Life Return: Ultimate Liberation!

"Heh... these people had grown far faster than anyone could have expected."

Ronan rested the Eighteen-Foot Spear on his shoulder and chuckled softly. "It seems the battlefield below no longer needs my support at all."

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

The nauseating sound of flesh and blood squirming echoed through the sky.

Saint Warcury's exploded head rapidly reassembled and healed beneath the Pitch-Black Flame Clouds of Devil Fruit Awakening, as though time were reversing.

In the blink of an eye, he had returned to the Human Form of a burly old man. Only, his once-neat suit had long since been reduced to tatters, and his chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath.

Steel Bone Kong also returned to Saint Warcury's side from afar, limping through the air with Geppo.

The two stood side by side in the empty sky, their solemn gazes falling upon the ruins of Gold City below.

When they saw the Navy Vice Admiral line, the Navy's pride, utterly collapse, and saw the Straw Hat Pirates standing like descending gods and demons, both their hearts sank to the bottom.

"The situation... is unfavorable for us."

The haughty arrogance was gone from Saint Warcury's wrinkled face, replaced by deep shock and apprehension.

"Who would have thought that, aside from Ronan, that mere Straw Hat Pirates crew had hidden so many terrifying fighters capable of standing on their own? If this continues... the World Government's majesty will be destroyed here!"

A cold wind swept through Steel Bone Kong's blood-soaked hair.

This legendary old soldier, who had roamed the Great Sea for nearly a century, looked at the Navy Vice Admirals below who had died miserably or been routed, a profound desolation flashing through his eyes.

Then that desolation transformed into an unshakable resolve as hard as steel.

"So be it..."

Steel