The chaos on the island had already reached its boiling point, fueled by Imu's indiscriminate, terrifying slaughter and the fierce counterattack of Rocks.
And in the vast Burning zone between the edge and the center of the battlefield, other trajectories that would determine the future were also speeding and colliding amidst the chaos.
Dragon sprinted with all his might toward the direction of the coastline in his Remembrance.
The inhuman roars and clashing sounds coming from the center of the island behind him, along with the dense, desperate screams, sent a chill through his heart.
"What is happening? Those screams are so exaggerated!... Forget it! I must get out of here first!"
He gritted his teeth, suppressing all his worries and doubts, with eyes fixed only on the rapidly approaching coastline.
Shanks, in his arms, whether due to being overly shocked or possessing innate extraordinary talent, showed no reaction to the hellish scene around them or the deafening noises, simply staring quietly at Dragon with a pair of pure eyes.
"I see it! A Marine warship!" Dragon's spirits lifted. He burst out of a forest, and the silhouette of the distant harbor and the Marine flag were already in sight!
"Hang in there, little one! I will definitely... Urgh, ah?!"
Just as he thought hope was within reach, a strange and powerful suction force suddenly struck from behind and to the side, precisely targeting the standard-issue Marine rifle strapped to his back!
The strength of this suction was far beyond his imagination, as if an invisible giant hand had grabbed that rifle, dragging him entirely off the ground and hurling him backward!
"What?!" Dragon was shocked, desperately adjusting his posture in mid-air to shield Shanks with his body.
He traced an arc in the air, forcefully dragged by this sudden power from the coastline all the way back to the center of the island!
There were many others who suffered a similar fate.
"Waaaaah! My treasure chest!!"
"What's going on?! The gold is flying away!!"
"Grab it! Hurry, grab them!!"
Countless treasure chests, gold artifacts, swords... anything made of metal that had previously been clutched in pirates' arms, carried on their shoulders, or dragged on carts, now seemed to be imbued with life. They vibrated violently, then broke free from their owners' control and flew at high speed toward the same direction—the entrance to a valley somewhere on the island!
Gaban, the Navigator of the Roger Pirates who was organizing the evacuation of the wounded and the treasure, felt his two beloved metal hatchets suddenly vibrate violently, as if they were about to fly out of his hands!
His expression changed, his arm muscles bulging as he gripped the axe handles tightly, feeling this powerful pulling force.
"This is... magnetism?! A very strong magnetic reaction! Everyone, hold on tight to the metal in your hands! Don't let it be taken!"
At this moment, at the entrance of the southeastern valley, Captain John looked at the countless metal treasures flying toward him like rivers returning to the sea, a greedy smile on his face.
"Violent Redemption Magnetic Grip! Gather here—my treasures, John's treasures!!!"
Visible magnetic lightning erupted all around him! He was frantically seizing every metal object on the entire God Valley battlefield!
At this moment, the scene on God Valley could be called a spectacle, and also terrifying!
Countless swords, muskets, gold coins... broke free from their restraints in every corner of the battlefield, soaring into the air and transforming into torrents of metal that adhered to John's body, layer upon layer!
Gun barrels and blades collided with a harsh symphony, while gold coins and treasures poured like a waterfall at his feet. That greedy appetite seemed ready to swallow all the treasures in the world!
"Is, is this... Captain John's Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability?!"
"Look at the southeastern valley! The source of the magnetism is there!!"
The pirates screamed in horror. Some tried to rush toward the flying treasure, while more people looked at their empty hands and let out wails of frustration.
Roger, who was charging toward the battlefield of Imu and Rocks, was also startled by this sudden island-wide phenomenon. He glanced at the direction of the metal frenzy and spat:
"That bastard John... Do whatever you want! Just don't get in my way!"
His goal was only that "monster" who was slaughtering indiscriminately and had hurt his companion.
However, not everyone had Roger's "open-mindedness."
Just as John was frantically absorbing the island's treasures, on the verge of swallowing the largest share of the spoils—
"John—you bastard!!!"
Byrnndi World's face was gloomy, a look of greed flickering in his eyes.
There was no warning, no negotiation.
Byrnndi World flicked his right index finger sharply!
A nondescript "booger bomb," yet one containing terrifying energy, cut through the noisy air and shot precisely toward John!
"Heavenly Serpent Red Cannon—!"
John seemed to sense something and turned to look, but it was already too late.
"Hm?!"
BOOM!!!
The next second, an earth-shaking explosion occurred!
It was not an ordinary explosion, but a devastating strike where Byrnndi World pushed his fruit ability to the limit, enough to alter the local terrain!
The energy, compressed to its extreme, was released instantly, forming a dark red sphere of destruction over a hundred meters in diameter, completely engulfing John along with the treasures he had just gathered!
The deafening roar of the explosion even briefly drowned out the rumbling from the central battlefield!
"Guaaaaah—!!!"
"Captain John!!"
John's subordinates let out cries of horror.
As the destructive energy at the core of the explosion raged, John's Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability was forcibly interrupted. The powerful magnetism that had shrouded the entire island vanished instantly!
Clatter-clatter-clatter—!!!
All the metal objects that had been sucked into mid-air—treasures, weapons, and even the rifle on Dragon's back—lost their magnetic pull and, following the laws of gravity, fell from the sky like a torrential rain!
Dragon, falling from the air, had no time to think. Looking at the rapidly enlarging scorched ground below, he twisted his body, tightly shielding Shanks in his arms against his chest, using his own body as a cushion.
Not far away, Golden Lion Shiki hovered in mid-air, staring blankly at the dark red explosion cloud that was still rolling and expanding below, then suddenly turned to Byrnndi World and demanded sharply:
"Hey! Byrnndi World!! Why the hell did you attack John?! He's our companion! And there was so much treasure!!"
Byrnndi World turned around slowly, not a hint of regret on his face. He flicked his finger.
"Companion? Shiki, you're not young anymore, why are you still so naive?"
"Do you really think that guy activated his ability just to'safeguard' the treasure? A single treasure chest worth one billion Berries—do you think he would have brought it out to share equally with us?!"
"Ten, ten, ten... one billion?!" Shiki's anger was stalled by this astronomical figure, his eyes widening involuntarily.
"That's right," Byrnndi World's voice carried naked greed and ruthlessness,
"He wanted to hog it all along! Possess everything for himself! Such a traitor deserves to die! The treasure... we can slowly dig it out from the ruins later!"
Just as Shiki was mentally rattled by this sudden betrayal and the massive wealth—
A cold light flashed in Byrnndi World's eyes! He flicked the little finger of his left hand!
Another "booger bomb" shot toward the unsuspecting back of Shiki.
In this hellish landscape of scorching warfare, the unruly Golden Lion was about to taste the coldest backstab from a "companion"...
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