Chapter 342: The Awakening Deep Beneath Mariejois

The burly man rolled back on the spot, his body arcing through the air before crashing hard to the ground.

“Ah!”

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face going pale in an instant.

“Ugh!”

He tried to force himself up, but the searing pain made it impossible to move.

Still coughing blood, the burly man was suddenly lifted by a golden giant rising up behind him.

His limbs were gripped tight by the golden giant, terror and confusion filling his eyes.

Through his panicked gaze, he spotted three more golden giants approaching, each grabbing a different limb.

Their actions were cold and merciless, not the slightest hint of hesitation.

Rip!

He didn’t even have time to scream. His body was torn apart, organs flying everywhere as he died on the spot.

Everyone on the battlefield stood frozen, shock and fear running through them all.

The brutal death of the burly man shattered the Celestial Dragons’ morale.

Spoiled as they were, none of the Celestial Dragons had ever witnessed such carnage. Even high-ranking family members were slaughtered right here, some so terrified they lost control of their bodies.

With their leader dead, none of the Celestial Dragons hiding in the manor stood a chance.

Under the crazed stomping of the golden giants, dozens of Celestial Dragons were smashed into pulp.

The slaughter continued. Three World Government admiral-level fighters had already fallen.

The remaining admiral-level figures were hanging on by a thread.

After all, with 800 golden giants on the rampage, just over 200 needed to hold the line while the rest fanned out across the battlefield.

They destroyed everything in sight, the thunderous noise growing until it finally roused Im from his deep sleep.

Im—a name whispered in hushed tones deep within Mariejois, more myth than reality.

They say his power could shake the very foundations of the world.

As the rumbling drew closer, the entire manor began to quake, as if the earth itself was responding to the chaos.

Im’s place of slumber was a secret buried in the deepest depths of Mariejois, known only to the most exalted Celestial Dragons.

“Lord Im, you’re finally awake.”

A Celestial Dragon knelt at Im’s bedside, voice trembling with reverence and fear.

Im slowly opened his eyes—dark as deep water, seemingly able to see through anything.

He sat up, an invisible pressure radiating from his body.

“What’s happening outside?”

Im’s voice was low and commanding, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling Celestial Dragon.

It had taken a tremor shaking the entire Red Line to finally break Im’s long sleep.

“The Celestial Dragons are under attack like never before. Hundreds of golden giants are laying waste to our home.”

“Their power is equivalent to Vice Admirals, yet their physical bodies are as tough as true Admirals.”

“All of Mariejois is nearly in ruins.”

The Celestial Dragon answered, shaking with fear.

Im’s brow creased, a flash of anger showing in his eyes.

“Who dares insult the honor of the Celestial Dragons?”

He stood, an overwhelming power emanating from his very presence.

“Reporting, Lord Im—we still don’t know who the attackers are.”

“Don’t know? What use are you, then?”

The Celestial Dragon’s eyes filled with unwillingness before their head was cleaved from their shoulders by some invisible blade and crashed to the floor.

Im didn’t even spare the fallen Celestial Dragon a glance. Instead, he turned and walked into a mysterious chamber.

“Could this be a test from you, Karl?”

Im’s intellect was far beyond that of ordinary people.

For so many powerful clones to appear out of nowhere in Mariejois…

If these had been released in the Four Seas, the blow to the World Government and its allies would have been even heavier.

There was no need to deploy them here unless the point was to provoke the awakening of Heavenly King Uranus.

“Fine. Let me show you the might of Uranus one more time.”

Boom!

Back on the battlefield, a room used to hold slaves was blasted open.

A wall burst apart under a mighty force, dust billowing as a golden giant barreled through.

After a moment, when no guards appeared,

one by one, figures started spilling out of the hole, gazing at the sunlight outside with shining eyes they hadn’t shown in years.

They had once powered the underground elevators that served Mariejois above.

Some had not seen the sun in decades, ever since they were captured.

“We’re free!” someone cried, voice trembling with excitement and disbelief.

Sunlight poured across their pale faces.

They’d grown sickly from so long in darkness.

Some even felt their vision slightly dimmed.

“The guards and Celestial Dragons outside are all dead!”

Another shouted the good news, victory in their voice.

Some daring souls had already rushed out ahead.

News from outside was passed along, one story at a time.

“Everyone, run!” a rallying cry rang out, like a drum beating fire into their hearts.

A flood of slaves surged out—some in rags, others covered in wounds—but all their eyes blazed with desperate hope for freedom.

The pounding footsteps and cheers of escapees blended together into the most stirring melody on the battlefield.

As word spread inside, even more people joined the rush to freedom.

Former warriors, scholars, merchants—they were all just souls longing for freedom now.

They helped and encouraged each other. Exhausted bodies, but spirits burning bright.

They knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Miss it, and they might never get another.

After all, who could guarantee anyone would ever storm Mariejois again?

“Quick, this way!” someone guided the crowd toward safety.

It was clearly a newly captured slave, still remembering the path to the outside world.

“Don’t look back. Don’t stop!” another voice urged, anxious that hesitation might cost someone their chance.

In the stampede, some faces were wet with tears, others split with grins. Their fates had changed in an instant.

Far off, the battle still raged. It was the golden giants holding back the World Government’s fighters, giving these people time to reach the edges of the city.

“Heh, whoever came up with this… Daring to insult the Celestial Dragons will never be forgiven.”

Topman Woqiuli Saint stood there, right arm gripping a blood-soaked golden head.

He was the quickest to anger of the Five Elders, and by far the most dangerous in combat.

With just a few dozen moves, he’d already torn off a golden giant’s head before anyone else could intervene.

But his feat was a drop in the bucket—dozens more golden giants raced toward him, undaunted.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, blasts rained down from the sky, striking the golden giants below.