After suppressing and eliminating all resistance, the Marines split into three groups.
The first established a blockade around the island's perimeter and occupied the port.
The second boarded Marine warships and sealed off the surrounding waters.
The third followed the Celestial Dragons deeper into the island. Their task was to protect them, but they would not "steal their prey."
Across the island-
Unrestrained laughter, gunshots, and the dying's anguished cries rang out.
Corpses lay everywhere, men and women, young and old, killed by blades or bullets, some torn to pieces by savage beasts.
The Celestial Dragon contestants committed brutal atrocities across the island.
The fugitives instinctively huddled together, making themselves larger targets, only to become dark red sludge that soaked into the earth.
Human bodies were trampled into the filth, mangled beyond recognition.
Frenzy spread across the Celestial Dragon contestants' faces.
Their eyes held nothing but the pleasure of crushing others and the "honor" so easily within reach.
The Marines surrounded the entire island. In theory, this was a "safe" hunting ground.
In theory...
"Hey!? What's that?"
A Celestial Dragon riding a Chocobo looked up.
He wore a bubble helmet and the traditional attire of the Celestial Dragons.
But compared with most of his kind, he was well-proportioned and agile.
"Master-look out-!"
His accompanying guards sensed something was wrong.
The ordinary CP Agents and Marine soldiers following him saw only a point of light steadily growing larger.
It even gave them the illusion that two suns had appeared in the sky.
-The sun fell.
An earth-shattering explosion and dazzling white light struck, felt to varying degrees across the entire island.
A handful of elite Cipher Pol operatives and older Marine officers immediately recalled the incident from over thirty years ago.
A dozen seconds later-
Bondrewd, clad in fully enclosed black