Chapter 175 Paramecia is The Strongest

Although Dragon's Mythical Zoan transformation was a spectacle in itself, at that moment, all eyes across the battlefield and the world remained locked on the figure hovering far above the clouds. The one known only to a few as the true ruler of the world, Imu.

Redfield's slash, crackling with black lightning and Conqueror's Haki, had shattered Shanks' Divine Departure. It now streaked toward the heavens like a dark judgment, aimed directly at Imu, who floated silently above Pangaea Castle.

Just seconds earlier, Saint Topman Warcury had completed his monstrous transformation. His enormous Fengxi form had been preparing to ascend when a golden blur descended from the heavens. Dragon had crashed down upon him like a divine tempest, driving the elder's enormous body into the Red Line with enough force to split bedrock.

Yet before anyone could recover from that earth-shaking strike, Redfield's sword light was already upon Imu.

Everyone watching braced themselves.

What would the so-called ruler of the Empty Throne do?

Would she dodge?

Would she counter?

She did neither.

Imu extended her arm from beneath her red celestial robe, white fingers shining against the sunlight. Her voice, soft but commanding, rang out with a tone that allowed no defiance.

"Kamunagi no Jikan."

Time stills.

In that instant, a strange ripple passed through the air like a distortion in reality.

The deadly slash, infused with the Haki of a legend who once rivaled Roger, halted two meters before reaching her.

Once again, stopped completely.

Suspended in the sky, as if time itself had abandoned the idea of moving forward.

A stunned silence washed over the battlefield.

The members of the Buggy Pirates gasped aloud.

"No way! Even that slash got frozen?"

"That's Redfield's Conqueror-infused Heaven's Rend! What kind of monster can stop something like that?"

"What even is her ability? That's not Logia, is it?"

"It has to be Paramecia! Or... no, wait. Could it be a Mythical Zoan too?"

"There must be some limit. That kind of power. It breaks the very laws of battle!"

All across the world, viewers watching through the live broadcast were left speechless.

From the Grand Line to the New World, even hardened veterans were left with their jaws slack.

Redfield's slash had injured Garp. It had shattered Shanks' strongest technique.

Now it was hovering midair, nullified like a child's tantrum.

This was power that distorted the very flow of existence.

Far away, within the Crimson Empire, Garp stood in the heart of Flower City. Redfield had teleported him there in an instant, sparing him from the battlefield, and perhaps something else.

The city square was crowded, filled with civilians and soldiers alike. Giant screens displayed the ongoing war in Mary Geoise. The central feed showed the front lines at Pangaea Castle, where Imu now floated above a sky locked in stasis.

Garp's sudden appearance caused a commotion. But just as quickly, former Admiral Zephyr appeared with a squad of elite guards and calmed the masses.

Garp stood quietly, gazing up at the central screen.

He understood now.

Redfield had sent him here for a reason.

Not out of pity. But mercy.

When he saw Dragon's face twist with rage after realizing his father was gone, something in Garp's chest cracked and softened. There was no need for father and son to stand across from each other again, fists raised with duty tangled around their hearts.

Garp exhaled. He was still old. The old dog had been given a bone. An excuse. And he would take it.

He didn't want to stand on the same side as the Celestial Dragons.

He never had.

"I see what you did, Redfield," he muttered.

He turned as Zephyr approached and led him up to the tallest building in Flower City. From the rooftop, the two of them sat down, gazing out at the battle that would decide the world's fate.

Zephyr glanced over and offered a dry smile. "So you finally made a decision, Garp."

Garp nodded.

"You know me. I've never been good at politics. The World Nobles have always made my blood boil. Sengoku tried to pull me in, but… when I saw Dragon on that battlefield, I knew. I'm done fighting wars that pit me against my own family."

He crossed his arms and leaned back. "I've almost lost both of my grandsons to this world's madness. I'm not losing my son, too."

Zephyr's gaze returned to the screen, where Imu still floated, her face unreadable.

"Then all we can do now is watch, old friend," he said. "And hope they're ready."

Zephyr had assumed Garp would put up some resistance. But to his surprise, the old marine had accepted the situation without complaint. For a brief moment, Zephyr was stunned. Then he broke into laughter.

"Hahaha! Garp, you never change!"

Crunch. Crunch.

Garp simply grinned, tearing into a new packet of senbei without a care in the world.

Their moment of lightness didn't last.

Suddenly, the live broadcast screen lit up with chaos from the battlefield.

"What?!"

"No way!"

The Vice Admirals nearby couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"Do you understand what just happened? That woman blocked Redfield's slash! The same slash that tore through Shanks' Divine Departure like paper!"

"That's the second time now! She didn't even flinch!"

"And Redfield's technique is even stronger than Shanks'! He infused it with Conqueror's Haki and his awakened fruit! How can it just… stop in midair?"

"What kind of Devil Fruit can do this? That isn't Logia. Paramecia? Mythical Zoan? I've never heard of anything like it!"

Zephyr stood frozen, his face twisted in disbelief.

Even Garp paused, lowering his meat, eyes locked on the screen.

"After Redfield awakened his fruit, he surpassed me in overall strength, even his Haki. That much is clear," Garp said slowly. "Logically, no Devil Fruit should be able to stop an attack like that, not when Haki of that level backs it. And yet, it's happened twice now."

His voice dropped, eyes narrowing.

"There's only one answer. That woman's Haki is on a whole different level. It overwhelms Redfield completely."

Zephyr swallowed, a cold bead of sweat running down his temple.

To say that someone's Haki surpassed Redfield's was no small thing. Redfield, even in his old age, was a monster. After his awakening, he rivaled the legends of the world.

Only a handful could match him in raw Haki: Shanks, maybe Buggy in his prime, and Dragon.

And now this woman had stopped Redfield's ultimate technique as if it were nothing.

Zephyr knew it had to be true.

No amount of Devil Fruit trickery could negate an attack drenched in Conqueror's Haki unless the user's own Haki completely overpowered it.

Zephyr took a step back, his heart racing.

"How do we fight that? Is she really… a god?"

Garp clenched his fist.

"She's ruled the world from the shadows for over eight hundred years. If she's not a god, she's something worse."

Zephyr stood silent, the weight of that truth sinking in. Finally, after a long breath, he spoke.

"Then we put our faith in Buggy."

Garp nodded grimly. "Right. If anyone can tip the scales now, it's him. And if he fails… then the world will fall."

On the battlefield near Pangaea Castle, Buggy and his crew were coming to the same conclusion. Imu's power wasn't just immense. It was unnatural.

But Redfield wasn't finished.

Cold eyes locked on the sky above, he let out a sharp breath and growled.

"You stopped one slash. Let's see you stop a hundred."

He raised his blade to the heavens, black lightning crackling around it.

"Fangs of Dracul: Heaven's Rend."

The sky rippled from the pressure alone. His Haki spread like a storm cloud, and even the air felt heavier.

He knew the odds, but Redfield wasn't the kind of man to retreat.

Far in the distance, the remaining Five Elders understood what was coming. They would not sit idle.

Saint Marcus Mars and Saint Shepherd Ju Peter stepped forward with fury in their eyes.

"You dare challenge Lord Imu again?! You have chosen death!"

Their voices rang out, laced with divine wrath. In the next instant, they roared, not like men, but like beasts.

Two monstrous figures erupted from their human forms.

One was a grotesque, winged serpent with black feathers and a long, twisting neck. Its human-like face contorted with rage, and its eyes burned with ancient malice. A piercing shriek escaped its beak, splitting the sky.

The other was a colossal sand-colored behemoth, easily the size of a battleship. Its body burrowed through stone like it was nothing but dust. Its gaping maw, lined with concentric rings of razor-sharp teeth, opened wide like a gateway to death itself.

From a high ridge overlooking the battlefield, Dragon narrowed his eyes.

"As I suspected. Zoan-class again."

"Marcus Mars... Hito Hito no Mi, Mythical Model: Itsumade. A yokai born from plague and mourning."

"Ju Peter... Mushi Mushi no Mi, Mythical Model: Sandworm. A beast from legend said to devour entire cities from below."

"They are all Mythical Zoans. Just how many of these monsters has the World Government hidden from the world?"

But there was no time for hesitation.

Drawing his blade, Shanks stepped forward.

"You are not the only ones with power. And I will not let you interfere."

With a thunderous cry, his figure burst into motion, a streak of crimson light tearing through the field. In a flash, his blade was aimed directly at the towering, horned figure in the distance.

Clang.

At the last instant, another figure shot into view, wings beating with explosive force as he raised his sword to intercept. The clash ignited a shockwave that rippled across the battlefield like a drumbeat of war.

The very air trembled as the two powers met.

Shanks' eyes widened as he recognized the face behind the blade. His pupils narrowed, and his expression hardened.

"Even a Celestial Dragon dares to mock the captain? That alone is unforgivable."

Boom.

A wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Shanks like a violent storm. The sheer pressure cracked the ground and made the sky shudder.

Seraph Roger, the clone built in Gol D. Roger's image, was forced back by the overwhelming force. His wings faltered for a moment as he skidded through the air, barely able to withstand the surge.

"What kind of Haki is that?!"

From behind, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, now fully transformed into a monstrous beast, stared at the red-haired Yonko in disbelief. Even he, draped in myth and might, felt the force of Shanks' will.

But he was no coward. Behind him stood Imu, the being above all others. He could not afford to falter.

"Shanks! You're finished!"

Roaring in fury, Peter charged forward, his colossal form wreathed in orange Haki. He became a living meteor, hurtling toward Shanks with primal wrath.

Meanwhile, another Elder, Saint Marcus Mars, now in his serpent hybrid form, exhaled a stream of noxious purple smoke and turned his cold gaze toward the shadows.

"Blackbeard. Still hiding, are you?" His voice was calm, but lethal. "Did you think your fruit of silence would shield you here? You are surrounded by the strongest in the world. What do you take us for, fools?"

Across the field, Tesoro, Katakuri, Jinbei, Stussy, and the others froze for a moment. The tension rose sharply.

Only then did they realize that Blackbeard, who had been present since the start of the battle, had somehow slipped their attention. Not a single one of them had noticed his presence until now.

"Zehahaha!"

Blackbeard's laughter echoed across the battlefield. He stepped out from the shadows with a wicked grin on his face, his teeth flashing.

"So much for stealth, huh? Well, no helping it now!"

He raised a hand and gestured to his crew.

"Brothers, it's time. Let's take this world for ourselves!"

The Blackbeard Pirates roared in unison.

Shanks, locked in battle against two opponents, raised his gaze briefly and scoffed.

"Still chasing your cowardly dreams, Teach. Pathetic."

Blackbeard only grinned wider.

"History only remembers the winners, Shanks."

With a powerful swing, Shanks sent Peter flying, then turned back to clash with Seraph Roger again.

"I expected this from you. But I won't fall into the same trap twice."

"Beckman!"

Even before Shanks finished speaking, space shimmered behind Tesoro's group. One by one, the Red-Haired Pirates appeared in midair.

Beckman stood at the forefront, rifle slung over his shoulder, a toothpick between his lips.

"...Took long enough. We've been waiting for your signal."

He narrowed his eyes at the Blackbeard Pirates.

Blackbeard's grin faded. His pupils shrank.

He hadn't accounted for the Red-Haired crew arriving in full force. And now, with Buggy's allies still present, the tides were beginning to shift.

"We have the numbers now."

Sunbell grinned, his shark-like teeth gleaming.

"Teach, your luck just ran out," Jinbei added with a calm smile.

"Didn't he say earlier to stop worrying and fight?" Tesoro cracked his knuckles and struck the ground with his palm.

A golden wave erupted around him.

The Red Line beneath their feet began transforming, warping into a field of gleaming gold that spread hundreds of meters outward from Tesoro's position.

Within seconds, Tesoro had transformed into a towering golden giant, brimming with armament Haki.

Each of his movements now carried the weight to level a fortress.

"If that lands, the whole battlefield could flip upside down," Katakuri muttered, watching the golden titan rise.

"I didn't think you all were hiding this much strength," Stussy said with mild astonishment, her eyes narrowing with intrigue.

Tesoro smiled triumphantly, then turned his gaze toward the Five Elders standing before him. His voice dropped to a low, grim tone.

"I haven't wasted the past two years. Ever since I learned of Buggy's plan, I've been waiting for this day. The day I would bring Mary Geoise to its knees, just like in my dreams."

His eyes burned with fury.

"Stella... just wait. I'll kill every last Celestial Dragon. I'll avenge you!"

He raised his arms high as golden light surged around him, building with crackling force.

"Golden Wrath of God!"

His rage was so fierce, it radiated off him like a storm. All rational thought was swept away. He had completely forgotten Buggy's warning and launched his attack not toward the Five Elders, but at the Blackbeard Pirates.

The golden light gathered at his massive right fist, forming a glowing weapon of divine judgment. Then he hurled it forward.

With a screeching sound, a blinding beam blasted toward Blackbeard's position.

Across the field, Blackbeard sneered.

"You're underestimating me. You think you can take me head-on?"

He stepped forward without hesitation.

"Dark Vortex."

A swirling black vortex erupted in the palm of his left hand. Like a hungry void, it spun rapidly, dragging everything toward its center. He raised his hand and calmly pressed it against the oncoming golden blast.

In just seconds, Tesoro's devastating attack was swallowed whole by the darkness.

Gone. Erased.

The crowd gasped.

Blackbeard grinned wickedly.

"Golden Wrath of God, huh? Sounds flashy. Let me show you how it feels on your end."

He laughed, a deep, echoing roar.

Darkness surged behind him, rising like a shadowy storm. From its center, the golden light burst forth once more, only now, it was aimed directly at Tesoro.

Boom!

Tesoro was still reeling from the shock of seeing his strongest attack nullified. He barely had time to raise his guard.

The golden beam, now strengthened and amplified, struck him dead-on.

Crack.

With a thunderous crash, Tesoro's towering golden form crumbled like a statue toppled by fate. He slammed into the ground with a shudder that rippled across the battlefield, spitting blood mixed with black smoke from his lips.

His massive frame shrank back to normal size in an instant.

The attack had overwhelmed him.

But that wasn't all.

As Tesoro lay dazed, it hit him.

That wasn't just his own power being reflected. The Haki laced into the counterattack had vastly outclassed his own.

It wasn't even close.

No wonder. No wonder Buggy had warned him not to act too soon. Against someone like Blackbeard, a single mistake was fatal.

Behind him, even the Red Hair Pirates looked shaken.

They hadn't expected Blackbeard to hold such overwhelming strength.

Tesoro gritted his teeth. 'I was too weak. Stella...'

He clutched at the earth, coughing violently.

"Buggy... I'm sorry... I..."

Before he could finish, a voice echoed from the sky.

"No need for words between friends. I'll settle this myself." Buggy's voice rang out with clarity, carried on the wind.

And this time, it held a weight it rarely carried.

All eyes turned skyward. The strongest man in the world was finally preparing to act.

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