Growing Ambition!

At this moment, the maze world in front of Pangaea Castle had turned into a hellscape.

Countless dismembered bodies of Holy Land guards and CP members were scattered everywhere.

According to Mask Number Nine's original plan, they didn't need to confront Nicholas and Dragon directly. Their goal was to stall Nicholas, preventing him from escaping. By continuously sending in Holy Land guards and CP members to wear down their stamina, they planned to deliver the final blow once their energy was sufficiently depleted.

However, Nicholas and Dragon didn't play by the rules, unleashing their full power in the confined space of the maze. This again proved a fundamental truth of the pirate world: numerical superiority is useless against Logia users.

"So..."

"You still don't understand the situation, do you?"

"Hmm?!"

Hearing Nicholas's voice, Mask Number Nine's face changed dramatically. Before he could fully react, Nicholas suddenly appeared in his peripheral vision.

"You...!!!"

An intense sense of danger enveloped Mask Number Nine.

A stone shield!

The ground beneath his feet suddenly surged upward, thrusting violently toward Nicholas. This attack was clearly designed to be both offensive and defensive; even if it couldn't repel Nicholas, it would erect a defense.

Facing the attack, Nicholas's eyes glinted with killing intent. He pointed a finger, and lightning burst forth. Violent currents of electricity bypassed the stone shield like streams, sweeping over Mask Number Nine, who was hiding behind it.

Crack!

With the intense electricity coursing through him, Mask Number Nine's body went rigid. His identifying mask shattered into several pieces, revealing a face filled with shock. Cracks appeared across his face and body like porcelain. Despite his last-minute use of Armament Haki for defense, it was ineffective against Nicholas. The seemingly simple strike contained the power to cut through lightning itself.

Raikiri!

"Should I call you confident or foolish..."

Nicholas muttered to himself. They had come to uncover the true strength of the Flower Between, and if they couldn't handle enemies like this, they might as well go home and sleep.

Mask Number Nine, his life ebbing away, seemed to understand Nicholas's words, his face displaying a look of disbelief. Shortly after, blood gushed from the cracks in his body. His lifeless body fell to the ground, shattering like broken porcelain, blood and innards spilling out.

"Ah, Number Nine is dead. He was actually a decent guy."

Number Five, the Poison-Tongue Masked Woman, who had narrowly escaped the previous onslaught by hiding in an air door, said somewhat sadly. Despite not having deep camaraderie, they had still been colleagues.

Upon hearing the words of Number Five, the Poison-Tongue Masked Woman, Saint Garling, who carried a black blade, remained silent. For them, although the death of comrades was rare, it was not unheard of. Before officially receiving their mask numbers, they had witnessed many deaths.

"Actually, compared to that, I think we should retreat first," said Number Six, the Maze Masked Man, softly. Following his gaze, they realized the once-massive maze was now on the verge of collapse after the onslaught of the two Logia users. Bright light was beginning to pierce through the maze's structure.

[AN- Dragon is also called as logia user because it does just look like a logia, controlling wind element. Similar to luffy being called as a rubber man, not Nika]

At the Social Plaza.

The Holy Land guards and a group of CP0 members who had arrived on the scene all looked in shock at the large black hemisphere in the middle of the plaza. Just moments ago, terrifying fluctuations had emanated from the black hemisphere, and now, cracks were starting to appear on its surface.

"What overwhelming power...!!!"

Even the seasoned guards of the various allied nations were astounded, their faces solemn as they gazed at the black hemisphere.

Crack! Crack!

With a series of splintering sounds, the black hemisphere shattered like an illusion, revealing the corpses of the Holy Land guards and CP members who had perished earlier.

Eyes filled with shock turned to Nicholas and Dragon, who stood imposingly in the air.

Those were the elite guards of Mariejois!!!

Defeated so miserably by just two individuals!!!

At this moment, Nicholas, floating in the air, turned his head to look in a particular direction.

There, at the bubble cable car port, the entrance to Mariejois from the Red Port. He sensed two familiar presences there, but there was no time to deal with them now.

The guards of Mariejois were considered one of the powerful forces under the World Government. Those qualified to join this force were the cream of the crop, equivalent to at least a major in the navy. CP members were even more formidable, known for handling the dirtiest tasks for the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

Yet this powerful force was now nearly annihilated.

The representatives and guards from the allied nations were profoundly shaken by this sight. They understood that if the World Government couldn't handle Nicholas and the other invaders, its authority would plummet.

Some representatives began questioning the World Government's strength after such a long reign. Hearing was one thing, but seeing was believing.

Previously, the World Government's strength was gauged by the navy's performance in battles against pirates or executing the Buster Call on islands and regions. However, the navy's strength didn't necessarily reflect the World Government's true power. This thought stirred the minds of many representatives. The tribute they paid to the Celestial Dragons was a significant financial burden, and if they stopped paying, that money could greatly strengthen their own nations.

If multiple countries united, even the navy would have to think twice.

"What immense power... If only..."

An elderly representative draped in luxurious robes gazed up at Nicholas and Dragon, eyes filled with deep admiration. Approaching the end of his life, he understood what such power could mean for a nation. With power like this, a country could expand its territory a hundredfold or a thousandfold!

Conquering other nations and expanding one's empire would be a simple matter.

Such thoughts were shared by the dozens of other representatives present, as ambition began to grow wildly in their hearts. (To be continued)