Meanwhile the chaos refused to slow, the entire island trembling under the weight of forces that felt far beyond anything natural, as the mighty Itsumade soared high above Egghead, its massive form was cutting through the darkened sky before becoming engulfed in a blazing, unnatural aura. Flames and black smoke wrapped around its body as it suddenly folded its wings and dropped, plummeting straight down like a meteor before slamming violently into the barrier of the Labophase, the impact sending shockwaves rippling outward as the structure groaned under the pressure.
Elsewhere, the Sunny's uncontrolled descent came to a sudden, almost miraculous halt.
It turned out Usopp had acted just in time, launching one of his Pop Greens that expanded rapidly and caught the ship mid-slide, cushioning its movement before it could crash outright. The sudden stop left Nami frozen in place, her face pale as if she had just watched her life flash before her eyes, while Brook remained far too calm for the situation, standing upright as if nothing had happened at all, which only made Lilith snap as she kicked the skeleton in frustration.
At the same time, it became clear not everyone had made it back.
Jinbei and Zoro were still missing.
Zoro was still locked in battle with Lucci.
And Jinbei was already on the move, heading straight for him with a clear goal in mind—get Zoro back, no matter what it took.
Elsewhere, deep within the forest, the clash between swordsman and assassin raged on.
Zoro and Lucci moved at speeds most wouldn't even be able to follow, their weapons colliding again and again in rapid succession, each strike sending shockwaves through the surrounding trees as trunks splintered and collapsed around them. They barely touched the ground, their fight carried through the air itself, jumping from branch to branch, from impact to impact.
Yet even as they fought—
Something was off.
Both of them could feel it.
That presence.
That overwhelming, vile Haki that had spread across the entire island, suffocating in its intensity, something that made instinct scream at them to look away, to run, to survive.
But neither of them stopped.
They kept clashing.
Again.
And again.
Until—
Zoro heard it.
Sanji's voice.
Calling him dead weight.
He landed.
And froze.
For just a moment, the chaos around him faded as he processed it, his expression tightening as something snapped into place, his Haki crackling faintly around him.
Lucci didn't hesitate.
He surged forward, unleashing a barrage of clawed strikes coated in powerful Haki, tearing through the air in a relentless assault—
But Zoro didn't even flinch.
He moved through them effortlessly, each attack slipping past him like it wasn't even there as he stepped back, using a fallen tree as footing, his stance shifting.
Then—
One strike.
That was all it took.
The fight ended in an instant.
Elsewhere, Luffy's situation hadn't improved.
He had already been swallowed once by the sandworm, barely managing to force his way back out, his body stretching and twisting in absurd ways just to escape, only to be grabbed immediately by one of Saturn's massive legs and hurled straight back into the creature's gaping maw.
Luffy: Go away!
His voice echoed in frustration as he disappeared again, swallowed whole once more.
Ryo, on the other hand, was dealing with something just as overwhelming.
Warcury didn't stop.
The massive boar charged relentlessly, each movement shaking the ground as Ryo darted around him, dodging strike after strike, his body reacting on instinct as he searched for an opening that just didn't seem to exist.
He brought his leg down in a powerful axe kick, lightning surging through the strike as it connected—
And once again—
Pain shot straight back through him.
Ryo staggered slightly, his expression twisting as he grabbed his leg instinctively.
Ryo: oww! That shouldn't be happening! What are you even made of!
The beast didn't respond.
It simply roared.
A deafening bellow that tore through the air and slammed into Ryo like a physical force, sending him flying backward through multiple buildings, debris exploding outward as his body crashed through them one after another.
Before he could recover—
The boar was already there.
Towering over him.
For the first time in a long time—
Ryo felt it.
Fear.
Real, undeniable fear.
And then—
Something stopped it.
Completely.
A shadow fell over the battlefield, something massive, something even larger than the monstrous beast itself, as a gigantic figure stepped in, halting the boar's advance with sheer presence alone.
Brogy.
Ryo blinked, disbelief flickering across his face.
Ryo; n..no way.
The giant turned, grinning widely as if this was just another day.
Brogy: heya Ryo! It's been a while! Hope you don't mind me saving you!
Ryo shook his head slightly, still trying to process it, while elsewhere Dorry had already moved, his massive hands grabbing onto Saturn without hesitation.
The two giants acted in perfect sync.
They slammed the elders together with overwhelming force, the impact sending both monstrous forms crashing into the ground below, shaking the battlefield as they were driven down.
Then they raised their weapons.
And swung.
Dorry/Brogy: Sun saw cleave our foe!
The attack tore through the air, immense power behind it as their blades cut cleanly through the sandworm, slicing its massive head clean off in a single, devastating strike.
The body collapsed.
Luffy was freed.
Though it was clear—
That hadn't killed it.
Not even close.
But still—
For the first time since the Five Elders had appeared—
Things felt like they might actually turn.
And that's a wrap
Gonna have to make a whole new book now, but this seemed like a good cutting off point
