Even in mid-air, Akainu, who was fighting Aokiji, immediately distanced himself from the admiral the moment Bob appeared, landing beside the Five Elders.
"Akainu!"
"Secure the entrance to Mary Geoise!"
The Five Elders gave a brief order to the Fleet Admiral before turning their attention to Bob standing beside Whitebeard, their auras erupting violently.
Instantly, five overwhelmingly powerful presences spread across the entire Red Line.
Black Haki burst from their bodies, surging directly towards Bob's location.
Seeing this, Bob narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold smirk appearing at the corner of his lips.
"I'll start with you lot!"
As the words fell, Bob sharply intensified his own aura.
Immediately, an overwhelmingly domineering presence expanded outward from him as his figure blurred.
With a light tap of his toes downward— His slender frame shot upward.
In the next moment, he landed squarely on the Red Line.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion erupted upon impact, as if a deity had descended upon the earth.
A massive crater formed across the Red Line's surface.
Enormous chunks of rock flew in all directions, while red dust billowed into the air like a crimson mist.
The shockwave rippled outward, knocking countless soldiers off their feet.
The flying debris struck like cannonballs, exploding amidst the crowd.
"Elemental Power: Earth Shield!"
A voice rang out, and instantly, a colossal shield of earth and stone materialized above the soldiers.
The scattered debris collided with the shield, shattering into dust upon impact.
The soldiers beneath the shield exhaled in relief.
"The Five Elders have made their move!"
A soldier suddenly spoke up, his gaze fixed on a distant figure.
Hearing this, the survivors stiffened, following the soldier's line of sight—before their expressions twisted in shock.
There stood Ethanbaron V Nusjuro, now positioned near the crater's edge.
Not just the soldiers—even Bob, the Revolutionary Army and the pirates were stunned.
Kaido, Whitebeard, Big Mom and Shanks all wore subtle shifts in expression as they observed the elder.
Shiki's reaction was the most peculiar.
"Unbelievable!"
"Isnt that old bastard a Zoan? how the fuck can he do that?!"
Shiki's expression darkened as he stared at the massive shield hovering in the air.
During the Summit War, the elder had relied solely on his sword in his Bakotsu form , never revealing any other abilities.
"Interesting!"
"I suspected your power wont be that simple, but I never expected you to hide it this well!"
As the red dust settled outside the crater, Bob locked eyes with Nusjuro and spoke slowly.
"Still useless, though!" Bob said indifferently.
The next moment, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body, condensing into tangible waves that instantly engulfed the summit of the Red Line.
Around Bob, His Conqueror's Haki swirled violently and the ground beneath cracked open under the sheer pressure.
Crack!
Spiderweb-like fissures spread outward from Bob as the epicenter.
The Haki surrounding him roared towards the sky like a cannon shot, scattering the thick clouds above into nothingness under its shockwaves.
The azure sky revealed itself and the blazing sun finally emerged in its full glory.
But below, the situation was entirely different.
Under the crushing weight of Bob's Conqueror's Haki, the soldiers on the Red Line collapsed like wheat fields ravaged by a storm.
Their eyes rolled back, white foam bubbling from their mouths.
Yet the Haki didn't stop there—it surged towards Mary Geoise.
*****
At that moment, inside the highest hall of Mary Geoise, the Celestial Dragons paled in horror.
Before them stood a massive screen adorned with extravagant ornaments.
The once-spacious hall was now packed with Celestial Dragons, their heads encased in bubble helmets.
Before the battle had even begun, the Five Elders had forcibly gathered them and relocated them to this hiding place.
"These damned lowly scum! How dare they invade Mary Geoise!"
"That damned Bob—I'll flay him alive!"
"How dare they attempt to slay gods!"
"..."
The Celestial Dragons gnashed their teeth as they watched the Revolutionary Army and then Bob appear on the screen, their faces twisted with cruelty and madness—so palpable it seemed to seep through their glass helmets.
Bob!
Though they seethed with rage at the mere mention of him, they couldn't deny that his name alone sent shivers down their spines.
Even more than Rocks forty years ago, he instilled unparalleled terror in them.
Ever since the Summit War, where Bob defeated the Five Elders, they had been cowering in Mary Geoise.
Not a single Celestial Dragon dared to roam freely between nations, capturing slaves and indulging in tyranny as they once had.
For though they were as foolish as pigs, they valued their lives above all else.
Bob and his allies showed no fear towards them—instead, they would stop at nothing to slaughter them on sight.
"These worthless vermin are nothing but a waste of food! How could the Revolutionary Army make it this far?!"
"They should've exterminated these rebellious fools outside long ago!"
"The Five Elders are useless too—forcing us to hide in this damned place! I haven't had ice cream in half a day!"
"..."
The Celestial Dragons grumbled incessantly, cursing the incompetence of the Marines and the World Government.