Chapter 518: The Siege of Mariejois: Shadows of War

Meanwhile, our protagonist Luffy was still charging straight toward the execution platform.

If the Navy tried to close in from behind, Franky would immediately fire his cannons, with Nami unleashing rolling thunder. Thanks to them, Luffy always had a clear path behind him.

While the whole world had their eyes glued to Luffy and the broadcast from Navy Headquarters, no one noticed that the Revolutionary Army had already encircled the Celestial Dragons’ holy land, Mariejois, just waiting for the order to attack.

“Lord Karl.”

In a corner of Mariejois, Dragon, Kuma, Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino and the others gathered around Karl’s personal craft.

“The battle below is in full swing. We can’t afford to wait either. Let’s launch the all-out assault.”

“But first, let the gene soldiers run wild. Then everyone pick your targets—go in, but don’t underestimate them.”

Speaking of gene soldiers, Karl looked a little helpless. No matter how they’d tried to fine-tune them over the years, the stronger the gene soldiers got, the lower their intelligence became.

That meant the moment they charged into the battlefield, they’d attack everyone—friend or foe. For a massive coordinated assault, that was a huge flaw.

It was better to use them as disposable pawns against the World Government, let them be the problem. Once the gene soldiers were dealt with, the Revolutionary Army and Karl’s forces could show themselves. That would work much better.

“Yes, Lord Karl!”

After everyone received their orders, they hurried off in different directions. Karl also instructed his sons and daughters to follow, preparing to rush in at the outbreak of war and carve up the World Government.

“Is it just my imagination? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

“You feel it too?”

Marcus and a few others had been quietly watching the battle at Navy Headquarters around the round table.

But then, out of nowhere, a chill swept over their scalps. It made them realize the real crisis hadn’t even begun yet. But who was the target? Could it be…?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Marceka?”

“This is bad!”

Thunderous rumbling echoed right beside them. Their faces fell. It was clear—someone was attacking the World Government at Mariejois.

“Order the troops to fight back! I’ll go inform the Five Elders!”

Outside, in the holy city, people were startled by the golden giants falling from the sky.

The sight brought back memories of that brutal massacre decades ago. Many had only been children then, but the horror had left scars that never faded. No one ever thought they’d face such a scene again.

Boom!

The golden giants didn’t care who or what was in front of them—their mission was to destroy everything in sight.

Whether it was bystanders, Celestial Dragons, guards, or even buildings, nothing escaped their rampage.

“Comrade, our plan is working.”

“Yeah, comrade, I’ve waited so long for this day.”

“It’s a shame so many of our friends never lived to see it.”

“Don’t worry. Once the red flag flies across the world, those who passed can finally rest in peace.”

In a palace corner, two Revolutionary Army spies exchanged whispers.

They didn’t know many secrets, but they understood one thing: when the golden giants started falling from the sky, it meant the holy war had begun. The day to end the Celestial Dragons’ rule was here.

There were over a hundred such spies hiding within the World Government’s holy land. All of them stayed well away from the golden giants’ path, running fast toward the edge of the Red Line.

They knew the main force was waiting in formation over there. If they could make it before the war erupted, they wouldn’t end up as cannon fodder.

The Five Elders immediately left the meeting room when the chaos broke out, each returning to their own families to warn the other Celestial Dragons. This assault was even fiercer than the last—a full ten thousand golden giants had been unleashed.

Every single strong family member needed to join the fight. As for Marcus, he rushed to awaken Im without delay.

With things this dire, waking up Lord Im was their only chance to turn the tide.

After all, only Im could control the Celestial Dragons’ sacred weapon—Uranus!

Deep under the sea, the mermaid princess—Sea King Poseidon—who Karl had hidden for years, waited just off the Red Line with five gigantic Sea Kings each nearly ten kilometers long and dozens more over five kilometers, ready for the signal.

As for those only a kilometer or so in length, they were swarming everywhere, completely surrounding the base of the Red Line.

At the same time, Zunesha, the colossal elephant stretching thirty-five kilometers tall, lumbered toward the Red Line with unwavering determination. Its goal was obvious—to smash the Red Line, sink it into the ocean, wipe out the World Government, and finally fulfill an ancient promise.

“The golden giants are back again?”

“Let’s go. We can’t let them destroy our holy land!”

With their families awakened by the alarm, powerful Celestial Dragons poured out to battle. The golden giants quickly met fierce resistance, surrounded by teams of advanced fighters.

Although many of those were only vice-admiral or fake-admiral level, it still proved the World Government’s hidden strength was no joke. Even the Holy Knights, clad in golden armor, roamed the battlefield, hunting down golden giants.

“Heh, if we’d figured out a way to control the golden giants’ minds, ten thousand of them might have crushed the Red Line with ease.”

Karl, seated high above the clouds, watched the desperate Celestial Dragons battle below with a look of contempt in his eyes.

It wasn’t even the first time the golden giants had attacked Mariejois—some Celestial Dragons now had preparations in place.

They’d started exploiting the giants’ simple minds, going on the offensive. Even if a few died through mistakes, their strategy was working—the number of golden giants was plummeting as each minute passed. Limbs and bodies scattered everywhere.

“But this is just the appetizer. Once the giants are wiped out, you’ll see what real power looks like—unleashed, with nothing holding it back.”

Karl never expected the golden giants to accomplish much. As long as they could sap some stamina from the strong and take out those pesky nuisances, that was enough.

“Lord Im, the golden giants from twenty years ago have returned to the holy land.”

“And today of all days—the Navy is trying to wipe out Whitebeard and the other Four Emperors. Something like this happening now…”

“It’s almost certainly Karl leading the attack himself. The final battle has begun.”

Marcus kept his report brief, speaking to a shadowy room.

This was where Lord Im lay in deep slumber.

Im had gained eternal life through surgery, but the last great war left wounds at her very core.

So all these years, Im could only heal by staying asleep. That made her almost unaware of the outside world—and unless absolutely necessary, even the Five Elders wouldn’t dare wake her.

After all, Lord Im was the Celestial Dragons’ true pillar. As long as Im lived, the Celestial Dragons would never fall from their throne.