In the distance, the Five Elders also appeared utterly exhausted.
They stood before a nearly collapsed palace, exchanging glances, their eyes reflecting a deep weariness and a subtle apprehension they rarely showed.
Although they had barely endured to the end thanks to their immortality, they understood that this battle had cost them far more than they had anticipated.
The damaged buildings and severely injured Celestial Dragons were not only wounds upon Mary Geoise but also a significant blow to the authority of the Five Elders.
Most importantly, this battle had no victor—Jin remained undefeated, Im's condition was still unclear, and the unrestrained pirates seemed to herald the beginning of destruction.
Though figures like Golden Lion and Charlotte Linlin had fallen, the marks of their rampage could not be easily erased.
The Holy Land now resembled a kingdom hollowed out at its core.
The high walls were cracked, the long streets were covered in scorched marks, and there were craters large and small.
Every sight testified to the intensity and brutality of the battle.
An invisible sense of oppression hung over everyone's hearts, making even breathing feel heavy.
After the cleanup, the guards gathered together, silent and speechless.
A cool breeze blew from afar, brushing against their faces and carrying away the last of the warmth.
Only the occasional sob and the still-burning fires among the distant ruins spoke of the nightmare that had just ended.
The once high and mighty Celestial Dragons now looked no different from commoners, and even more disheveled.
The guards huddled together, their clothes tattered, their bodies covered in wounds; some couldn't lift their arms, others had broken arrows sticking out of their backs.
Their faces were etched with fatigue and discontent, and they muttered intermittent complaints.
"Why do we have to risk our lives for these Celestial Dragons? What can they do besides enjoy themselves?" one guard said, clutching his wounded shoulder, his voice filled with anger and resentment.
"Yeah, they call themselves gods, but they only hide behind us. Every time there's danger, they send us 'ants' to take the hit," another guard said, his eyes bloodshot and his expression weary.
"What was this battle even for? In the end, the Holy Land we were protecting is still a ruin!" The guards grumbled indignantly; some complained in low voices, while others silently endured the unspeakable powerlessness in their hearts.
They were driven by the Celestial Dragons, but treated like discarded pawns in battle, with no one truly caring about their lives or deaths.
The Celestial Dragons were in an even more miserable state.
Those nobles who once lived in luxury now looked like helpless children, their eyes filled with panic.
Their once-splendid robes and delicate masks were now covered in dust and dirt.
Some slumped on the ground, wailing loudly, constantly cursing the pirates' rampage and the guards' incompetence; others cried with their heads in their hands, their lips trembling as they muttered:
"Why did it turn out like this? Why is no one protecting us?"
Still others angrily shouted at the guards: "You useless trash! What are you good for? So many of you couldn't stop a few measly pirates!"
Their curses mixed in the air, carrying despair and fear, turning into the lamentations of war.
Meanwhile, the Five Elders gathered in a damaged conference room.
The decorative paintings on the conference room walls had fallen, and shattered glass was scattered all over the floor.
The five men looked at each other, their eyes filled with fatigue and solemnity.
An invisible sense of oppression permeated the air, as if a huge rock was pressing on everyone's chest, making it hard to breathe.
"We can't delay any longer," Marcus Mars, the slender figure, was the first to break the silence, his voice hoarse. "Now, the entire Holy Land is almost lost, and our authority has been severely undermined. These pirates are incredibly audacious!"
Shepherd Ju Peter Saint snorted coldly, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "We should have dealt with these troubles long ago! Especially Jin, he has threatened our rule more than once. This time, he must pay the price, or we will not be able to control the situation."
"But the problem is," Jaygarcia Saturn said, his brow furrowed, his tone revealing deep concern, "Lord Im's current state must not be disturbed, and although those rampant pirates have been driven away from Pangaea Castle, they are still not to be underestimated. If we mobilize our forces to encircle them, we may stir up a hornet's nest."
A faint unease lingered in the hearts of the Five Elders—they had to face not only the destruction brought by the pirates but also the pressure from higher up.
Everything before them made their heads ache: they had to appease the anger of the Celestial Dragons and prevent Im from being affected by the outside world.
The seemingly stable rule now resembled a giant tower swaying in the wind and rain, ready to collapse at any moment.
"In any case, we must act quickly," Ethanbaron V. Nasujuro said coldly. "Immediately mobilize an elite force to prevent further pirate incursions. At the same time, we must ensure Lord Im's tranquility. As for Jin..."
He paused for a moment, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. "If necessary, we must take extreme measures."
The conference room fell silent again, with only the faint cries and calls for help from outside the window barely audible.
......
Although the flames of war in Mary Geoise had temporarily subsided, the people on the sea remained unaware.
The sea breeze brought not only a salty smell but also countless unspread secrets.
People outside seemed to be still busy with their daily routines, while at this moment, the supreme Holy Land had experienced a catastrophe in the raging fire.
However, the traces of war could not be completely concealed.
Those ships, guards, and even some Celestial Dragon attendants who had luckily escaped from Mary Geoise sailed across the sea to various places with frightened expressions.
At every port they landed, they brought rumors about Mary Geoise.
However, these messages had not yet been fully pieced together into a complete picture, and most people still regarded it as idle chatter after dinner, and some even scoffed at it, thinking it was a sensational story woven by some shady pirates.
"Did you hear? Someone said that the Holy Land was looted by a group of pirates, and half of the buildings were destroyed!"
In a bustling bar, a sailor with a full beard lowered his voice and said to his companion with some excitement and unease.
"Come on, brother," the other shook his head and sneered, "That's the territory of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. Who dares to stroke their tiger's whiskers? Even if there is, they won't live for more than a day!"
"But..." The sailor hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice, his expression becoming even more mysterious, "I have an acquaintance who escaped from the Holy Land. He said he saw many pirate ships descending from the sky, and a large number of people broke directly into Pangaea Castle!"
The people in the bar were silent for a while, and then burst into low whispers and uneasy discussions.
The news spread quickly in the port like wind. Although it was mixed with various exaggerations and unrealistic descriptions, the news that "Mary Geoise was attacked" was spreading little by little.
...
...
