The next moment, an overwhelming pressure surged from within the massive teleportation array.
The sheer force of that aura was so suffocating that every news bird and live transmission snail nearby exploded instantly.
Even the Five Elders reacted at once, unleashing their powers to destroy every single surveillance snail that was still watching.
Within the Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy ranks, those of weaker strength screamed as their eyes burst—dying on the spot.
When the Five Elders had teleported in earlier, they were too focused on the battle to remember the live snails still recording.
But now, since Lord Imu was about to make a move, every trace of live transmission had to be erased.
Watching the scene unfold, Souta Kiryuu shuddered, a cold chill running through him. The memory of when Saint Saturn had once burst his eyes open in that same terrifying way flashed before him.
As explosions echoed, every broadcast screen went dark—each live feed vanishing one after another.
Even the Marine headquarters and the Red-Haired Pirates, who had been watching the battle on the Island of Gods and Demons, suddenly lost all visuals.
"What happened?! Why are all the screens gone!?"
"Could that glowing magic circle really be summoning something terrifying from the World Government!?"
"Was Souta Kiryuu telling the truth? Is there truly an ancient king who's lived for over eight hundred years!?"
"Don't tell me… the Four Emperors, the Kiryuu Corps, and the Revolutionary Army are all going to be wiped out in one strike!"
"So this… this is the true power of the World Government!"
…
Panic swept across the world.
Those unable to see the broadcast were left trembling in fear—while certain kings and nobles from allied nations were ecstatic, their faces glowing with morbid delight.
Countless ordinary citizens, meanwhile, prayed for the great pirates and criminals to die together once and for all.
On the Sabaody Archipelago, Reili, the Dark King, and Shaki wore grim expressions.
They were deeply worried for Boa Hancock's safety—and for the future of Amazon Lily.
"Could there really be someone that powerful in this world?"
Shaki's voice quivered with unease as she turned to Reili.
"Is this so-called King of the World, Imu, truly a being capable of crushing even the Four Emperors?"
Reili's gaze hardened. "Longevity doesn't mean strength. Every power has its limits."
He held the trembling Shaki close, his voice calm but heavy.
He didn't believe that this so-called 'Imu' had surpassed humanity's boundaries to become a god.
He believed in Whitebeard, Souta Kiryuu, and Dragon's strength.
No single being could possibly annihilate all of them.
Just as the world's voices turned into a chorus of panic and speculation—another image suddenly flickered back onto the broadcast.
"Gahahaha!! I was planning to appear as a harmless, fat bird who couldn't even fly.
But to witness the so-called King of the World with my own eyes—forget it! No more pretending!
It's time to come clean!"
"I, too, am an awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit user!
Even if I die today, I'll broadcast this world-shaking battle till the very end!"
The camera zoomed out, revealing a massive white albatross soaring through the skies, dark clouds of awakening flames swirling around its wings.
Morgans the Great News Bird himself was protecting a special transponder snail, flying straight into the perilous Island of Gods and Demons to deliver the greatest live broadcast in history.
At that exact moment, the enormous teleportation circle flared brighter—its surface rippling as a colossal shadow began to emerge.
That shadow sensed the giant white bird in the sky and abruptly halted its manifestation.
"Kill him."
A voice rang out—cold, emotionless, neither male nor female, but saturated with murderous intent.
Without even revealing its body, countless tendrils of shadow burst forth from within the trembling circle, transforming into arrows of darkness that shot outward in all directions.
"Shhk—!!"
The nearest warrior, Kaen the Flame Calamity, didn't even have time to react.
One shadow arrow pierced straight through his chest, blood gushing as he fell from the sky.
"Kaen!!"
The Beast King, Kaido, roared in fury. Swinging his spiked club wreathed in Conqueror's Haki, he smashed another arrow to pieces.
His body shifted into the form of a colossal azure dragon as he dove to catch his fallen comrade.
Though Kaido shattered the shadow arrows, Kaen's chest wound—though healing rapidly with Lunarian fire—left him pale and barely conscious.
A single strike had gravely wounded him.
Whitebeard bellowed, his mighty fist sending out a shockwave that shattered the very air itself, obliterating the shadow arrows before him.
Souta Kiryuu and Dragon unleashed their own attacks—lightning dragons and roaring wind currents cloaked in Conqueror's Haki—to protect their subordinates.
It seemed the shadow arrows weren't invincible after all…
But Souta and Dragon both knew what that meant: the real battle hadn't even begun.
"Everyone regroup!" Souta commanded sharply. "Prepare for retreat if necessary!"
"Gaaah!!"
A cry of pain ripped through the air.
No one expected Shiki the Golden Lion—the legendary pirate—to fail to block even the first strike of Imu's "greeting."
The sword that was once fused to his prosthetic leg clashed violently with a shadow arrow before being blasted away.
The detachment tore his flesh apart, blood splattering as he staggered in agony.
Rage and humiliation twisted Shiki's face—among so many legendary fighters, he alone had failed to block the attack.
Still, the sword soon returned to him, drawn back by his Float-Float Fruit powers.
"Mahahaha! Shiki! You can't even use your Conqueror's Haki anymore—why keep pretending to fight!? Let's get out of here before we die!"
Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, shattered another shadow arrow as she barked at him, eager to retreat.
That thing in the teleportation array… it was even more terrifying than Rocks himself.
She had no intention of facing such a monster head-on.
Meanwhile, Saint Marcus Mars, transformed into a monstrous Yatagarasu bird, abandoned Big Mom and Shiki—soaring straight toward Morgans.
"That damn fool! He's asking for death!"
High above, the Ark of Judgment began to retreat at full speed, propelled by Souta Kiryuu's triple combination of Float-Float and Gravity powers.
The Thunder Prison that once surrounded the island had already been shattered earlier by Imu himself.
Enel, absorbed in his own duel, hadn't even realized it.
The sudden emergence of the teleportation array had disrupted every battle across the island.
The Revolutionary Army and Kiryuu Corps regrouped quickly, giving the Knights of God and CP agents a chance to escape.
However, Bartholomew Kuma—his immense frame trembling—had returned carrying the crushed corpse of Saint Coniff, completing the second divine execution of the day.
The overwhelming aura radiating from Kuma made even the Pirate Empress feel immense pressure.
Even without awakening his Conqueror's Haki, this descendant of the Buccaneer race was already stronger than she was.
If he ever did awaken it, he could easily rival Reili—the Dark King himself.
…
Souta's expression darkened as he saw that even with all their combined assaults, the colossal teleportation array remained unscathed.
A dreadful, demonic pressure seeped through it—something beyond human comprehension.
"Quick! Beiji! Shurado! Fire everything you've got at that array!" Souta barked orders through the chaos.
"Beiji—release that thing!"
The latest generation of Sea Prism Stone cluster bombs, combined with the newly enhanced Dark-Dark Fruit user, might just have enough destructive power to damage the teleportation circle—or perhaps even strike directly at Imu himself.
As the cannons roared and the heavens shook, the final battle for the fate of the world was about to begin.