Outside Saint Rosward’s palace, the carved railings were still stained with fresh blood.
Several slave-like figures curled up in corners, trembling uncontrollably.
Fear hung thick in the air.
The moment Cassian reached the entrance, a harsh, grating laugh echoed from inside, mixed with the cries of a young girl.
Hancock froze for a split second.
She knew that sound all too well.
Cassian’s gaze darkened.
Without hesitation, he lifted his leg and kicked the ornate door open.
A loud bang rang out as the solid wooden door burst inward.
Inside the palace, Saint Rosward stood there in his bubble helmet, whip in hand, grinning viciously at a wounded little girl curled up in the corner.
Her hair was disheveled, her small face streaked with tears and terror.
Koala.
The girl Cassian had come for.
“Who is it?”
Saint Rosward turned in fury, his expression twisting when he saw Cassian and Hancock.
“Who are you people?
How dare you barge into my palace?!”
His gaze fell on Hancock, and a cruel smile spread across his face.
“Oh?
Isn’t this that snake-girl slave?
How did you get out?
And you even brought an outsider?”
“Men, seize them!”
The guards nearby hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward.
But before they could act, several members of the God’s Knights stepped out from behind Cassian.
The guards froze instantly.
Their legs nearly gave out when they saw the insignias.
God’s Knights.
The highest combat force among the Celestial Dragons.
They were not even qualified to stand in their presence.
“Seize me?”
Cassian let out a cold laugh and walked forward step by step.
To him, that ridiculous bubble helmet looked like nothing more than a fragile toy.
“You…
what are you doing?
I am a Celestial Dragon!
A World Noble!”
Saint Rosward instinctively took two steps back, panic creeping into his voice.
Cassian did not bother replying.
He stepped forward and swung his arm in one smooth motion, his entire body following through as he rotated slightly, releasing all his strength in a single strike.
A clean, brutal slap.
Slap!
The sound exploded through the palace like thunder.
The so called protective bubble helmet shattered instantly, fragments scattering across the floor.
A bright red handprint appeared on his face as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
For a moment, he could not even gather his thoughts.
Cassian shook his hand casually.
The force of the impact should have caused some recoil, but the moment it traveled up his arm, it disappeared completely.
Far away, Imu absorbed it all.
“Tsk.
Cheap garbage.”
Cassian brushed his palm as if nothing had happened.
In the depths of a distant palace, Imu was observing Cassian through a crystal sphere.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her right hand.
It felt as though she had struck solid steel.
Her arm tingled faintly.
She looked down at her hand in silence.
Even through the mask, her expression must have been terrible.
She had seen weak people before.
But never someone this ridiculous.
How could a person feel recoil from slapping someone?
Inside the palace, silence fell.
Hancock covered her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief.
In all her years, she had never seen anyone dare to strike a Celestial Dragon, and certainly not like this.
The members of the God’s Knights also stood frozen.
They might look down on certain useless Celestial Dragons, but witnessing something like this firsthand was still shocking.
Saint Figarland Garling, standing at the front with a Western sword at his side, felt his eyelid twitch slightly.
His grip on the hilt tightened.
He had lived for decades and seen countless battles, yet today still managed to surprise him.
The long-haired female knight beside him leaned slightly closer, her expression carrying a trace of confusion, as if silently asking how to respond.
“You…
you dared to hit me?!”
Saint Rosward finally came to his senses.
Clutching his swollen face, he screamed hysterically.
“I’ll kill you!
I’ll turn you into the lowest slave!
I’ll make you beg for death!”
Cassian dug his finger into his ear, looking bored.
“So loud.”
His attention shifted to Koala in the corner.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, her eyes filled with fear.
But she was still aware.
Still human.
If she had stayed here any longer, she would have become like the others, completely broken.
Cassian’s voice softened slightly.
“Don’t be afraid.
Koala blinked through her tears, staring at him.
Then she glanced at the God’s Knights behind him and spoke in a small voice.
“Can you…
really save me?”
“Of course.”
Cassian gave a faint smile and pointed at Saint Rosward.
“See that?
Trash like him goes flying with one hit.”
As he spoke, he stepped forward and delivered a spinning kick to Saint Rosward, who was still shouting on the ground.
The impact knocked several teeth loose instantly.
Cassian felt nothing.
Somewhere far away, Imu let out a low, muffled sound as pain shot through her leg.
“Lord Imu?”
The cautious voices of the Five Elders echoed below.
“It’s nothing.”
Her tone carried suppressed irritation.
“Have the God’s Knights keep a close watch on Cassian.
Do not let him…
use force again.”
This situation was beyond absurd.
He was the one attacking, yet the backlash kept transferring to her.
After dealing with Saint Rosward, Cassian had Koala taken away by the God’s Knights to receive treatment.
With that settled, his mood improved noticeably.
He took Hancock along and casually strolled through the streets of Mary Geoise.
Behind him, several members of the God’s Knights followed closely.
The formation looked even more imposing than a Celestial Dragon’s procession.
Saint Figarland Garling walked at the front, his long sword and cape giving him a steady and commanding presence.
Beside him, the long-haired female knight carried a spear, her striking appearance drawing subtle glances from passing attendants.
Saint Figarland Shamrock idly played with the Western sword at his waist, the blade gleaming coldly under the sunlight.
It was said that the weapon contained the power of a Mythical Zoan, Cerberus, serving as the medium for his ability.
Saint Rimosse V.
Chilongnom wore a deep purple cloak, faint shadows shifting around him.
Wherever his gaze passed, the atmosphere seemed to grow colder.
He possessed the Mythical Zoan Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model Kirin, and could manipulate fear itself.
Saint Shepherd Somaz stood with his arms crossed, faint thorn-like patterns visible on his skin.
His awakened Thorn-Thorn Fruit allowed him to reflect damage onto anyone who struck him.
Manmaiya Gunko wore a Gothic military uniform, the lower half of her face wrapped in bandages beneath her cap.
Her Arrow-Arrow Fruit granted her precise tracking abilities and aerial movement.
Rumors even claimed she served as a vessel for Imu’s consciousness.
These six top fighters of the God’s Knights now followed behind Cassian like personal guards.
No matter how one looked at it, the scene felt completely out of place.
The Celestial Dragons along the street stared in confusion.