"Did you see that, you lowly creature! Did you really think you could break it? Dream on! Even if you temporarily erase the mark, it will immediately reappear! This is the power of our divine race, something you inferior beings will never understand!"
Her laughter suddenly stopped, as Shano suddenly bent over and grabbed her chin.
"Is that so?"
Shano's eyes were as calm as an ancient well, as if he had anticipated this all along.
"Then, what about this?"
As he finished speaking, Kuma followed suit, opening his right palm and once again using his Fruit Ability to bounce the Pentagram Mark away.
At the same time, Shano acted, his eyes flashing with a crimson glow, and black and red lightning suddenly erupted, solidifying into a Supreme King, enveloping Ikuko's entire body.
This time, the mark did not reappear.
"Just as expected."
Shano smiled and looked at Ikuko, "Well, now, can you still laugh?"
Using only Kuma's ability, the Undying Mark was bounced away, but it would quickly regenerate, endlessly.
Using an excess of Supreme King can temporarily suppress regeneration, but it cannot erase the Immortal Ability.
Then why not combine the two?
Before the Supreme King dissipates, the so-called Undying Body would be as ineffective as it is now, completely nullified!
"The mark, where's the mark…" Ikuko was dumbstruck, muttering repeatedly.
Shano ignored her, and together with Kuma, after doing the same thing to Killingham, he slowly straightened up and glanced around.
At the center of the battlefield, only a few of them were left standing.
But at the far ends of the perimeter, countless eyes were gathering from all directions.
The tourists and citizens who had originally run away but snuck back, the Navy Soldiers blocked by Fujitora, the Super Rookies waking up one after another, and the reporters holding Radio Snails or cameras…
All of them were staring intently at the open space here.
What are they going to do?
What are they going to do!
Could it be that they really want to…
Someone covered their mouth, someone's legs went weak, and many more widened their eyes, not daring to blink, afraid of missing what might happen next, an event that could make history.
"It seems like there are more spectators than expected."
Shano nodded in satisfaction, took a deep breath, and then smiled, his voice suddenly rising:
"Hey, World! Today, you're all watching me, aren't you!"
"Then keep watching!"
His right hand reached behind for the Tachi, slowly drawing it, the cold light flickering, his voice was like a booming bell, spreading far and wide!
It echoed throughout the Shampodi Islands, and in front of all the live broadcast screens in the entire sea!
"——The real show is just starting!!!"
...
Navy Headquarters, Marinfanto.
Thud!
Sengoku's face was extremely grim, and he smashed his fist on the table, sending wood chips flying. Beside him, Tsuru sighed worriedly, put down her red tea, and rubbed her temples silently.
...
In the New World, on the back of a whale somewhere.
A skeleton with an afro hairstyle, and a skinny old man in tropical attire, were both slack-jawed. Across from them, a silver-haired elder with one arm missing, also clenched his fist, his breathing becoming rapid.
...
In the Sakura Kingdom, amidst the heavy snowfall, Kureha leaned against the door frame, took a swig of alcohol, and exhaled a long breath with a grin.
...
In Water Seven, in the mayor's office, Iceberg's motion of picking his nose froze, dumbly tilting his head to watch the screen.
...
In a red airship, Morgans had a flushed face, letting out an uncontrollable piercing screech: "It's happening, it's finally happening! As expected of that man, he really dares to do this!"
Huff, huff.
Even his breathing was somewhat labored…
But it didn't matter!
This adventure, this gamble, everything, was absolutely worth it!
...
Swish!
The Tachi was finally drawn!
"Just now, many of you probably saw it, the so-called gods, they too bleed, they too wail, they too kneel and beg for mercy, disgracing themselves."
Shano gripped the sword, walking step by step toward the four Heavenly Celestial Dragons, "But unfortunately, there are always people whose bones are soft by nature, whose knees prefer to kneel, who still think these guys are inherently different from us, special! Noble! Sacred! That they are meant to be above us, dwelling in the clouds!"
"Tch, what nonsense, what exactly is different about them!"
He suddenly turned around, laughing madly, "Open your eyes wide, and watch carefully! These gods, when slain, die just the same, and such easily slain swine, do they themselves deserve to be called gods!"
As he finished speaking, he suddenly swung his sword, slashing towards Ikuko's neck!
"No!!!"
Ikuko let out a piercing scream, her eyes finally showing unprecedented fear, she struggled frantically, but her body, suppressed by both the Supreme King and Bear Claw, couldn't move an inch.
Swish!
The blade gleamed, Ikuko's head flew high, blood gushed like a fountain from her neck, her pupils quickly dilated, and her head rolled on the grass, rolling a few times before it stopped.
This time, there was no black mist, no regeneration.
Her headless body twitched a few times, finally collapsing completely, flopping to the ground like a heap of mud.
"Ikuko!!!"
Beside her, Killingham's eyes were bloodshot, letting out a heart-wrenching scream, he tried desperately to stand up, but was pinned in place by Jack who laughed grimly.
"Your turn."
Shano turned to Killingham, the blood-dripping Tachi in his hand, with no trace of mercy in his eyes.
"Stop! You mad dog! Do you realize what you're doing?!"
Killingham roared hysterically, "Killing the Heavenly Celestial Dragons, killing a member of the Divine Knight Order, the entire World Government will pursue you to the death! You and your companions, your domain, it'll all—"
Swish!
The sword flashed again, and Killingham's head fell as well.
His unfinished words were forever stuck in his throat, never to be uttered again, his head, when it stopped, was bulging with veins, staring unblinking at the sky.
"I'll be waiting."
Shano lightly shook his right arm, coldly flicking away the blood on the sword, letting Killingham's headless body tumble backward to the ground.
Whew~
A somewhat hot sea breeze swept across the open ground.
The entire scene was dead silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Whether it was the Navy Soldiers, or the distant onlooking crowd, all held their breath, eyes wide, watching this scene.
World Nobility… were really beheaded publicly?
The descendants of the Creator, just like that, declared dead on a whim?!
Executing the Heavenly Celestial Dragons…
In front of the entire world.
This was the first time in eight hundred years!!!
"No… no…"
Charulia Palace and Saint Pulminge were paralyzed on the ground, their pants already soaked, they looked at the two headless bodies, then up at Shano, the fear in their eyes nearly spilling over.
"Please, my lord, my lord! Spare me…"
Saint Pulminge cried and pleaded, not even feeling the pain of the severed arm, knocking his head to the ground without caring for his dignity:
"I offered money before, but it didn't interest you! But I have more good things, my lord you name it, anything is yours!"
"Devil Fruit, treasures from our family's collection, my dozens of wives, my collections, everything, all of them can be yours! If you're not satisfied, I can even go back and bind up my father and mother to offer them to you!"