With a rapid series of resounding crashes—
Granham's entire body was battered back and forth through the night sky by Budo's relentless blows.
Looking to the other battlefronts—
The apostle of the goddess Wareharun had already been forced into close combat by two winged warriors.
She was flailing without dignity, scrambling left and right, even rolling across the ground to evade.
The green arrows she managed to fire off were either easily dodged or slashed apart midair.
Were it not for a demigod's "immortal and undying" ability—where no matter how severe the injury, it quickly healed—she would have long since been slain!
In contrast, Mabel Forn and Colonel Mas were still locked in fierce combat in the skies.
At the same time—
Budo had ceased his assault, one hand gripping Granham's throat as he examined him with surprise.
The man's current appearance was utterly pitiful, barely even human.
The once resplendent golden armor was gone without a trace.
His body was charred and trembling, all four limbs fractured, his head grotesquely deformed, blood pouring from every orifice.
And yet, he had not died.
Budo could clearly see his body already knitting itself back together.
In just a matter of seconds, the once-mangled head was visibly returning to normal.
"Could this bastard really be unkillable?"
Budo decided he would take Granham back with him.
The World Government would surely be interested.
And while he was at it, he would seize the Emperor as well.
At the thought, his cold gaze turned toward Emperor Molt, standing before the castle window below.
The Emperor's face went sheet white.
Overcome with terror, he staggered back again and again, his whole body trembling so violently he nearly collapsed on the spot.
He knew he was finished—and with him, the Empire itself!
Just then, Emperor Molt felt a blinding radiance pour in through the window.
This forced him and the ministers inside the hall to instinctively shut their eyes.
And not only them—across the entire capital, nobles, citizens, soldiers, and paupers alike were compelled to close their eyes against the sudden blaze of light.
Even Colonel Mas, Mabel Forn, and the others locked in fierce combat halted at once, raising their heads toward the thick storm clouds being torn apart by streaks of radiant sunlight.
Yet despite it being night, the skies above the imperial capital suddenly blazed with daylight.
Before the gaze of the entire city—
A golden-haired beauty appeared in the sky, standing upon the clouds, dressed in a resplendent gown, ribbons fluttering in the light.
Though her figure was somewhat petite, behind her loomed a colossal phantom silhouette.
Her peerlessly beautiful face and imperious eyes were revealed for all in the capital to see.
…
Budo's expression hardened as he watched this scene.
It was plain this woman was no ordinary figure.
The sheer force of her presence alone rivaled the top generals of the military.
It seemed that the supreme existence of this world had finally revealed herself.
At that thought, Budo discreetly pulled out his Den-Den Mushi and pointed it toward her.
Just then, Flare's gaze fell upon him.
The moment her eyes took in Granham's mangled body in Budo's grasp, displeasure flashed in her radiant gaze.
[Boom!]
In the next instant, a massive pillar of light crashed down upon Budo's head.
The searing brilliance and heat within it made despair surge uncontrollably in his heart.
...
Alnus Hill.
This place, once leveled by Japan's advance expeditionary force—
Now housed a regiment of 2 000 auxiliary troops.
Thus, around the "Gate of Ginza," a tightly guarded military camp had once again appeared.
Everywhere stood soldiers with weapons, alongside tanks from the Nuclear Weapons World.
Armed helicopters could even be seen roaring overhead.
Stone-and-earth houses rose in rows, broad and even roads stretched across the camp, laid out neatly under the planning of professionals.
On the outer edges stood machine-gun bunkers, artillery positions, trenches, and barbed wire.
[Knock, knock, knock!]
The door to the commander's office was rapped on urgently.
"Enter."
Lieutenant Colonel Bradley spoke without looking up, eyes still fixed on the map spread across his desk.
[Bang!]
The door was shoved open, slamming hard against the wall.
Bradley lifted his head with displeasure.
"Report, Commander!"
The soldier who rushed in shouted breathlessly: "The communications unit received word from Uchiha Tekka-jōnin: 'The mission to capture Louise has failed. A-jōnin was defeated in Rondel City—life or death unknown. Please notify Umigakure immediately!'"
"A-jōnin?"
Bradley did not, at first, recall who that was.
"Wait… isn't the Raikage also called A?"
Bradley began to understand why Uchiha Tekka had stressed this.
"Alright, have them relay the message to Umigakure."
Bradley nodded calmly.
"Report!"
But before his words had even faded, another soldier burst in, more flustered than the first.
"From Air Force Headquarters—Major General Budo suddenly transmitted a recording. It seems he was attacked by a powerful entity of this world, in the imperial capital. Now we've lost all contact with him!"
"What?"
Bradley's face darkened in shock. "Where is that recording? Show me at once!"
Not long after—
Inside his office, Bradley watched the recording Budo had sent back.
A breathtaking goddess with flowing golden hair, and a colossal pillar of light descending from the heavens.
"Hurry! Transmit this footage to General Gold Lion's flagship in the Nuclear Weapons World immediately!"
"At the same time, order the entire regiment to prepare for battle—especially keep your eyes on any changes in the sky!"
Bradley gave his commands without hesitation.
"Yes, sir!"
"Report!"
At that moment, another soldier rushed in.
The three men in the office instinctively turned their heads.
"What is it now?" Bradley quickly asked.
"Commander, a patrol squad on the perimeter reports they encountered a group claiming to represent the 'Main Gods,' demanding to speak with the senior leadership of the World Government!"
"Two of them even said they were demigods. They request instructions on whether to allow them into camp!"
The third soldier rattled off the message in one breath.
"Hah?"
Bradley froze for a moment.
"Wait a second—weren't we unable to understand the language of this world's people?"
"Commander, the patrol said there was a blue-haired little girl among them who spoke fluent Japanese."
At that, Bradley's eyes lit up.
Someone from this world who could communicate with them directly—
That was as good as a translator.
"Bring them in. And you—go at once to summon Aburame Shibi-jōnin. Tell him I want him present at this meeting!"
Bradley quickly ordered the soldier who had earlier relayed Uchiha Tekka's message.
Since he already knew the people of this world possessed great strength—
Of course, he wouldn't think the soldiers' guns alone could guarantee his safety.
"Yes, sir!"
The three soldiers, each with their new orders, immediately turned and sprinted out of the office.
"Eh, things here are getting complicated too…"
Lieutenant Colonel Bradley watched their departing backs with deep emotion.
...
Titan World, Canberra Continent.
Within the area specially designated as Umigakure's base—
Old A wore a white robe embroidered at the cuffs and hem with blue flame patterns.
He sat in his office, poring over intelligence files from the Nuclear Weapons World.
[Bang!!]
Suddenly, the office door was violently thrown open from outside.
Old A raised his head in displeasure, glaring.
He was just about to erupt when Terumī Daichi shouted urgently: "A is in trouble! He's in trouble!"
"What did you say?!"
Old A shot to his feet, a powerful unease flooding his chest.
"What happened to A?!"
"He was defeated in the Special Region World. His life or death is still unknown. This was the message relayed by Uchiha Tekka."
Terumī Daichi's voice was heavy.
[Boom!]
After a long silence, Old A suddenly smashed the desk in front of him with one fist.
"Speak clearly! I want to hear the full details!" Old A growled through clenched teeth.
The killing intent pouring from him, like crashing waves, made Terumī Daichi realize just how terrifying the aura of this former Third Raikage—
"Understood. Captain Uchiha Tekka said this: they were in Rondel…"
Moments later—
Old A's furious roar burst through the walls of the building, shaking the entire Umigakure base.
"Cato!!!"
"If my son dies, I will kill you!"
...
Nuclear Weapons World.
As the main forces of various nations were annihilated one after another, the once-fierce battlefield gradually began to calm.
Yet small-scale clashes and raids continued day and night, especially in those countries where civilian gun ownership was permitted.
Even so, it did not prevent the capitals of the Top Ten nations chosen by the World Government—as well as key cities with large-scale industrial and technological hubs—from falling under the control of the auxiliary legions arriving in succession.
Inside the bridge office of the space carrier—
In that suffocating atmosphere, Shiki narrowed his eyes as he finished watching the footage just sent back from Alnus Hill.
It was the final scene Budo had captured.
"The power to control sunlight… to defeat Budo in an instant. It seems she at least holds strength on par with a general."
Shiki's murmured words sounded calm enough, yet the ruthless gleam and killing intent flashing in his eyes made Brigadier General Bryce shudder uncontrollably.
Bryce was Shiki's chief of staff, essentially a military bureaucrat.
"Never thought that world would have someone with such strength. In that case… I'll go see for myself what this so-called magic power is like."
Wearing his blue coat of justice, Shiki slowly rose from his chair, his mouth curling into a cold grin, voice laced with menace.
But just as he was about to leave, Bryce stepped in to stop him.
"General Golden Lion, I advise against such a risk. Better to wait until we have a clearer grasp of the situation before deciding."
"That woman could easily defeat Major General Budo—her strength is at least at general level. Who knows what her true limits might be?"
"Nor do we know how many more like her exist. To charge in recklessly would hardly be wise!"
Shiki shot him an annoyed glare, replying coldly: "In this vast cosmos of countless worlds, we can't possibly know every strong fighter in advance. Many times, you only gain intelligence in battle!"
"Victory, defeat, life, or death—all that comes down to one's strength and fate. Back in my day, I never gathered intelligence before a fight. Yet didn't I still cut down one opponent after another, until I stood atop the Grand Line?"
The reason Budo had gone straight for the Imperial Capital was, in truth, largely influenced by Shiki.
Shiki had once "taught" him that if you wanted to grow stronger as quickly as possible—or rise in rank—you had to charge forward without fear, carving the shortest path through battle itself.
That wasn't empty talk. It was Shiki's own lived experience.
In his younger years, back in the Rocks Pirates, he had relied on his two blades to hack out a place for himself.
Then he needed to uncover the very heart of power within the Special Zone World.
However, upon hearing Shiki's words, Bryce could only grumble inwardly: 'The top of the Grand Line, is it?'
'Did you ever ask Whitebeard about that? Let alone the so-called Pirate King.'
In his eyes, either of those men was stronger than the Golden Lion before him.
"And if, after you go through, the Gate of Ginza is shut? Are you prepared to spend the rest of your life in that world?"
Bryce looked at him helplessly.
"This—"
For a moment, Shiki was left speechless.
He truly did not fear a powerful opponent.
But to remain trapped forever in some unfamiliar world, losing the chance to continue waging war across countless realms—that, he could not accept.
It was precisely for that freedom and opportunity that he had swallowed his pride and submitted to the World Government.
To be honest, Budo's worth was nowhere near that great!
"General Golden Lion, better to report the situation to High Command first, see if they have an opinion, don't you think?"
Seeing hesitation flicker across Shiki's expression, Bryce pressed the advantage.
"Fine, then. Ask them if there's any way to resolve control over the Gate."
Shiki frowned, but at last gave his assent.
He believed there was still hope.
After all, behind the World Government stood that man.
[Polu-purupuru, Polu-purupuru—]
At that moment, the Den-Den Mushi inside Bryce's coat began to cry out.
The sound drew Shiki's attention.
Bryce placed the creature on the tea table and answered the call.
"This is the Auxiliary Army Command. Lieutenant Colonel Bradley, stationed in the Special Zone World, has just reported: a group claiming to be demigods and magicians has arrived at their camp, saying they've come to negotiate with the World Government's leadership on behalf of their gods."
When he finished, Bryce and Shiki exchanged a glance across the office.
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