Chapter 438: The Top Eight Emerge, Winds and Clouds Shift!

Everyone looked at this old vice admiral with nothing but pity in their eyes.

If the world is about to sink, land will only become scarcer, utterly incapable of bearing so many people from across the globe.

Under such circumstances, naturally, the fewer people there are, the better for the Celestial Dragons.

Moreover, revealing such news in advance would bring nothing but endless panic.

This era, already stretched to the breaking point, would spiral completely out of control in an instant.

From the perspective of the Celestial Dragons, no matter what, concealing the news and secretly seeking a way out is the best choice!

Yet at the same time, in the hearts of the high-ranking Marines present, there was nothing but an indescribable sense of powerlessness and despair.

This is a great trend of heaven and earth; it will not change according to human will.

Even someone as powerful as Knight Gao Wen would absolutely lack the ability to overturn heaven and earth.

For a time, the conference room fell into complete silence.

Compared to the news of the world's impending submersion, the increasingly swelling combat strength under Knight Gao Wen's command seemed far less important.

After all, if the human race itself is heading toward its end, then justice, evil, the Marines, and pirates—all these existences lose their meaning!

A long while passed.

Akainu slowly opened his eyes, within which seemed to flow molten lava!

"If the World Government abandons this world, then what exactly... can we do?!"

"Everyone, who exactly defines the justice we bear?!"

"It is time for the Marines to make their own choice!"

Everyone's expressions stiffened; they had already seen through Akainu's intentions.

Only now did they understand why nearly every Marine office held a place for Zephyr.

Even though that man was already dead, his name had become a taboo that neither the World Government nor even Marine Headquarters dared to mention.

But he had never left.

Boom—!

The conference room door was shoved open roughly; standing at the doorway, Ryokugyu lifted his gaze and met everyone's eyes, his heart instantly skipping a beat:

"It seems I've arrived at an inopportune time."

"No!"

Akainu's mouth stretched into a grin:

"You've arrived at precisely the right time!"

Time rewound to a few minutes earlier.

Britannias.

Kaido let out a furious roar, breaking free from the Haki pressing down from Gao Wen, but scanning his surroundings, he could find no trace of Gao Wen anywhere.

This meant that no matter the distance separating them, that man could still use his Conqueror's Haki to precisely lock onto, and even suppress, him!

Such combat power...

Could there truly be an omnipotent monster in this world?!

Even that battle where he had suffered a crushing defeat at Gao Wen's hands earlier had only made Kaido extremely wary of Gao Wen, without rising to the level of fear.

But now, feeling this wave of Conqueror's Haki, Kaido's palms were already soaked in sweat, and he finally personally understood what kind of thing Whitebeard had faced during the Summit War!

Amidst his shock, Kaido also realized the truth.

Just now had merely been Gao Wen's warning; if he continued to forcibly act against Moria, the next time Gao Wen struck, it would be a certain kill!

An unstoppable certain kill!

"Tch—!"

Kaido spat out a mouthful of saliva, glared fiercely at Xiang Keluo, sheathed his Eight Precepts, and turned to leave.

Xiang Keluo pursed his lips, somewhat disappointed.

Originally, he had hoped to clash with Kaido, at least to verify just how far he had grown during this period.

However, since Kaido had voluntarily retreated, he now had no reason to continue entangling the matter.

After instructing several doctors waiting nearby to carry Moria away, Xiang Keluo's figure blurred, and he vanished from everyone's sight.

Meanwhile, the crowd in the spectator seats remained immersed in that instant of Conqueror's Haki from just before!

Redfield's pupils contracted sharply, his hand subconsciously gripping the long blade at his waist:

"This aura..."

"It is definitely that monster who appeared at the Summit War!"

He had been present on the battlefield of the Summit War and had also watched the battle between Gao Wen and Whitebeard from afar.

At that time, although Gao Wen was strong, the spirit he displayed merely suppressed Whitebeard slightly, far lacking the overwhelming dominance he now showed against Kaido.

In other words, unless Gao Wen had grown stronger during this intervening period, it meant that during the Summit War, facing Whitebeard, Gao Wen had not yet unleashed his full strength.

Redfield finally understood the weight of this realization.

"Just from his aura, one feels suffocated..."

Straw Hat stood by the window, pondering what his performance would be if he faced this power, or even Gao Wen as he was during the Summit War.

And that answer frightened him to his core.

"Do you have confidence?!"

Kid swallowed hard, unable to help but ask.

"No."

"Not even a little bit?!"

"Not even a little bit."

Kid looked at the grinning Straw Hat and instantly felt his anger boil over:

"Then why are you smiling so brightly?!"

"Isn't this great?!"

The Straw Hat tilted his head, a confident smile on his face:

"Just when I thought my power was enough to decide everything, new opponents appear."

"Adventure..."

"Is endless!"

"Doesn't something like that make you excited?!"

Kid placed a hand on his forehead, speechless for a moment, even regretting why he had agreed to the Straw Hat's joke-like promise in the first place.

Once you board this pirate ship, especially with your whole family in tow, it's not so easy to get off.

"Get serious!"

"Bastard!"

"Hahahaha—!"

Amidst their banter, the despair brought by Gao Wen's Conqueror's Haki was also diluted a bit.

Hawk Eyes sat aside, gently wiping the blade of the Black Blade.

Buzz—!

The Black Blade, sensing Gao Wen's aura, emitted constant buzzing sounds; it was incredibly excited for the peak it was about to face!

It was at this moment.

The results announced by Jango in the Round Table Arena spread across the world via the Den Den Mushi video feed!

"The eighth match of the Quarterfinals of the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament, the winner is Kaido of the Beasts!"

"Thus, the Quarterfinals of this World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament have concluded. The finals will begin in three days. Please look forward to it—!"

"Beep—!"

The video feed cut off.

The crowd watching this battle had varied expressions.

Some were shocked by the terrifying combat power of the monsters to the point of doubting life itself; some were left wanting more; and others were filled with unease.

But the Five Elders sitting in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise had not a single trace of expression on their faces at this moment, nearly numb.

If Moria unleashing Emperor-level combat power had merely made them take it seriously and raise their guard in their hearts,

then the scene of Gao Wen releasing his Conqueror's Haki to suppress Kaido from a distance made them feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

Moreover, among the martial arts tournament, the powerful figures who had intervened from Britannia had all reached at least the Admiral-Emperor level.

"This isn't about deciding the world's number one; this is Britannia showing off its muscles, meant for us to see!"

Saint Natsusaro took a deep breath, his face looking extremely grim.

The others beside him were the same; Saint Muzi nervously rubbed his beard, his face even unusually pale:

"The Knights of the Round Table..."

"Is he targeting the God's Knights? This man has written his ambition on his face."