The Five Elders' indifferent voices echoed through the air, as piercing as a cold wind.
Their gazes swept like blades across Whitebeard and the others standing before them. Those figures who had long prepared for battle seemed to be shoved back several steps by an invisible pressure, and the atmosphere instantly froze.
"These people are the obstacles standing in the way of us restoring our authority!"
The Five Elders' voices were low, carrying traces of barely concealed anger and disdain.
Before their words had even faded, several high-ranking World Government officials at their side moved like the wind, rapidly leaping into position.
The air was thick with tension. Everyone could sense that a world-shaking clash was about to erupt.
Whitebeard's deep laughter shattered the brief silence.
"Gurararara..."
His rough voice was filled with fearlessness and provocation, his eyes carrying the resilience and Haki forged by time.
The bisento in his hand swept fiercely with his movement. A heaven-shaking torrent of air surged outward with the blade's path, as if even the air itself had been torn apart by that force.
"Come if you dare. I'm not afraid of clowns like you."
Whitebeard looked at the Five Elders with contempt, without the slightest hint of retreat in his eyes.
He turned to the forces behind him and gave a somewhat low but resolute command:
"Prepare to meet the challenge!"
His voice was like a war drum, inspiring every warrior standing at his side.
Following his command, the Whitebeard Pirates responded one after another. Their powerful auras clashed violently, merging into an immense wave of force that made the surrounding ground tremble faintly.
Loki, standing to one side of the battlefield, frowned tightly as he watched the Five Elders with their icy gazes. His fingers unconsciously clenched, and a trace of gravity