"Stand down, all of you, stand down!"
Just as tensions on the plaza reached their peak, the crowd on one side suddenly parted to make way. A moment later, an imposing elder strode into the plaza. He wore a grand cloak, had a crescent-shaped hairstyle, and a rapier strapped to his waist. His presence was formidable, and he walked briskly toward one of the large craters.
"Salute to Saint Garling, Head of the God's Knights!"
As soon as the elder reached the edge of the crater, a Marine officer climbed out. Ignoring the bandages hanging from his mouth, he dropped to one knee and greeted the elder respectfully.
At the title he used, the surrounding crowd burst into chaos.
"Saint Garling?! Isn't he the commander of the God's Knights? My God, after all these years stationed in the Holy Land, this is my first time seeing him!"
"Even the God's Knights have been mobilized? What in the world is going on here?!"
"And what's with that woman in underwear falling from the sky?"
"Saint Garling appearing in person... could it be that the Holy Land has been invaded?"
The elder was none other than Feigaland Garling, former king of the Valley of Gods, now the commander of the God's Knights.
"You're in a sorry state, officer," Garling looked down at the Marine with icy indifference, then shifted his gaze to the surrounding crowd. His voice rumbled like thunder, "Return to your posts. This area is now under the jurisdiction of the God's Knights. No one is to approach without my permission."
With those words, the crowd that had been chattering moments ago instantly fell silent and began retreating in an orderly manner.
"Saint Garling, I have important information!"
As the crowd dispersed, a figure ran against the flow, Spandam, racing from the World Government headquarters toward him.
"Halt!" a God's Knight drew his sword without hesitation, pointing it directly at Spandam's throat before he could get any closer.
Spandam froze, legs trembling, and dropped to his knees with a loud thud. His voice quivered, "Saint Garling, I have important information..."
Garling didn't even spare him a glance. With a casual wave, he ordered, "Take him away."
At that moment, Spandine appeared, rushing over in a panic.
Before the God's Knights could act, Spandine darted in front of his son and bowed deeply. "Saint Garling, please don't be angry. I'll take him away immediately!"
He didn't dare delay. Dragging his foolish son up, he fled as fast as he could.
Though he was the highest-ranking officer of CP9, before Garling, the mighty commander of the God's Knights, he was less than an insect. Garling held not only the authority to protect the Celestial Dragons and enforce their rule, but even the power to judge and execute them.
In front of such a terrifying figure, Spandine's ambitions meant nothing. Until those ambitions bore fruit, he could do nothing but grovel.
As the father and son left the plaza, Garling got straight to the point. "What happened? Why are you..."
He trailed off and suddenly looked toward the sky, suspicion flashing in his eyes.
The God's Knight, still kneeling, didn't dare lie. "Reporting to you, sir... We were blasted back here by Conqueror's Haki."
"What?" Garling's pupils shrank. He looked past her at the other God's Knights behind her. "It was that damned Elio who did this? Even with six of you together, you couldn't subdue him?"
Gunko lowered her head in shame. "We didn't even get the chance to fight."
As she spoke, she suddenly looked up sharply. "Saint Garling, Elio... he knows about Imu."
Those words hit Garling like a thunderbolt.
"What did you just say?!"
Meanwhile, atop Marineford, on the rooftop of Marine Headquarters...
Elio stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the horizon. Several warships were slowly sinking beneath the waves. His eyes narrowed.
Though they flew the flag of "Judicial Authority," Elio knew better. Those ships weren't just from Enies Lobby, they were filled with CP9 agents.
From the moment they headed straight for Marineford, Elio had sensed them with Observation Haki. He even picked up the thoughts of several crew members, confirming that these ships were dispatched by none other than Spandine, CP9's highest commander.
"Spandine..."
A cruel smirk curled on Elio's lips.
That Spandine dared to act now, even coordinating with the God's Knights, meant only one thing, his intelligence network had penetrated even their ranks. Not only had he extended his reach into the Marines, but he'd also infiltrated various departments within the Holy Land.
Say what you will about his personality, but to achieve this despite his weak combat strength? Elio had to hand it to him.
That said, admiration aside, Spandine had clearly made his move, trying to eliminate Elio in collaboration with forces from Enies Lobby and powerful officials in the Holy Land.
That meant only one thing, he must have been prepared to die.
"Fleet Admiral, what should we do about this teleportation array?" asked Gion, who had been silent by Elio's side the whole time.
She wasn't concerned about the ships Elio had destroyed. Her gaze was locked on the now-inactive teleportation circle across the rooftop.
"It's dangerous to leave it here. Do you have a way to remove it?"
Before Elio could answer, Borsalino stepped forward. "I'll stay and guard it."
"No need."
Elio waved him off. "Let me try something."
He walked toward the spot where the God's Knights had once stood. After inspecting it briefly, an idea formed in his mind.
"Gion, bring me two sealing tags."
"Eh?" Gion blinked, thinking she'd misheard. Her eyes widened. "Fleet Admiral, this is a God's Knight teleportation array..."
The three Admirals turned to look at Elio in disbelief.
Sakazuki's face twitched. He didn't understand how the array worked, but he was sure of one thing, sealing tags wouldn't work.
Borsalino opened his mouth, then shut it, pretending to be serene.
Kuzan simply furrowed his brow, calm but clearly puzzled.
Seeing their confusion, Elio blinked. "What? Do I need to say it again?"
"N-No, no need..." Gion laughed awkwardly, realizing Elio was serious. She turned and dashed off.
Soon, she returned with the tags in hand.
Elio took them, pressing them to his palm. Then, he quietly released Conqueror's Haki.
The air began to vibrate with a subtle, low-frequency hum. But instead of bursting outward like before, the Conqueror's Haki began to flow into the sealing tags in his hand.
"!!!"
The sight before them was mind-blowing.
The three Admirals and Gion all stared, eyes bulging. Borsalino's jaw practically hit the floor.
Sakazuki and Kuzan were less exaggerated but no less shocked.
Conqueror's Haki... could be used like this?!
Elio caught their stunned expressions and nearly laughed. Still, as the Fleet Admiral now, he held it in.
As the Conqueror's Haki surged into the sealing tags, Elio began chanting a mystical incantation. His voice rose, his words speeding up.
The vibration in the air intensified, a strange hum ringing endlessly.
The Admirals and Gion were baffled, unable to make sense of it. Who the hell used Conqueror's Haki like this?
Still, they said nothing.
Just as the intensity reached its peak, Elio's voice thundered out:
"Great Heavenly Dragon! Bodhisattva of Wisdom! Guardian of the World! BANREI BAMI BOOM-!"
With a loud BOOM, he slapped the tag onto the rooftop.
A wave of energy rippled through the air. The tag embedded itself into the ground as if becoming one with it.
"Done."
Elio dusted his hands and smiled in satisfaction. "With this seal in place, if they try to use the teleportation point again, we'll send them right back where they came from."