Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

at the same time.

Between the powers of the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

As the voice rang out, the Five Elders knelt on one knee to show their submission, even deliberately softening their breathing.

An almost frozen sense of solemnity filled the air.

Before the empty throne, a colossal figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

His steps were silent, yet they seemed to echo the sounds of history.

Im—the supreme ruler of the World Government and the master of the Void Throne—has personally arrived at this moment.

He sat on the throne of nothingness.

This seat, which is said to be owned by everyone, has its own owner.

Im's enormous body was shrouded in a loose white robe, his face hidden in shadow.

Only a pair of eyes, seemingly having seen through the long river of time, shone with a faint yet eternal light in the dimness.

Im spoke calmly: "Satan."

The God of Scientific Defense, Jaigolusia Satan Saint, trembled almost imperceptibly and lowered his head even further: "Lord Im, please give your orders."

Im's voice rang out, "Mm, try that one."

Satan looked up and opened his mouth wide, appearing somewhat flustered.

He certainly knew what that referred to.

That is the ultimate power hidden deep within Mary Geoise, which only Lord Im has the right to wield—one of the legendary ancient weapons, Uranus the King!

"Lord Im! You mean Uranus?"

Satan wanted to confirm it again.

The other four members of the Five Elders couldn't help but exchange glances, their shock barely concealed.

Among the ancient weapons, Poseidon and Hades have been missing for a long time, but Uranus has always been in the hands of Lord Im, and is the most important weapon for maintaining the rule of the gods.

But precisely because of this, they are even more aware of the implications of using it, and the appalling cost.

Uranus's role was to end that great war.

Im: "What's the problem?"

"But, Lord Im!"

Satan forced himself to calm down. "Powering Uranus requires a terrifying energy source. It has been rarely used for the past few centuries precisely because suitable fuel has been so hard to find."

Im said, "What about the research that Mu entrusted you with overseeing? Hasn't the energy source already been delivered?"

The one who delivered the energy source was none other than that genius scientist, inventor, head of the Navy's Special Science Class, Brain-Brain Fruit user, and man with the world's number one brain.

Vegapunk!

Many years ago, Vegapunk's research required a large amount of funding.

The only entity capable of providing him with such a massive amount of funding is the World Government.

The Heavenly Gold allowed the Celestial Dragons to accumulate enormous wealth.

Vegapunk was subsequently recruited by the World Government to conduct research.

The Mother Flame is an important topic.

Satan forced a smile and said, "Although Vegapunk's research is nearing completion and the theory of the Mother Spark has been verified, what he sent were only preliminary test samples. The energy output was extremely unstable, and the conversion efficiency was far from perfect."

If this is used to power the Heavenly King, it probably won't be able to unleash its absolute erasure-level power.

Satan spoke faster and faster, his back soaked with cold sweat.

As a scientific defense god, Vegapunk has always directly overseen the Mother Spark project he researched.

That thing, hailed as possessing almost limitless energy potential, truly represents the possibilities of the future.

As a scientist himself, Satan was also amazed.

But the current Mother Spark is more like an unstable bomb than a perfect energy source.

It hasn't been tested yet.

"Even if it's not a fully-fledged Heavenly King, it's still a weapon-level power."

Im coldly replied, "How can human strength contend with this?"

Weapon level!

These four words echoed in the minds of the Five Elders, who were very clear about their meaning.

Indeed, just as Lord Im said, the Four Emperors-level powerhouses, such as Whitebeard and Kaido, are monsters in the eyes of the world, capable of taking on an entire nation single-handedly.

But weapon grade is a concept of another dimension.

That power is enough to easily wipe a large kingdom off the map, alter the terrain, and trigger natural disasters; its destructive force exceeds the limits of what an individual can achieve.

It is a true strategic deterrence!

It is the manifestation of divine punishment!

Even in the past, there have been very few individual monsters that have reached or come close to the level of weapons.

Over the years, the only name that stands out in my memory is that of the world king who almost overturned the world: Rocks D. Giebeck!

The man who brought together a host of legendary pirates, including Whitebeard, Shiki, Kaido, and Big Mom.

And Harald, the Giant King, who was personally given a special mark by Lord Im after Rocks' death!

The giant king, who possessed an immortal body, had also reached that level of strength.

Lord Im's will is inviolable, especially now that the forbidden symbol Nika has reappeared and is displaying such terrifying potential.

Eliminating Nika is the highest priority.

but......

Satan's Adam's apple bobbed. As the person responsible who had to speak up at this point, he steeled himself and tried to make a final effort.

"Lord Im, please reconsider!"

Satan pressed his forehead against the cold ground. "The Impel Battlefield is not only home to the Straw Hat Pirates, the remnants of Whitebeard's crew, and escaped prisoners, but also to the entire elite force of the Marine Headquarters!"

The three generals, the hero Garp, the marshal Sengoku, and tens of thousands of mid-level officers and elite soldiers.

If the power of the Heavenly King were to spread, it would be the most devastating loss the Navy has ever suffered since its formation, and could even severely damage the Navy system, leaving it unable to recover.

Of course, Satan had no pity for the navy.

In Satan's eyes, these ant-like beings were nothing more than a group of decent henchmen.

It is a valuable asset for world governments to maintain the order they need.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he felt a cold gaze fall on him as if it were a physical object.

Satan fell silent instantly, a chill running down his spine to the top of his head.

This is the second time!

Satan understood.

In Lord Im's eyes, the Navy, the CP Agency, and even the Knights of God are all merely tools and consumables for maintaining his rule.

Over the course of eight hundred years, Im has witnessed the rise and fall of too many powers. So-called elites are nothing but a ripple in the face of eternal time and absolute power.

Even the Five Elders can be replaced!

Satan has never been so panicked. No, there's no need to panic!

He is loyal to Lord Im after all, and as long as he doesn't do anything against the rules, he should be fine.

Wait... The image of a huge machine involuntarily flashed through his mind.

That matter should be fine, right?

No one will know.

Satan comforted himself.

Tools that are damaged can be forged again; consumables that are used up can be replenished.

Just like the giants of yesteryear.

Lord Im originally intended to transform the giant race into a powerful force comparable to the Marine Headquarters.

The Five Elders also believed that it was a powerful force that could be slowly eroded and absorbed, and that in time, it might become the sharpest sword in the hands of the Celestial Dragons.

But what about Lord Im's decision?

Recalling that long-buried history, Satan felt nothing but trembling.

He dared not utter another word.

The environmental martial god, Marcus Maz Saint, the legal martial god, Topman Worchley Saint, the agricultural martial god, Shepard X Peter Saint, and the financial martial god, Izanbaro V Nassshuro Saint, all kept their eyes down and remained absolutely silent.

At this moment, any unnecessary words could backfire.

But Satan had no choice, because the matter of the Mother Flame was his responsibility as the God of Scientific Defense. Satan cursed his colleagues in his heart.

"Understood. I will go and retrieve the mother fire test subject immediately."

"Lord Im, may I ask which sea area should disappear from the map?"

"Imper, the entire domain."

Im's voice pronounced a death sentence on that sea area.

.....

Not long after.

Above Impel Down, an indescribable tremor emanated from the highest heavens.

This battlefield seems to have been targeted.

Those powerful individuals with strong Observation Haki felt the oppressive atmosphere emanating from the air.