Chapter 399: El Vs the Five Elders

"Roar—!"

At the shoreline stood several massive beasts, lined up side by side.

All emanated a fierce killing aura, fixing their gaze upon the towering figure of El.

Yet they did not launch an immediate assault. Cautious, they stood on guard, refusing any rash move.

Some years ago, this "monster" had already awakened his Devil Fruit power, elevating his strength to frightening heights. One could only imagine how terrifying he must be now. Moreover, he wasn't some reckless brute or fool—he had previously crossed blades with the five of them, fully aware of their battle prowess. If his power hadn't grown significantly, and if he lacked the confidence, why would he dare be so audacious, even to the point of shackling himself with seastone?

Though they did not believe Fallen Angel El could actually withstand their combined attacks—especially after putting on high‑purity seastone and refusing to use his fruit powers—they still wouldn't take him lightly. They refrained from any pointless, hasty attacks.

"Hmph, I suppose it's time to begin!"

A splendid, curved "Barbaric Dragon Blade" stood upright before him.

His figure, nine meters tall and proudly upright, radiated an awe that compelled respect.

He locked eyes on the Five Elders, smiling:

"If you lot won't make a move first, then I suppose I will!"

"Uhu—!"

Before the words even settled, Saint Mars—transformed into Itsumade—beat his wings and shot forward. His open beak gathered scorching black flame, suffused with terrifying heat, and he unleashed it straight at El.

"Crack, crack…"

Immediately after, Saint Saturn, now a Gyuki, spat out several poison orbs that arced through the air toward El.

"Crack! Crack!"

Saint Valkyrie, in the Fengxi form, roared.

Two colossal tusks morphed into blade-like edges, striking with lightning speed.

"Roar—!"

Likewise, the sandworm bellowed.

Its rows of razor teeth gaped wide, revealing its true power:

"Air-Pressure Cannon!!!"

"Crack—" The sound of something tearing through the air.

A giant, highly compressed gust bullet shot forth, slicing the atmosphere and barreling onward.

Then, in the next moment,

Saint Nasujuro—taking on the Bakotsu form—joined the offensive as well. The First Generation Kitetsu, sheathed in Haki and imbued with the frigid aura of the underworld, slashed down viciously at El.

"Crack—"

A massive, lethal slash tore through the air like a speeding comet, bearing dreadful killing intent upon El.

All at once, five monstrous beings struck with everything they had, no reservations at all, intent on annihilating him. It was horrifying, enough to make one's scalp prickle.

"Heh, that's more like it!"

El's expression remained unruffled.

The flames behind his head dimmed altogether. He picked up his splendid greatsword, eyes fierce, exuding a chilling aura that rose steadily.

"Bori… bola…"

Visible streaks of black-red lightning danced atop the sword's cold steel, enough to make hearts tremble.

"Conqueror—!"

In an instant, his bearing became unimaginably intimidating. Veins bulged, and clutching his greatsword, he struck down with unstoppable might.

"Vroom—"

Power beyond measure, paired with unbelievably potent Haki, crashed down, crushing the very air. It took form as a vast, unbridled shockwave, rolling forward in unstoppable force.

It tore into the poison orbs, the compressed air bullet, the slicing tusk-blade attacks, the freezing slash from Saint Nasujuro, the black-flame bombardment of Saint Mars—meeting them head-on.

"Boom—BOOM!!!!"

At that moment, the thunder of impact came in waves, brilliance flaring. The entire island shook violently.

Never mind the mid-tier fighters among the remaining slaves, pirates, or Marines who were still conscious—even the major powerhouses like Steel-Bone Kong, Rocks, and Golden Lion paused, alarmed, and shot glances that way. More than a few felt their hair stand on end, hurriedly shifting away.

"Uuu…"

"Boom… BOOM…"

It was as though a cataclysmic storm had erupted—a monstrous gale sweeping in. Even the island's center, some distance from the eastern shore, felt the onslaught. Countless boulders, vegetation, and even buildings were crushed, while swaths of pirates, Marines, slaves, criminals, and locals were flung aside. The clash was beyond normal imagination, leveling the entire eastern coast and erasing a corner sector entirely. Much of the island's central area became a wasteland, and seawater flooded in. The spectacle was indescribably shocking, enough to make scalps tingle.

"Roar… roaar…"

Amid swirling dust, several giant beasts roared and emerged in separate directions, converging upon the imposing figure—a tall, intimidating silhouette, to hunt him down.

"Huff—!"

Suddenly, the giant sandworm burst up from beneath, lunging for Fallen Angel El with snapping jaws.

"Crack—"

The savage greatsword, wreathed in black-red lightning, swung out fiercely.

"Clang!!!"

A flash of cold light.

The clash of metal pierced the ears. The First Generation Kitetsu and El's curved dragon-blade clashed from a short distance away.

"Bori… bola…"

The forceful wind shredded the ground. Two raging waves of Conqueror's Haki collided with fury…

Thick arcs of black-red lightning crisscrossed in every direction. The sheer violence of it made the horse-demon Saint Nasujuro's expression shift drastically, nearly dislodging the cursed blade from his grasp.

"How is this possible?"

Saint Nasujuro couldn't believe that El, matching him blow for blow, had only used one hand on the massive sword. Such staggering strength!

Almost simultaneously, El's free hand balled into a fist and fired off a ruthless strike:

"Boom!!!"

His Conqueror's-infused punch shook the atmosphere, materializing as a dreadful shockwave that swatted aside the lunging sandworm beast mid-bite.

"Roar…"

It screeched in pain, coughing blood. Its massive form hurtled away like a cannonball, flying toward the southern shore.

They did possess formidable regenerative powers, reminiscent of near-immortality. Yet if struck by sufficient force, they could still feel agony, be wounded, and bleed. Their advantage was rapid recovery—but not invulnerability.

"Huff—"

With a violent whoosh, his towering right leg—wreathed in unbelievably strong Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki—instantly split the air in a thunderous kick.

"Bam!!!"

That horrifying might directly halted the snarling boar's wild charge, head-on. Even as it channeled black-red lightning over its iron hide, it crashed into El's blow with a clamor.

"Boom… BOOM…"

"Bori… bola…"

A giant arc of black-red electricity flared chaotically. The colossal shockwave buckled the ground, rending it open. Before Saint Valkyrie's disbelieving eyes, El's right leg, bearing unimaginable power, bashed aside a creature so strong it could raze mountains.

"Boom!!!"

At that instant, a pair of massive black wings flapped once.

"Huhuhu…"

A tempest-like gust instantly knocked the poison orbs—launched from the Gyuki's mouth—straight back. The orbs reversed course at the bull demon, who had planned to ambush El.

"Rumble—Rumble—"

Thunderous explosions ensued. Two or three unremarkable poison bombs unleashed unimaginable blasts. Not only was the bull demon caught in the blast, but so was the black-flame bird who'd been swooping in. Neither had time to dodge, and both were swallowed up by the powerful eruption.