The Useless Five Elders

The center of the battlefield.

The massive root platform of the Yarukiman Mangrove had long since become unrecognizable.

Enormous craters, crisscrossing trenches carved by slashes, and charred marks from lightning strikes covered every inch of the ground.

The battle had entered a heated war of attrition.

Lin Nuo, Rocks, Whitebeard, and Roger stood back-to-back, forming a small battle formation as they withstood the frenzied assaults coming from all directions.

Their opponents were—

Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong, the Hero Garp, and the tactician Sengoku.

As well as the Five Elders, whose coordination was flawless.

At the start, relying on their abundant stamina, peak strength, and momentary bursts of power, the four of them had still been able to fight on equal terms.

Forcing the Marines to respond cautiously.

But when it came to fighting together, their opponents were the Five Elders, who had worked in tandem for who knew how many years.

Even more troublesome was that, through their contract with Imu, they only grew stronger and more energized as the battle continued.

They showed no sign of fatigue whatsoever.

As one side weakened and the other strengthened, Lin Nuo and the others began to feel the pressure.

The continuous high-intensity clashes consumed Haki and stamina at an astonishing rate.

Whitebeard's breathing had clearly grown heavier, sweat beaded on Roger's forehead, and even Rocks's sword swings had begun to slow.

Lin Nuo was still in relatively good shape thanks to the Lunarians' formidable physique and the support of two Devil Fruits.

But he knew that if this continued, defeat would only be a matter of time.

During a brief lull in the fighting, he swiftly glanced toward the coast behind them.

Through the gaps in the forest, he could see the ships of the Kuja Pirates, as well as their