sea Dragon's head, a figure had inexplicably appeared.
The figure was dressed in white, appearing young, in his early twenties.
He stood there, and if not for looking with one's eyes, one wouldn't have perceived him at all.
He seemed to have merged with space itself, or perhaps was an illusory existence, ethereal and elusive, like a dream.
The moment they saw this person, all the pirates felt a dawning realization.
No wonder they were called the "Phantom" Pirate Group; this person was truly a phantom-like existence.
In the next moment, everyone collectively gasped.
"Emperor Vladimir!!!"
Shiki's eyes widened, his body trembling, as he stared in disbelief at the person above Sea Dragon.
"Phantom… Captain…!" His tone was laced with bitterness and profound fear.
Vladimir's expression was calm as he looked down at the five thousand people below.
"I am 'Vladimir,' the Emperor," Vladimir said softly, his voice carrying to all corners. "Great Pirate Shiki. Do you… wish to die?"
"I am 'Vladimir,' the Emperor. Great Pirate Shiki. Do you… wish to die?"
Vladimir stood atop the dragon's head, his gaze calm and unwavering.
His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
Upon seeing Emperor Vladimir's appearance, all the pirates' expressions changed drastically. As their pupils contracted, some even cried out in disbelief.
"Vladimir… Emperor Vladimir!"
"No, impossible! Why is Phantom's captain here too!"
"Rumor has it that the BIG·MOM Pirates were destroyed overnight by this person!"
Immediately, countless people's minds were shaken, and the thought of fleeing arose.
If they were only facing one Dominator-level executive, they might still fight to the death. If they won, they could use Phantom's name to announce the return of the Flying Pirates.
But now, it wasn't just one Dominator-level executive, but three!
Furthermore, there was Phantom's captain, a super-powerful being surpassing the Four Emperors.
"Let's… let's run?" one pirate whispered to his captain.
"We're no match! We've only been with the Flying Pirates for less than a month or two. There's no need to risk our lives for Shiki against Phantom!"
This captain swallowed hard, fully agreeing.
They were all New World pirate crews. They had a clear understanding of how terrifying Phantom's Emperor Vladimir was.
No one had witnessed him in action, but in their minds, they had automatically elevated him to an unimaginable level.
Simply put, they could scare themselves to death.
At this moment, Shiki noticed the wavering of his subordinates, which made his expression extremely grim.
At the same time, he felt immense bitterness in his heart.
Over a decade ago, there was Roger and his Roger Pirates.
More than a decade later, there was the Phantom Pirate Group, even more terrifying than Roger.
It was as if the world was malicious towards him, filling his heart with depression and the urge to vomit blood.
"Emperor Vladimir…" Shiki's face contorted, and he gritted his teeth. "Are you determined to stop me?"
Hearing this, Vladimir paid him no mind, not even deeming him worthy of conversation.
Shadow Fiend, however, spoke, stating indifferently, "Stop you? What an amusing joke. Shiki, when you were picking berries, a monkey happened to be hiding in a tree, also wanting that food. At that moment, would the monkey say to you, 'Stop me'? Are you provoking us?"
This analogy was simple and easy to understand, resonating with all the pirates.
There were fewer than five individuals in the entire world who could speak to Shiki like this, but in Phantom's eyes, it seemed to be the reality.
Hearing this, Shiki's eyes turned sinister, and a hint of madness appeared on his face.
"You forced me!"
He roared, finally enraged.
"Slash Wave!"
He kicked out, and the blade on his foot immediately unleashed several sword energies. Each of these energies was capable of cleaving the sea, all directed towards Vladimir.
Seeing this, none of the Phantom members moved. Vladimir didn't even have the interest to dodge.
Only Sea Dragon let out a dragon's roar, its tail swinging, swatting away the attacks.
Bang!
These terrifying sword energies were instantly shattered by this single tail strike, obliterated as if swatting away flies.
"What!?"
Shiki's face was filled with horror. Although he knew these people were terrifying, to so easily dismiss his sword energy, as if swatting a fly, the defensive power of this Sea Dragon… was simply incredible!
"Bastard!"
Enraged by this dismissive attitude, Shiki roared and slammed his palms onto the ground.
Boom!
The ground of the entire island trembled under this impact.
"Lion Menace: Earth Coiling!"
Roar!
The earth shook as if the entire ground were being lifted. Soil, rocks, snow, everything coalesced into three giant lion heads, roaring and surging towards Vladimir and his group.
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