"Lord Imu!!"
The first thought in the minds of Saint Pite and Saint Somaz was to cry out for Imu. In their eyes, only Lord Imu could save them now.
"What's happening?" Saint Marcus Mars stared in shock. His mind was still stuck on the image of Saint Pite saving Saint Somaz. But he reacted with incredible speed.
Seeing the dire situation, he flapped his wings and lunged for Ryuuto, unleashing a storm of black and red lightning.
Belo Betty and the others were just as bewildered. One moment, things were one way; the next, Saint Pite and Saint Somaz were on the brink of death. They looked up and saw that the golden war drum in the sky had also vanished. All these signs pointed to one conclusion. Their gazes fell in unison upon Ryuuto.
"He's so cool!!" As a devoted Ryuuto fan, Bonney couldn't help but think, "When will I ever be that strong?"
Kuma, too, shot a surprised glance back at Ryuuto before turning his attention back to his own battle. Wielding the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit, he continued his fierce clash with Saint Topman Warcury.
As a Paramecia-type Paw-Paw Fruit user, Kuma not only possessed immense Haki but had also mastered his Devil Fruit to an extraordinary degree. Each of his movements was so powerful it seemed to repel the very air, its force terrifying to behold.
The others inside the ship's cabin had a much milder reaction. Lacking a clear point of reference, the three-second interval passed in a flash. For them, it was perhaps a sudden mental jolt that quickly faded.
Of course, for Imu, who was observing everything, it was an entirely different story. This was the second time they had witnessed Ryuuto unleash the Drum of Annihilation so clearly. It was just as powerful, just as impossible to counter. But Imu wasn't particularly concerned.
All of Imu's attention was focused on Dragon. If Dragon managed to gain control of Pluton, the consequences would be unimaginable. Thus, the pleas of Saint Pite and Saint Somaz were destined to go unanswered. Imu cared little for their survival. After all, who would worry about the fate of a few expendables?
And so... Saint Pite and Saint Somaz could only wait for death's inevitable embrace, trapped in endless terror.
Meanwhile, Saint Mars's massive claws were already upon Ryuuto. But Ryuuto was prepared. He thrust his Kuilong Zan into the deck and roared, "Thunder Prison: Thousand Thorn Spears!"
In an instant, the deck was assimilated, erupting with countless golden thunder spears. They surged forth in a wave of roiling, molten lightning, blanketing every possible angle of Saint Mars's attack with an aura of terrifying destruction.
"So awesome!!" Bonney's eyes sparkled as she watched Ryuuto with pure adoration. She was already trying to mimic his attack patterns, hoping her own strength would see a massive boost after this.
Watching the thunder spears grow larger in his vision, Saint Mars felt a flicker of regret. But the arrow was already loosed from the bow; he had no choice but to press forward and meet the attack head-on.
Screech!!
The roar of a thousand thunderbolts filled the air.
Boom!!
A moment later, Saint Mars collided with the storm of spears. A deafening explosion ripped through the sky.
A powerful shockwave blasted outward as the two forces met in a chaotic maelstrom. Black-red Conqueror's Haki and golden lightning tore at each other relentlessly. The sky itself grew dark and turbulent, churned by the raw energy of their conflict.
"Is this the power of the truly strong?" The direct display of power left Sabo stunned. A seed, a burning desire to become stronger, took root in his heart.
"As expected of Captain Ryuuto!!" Belo Betty's gaze was fixed on him, her eyes shining. Her former comrade had reappeared after nearly a year as a Yonko, possessing immense power. Was this what it meant to be a genius? she wondered, sizing him up.
During that brief exchange, Saint Mars was already failing. In his Itsumade form, the monstrous bird strained its long neck, its every muscle taut with effort. But the trembling of its claws revealed it was a spent force.
"Losing your steam already?" A smile touched Ryuuto's lips. "Then let me see you off!"
With a light laugh, Ryuuto transformed into a bolt of lightning and appeared above Saint Mars's head. His voice boomed as his right hand clenched into a fist. Countless strands of black and red lightning crackled around his golden knuckles as he brought it down with immense force, aiming straight for the Itsumade's head.
"Damn it!!"
Saint Mars knew he was in trouble. He tried to turn and flap his wings to evade, but the hundreds of thunder spears before him gave him no such chance. In that split second, the golden lightning overwhelmed the black-red Haki, devouring it completely.
Boom!!
With a final, violent impact, Saint Mars was swallowed by the light. The world was left with nothing but a blinding golden glare. The countless flashes of lightning were a testament to the terrifying might of the World-Ending Divine Thunder.
"Aaargh!!!"
A faint, wretched scream could be heard from within the light. It didn't last long. Two seconds later, Saint Mars was brutally slammed against the ship's railing, impaled by the overwhelming force.
Bang!!
The incredibly sturdy hull of Pluton itself seemed to shudder from the impact.
As the lightning faded, a gruesome scene was revealed. Saint Mars was covered in blood, his body a mangled wreck. A massive, gaping hole had been punched through his chest, and faint sparks of electricity still danced around the wound.
"Cough..." Saint Mars choked, blood pouring from his mouth. His mind was filled with dread. His gaze fell upon two figures lying motionless on the deck—the bodies of Saint Pite and Saint Somaz. They were already lifeless. A chilling thought struck him: he was next. The last blow had grievously wounded him. While not instantly fatal, the failure of his immortality was amplifying the terror in his heart. The main reason, of course, was Lord Imu's abandonment.
"As expected of an Itsumade. Such tenacious life force," Ryuuto remarked with a satisfied nod. To Saint Mars, his voice was like the whisper of a demon.
Ryuuto then transformed into a streak of lightning and shot toward him.
Don't come any closer!!
Saint Mars wanted to scream for help, but he knew no one would come. As Ryuuto closed in, a powerful survival instinct took over. Despite his severe injuries, Saint Mars began to struggle, desperately flapping his wings in an attempt to fly.
ROAR!!
Saint Warcury finally realized the gravity of the situation. The massive beast turned and charged at Ryuuto, clearly intending to save his fellow Elder.
Seeing this, a twisted, bird-like smile appeared on Saint Mars's face. He flapped his wings with even greater effort. Driven by his powerful will to live, the Itsumade actually managed to lift off the deck.
It all happened in an instant.
Ryuuto, still a streak of lightning, frowned. Meanwhile, Saint Warcury was almost on him, his ferocious tusks crackling with black and red lightning, radiating immense power. The tense scene made Belo Betty and the others hold their breath. Kuma was chasing after Warcury from behind.
"Thunder Kill!!"
Ryuuto made his decision instantly. His figure suddenly halted. Planting his feet on the deck, he let out a great roar and swung his Kuilong Zan. A golden, crescent-shaped slash shot toward the airborne Saint Mars.
After launching his attack, the giant Fengxi crashed into him.
Bang!!
A spray of golden, molten lightning flew everywhere. Ryuuto used the momentum of the impact to launch himself into the air. This had been his plan all along: use the World-Ending Divine Thunder to absorb some of the force, then retreat to dissipate the rest. The scene was perilous, drawing cries of worry from Belo Betty and the others.
At the same time, Ryuuto's slash struck Saint Mars in mid-air. With a brilliant flash of lightning, the blade-like energy passed straight through his chest. The thunder rumbled. Saint Mars, who had just cleared the edge of Pluton, froze for a moment.
Boom!!
As Ryuuto's attack hit the water behind him and blasted up a massive wave, Saint Mars's body went limp. He lost consciousness and plummeted into the sea.
Saint Warcury saw that his charge had only managed to leave a trickle of blood on Ryuuto's lip. Without a second's hesitation, he abandoned the fight. He kicked off the ship's railing and leaped into the ocean.
At first, Ryuuto thought he was going to save Saint Mars. But to his surprise, the giant wild boar didn't even look back, simply fleeing across the surface of the sea.
"Well, damn. He didn't hesitate at all." Ryuuto muttered, shaking his head in resignation. "The Celestial Dragons really are just a disorganized mob." He had no desire to give chase. He sheathed his sword and dispelled his Thunder God form, then walked back toward Belo Betty and the others.
And just like that, two of the supposedly untouchable Five Elders had fallen, along with a member of the God's Knights.
Overall, Ryuuto felt the Five Elders were weaker than the God's Knights. Their fearsome demon forms seemed to be suppressed by his World-Ending Divine Thunder. The God's Knights, on the other hand, were Devil Fruit users. They had the advantage of their fruit abilities and were also more skilled in Haki than the Elders. Those five old men had clearly grown soft after so long in their ivory tower.
"Captain Ryuuto, you're amazing!!" Bonney, ever the young girl at heart, rushed forward and threw herself at the approaching Ryuuto, cheering excitedly.
Kuma also joined the group. With the battle over, his gentle expression returned. The presence of Bonney had made his life complete, and a deep sense of happiness always brought a soft, tender look to his face, especially when he looked at her.
"Captain Ryuuto, you've helped us once again," Kuma said, his voice filled with gratitude.
"Belo Betty is my friend," Ryuuto replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Don't be a stranger."
As all eyes turned to her, Belo Betty walked over with a triumphant laugh and slung an arm around Ryuuto's shoulders. As a good friend, she wasn't one for formalities. Her well-developed chest muscles pressed against Ryuuto with her laughter, a sensation that reminded him of their time in Alabasta.
Just as they were catching up...
Bang!!
A loud crash echoed from below deck. They turned to see a figure bursting out of the cabin and stumbling toward them. It was Burgess, and he was in a terrible state, covered in his own blood. A red, cloth-like arrow was embedded in his chest.
Screech!!
Ryuuto moved in an instant, transforming into a bolt of lightning and appearing at Burgess's side. He drew his Kuilong Zan and swung it at the arrow in Burgess's chest, his blade crackling with black and red lightning.
Clang!!
The arrow shattered. Ryuuto caught Burgess's falling body and gently laid him on the deck.
"Captain Ryuuto, quick! Go help Miss Nami and Miss Vivi!!" Burgess gasped as soon as he saw who it was. For the first time, he hated how weak he was. Against an opponent of that caliber, he could do nothing but take a beating.
Hearing Burgess, Ryuuto immediately sent out fine tendrils of lightning. As they flickered through the ship, he quickly assessed Nami and Vivi's situation. Both women were breathing heavily, but they were unharmed. Ryuuto breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing that the two were not in immediate danger, Ryuuto turned his attention back to Burgess. "Looks like Burgess needs a power-up," he thought to himself. Burgess's performance lately had proven his loyalty. He was a straightforward man who genuinely wanted to be a part of the Ryuuto Pirates.
"In that case..." Ryuuto murmured as his consciousness entered his mind. He planned to redeem a Devil Fruit for Burgess right here and now. It had to be a Mythical Zoan to give him the epic upgrade he needed.
Ryuuto began scrolling through the system's redemption interface...
Famous Swords!
Potions!
Observation Haki!
Paramecia Devil Fruits!
...
Items flashed past his eyes one after another until he found what he was searching for. The icon for a particular Devil Fruit was practically vibrating, as if trying to catch his attention.
"I choose you!"