Chapter 367: The Five Elders' Frustration
As the Five Elders' faces darkened.
Celestial Dragon continued, "As for other reinforcements in this Holy Land, don't hold onto any false hopes."
He glanced at the allied leaders, still reeling from the revelation about the Sea Kings encircling Marine HQ.
"This time, we demons brought nearly ten thousand in number, and we even arranged for Beasts Kaido and Big Mom to join. The guards and Marines here won't reach you that easily."
"We've got plenty of time now, so, what's your answer?"
Immense pressure bore down on every allied leader. They exchanged glances and cold sweat dripped.
Even the most arrogant kings didn't dare speak carelessly now.
They were facing lunatics bold enough to brazenly invade Marijoa, and the enemy's strength was overwhelming.
Ten thousand demons, what kind of power did that represent? They didn't know.
But Kaido and Big Mom's presence chilled their hearts. No wonder the Marine escorts hadn't shown up.
They were likely too busy saving themselves!
Now, the allied leaders turned their eyes to the Five Elders. When the sky falls, the tallest bear it first.
On such a sensitive matter, no one wanted to stick their neck out, better to see what the World Government would do.
As the rulers of the world for eight hundred years, they must have some foundation, right?
They couldn't crumble this easily under a demon assault, how else had they survived those eight centuries?
Feeling all eyes on them, the two Five Elders sensed the mounting pressure.
If Marine Headquarters truly couldn't send help, they were in deep trouble.
By all logic, Marijoa's forces were formidable, but the demons were on another level.
Seven Apostles, each with a terrifying aura, plus those demons.
Ten thousand demons, how strong were they? The Five Elders didn't know.
But the absence of the God Knights and other reinforcements spoke volumes.
They still had a trump card: Imu-sama and the national treasure deep within Pangea Castle.
But if Imu didn't act, there must be a reason, leaving them in a dilemma.
Being cornered by demons was utterly unbearable for the Five Elders.
"What exactly do you Apostles want? If it's still that same demand, it's impossible."
Under the shocked gazes of the room, Saint Topman Warcury spoke up.
His words hinted at compromise, facing demons who'd attacked Marijoa head-on, the Five Elders were yielding.
It sounded almost fantastical.
It also made some allied leaders' eyes flicker. Was this the benefit of power?
Even the Five Elders, the world's highest authority, would bend to it.
What about that proposal they'd hoped to pass at the Reverie?
Hearing the Five Elders' concession, Celestial Dragon let out a low chuckle.
He knew that forcing the World Government to submit with this level of strength was still unrealistic.
As a power that had ruled for eight hundred years, they surely had hidden cards.
The demons didn't hold an overwhelming advantage, though Celestial Dragon had consulted His Majesty the Demon God for this operation.
But the Demon God's intentions were beyond even Celestial Dragon's guesses.
So he could only rely on the demons' current strength. If they kept growing, making the World Government bow in the future wasn't impossible.
They'd still need to watch that man, the Sun God King's stance.
Celestial Dragon didn't believe that man wouldn't resist the World Government submitting to demons.
For now, they'd have to take it slow.
"You still have a bounty on our Demon God, don't you? Humans putting a bounty on a god, don't you find that absurd?"
Hearing Celestial Dragon's remark, the Five Elders froze.
They wouldn't invade Marijoa over that, would they?
The Five Elders felt a surge of frustration.
While the Five Elders stewed.
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Kong had received more concrete intel from Marijoa: Kaido and Big Mom were there too.
He'd just tried calling the Five Elders via Den Den Mushi, but the line wouldn't connect.
It seemed the World Government needed support.
Those allied kings couldn't fall, or the seas would descend into chaos.
He gazed at the shadowy sea around Marineford, teeming with dark figures.
Then he turned to Admiral White Phoenix Esdeath and Aokiji.
"Esdeath, Kuzan, can you freeze all the Sea Kings around us?"
Aokiji scratched his head, eyeing the slowly circling shadows, feeling troubled.
Those Sea Kings were immensely strong. The deeper he froze the sea, the more stamina it drained, and he wasn't entirely confident he could lock them all down.
Seeing Aokiji hesitate, Esdeath stepped forward. The demon invasion intrigued her.
But this time, she acted for prestige.
Freezing the Sea Kings would let her take leave again.
Before anyone could react, Esdeath made her move.
Massive ice pillars extended into the ocean.
The anxious Marines at Marine HQ brightened.
The sea rapidly froze, spreading outward. In an instant, their view became a vast white expanse.
"Amazing! Admiral Esdeath did it! Those Sea Kings can't threaten us now, right?"
Dark Night, who'd vanished after delivering the message to HQ, reappeared at a secluded edge of Marineford.
Beside him was his partner, Winter.
Dark Night had relayed the message, while Winter commanded the demonized Sea Kings.
"How is it going, Winter? Can you undo it?"
Dark Night's ethereal voice sounded.
Winter wasn't just controlling the Sea Kings, he was tasked with countering the Marine's potential sea-freezing tactic.
Beyond freezing, his ability included thawing ice.
"No good. That human's freezing is far stronger than mine. I can undo a little, but not on this scale."
Winter touched the frozen sea, then shook his head.
He sensed a strange power reinforcing the ice. It was beyond his current ability to break.
"Is that so? Looks like the plan to trap the Sun God King failed."
Dark Night accepted it quickly.
As expected, such tricks were prone to backfiring. Fortunately, this operation didn't hinge on trapping him.
Even if King went, the demons had His Majesty the Demon God behind them.
With the sea frozen, if the Marine dawdled, they might arrive too late anyway.
( End of this Chapter )