It was too easy.

Watching the flames roar into the sky, Fisher Tiger snapped the neck of a soldier rushing at him with a blade, his eyes slightly dazed—as if caught in a dream.

Far too easy.

He never expected the infiltration of Mary Geoise to go this smoothly.

The so-called Holy Land Guard stationed on the city walls might as well not have existed. It was as if the place had no defenses at all—he climbed over the wall without breaking a sweat.

And after that, everything fell into place, just as planned.

Following the intel and map of Mary Geoise provided by Daren, Fisher Tiger located an armory in less than three minutes.

He set it ablaze, triggering a massive explosion that plunged the entire Holy Land into chaos.

Panic swept through the city. People scattered in all directions like headless flies. No one noticed him, the foreign "invader."

The nobles and officials scrambling to flee only made things worse, blocking the Holy Land Guard's path and delaying their response.

And so, Fisher Tiger successfully freed 300 gladiator slaves from one of the slave markets.

When the shackles hit the ground, and they came face to face with the incoming Holy Land troops, all the rage the slaves had bottled up ignited at once.

But what shocked Fisher Tiger even more... was the actual combat ability of the Holy Land Guard.

Shiny blades, polished rifles, elite armor, top-tier tactical boots—everything about them screamed powerful, elite force.

And their enemies?

Just a group of wounded, unarmed slaves.

Yet when the fighting began, the outcome defied all logic.

The supposedly formidable Holy Land Guard crumbled like frightened rats under the assault of frenzied gladiator slaves.

Their sloppy formations fell apart at first contact. They dropped their gear and ran.

The slaves, now armed with reclaimed weapons, saw their strength surge. Like a snowball gathering speed, they launched a relentless pursuit, following Fisher Tiger to liberate even more of their own.

Their numbers grew rapidly, expanding by the minute.

Fire and chaos devoured everything.

From a distance, it looked like half of Mary Geoise was ablaze.

"Damn it! You filthy pests! Stay back!!"

A Celestial Dragon shrieked in terror, face pale, stumbling backward as the fishman strode toward him.

"Do you even know who I am!?"

"I am a god of this sea!"

"If you kill me, no one will be able to save you!"

The only answer he received was the cold gaze of the sea bream fishman—and the furious, hate-filled stares of the slaves surrounding him.

"They don't need anyone to save them."

Fisher Tiger spoke calmly.

"From today on, there will be no more chains on them. No more orders to obey."

"They are free people now."

With those words, Fisher Tiger turned and headed off toward another slave holding site.

Behind him...

As the Celestial Dragon's screams echoed in the night, over a dozen ragged slaves closed in. With fists and feet, they beat him down, until there was nothing left but blood and pulp.

…

North Blue.

Philseque Island.

The Vice Admiral's chilling remark left the Five Elders momentarily stunned, their expressions darkening in unison.

"What are you talking about!?"

Gyūki Saturn's eyes were bloodshot as he snarled, voice twisted with fury, glaring at Daren.

Daren replied with a faint, unreadable smile.

"What I mean is, all five of you have gathered here. If something were to happen to Mary Geoise... who would be left to protect that so-called holy land?"

The pupils of the Five Elders contracted.

A creeping dread—unthinkable and yet undeniable—began to stir in each of their minds, swelling into a tide of panic that quickly took over.

"Impossible!"

Topman Warcury snapped coldly.

"Mary Geoise sits atop a natural fortress! Its defenses are unmatched! For 800 years, not once has it ever faltered. An invasion is out of the question!"

But even before his words had fully settled—

"Buru buru... buru buru..."

A Den Den Mushi began to ring urgently. The sound pierced the air like a death knell.

Warcury's eyelid twitched.

Under the heavy breathing and tense gazes of the other Elders, he snatched up the receiver.

"Speak!"

Saturn's voice cut through the air like a blade.

"L-Lord! Something terrible has happened!!"

The voice on the other end trembled with panic. Behind it, muffled rumbles echoed—flames crackling, buildings collapsing.

"Mary Geoise... someone has invaded Mary Geoise!"

Silence fell.

The other Four Elders all turned toward Warcury.

"..." Warcury gritted his teeth.

"Where's the Holy Land Guard!? Mobilize them immediately and crush the intruder! We have over 100,000 troops stationed there—well-armed and strictly disciplined. They'll—"

"The Guard is already retreating!"

The voice on the line was shaking uncontrollably.

Warcury: "..."

"Then call the Marines! Order them to deploy forces and suppress the attack!"

"All elite units from the Marines have been deployed to the North Blue to escort the World Noble Hunting Tournament. It's too late... Everything's too late..."

Warcury froze.

His fangs bared, fury seething just below the surface.

"Then what about Marine Headquarters? Even if the elites are gone, there must still be other units stationed in Marineford!"

The officer's voice trembled even more.

"L-Lord, at Marineford... there's only one person left capable of responding."

"Who!?"

"Former Admiral of Marine Headquarters... 'Black Arm' Zephyr."

The veins on the Five Elders' foreheads bulged in unison.

"Anyone else!? Someone who can hold them off!"

"We've lost contact with Marineford!"

"Why!?" The Elders roared, eyes blazing red.

"Marine Headquarters has declared martial law... They're refusing all outside orders."

"Damn it!! Who gave that order!?"

"It—it was you... Your orders..."

The man's voice nearly broke into a sob.

The Five Elders froze.

Under Daren's quietly entertained gaze, their faces turned a furious shade of pale.

"So... who exactly is the intruder? If possible, dispatch the Shichibukai to the Holy Land at once—have them deal with it!"

"B-but... the intruder is one of the Shichibukai..."

The Five Elders: "..."

A piercing scream suddenly rang out through the Den Den Mushi—

Then silence.

A deep, grim voice replaced it.

"Greetings, esteemed Five Elders. I am the intruder... Fisher Tiger of the Shichibukai."

"...Acting on the orders of Rogers Daren, I've come to liberate all the slaves in the Holy Land."

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