After confirming that both the World Government and Marine Headquarters had made no major moves, Souta Kiryuu finally felt at ease to personally hunt down Eustass Kid.
The Paramecia-type Magnet-Magnet Fruit possessed by Kid was not only useful for manipulating island magnetism but was also one of the ideal candidate powers for future Seraphim units.
That ability had to fall into Kiryuu's hands—no exceptions.
To quickly resolve the magnetic interference problems between Amazon Lily and Sky Island, Kiryuu had planned to capture Kid himself. But before he could even depart, the sharp, rapid click of high heels echoed down the corridor.
His brow furrowed—something was wrong.
"Lord Kiryuu! It's terrible!" Boa Hancock burst in, her face streaked with tears as she threw herself into his arms, trembling. "Amazon Lily—Elder Gloriosa has been captured by the Five Elders!"
Behind her, Sandersonia and Marigold came rushing in, followed by Marguerite, Kikyo, and other Kuja warriors—all pale and desperate.
"What happened?" Kiryuu's expression hardened.
So the Five Elders had acted this quickly—abandoning all pretense of dignity to attack Amazon Lily themselves.
For once, even he was stunned. Thank goodness he hadn't already brought the island back to the sky—otherwise, the World Government might have wiped out his entire base in one strike.
He had underestimated their determination to annihilate the Kiryuu Pirates.
"The Five Elders invaded Amazon Lily," Sandersonia said, trembling. "Elder Gloriosa was taken hostage. They're demanding we reveal the location of the Kiryuu Pirates—or they'll slaughter everyone on the island!"
Marigold added, handing Kiryuu a Den Den Mushi. "They told us not to inform you. As long as we reveal your base, they'll spare Amazon Lily."
Both sisters had tears streaming down their faces. They didn't know what to do anymore—so they came to the only person they could still believe in.
Kiryuu's expression turned grim. He had miscalculated.
He should have forcibly evacuated Amazon Lily when he had the chance—relocated its people until the magnetic disruptors were complete. Only then should he have allowed them to return.
Now it was too late. He hadn't expected the Five Elders to act this quickly—barely days after his crew had left the island. While Vegapunk worked on the disruptor and Kiryuu pursued Kid, they had struck.
Once again, fate had reminded him—never rely on luck.
The moment you think something won't happen, it inevitably does.
"Lord Kiryuu, what should we do?" Hancock's voice trembled as she looked up, eyes filled with tears.
If she had to choose between Kiryuu and Amazon Lily, she would choose him—but in her heart, she prayed he could save them both.
To her, Souta Kiryuu was a god—a man who had already done the impossible. If anyone could resolve this, it was him.
"Calm down. I'll handle it."
Kiryuu comforted Hancock and the Kuja warriors gently, then summoned every member of the Kiryuu Pirates.
The greater the crisis, the calmer one must be.
This wasn't yet the end. There was still a path forward.
Abandoning Amazon Lily might be the worst-case scenario—but Kiryuu wasn't the kind to take losses quietly.
If they wanted war, then war they would have.
Under his highest emergency order, the entire Kiryuu crew assembled in the golden hall of Apayado.
Everyone could tell from Kiryuu's grim expression and Hancock's tearful eyes that something catastrophic had happened. The room grew heavy with dread.
For the ever-confident and composed Souta Kiryuu to look like this—it could only mean one thing.
A storm was coming.
Then suddenly—
"Ahahaha!!"
Kiryuu's low laughter broke the silence. At first restrained, then wild—borderline maniacal.
Even Hancock stared at him in shock. He's laughing? At a time like this?
"Listen up, boys!!" Kiryuu bellowed, eyes blazing crimson. "We're heading to Mariejois! I'm launching a flash strike on the Holy Land itself!"
"If the Five Elders dare leave Mariejois to attack Amazon Lily—then I'll go to Mariejois and take the Celestial Dragons hostage!"
"Tell me, lads—don't you want to meet that immortal fossil called Imu? I'll take you to see that old monster with your own eyes!"
Overwhelming Conqueror's Haki exploded from him, flooding the golden palace like a roaring storm.
Hancock's heart pounded as she stared at him. So that was his plan—to trade the Celestial Dragons for Amazon Lily's freedom.
A strategy as insane as it was brilliant.
"Yahaha!! Boss God!" Enel howled with manic laughter, lightning crackling violently around him. "That's the kind of madness I live for! I'll blast Mariejois to the heavens! Let's see my bounty hit thirty billion berries after this!"
"Ho-ho-ho! I just joined—and we're already doing this? I love it!" Shiryu of the Rain grinned, his blood-red eyes gleaming as he gripped his cursed blade, Thunderstorm, trembling with excitement.
To slaughter Celestial Dragons atop the Holy Land—just imagining it made his blood boil.
"Yo-ho-ho… that's insane," Lafitte whispered, eyes wide. "Our boss really doesn't know how to stop, does he?"
"Hey-hee-hee! Even if the Five Elders went to Amazon Lily, they've got those teleportation arrays. They can be summoned back to Mariejois in seconds!" Moria croaked nervously. "How are we supposed to deal with that?"
If they could destroy those teleportation gates, Imu wouldn't be able to summon the Five Elders back instantly. Then—just maybe—they could surround Imu and take Mariejois itself.
Of course, there was still the issue of Marineford's backup forces.
If they focused only on capturing Celestial Dragons, they'd have a higher chance of success and could retreat before the Admirals arrived.
"Your mission," Kiryuu declared, voice like thunder, "is to capture as many Celestial Dragons as possible! I'll handle Imu—and those teleportation sigils myself!"
He raised a hand sharply. "Prepare to depart. One hour from now, we move."
Then he turned and strode toward Vegapunk's lab. "Vegapunk, activate the second batch of Seraphim immediately!"
Vegapunk froze. "Kiryuu, activating them early could stunt their growth potential!"
"I don't care," Kiryuu snapped. "Release two of the Kiryuu-type Seraphim right now! Infuse them with Green Blood from the Fortress-Fortress Fruit and the Mirror-Mirror Fruit! Make sure they can use part of those abilities immediately!"
Issuing the urgent order, Kiryuu grabbed several canisters of high-grade nutrient fluid and Blood Crystal Dandelions, then rushed to the prison.
He needed spatial-type powers, and he needed them now—even if it meant sacrificing two Seraphim that carried his own genetic lineage.
If their potential suffered, so be it—they could serve as support units.
After all, new Seraphim could always be created.
...
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