BANG!!
The sudden crack of a gunshot echoed through the square.
Saint Charlos had fired his pistol.
A splash of fresh blood erupted as the pirate on the ground collapsed, his body going still.
The prostrated crowd fell into a deathly silence, their hearts seized by a terror that chilled them to the bone. Each person feared they would be the next one to be shot.
Saint Charlos stared at the fallen pirate and let out a satisfied, bloodcurdling laugh. "Mweh-heh-heh-heh! Serves you right! You shouldn't have been in my way! Mweh-heh!"
He spoke as if he had just stepped on an insect.
Saint Rosward and Princess Shalria watched with undisguised contempt. They said nothing, but their expressions made it clear this was a common, unremarkable event for them.
Umit sneered. "A foolish whelp standing on the corpses of his ancestors!"
Despite his words, neither Umit nor Gladius made a move.
Law's expression grew even darker.
"Is this the truth of this world? Are common people nothing more than cattle to be herded?" Law's fists clenched, his gaze fixed on the three Celestial Dragons.
Jean Bart's face remained an ashen, lifeless mask. He knew there was no escape. His end would come one day, suddenly and without reason.
The end was determined from the very beginning.
Jean Bart's spirit was already dead.
Seeing this, Bonney's eyes narrowed, and she was about to charge forward.
Vivi immediately grabbed her arm and shook her head, then gestured with her eyes. Bonney followed her gaze and saw Ryuuto stepping out from the crowd, walking steadily toward the three Celestial Dragons.
"Pirates may be no saints, but Celestial Dragons are even more disgusting," Ryuuto said, his voice calm.
In the dead silence of the square, his words landed like a clap of thunder.
"Wh-who are you!"
A crazed look appeared on Saint Charlos's stupid face. He raised his golden pistol and aimed it at Ryuuto. "It doesn't matter who you are! Just die!"
Saint Charlos cackled with manic glee.
As Ryuuto spoke, Umit and Gladius had also turned their attention to him. They exchanged a look, their eyes holding a mixture of relief and concern.
Law watched with a thoughtful expression.
"Ryuuto, captain of the Soaring Dragon Pirates, bounty five hundred million Belly! The founder of the Justice Guild, who broke new ground by placing bounties on the Marines. Just yesterday, he killed Scratchmen Apoo of the On Air Pirates at Grove 41."
Law recognized him instantly.
Ryuuto had become a very prominent figure lately.
"What is he planning to do? Those are the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons! If Ryuuto really makes a move, it'll be a world-shaking incident!"
A sliver of worry crept into Law's thoughts.
When Buggy and the others saw Ryuuto step forward, the fear in their eyes lessened, replaced by a new kind of anxiety.
BANG!!
The pistol fired, and a triumphant, ecstatic smile spread across Saint Charlos's face.
"Just die for me!"
Saint Charlos watched the bullet speed directly toward Ryuuto's chest, his mind already picturing the man collapsing to the ground.
Unfortunately for him, he had imagined too much.
The bullet struck Ryuuto's chest, which was coated in Armament Haki, and was effortlessly deflected.
Ryuuto didn't break his stride. He continued walking forward, step by step, a faint smile on his face as he looked directly at Saint Charlos.
"How is that possible!" Panic flared in Saint Charlos's heart. "Guards! Quick, seize him!"
"Yes, sir!"
Several guards moved to surround Ryuuto.
"Go! Tear him to shreds!" Feeling that wasn't enough, Saint Charlos leaped off Jean Bart, cracking his whip against the slave's back and forcing him to attack as well.
Locked by his slave collar, Jean Bart had no choice. With heavy steps, his powerful muscles bunched as he charged toward Ryuuto.
"Truly disgusting creatures."
Ryuuto's figure flickered, reappearing beside them in an instant. An immense amount of lightning crackled to life in his right hand, arcing wildly through the air.
"Chidori Sharp Spear!"
With a sharp cry, the lightning in his hand instantly condensed, forming a spear over a dozen meters long that shot forward and pierced straight through Saint Charlos's chest.
"Pfft—it hurts! I... I'm going to die!"
Saint Charlos coughed up a mouthful of blood, grievously wounded in an instant, his entire body impaled on the lightning spear.
"Lord Charlos!" the guards cried out, whipping their heads around in shock.
When Saint Rosward and Princess Shalria saw Ryuuto's gaze turn toward them, they froze in terror. "We are Celestial Dragons! If you harm us, a Navy Admiral will be here immediately!" they shrieked, hoping their status would be enough to intimidate him.
But that was precisely Ryuuto's plan. An Admiral? He was waiting for one.
With a flick of his wrist, Ryuuto sent Saint Charlos's body flying. The force of the throw sent him soaring through the air before he crashed to the ground.
It was clear he was no longer breathing.
"No!"
"Lord Charlos is dead!"
"It's over! We're finished!"
The guards stared at the scene, their minds blank with panic. They were dead men walking. As bodyguards, they could never survive the death of the Celestial Dragon they were sworn to protect.
Jean Bart had frozen in place, staring at Ryuuto in stunned disbelief.
He never imagined someone would actually dare to kill a Celestial Dragon.
The kneeling crowd was equally stupefied.
They had completely forgotten what they were supposed to be doing, their eyes locked on Ryuuto as he prepared to continue his slaughter.
The lightning in Ryuuto's right hand coalesced again, this time into the shape of a long blade.
"Slash!"
With a soft command, Ryuuto swung his arm down. The lightning blade passed straight through the terrified figures of Saint Rosward and Princess Shalria.
BOOM!!
The massive lightning blade slammed into the ground. Two sprays of blood shot into the air as the two Celestial Dragons were bisected at the waist. The faces inside their bubble helmets were still contorted in masks of pure horror.
In that moment, all their sins were brought to an end.
"No!!"
"Lord Rosward and Princess Shalria!"
In a matter of seconds, three Celestial Dragons were dead. The guards collapsed to the ground, their hearts filled with absolute despair.
Fortunately, Ryuuto didn't intend to let them suffer for long.
The lightning in his hand shifted form once more, morphing into dozens of long spears.
"Lightning Blade: Torrential Thousand Thorn Spears!"
At Ryuuto's command, countless lightning spears shot forward, piercing through every one of the guards. But it didn't end there. The powerful impact of the spears tore into the ground, riddling the plaza with innumerable deep craters.
"Ahhh!! They're all dead! They're all dead!"
"Run!!"
"The Marines are coming!"
A wave of panic erupted from the crowd. People scrambled to their feet and began fleeing in every direction, desperate to get away. In the chaos, they crashed into one another, stumbling and falling in their haste.
The panicked crowd, the filthy corpses of the Celestial Dragons on the ground, and the impassive Ryuuto standing in the middle of it all...
Everything formed a stark and vivid contrast.