The Five Elders bowed and sent envoys; Akainu furiously shattered his Fleet Admiral badge!

The Hua Empire's successive moves shook the seas like massive stones hurled into a still lake, their ripples spreading across the entire Grand Line at an astonishing speed. Zhou Yu had thrown the Sabaody Archipelago into turmoil and rescued countless people, Zhao Yun and Ma Chao had brought the Sakura Kingdom under their control without bloodshed, and the God of War, Bai Qi, held Fish-Man Island, intimidating the Four Blues. For the first time, the once-lofty World Government had shown the world its true nature: formidable on the outside, hollow within.

Countless kingdoms and races that the World Government had exploited for centuries finally saw hope of escaping its dark rule. Within a single month, seven kingdoms in the first half of the Grand Line sent envoys to Fish-Man Island of their own accord, expressing their willingness to submit to the Hua Empire. Meanwhile, unease gripped the kingdoms that still clung to the World Government. Their nobles lived in constant dread, afraid the Empire's armies might arrive at their gates at any moment.

The Red Line, the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders' conference room.

A month had passed since Zhou Yu kidnapped the Celestial Dragons, yet the oppressive atmosphere and fury in the conference room had not diminished in the slightest. The Bald Five Elders stared at the pleas for aid from the various Affiliated Nations in his hands, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. His fingers dug deep into his palms from the force of his grip, and blood dripped between them onto the expensive carpet, but he remained utterly unaware.

"Useless! Every last one of them!" He slammed a stack of letters onto the floor, his roar nearly lifting the roof. "Seven kingdoms! In just one month, seven kingdoms have defected