Severing Dragon's Left Arm

Sumer's words made Saint Saturn and the other three exchange glances, all of them clearly satisfied.

Saint Marcus Mars, in particular, thought even more highly of Sumer.

After Sumer put it that way, not only had Saint Marcus Mars failed in no duty, he had even earned merit!

"Hmph!!!"

Saint Nerona Imu snorted coldly, his emotions impossible to discern.

Rumble—

Black lightning suddenly raged through the Flower Room. A magic circle flashed into existence and vanished in an instant. Once the blinding light faded, Saint Nerona Imu was gone.

At the same time.

Sumer, whose neck Dragon had seized, underwent an immediate change in his eyes. A pair of demonic horns grew from his forehead, demonic wings spread from his back, and a demonic tail emerged behind him.

His body swelled dramatically, while black flames and arcs of electricity blazed all over him.

In an instant.

A supreme Conqueror's Haki will, one that compelled all things into submission, blanketed the entire sea.

The night sky, once bright with moonlight and sparse stars, was immediately covered by swirling storm clouds.

In a single second.

The wind stopped.

The raging sea froze still.

Dragon and Crow, who bore the brunt of it, went stiff all over. Their hairs stood on end, and blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.

Crow was struck so hard by that terrifying Conqueror's Haki that he could no longer maintain flight, reverting to his normal form.

"Void Sword."

Saint Nerona Imu, having successfully possessed Sumer, swiftly ignited a mass of pitch-black Demonic Qi in his right palm.

It then transformed into an eerie, terrifying weapon.

With an upward sweep of Saint Nerona Imu's hand, Dragon's left arm was severed at the shoulder as easily as if it were made of paper.

"You!!!"

Too fast.

Far too fast.

Before Dragon could even feel pain, his left arm had flown high into the air. Most terrifyingly, it withered in the blink of an eye.

Even the spurting blood turned into nothingness.

A chill ran down Dragon's spine.

He could not understand how Sumer, who had been so weak just a second ago, could suddenly unleash Conqueror's Haki even more terrifying than his own.

And sever his left arm in one stroke.

At the critical moment.

Dragon kicked out. Saint Nerona Imu raised the Void Sword to block, but the immense recoil sent both of them flying apart.

"Who exactly are you?!"

After steadying himself, Dragon unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki as well, easing Crow's suffering somewhat.

The two stared at Sumer like tigers eyeing prey, sweat beading on their temples as they warily assessed him.

Not only had the other party's appearance changed beyond recognition, even his aura was different.

Powerful, terrifying, strange, horrifying, supreme, exalted—

That was how Dragon and Crow felt at that moment.

"Monkey D. Dragon, I know of you. Within the World Government, the Revolutionary Army's assessment places your threat level far above that of the Four Emperors."

"But in my eyes, all of you are merely amusements to pass the endless time."

The Void Sword in Saint Nerona Imu's hand vanished, replaced by a mass of black flames that swallowed even the surrounding light.

"Demonic Qi."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

With a flick of his fingers, Saint Nerona Imu sent the black flames in his palm shooting toward Dragon and Crow.

They split into countless smaller flames along the way.

"Dodge!"

Neither Dragon nor Crow dared to take the attack head-on. Instead, they relied on their speed to evade it.

Boom!

When those small black flames struck the sea, they exploded violently like missiles.

The explosions blasted a continuous stretch of massive craters across the ocean's surface.

Just then.

A sonic boom rang out in the distant sky.

Saint Marcus Mars flew over at high speed, appearing beside Saint Nerona Imu as he released his full beast form.

"Lord Imu!"

Saint Marcus Mars looked respectful. The moment he saw Sumer's appearance and aura, he knew that Lord Imu had descended.

"You came too slowly!"

Saint Nerona Imu cast Saint Marcus Mars an utterly cold glance.

The pressure on Saint Marcus Mars was immense.

He could tell that Lord Imu was somewhat angry.

If Sumer had not covered for him earlier, he might truly have been doomed this time.

Even if he did not die, he would still have been punished.

"I was careless."

Saint Marcus Mars offered no excuses. He immediately lowered his head and admitted his mistake, then continued, "Lord Imu, I will make up for my failure."

Saint Nerona Imu said nothing, merely giving him a look.

Saint Marcus Mars understood at once and immediately transformed into his full beast form, charging toward Crow.

As for Monkey D. Dragon, he was perfectly suited to help Lord Imu pass the time.

"Crow, retreat at once—"

Dragon's face was pale. He used Haki to dispel the discomfort at the site of his severed arm, but deep within his eyes were shock and disbelief.

As one of the Five Elders, Saint Marcus Mars had lowered himself greatly before Saint Germain Sumer.

He could even be described as respectful.

What kind of joke was this?

Saint Marcus Mars was one of the Five Elders, one of the World Government's highest authorities, and the pinnacle of all Celestial Dragons.

It could be said that no Celestial Dragon was more noble than Saint Marcus Mars.

Even the other four Five Elders could only stand on equal footing with Saint Marcus Mars.

There was simply no such thing as respect between them—

Yet if he had heard correctly, Saint Marcus Mars had just addressed Saint Germain Sumer as Lord Imu.

Could Saint Germain Sumer have another name?

Could he even be the World Government's hidden sixth Five Elder?

Perhaps someone like the commander of God's Knights?

If that were the case, it would explain everything.

It would explain why Saint Marcus Mars had been so anxious when Dragon took Saint Germain Sumer away earlier.

After all, he might have been the sixth Five Elder.

If the outside world learned that the Revolutionary Army's leader had captured the World Government's sixth Five Elder, it would surely deal a tremendous blow to the World Government's dignity and prestige.

How insidious.

So Saint Germain Sumer had deliberately allowed himself to be captured earlier, only to ambush Dragon when he let his guard down and cost him his left arm.

Damn it!

At that moment.

Due to his lack of information, Dragon imagined countless possibilities.

He had even imagined a sixth Five Elder.

Yet no matter how hard he tried, he could never have guessed that above the Five Elders stood an original king who had lived for more than eight hundred years.

The true hidden ruler of the World Government.

Though the Five Elders were publicly the World Government's highest authority, they were merely that person's subordinates.

Now.

The advantage had been lost.

Crow and he had to retreat as soon as possible. If they were delayed, Saint Marcus Mars might summon the other four Five Elders again.

Then, facing six people, they would undoubtedly die!

"Trying to leave? Too late—"

Seeing that Dragon and Crow intended to retreat, Saint Marcus Mars glared furiously and crushed toward them with overwhelming Conqueror's Haki.

With a flap of his wings, he rapidly arrived before Crow.

Lord Imu was watching from the side. He had to redeem himself.

Saint Marcus Mars's right claw was wrapped in surging Haki as he unleashed a non-contact kick at Crow.

Crow's expression changed.

He tried to transform into his elemental form, but the other party's Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki forcibly suppressed it.

Left with no alternative.

Crow could only coat both arms in Armament Haki and cross them in front of himself.

"Puh—"

A circular shockwave spread outward.

The tremendous force drove Crow's hands heavily into his own chest.

Amid the sound of bones cracking, another shockwave burst from his back.

At the same time, blood filled his throat, and he spat out a large mouthful of it.

His entire body was sent flying.