Chapter 437

BOOM—!

A shockwave of sound exploded through the air, shattering the countless image telephone fish suspended around the Round Table Arena.

The Marines at headquarters saw the screen blur violently; when the image cleared again, the scene before them left everyone breathless.

A slender figure suddenly appeared at the center of the screen.

Invisible air currents flowed around him, while a semi-transparent, razor-edged tail—sharp enough to slice through the atmosphere—twitched restlessly behind him.

Pure white flame clouds drifted over his shoulders.

That was the mark of an Awakened user; combined with the emerald-green, storm-like energy swirling around his body, even the slowest minds understood.

Mythical Zoan!

And an Awakened Mythical Zoan at that!

There are countless Devil Fruit users across this sea, but those who have developed their abilities to the Awakened stage are exceedingly rare.

Among the three Devil Fruit types, the Animal-type Mythical Zoan is the rarest—and Awakened users of it are rarer still.

With the emergence of the Mythical Zoan Awakening traits, the identity of the attacker became unmistakable!

“Hundred Schemes—K Luo !”

“One of Gao Wen’s top generals!”

“This guy… already has strength enough to stand toe-to-toe with Kaido?!”

Warship felt his throat go dry.

Because K Luo had calmly caught Kaido’s finishing blow—the full, unrestrained power of Kaido’s strike!

A killing blow capable of instantly obliterating a mountain peak!

K Luo ’s combat power had far exceeded the Marines’ expectations.

“ko~wa~i~ne~”

Admiral Kizaru, seated at the side of the conference room, slowly sat upright, his gaze unusually grave as he stared at K Luo in the projection:

“Ghost Man A Jin, Blackfoot Sanji, Roronoa Zoro… and now Hundred Schemes K Luo … do you think the Round Table Knights of Britannias are all General-level fighters?!”

Warship frowned, almost instinctively shaking his head:

“That’s impossible! General-level fighters, in any era, are legendary figures who leave their names in history.”

“How could such beings…”

The more he spoke,

the quieter Warship’s voice became.

The conference room sank into an eerie silence.

After all, if one counted the Round Table Knights who had already appeared at the World Martial Arts Tournament,

one would realize every single one of them was qualified to serve as a General at Marine Headquarters.

Even Blackfoot Sanji and Roronoa Zoro, whose strength lagged slightly behind the other three, could easily overpower General candidates like Momonga and Chato.

They would be automatic replacements if any vacancy arose.

No one would dare cut in ahead of them, as with Momonga and Chato.

In truth, Momonga and Chato simply lacked the strength to command respect or face off against Four Emperor-level pirates.

Even the newly appointed General, Green Ox Huangmu, might struggle to contain these two monsters.

Ghost Man A Jin, Devil’s Heir Barret, and now Hundred Schemes K Luo —who just blocked Kaido’s killing blow—all rank at least high-to-mid among Marine Generals throughout history.

Monsters like Barret even have the qualification to challenge Akainu for the position of Fleet Admiral.

Even young Warship or Garp might not have been able to suppress them!

So among the dozen or so Round Table Knights, every one who has appeared so far is a General-level fighter?

Then what of the remaining members…?

As everyone realized this, the pressure on their shoulders surged beyond bearing.

Such a force—let alone the Marines—even the World Government would tremble before acting, weighing whether they could survive the consequences.

Recall Lo Kesi , who once stormed Mary Geoise and appeared before Im, declaring himself the new King of the World.

His General-level fighters were nowhere near the scale Britannias now commands!

How can the Marines possibly face this monster?!

As this question formed in everyone’s minds, another thought rose uncontrollably at the same moment.

The era of the World Government…

Is it ending?

And where, then, is the Marines’ future?

The more they tried to suppress the thought, the more insistently it returned, interrogating their very souls.

Aokiji narrowed his eyes slightly.

Unlike the others, he knew one thing: the Round Table Knights may not all be General-level fighters, but there are far more than currently visible.

At the very least, Tenghu has now joined Gao Wen’s faction.

And as time passes, Gao Wen’s strength will only grow.

Especially now, with the world’s balance shifting—from the Four Emperors’ stalemate to Britannias standing alone against the World Government.

For pirates with nowhere else to turn, joining Gao Wen is nearly their only option!

“Truly…”

“An age of upheaval!”

Aokiji murmured, then turned to look at Akainu, his gaze hardening steadily.

This increasingly turbulent age is the World Government’s crisis—but also a chance for world transformation!

If the Marines do not change, the veil of justice will be torn away, and the filth beneath will shatter the morale of the Marines themselves.

Restoration and reform are inevitable!

…

A few minutes earlier.

Britannias, Round Table Arena.

The winds around the arena fell still; even the banners hanging along its perimeter ceased to flutter.

Kaido’s killing blow had been blocked. Shocked, he also felt a nameless rage rise within him.

“You know what happens when you interfere with my fight!”

K Luo ’s expression remained calm, his gaze steady as he met Kaido’s.

His aura was piercing—even facing a Four Emperor of the New World, he showed no weakness!

“This man attacked the prison of Britannias Temple and stole the shadows of countless high-security convicts. I am arresting him for interrogation.”

K Luo pushed up his glasses; half his face transformed into a Lianyou , growing more grotesque and sinister.

A thick, almost solid wave of killing intent erupted from him, as if a faint veil of blood mist swirled around his body.

Utterly ferocious, monstrously malevolent!

K Luo slowly lifted his head, locking eyes with Kaido:

“Any problem with that?!”

Kaido said nothing.

His beard and hair stirred without wind!

His violent Haki surged uncontrollably.

“Brat!”

“…”

The word fell.

Kaido’s expression froze—some invisible force pressed down on his shoulders like a mountain, threatening to bend his spine.

BOOM—!

The ground cracked; Kaido’s feet sank deep into the floor.

Spiderweb cracks spread outward.

“What the hell?!”

Kaido roared.

He was humiliated.

Gao Wen isn’t even here—and you think you can suppress me?!

I won’t let you get away with it!

“ROAR—!”

A dragon’s roar exploded from Kaido’s mouth.

The surrounding image telephone fish shattered instantly; the transmission cut out. Everyone watching saw only darkness.

“Why did the feed cut out now? What happened?!”

“Was Kaido being suppressed?!”

Marine Headquarters.

Warship recalled the final image, certain of one thing.