Chapter 154: Saturn's Head Was Smashed!

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"Do you truly believe killing three Celestial Dragons is enough to topple the World Government, Portgas D. Ace?" Saint Saturn, one of the Five Elders, tightened his grip on the Staff of Power, his gaze icy as it locked onto Ace across the battlefield.

To the Five Elders, the deaths of three Celestial Dragons meant little. If not for the other party broadcasting the event live to the entire world, setting the stage for a public execution, they wouldn't have even been bothered to move. In the grand scheme of things, ordinary Celestial Dragons were of no consequence to the Five Elders. To them, the true elite were the Knights of God. The rest were merely breeding stock, tools for ensuring the continued existence of potential candidates for the Knights of God.

So what if it was broadcast globally? The World Government, having ruled for over eight hundred years, had weathered countless storms. The thought that ordinary people would dare question them was laughable. Any uprising could be quashed with brute force. The Buster Call existed for that very reason. To the Five Elders, the common people were nothing more than insects—pests whose minds had long been controlled and molded over centuries of their rule.

Celestial Dragons were born as the nobility of the world, wielding unchallenged privileges. Even in public, they could kill civilians on a whim, and it was simply considered their divine right. As descendants of the so-called "Creator," they had the natural-born authority to deal with civilians however they pleased. Ordinary people were born to serve. They were expected to kneel in reverence whenever a Celestial Dragon passed by. If a civilian dared to offend either a Celestial Dragon or the World Government, they would be reduced to nothing more than a slave.

And once enslaved, the chains never broke. The descendants of slaves would remain slaves, doomed to an eternal life of servitude. This was the order the Five Elders sought to maintain. This was the balance they had fought to protect for centuries. Celestial Dragons would always reign at the top, while commoners would forever remain at the bottom. Should they challenge this hierarchy, their fate was sealed—eternal servitude. And all this was why the Five Elders allowed certain Celestial Dragons, whom they considered little more than trash, to act with impunity on the seas.

Celestial Dragons could freely seize women they fancied from the streets, drag them to the Holy Land, and even kill civilians without facing consequences. All of this served to reinforce the class distinctions that the World Government had painstakingly created. In their eyes, the social hierarchy was locked, immovable, and predetermined at birth: Celestial Dragons, commoners, and slaves. There was no escape, no upward mobility. This was the world the Five Elders envisioned—a world where these rigid class structures were eternal.

This was why, even after Doflamingo's father renounced his Celestial Dragon status, Doflamingo's attempt to reclaim that title—by killing his own father and bringing his head back to the Holy Land—was in vain. No matter what, Doflamingo could never be reinstated as a Celestial Dragon. The ideals that the World Government and the Five Elders had ingrained in society left no room for such a reversal.

But amidst this rigid world order lay a dangerous and unpredictable factor—the will of "D." The very existence of those bearing the initial "D" threatened to destabilize the world the Five Elders had built. The will of "D" brought with it a promise to dismantle the oppressive class system, to free the slaves, the soldiers, and the minds of the people. Such ideas had to be buried, erased from history itself. And on this island, there were far too many who dared to challenge the class hierarchy. They needed to be wiped out. And the greatest threat of all stood before him—Portgas D. Ace!

This was the reason the Five Elders themselves had come to face him.

"Such a detestable gaze," Ace remarked, observing Saint Saturn's eerie, unnatural expression. A den den mushi, a transponder snail used to transmit images, appeared in Ace's hand as he grinned.

"Well then, let me make the final stage of this public execution a little more interesting. How about I give you a gift? Consider it a personal greeting to you, Five Elders," Ace said with a mocking smile as he raised his hand.

Suddenly, three soft bangs echoed through the air. Three bullets flew through the space where the bodies of the slain Celestial Dragons—the Rosward family—lay.

Under the overwhelming pressure of Ace's Conqueror's Haki, the bullets drifted slowly towards him.

"You!!!" For the first time since arriving, Saint Saturn's eyes widened in shock. Even as Ace had executed the Roswads publicly, in front of the entire world, the Five Elders had remained unmoved. But now, their cold, steely composure began to crack.

"These bullets," Ace began, holding them in his hand, "are the very ones that killed the Celestial Dragons. They contain no Devil Fruit powers, no Haki—nothing special about them at all. They are the simplest, most common bullets that anyone in this sea could easily obtain."

His grin widened as he continued, "Just ordinary bullets. And yet, they killed Celestial Dragons."

Ace paused for effect, letting his words sink in.

"Anyone can do it. Anyone who dares... can kill the Celestial Dragons!"

Ace's lips curled into a reckless grin. From the very start, he had never intended to execute the Rosward family himself. His plan all along had been to let Nojiko kill the three Celestial Dragons with nothing more than an ordinary bullet. It was all for this moment.

This public execution wasn't just about taking action against the Celestial Dragons or confronting the World Government. No, Ace had orchestrated the entire event as a stage, forcing both the world's rulers and everyone across the seas to witness what he had planned. Every move followed a script he had carefully written, using the event to not only assert his own power but to deepen his control over his Conqueror's Haki.

Yet, beyond the spectacle, this was a trial—a test between Ace, the Five Elders, and the mysterious Imu, who stood behind them all. Seeing the way Saint Saturn's strange eyes began to shift and intensify, Ace felt certain his suspicions were being confirmed.

The will of "D"—what the Five Elders feared most. Although Ace hadn't fully unraveled its mysteries, one thing was becoming clear: the concept of liberation played a key role. Eight hundred years ago, the legendary figure Nika, known as the "Sun God," had freed enslaved people and established a grand kingdom. The World Government had buried this story, erasing all traces of Nika and his legacy. But to Ace, this legend offered crucial insight into the fear the Five Elders held deep within their hearts.

And because this was the World Government's greatest fear—something they desperately wanted to hide—Ace was determined to spread it far and wide. Let the whole world know the truth.

"I, Portgas D. Ace, carry the blood of the Pirate King," Ace declared with a smirk, his voice carrying through the broadcast. "According to the World Government, that makes me a born criminal."

"Silence!" Saint Saturn's fury erupted. His calm demeanor shattered as never before.

In an instant, Saint Saturn's body transformed. His spider-like legs extended, much like the powers of the Rubber Fruit, glowing ominously with a terrifying purple hue. The deadly poison radiated from his mutated limbs.

But before he could act, a violent blaze ignited around Ace. His entire form vanished into the flames, only to reappear above Saint Saturn in the blink of an eye.

"And this," Ace laughed, his voice filled with mockery, "is the highest authority of the World Government—Jaygarcia Saturn, Godhead of Science & Defense!"

Saint Saturn's mind raced as a furious voice echoed within, ordering him to act. "Saturn, stop him!" It was the voice of another Elder, Saint Warcury.

Saint Saturn's cheek twitched. He realized something chilling. Ace's Observation Haki had developed to the point where he could foresee future events. And this man was using the explosive power of his flames—flames that burned hotter than 10,000 degrees Celsius—to amplify his speed. His instantaneous burst of speed now surpassed even that of the Sparkling Fruit's powers.

At this rate, dodging Ace's attack was impossible. He wouldn't even have time to summon the other Elders for help.

"Whoosh!" 

In an instant, Ace's flaming fist collided with Saint Saturn.

"Boom!" 

The strike landed with devastating force. Flames hotter than a volcanic eruption—over 10,000 degrees Celsius—exploded from Ace's fist, obliterating half of Saint Saturn's head in a single blow. The once supreme power of the world, Jaygarcia Saturn, one of the Five Elders, had half of his skull disintegrated before the entire world.

As his monstrous form was consumed by the fiery inferno, Ace stood tall, the flames still roaring from his fist. "I, who was labeled by the World Government as a born criminal, have just smashed the head of their highest authority."

He laughed—a bitter, defiant laugh—knowing that the world was watching, stunned beyond belief. The Five Elders, the rulers of the world, had just been struck down by Portgas D. Ace, the son of the Pirate King. 

"!!!"

Across the globe, the world reeled in shock.

At the headquarters of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon gazed at the screen, a small smile tugging at his lips. Ace's declaration, coupled with the act of destroying one of the world's highest authorities, left an impression on him.

"I understand now," Dragon said quietly. "No wonder you dream of becoming this man's right-hand, Sabo."

Sabo, standing beside Dragon, grinned in agreement. Ace's actions were more than a simple act of rebellion. He had declared to the world that even someone deemed a born criminal could topple the mightiest powers in existence.

Dragon knew that the idea of liberation—of freedom—would now spread faster than any act the Revolutionary Army had managed. They had been liberating lands, freeing people's bodies and environments. But what Ace had done? He was liberating their minds.

Ideas, Dragon mused, transcend borders, and even time itself.

"What a remarkable man," Dragon thought. But he couldn't help but worry. This path Ace had chosen was reckless, far more dangerous than anything the Revolutionary Army had ever attempted. They didn't have the strength to survive a full-scale assault from both the Marines and the World Government.

Still, Dragon's smile persisted as he whispered, "D... You really are one of them, Ace. I look forward to meeting you one day."

"He truly is my son Luffy's brother, and the one I've always had the highest hopes for—Sabo." Dragon mused quietly to himself, a smile tugging at his lips. There was no denying it—Ace was an enigmatic man.

"How about it? Isn't my brother incredible? So cool, right?!" Sabo's excitement was uncontainable as he pointed at the screen, where Ace's figure loomed. Grinning from ear to ear, he practically gushed with pride, momentarily shedding the image of the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command. "Look at him! Isn't he just the most handsome guy? Hahaha!"

Karla, who was standing nearby, couldn't stop the tears from welling up in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "So... so handsome... truly amazing."

Koala had once been a slave to the Celestial Dragons. The trauma of that time had scarred her deeply, making her fear any anger or rage around her. In her past, she would work frantically, cleaning tirelessly, terrified that the slightest mistake could lead to her death. Her life had changed after she was rescued by the Sun Pirates, and she'd managed to overcome her fears, regain her smile, and even join the Revolutionary Army. Since then, she had fought to liberate oppressed people in many lands.

But never—never in her wildest dreams—did she think she'd witness someone stand before the whole world and declare themselves a "born criminal," only to then shatter the head of one of the Five Elders, the most powerful people in existence. 

The World Government had ingrained the idea that people like her were born as natural slaves. But here, on the world stage, was someone—Portgas D. Ace—who was challenging that very belief.

Born a criminal? Of a cursed bloodline? It didn't matter.

Ace had shown the world that even someone like him could strike down the highest authorities, the Five Elders themselves. And even the seemingly invincible Celestial Dragons could be killed with nothing more than a regular bullet—something anyone could obtain.

For Koala, this realization hit harder than even her rescue by the Sun Pirates. It was as if a whole new world had been opened to her.

"If you ever get the chance, I can introduce you to my brother," Sabo said, noticing Koala's quiet sobbing. He scratched his cheek awkwardly, unsure how to comfort her.

"Really?!" Koala's tears stopped in an instant. She looked up at Sabo with wide, excited eyes. "Can I get Ace's autograph? Maybe even a photo with him?!"

Sabo blinked at her sudden change in mood, his mouth twitching into a wry smile. "Yeah... I don't think that'll be a problem."

Looking at Koala, now completely starstruck by Ace, Sabo couldn't help but chuckle. It was clear—she'd become a die-hard fan of Ace. 

Trouble was definitely on the horizon for his brother.

Meanwhile, across the seas, Rayleigh watched as the flames engulfed Saint Saturn, his face drawn into a pensive frown. "Joy Boy...? No, not quite. You're still Ace." His voice was soft, filled with contemplation.

If it weren't for the fact that he knew Ace had eaten the Mera Mera no Mi and not the Gomu Gomu no Mi, Rayleigh might have genuinely mistaken Ace for Joy Boy. But there was a difference. Unlike Joy Boy, Ace didn't just want to free the world—he aimed to become its king.

Joy Boy had once failed. But did Ace's method offer a new hope, a different path for the world to follow?

Rayleigh fell silent, deep in thought.

At the same time, Garp, standing at a distance, gazed at the screen showing his grandson. Ace's declaration to the world left a bitter smile on Garp's face. "What nonsense you're spouting, you brat." Despite his gruff tone, there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes.

But the smile faded as Garp's mind began to race. "Still, I'll need to pull back soon. I can't just watch here."

The flames devouring Saint Saturn were slowly dying out, but Garp's memories of the Valley of the Gods resurfaced. He knew Saint Saturn had been present on that island during the infamous incident. Garp had caught a glimpse of the deeper secrets surrounding the Five Elders back then.

The Godhead of Science & Defense, Jaygarcia Saturn—he wasn't someone who could be killed easily. In fact, Saturn was practically immortal.

As the flames around him dimmed, Ace's booming laughter echoed through the air. "Public execution—complete."

With a swift motion, Ace shut off the broadcast, and the live feed that had been streaming to the entire world suddenly went dark.

Ace smirked as he surveyed the dying flames, already sensing the looming battle. The World Government, the Naval Headquarters, and Saint Saturn could retreat from the public eye now. There was no need to show the world Saturn's regenerative, almost immortal nature.

The execution had ended perfectly in Ace's eyes—the head of the mighty Jaygarcia Saturn, one of the Five Elders, had been crushed in front of the whole world.

"Portgas D. Ace!!!"

A roar, like that of a demon, erupted from within the dying flames.

From the monstrous inferno, Saint Saturn's reformed, towering figure emerged once more, the embodiment of fury and vengeance.