Leviathan!

The dark vortex inside the abyssal maw kept contracting!

Everything on the frozen plain was drawn toward it.

Rubble.

Broken blades.

All of it flew toward the dark vortex overhead.

Luffy knelt on one knee amid the shattered ice, both hands gripping the hilt of the First Generation Divine Sword.

The blade lay across his chest.

The white glow of Nika had faded completely.

Only flesh and blood remained, struggling to hold on at the center of the gravitational storm.

The ice beneath him made a piercing sound as it tore apart.

Cracks spread from beneath his knee.

He wanted to get away from the center of the pull, but he couldn't.

Chen Ye hovered high above.

He stared at the dark vortex inside Imu's abyssal maw.

He could strike.

He leaned forward half an inch.

Then stopped.

He wanted to make his move!

But he couldn't attack now.

Not yet.

He had to wait for the pull from Imu's demonized maw to disappear.

He held back his attack, but the First Generation Divine Sword below rang out.

A shrill sword cry.

It wasn't trying to protect its wielder.

It was hostility.

Pure hatred that had not weakened, even across centuries.

White light burst from the blade. It stopped protecting Luffy and surged toward the demonized Imu.

It tried to break free of Luffy and hurl itself at its sworn enemy.

Two forces faced off.

One white, one black.

The allied forces on Elbaf fell into chaos.

Some were afraid. Others trembled!

Most could only stare up at the vast shadow blotting out the sky, their minds blank.

"Luffy's still out there!"

A Giant warrior roared and grabbed his warhammer, ready to charge.

A wall of blue fire rose in front of him.

Marco spread his Phoenix wings, sweeping blue