Chapter 502: The Five Elders Land
Chapter 502: The Five Elders Land
Tazoro is not weak.
Sage could tell that this guy's ability had reached the level of 'awakening', allowing him to freely manipulate the material generated by his awakened power, likely similar to Doflamingo.
However, compared to Doflamingo, he lacked the mastery of the Tyrant Aura and Tyrannical Will, and to ordinary people, he was indeed a formidable opponent, even capable of briefly matching a regular Shichibukai.
But for the Four Emperors, he was simply not on the same level.
"Golden..."
Sage glanced at the fallen Tazoro and chuckled, "A long time ago, I encountered someone similar to you. He was a bit tougher than you. Back then, it was an easy fight, but now, you're not even worth watching."
With a flick of his finger, a gale stirred, and the three unconscious Dragon People were piled up like a stack of dolls in front of Tazoro. Sage took a step forward and sat on the back of the topmost Dragon Person, pressing one hand against the back of their head and gesturing with the other.
Lily handed him a cigar and lit it for him.
"Huff,"
Sage exhaled a puff of smoke and asked, "So, what's your answer?"
It was just a punch, and he hadn't even gone all out, yet this guy could still take it.
Tazoro, covered in wounds, had his eyes roll back for a moment before gradually regaining his pupils. He lay on the ground in a spread-eagled position, staring up at the dark night sky filled with ominous clouds. After a while, he suddenly reached out towards Sage.
"I will never be a slave to anyone!"
The five rings on his right hand melted at that moment, shapeshifting into five golden spikes that shot towards Sage.
Submission?
Underling?
He no longer trusted anything, not even the Dragon People before his eyes. His hatred for the Dragon People had long since started to fade with time.
Was it the Dragon People's fault? In this vast ocean, weakness is a mistake, and even without the Dragon People, others would have caused similar situations.
That's just the way it is.
Being used by the Dragon People and then by the Cataclysm was merely one slave becoming another.
He refused to be a slave anymore!
Nor did he want to seek others' approval!
Indeed, the Cataclysm's defeat of the Dragon People was shocking, and it might even have made Tazoro feel satisfied, as it was something he himself dared not do.
But his mindset had long since changed.
The problem at hand was no longer something that could be solved by dealing with the Dragon People.
His mind and soul had been twisted beyond repair, ever since Stella.
"I am the God! No one can stand above me, not even you, Sage!" Tazoro roared.
Whoosh!
The gust of wind continued to blow, and without any deliberate blocking, the flying spikes were soon halted by a gust of wind.
"Ah, you refuse."
Sage nodded, "Alright, I understand."
He extended a finger, and lightning gathered between his fingers, transforming into a bolt of lightning that shot into Tazoro's forehead, causing his body to tremble and his eyes to roll back completely, losing consciousness.
"Bind him with Sea Mirage Stone and send him to Tich. Hmm, let Link handle it."
Sage didn't even spare a glance at Tazoro.
He didn't lack subordinates, and if one declined, he'd simply replace them with another.
He had made an invitation, valuing talent, but if someone refused, he wouldn't persist.
At this stage, he was no longer like when he first started, willing to do anything for new subordinates.
Back then, with just a few guns and people, his team was just starting, and they lacked everything.
Now, they had everything and didn't need more of the same type of subordinates.
He also didn't think that the person he had in mind was particularly remarkable.
"In the vast sea, the people who appear and the people who are cultivated are all determined by their own abilities. Some experiences can create a Tazoro, while some nurturing can create a business tycoon, just like you three."
Sage spoke to the three women, "So, if they refuse, it's not a big deal and won't hinder my plans. As for money..."
A red dot flashed in his eyes, and his gaze shifted downwards. The golden armguard on his wrist suddenly transformed, revealing a Pirate Saber.
As soon as he gripped it, lightning and flames danced along the blade, covering it with a laser-like layer.
"Radiant Blade."
Hiss!
The laser sliced downwards, cutting through the ship's surface as if it were tofu, creating a massive gash. In this ship, as vast as a city, the back half split open, revealing a golden glow.
The dazzling golden light was so intense that even the dark clouds couldn't obscure it, instead being infused with a golden hue, causing the sea and sky to shimmer with gold.
Down below, everything was made of gold!
"Wow!!"
Renetia's eyes turned golden, and she couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
For a moment, even the calmest Loli, Maryka, froze at the sight of the golden light, her eyes widening.
The power of wealth was something no one living on the vast sea could ignore, especially for pirates.
As far as the eye could see, everything was gold!
Piles of gold coins, gold pillars transformed by abilities, and intricately crafted golden artifacts filled the space below, dazzling and overwhelming to the point of happiness.
There was just too much gold!
Of course, it wasn't the paper currency known as Belli, but gold was the ultimate hard currency that circulated freely on the sea.
"Hahahaha! I knew it! Nothing escapes my perception!" Sage roared with laughter, his teeth gleaming with golden light.
He had known all along!
Whether Tazolo surrendered or not, this fortune was his for the taking!
Sage looked at the mountain of gold, a treasure trove, and smiled in satisfaction. He pressed down on the back of the Dragon People's head, and a wind blade appeared in his hand, slicing through their heads.
This sudden action left the trembling Baraka and Tanaka stunned.
"Oh my, Dragon People!"
Tanaka, who bore a striking resemblance to a certain blue robot from a cartoon, trembled in momentary fear. "No, they're dead? Dragon People are truly dead, we're done for!"
The three women, however, were accustomed to such sights and had long stopped caring.
"Dragon People? So what? We're the Catastrophe Pirates!" Renetia flashed a toothy grin.
Dragon People... once killed, there would always be a second time. From the moment Sage first laid his hands on the Dragon People, they knew there would be a second time.
"But won't we get a ransom, Sage?" Renetia continued.
"You heard Lucci too. If they don't pay the ransom, what use are these useless fools to me? Should I keep them as pets?"
Sage rolled his eyes and jumped down from the headless Dragon People. He turned to Baraka and Tanaka. "What about you two?"
"Since the boss failed, I'm free. I'm willing to serve Calamity Lord," Baraka quickly surrendered.
What else could she do? She had heard the message clearly—they were to deliver it to Blackbeard.
The reputation of the Four Emperors was well-known to them. Blackbeard, now one of the Four Emperors, had gained fame across the sea for hunting down ability users. According to rumors at sea, Calamity Lord and Blackbeard were even allies.
And now, she could confirm that these were not just rumors but reality.
If she didn't agree, not only would she lose her life, but her Fruit ability would also be at risk.
In Tazolo's eyes, loyalty was non-existent, whether viewed from a business or pirate perspective. It was all about self-interest.
If Tazolo hadn't failed, she would have remained a loyal subordinate. But with his failure, she had to seek other paths.
Being personally questioned by one of the Four Emperors was an honor in itself, so Baraka didn't feel much psychological burden.
"If Calamity Lord doesn't mind..."
Tanaka immediately knelt, "I'm willing to serve Calamity Lord and join the Catastrophe Pirates!"
Sage hooked his lips in a smile, "Do your best. I'm not stingy with rewards for those who show loyalty to me. You can continue managing this ship."
It would be a waste to abandon this ship, which was like a well-built city, ready to use without any modifications.
They could continue operating it as the largest entertainment city, just with a change of ownership. Like Dressrosa, it could serve as a transit point, connecting to Sage's trade routes.
Dressrosa was a weapons transit point, with shipments originating from Ohara. However, with Big Mom's territory now swallowed up, the distance became an issue.
This ship's arrival was perfectly timed. It was a massive, movable city that could function as a warehouse and transit station, even facilitating various trade negotiations.
Although these two individuals lacked strength, their abilities were impressive.
Baraka could absorb others' luck, a skill highly effective in casinos and entertainment. And Sage hadn't given up on her yet... Even though she could only use it herself, what if her luck reached a point where standing there made her a living mascot?
This was something worth testing.
"The latter can penetrate through inanimate objects, making it useful for surveillance and intelligence gathering."
"Lily, hurry up and have the people here pay the ransom. Don't delay. Let's set sail and head to Ohara first!" Sage laughed.
"I understand."
Lily nodded and was about to take out her Telebeetle for communication when suddenly, the small Telebeetle in her palm was enveloped by a mysterious black light, losing its signal.
"Hmm?"
A red dot appeared in her eyes as she looked back, and her brows furrowed immediately, "Sage, the Navy is engaging our people and has blocked the signal."
"Oh my, did they receive orders? Is an Admiral coming?" Marika exclaimed in surprise.
"Whoever they are, I'll blast them all away!" Renetia clenched her mechanical hammer.
"Engaging in battle?"
Sage's eyes flashed with red light as he laughed, "I just killed a Dragon Person, where did you get this information? And so quickly, is it Haki?"
Just as his Perception Aura opened, he suddenly froze, raising his eyebrows.
At the same time, the complexions of the three women changed in unison, and they collectively looked towards a certain direction.
...
On a tall building of the Gran Tazolo.
The night breeze gently blew, fluttering the white formal attire worn by Lucci, who was standing on the rooftop with a Telebeetle in his hand. He seemed to have just finished a call, and the Telebeetle's eyes had just closed.
He looked down at the large crowd surging towards the port area below and the Navy fighting with the pirates in the center. He said, "Is the signal blocked?"
Behind Lucci stood Kakei and Shugen.
Kakei turned to confirm with the Navy and nodded, "It's done."
"Then, convey the orders from above. Immediately intercept the Cataclysm Pirates!"
Lucci looked towards the direction where Sage's aura appeared, and a curious ripple flashed through his eyes.
What will you do, Sage?
...
"Something's wrong!"
Lily furrowed her brows, "This aura is very uncomfortable, it's not Haki, nor is it Kurohige!"
It wasn't even the aura of those weaker Admirals, but rather an indescribable, unusually strange, and extremely unpleasant aura.
"Take the gold away, we can't keep it here!"
She made a quick decision and then looked at the gold worth five billion belli, saying, "Sage, our ship probably can't hold it. Should we rob it here?"
There were also many ships docked in the harbor.
"No need for such trouble."
Sage also sensed something amiss, and his hand sparked with lightning. He summoned a thick pillar of lightning from his hand, instantly striking the gold.
"Lightning Smelting!"
From the perspective of his Perception Aura, this gold had no historical aura and held no collection value; it was purely for circulation. In that case, Sage didn't mind melting it together.
Under the intensification of the lightning, the gold in the space fused together, gradually forming a massive golden sphere, like a treasure from the sea. Looking down from above, only this gold sphere was emitting a radiant glow.
"Just put this on the deck, and we'll take it back directly."
He jumped to the sphere's location and effortlessly lifted the massive gold sphere with one hand, making his own body seem minuscule in comparison.
"Marika."
He casually tossed the sphere, and Marika smiled, catching it with one hand. The immense weight caused the ship beneath Marika to sink slightly.
Just as Marika caught the sphere, a sudden pink glow flashed from the doorway, and its appearance caused a cold light to flash in Lily's eyes. In an instant, she drew her White Saber and connected with the pink glow, amidst the crackling thunder.
A sword was blocked by Lily's rapier.
The sword's owner was a woman with a spider tattoo on her thigh, wearing a pink bodysuit and a Navy cloak, her hairstyle resembling that of a geisha.
"Admiral Cadet, Peach Bunny."
Lily spoke coldly, "So it's you who wants to fight us."
The renowned Navy had their intelligence.
The Admiral Cadet was certainly one of them.
As she appeared, a large number of Navy auras had already arrived at the front, as if intentionally surrounding them, causing their subordinates to retreat.
The battle had begun.
"It's not me."
Peach Bunny said, "We are also following orders. In any case, you can't leave now."
Lily said, "You can't stop us."
"Attention all Navy personnel!!"
Just as she finished speaking, a broadcast rang out from an unknown source.
"Council of Five Satan Saint is about to land on the Gran Tazolo!!"
(End of Chapter)
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