At this moment, Whitebeard unleashed a devastating blow with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, sending forth a terrifying tsunami — a force akin to the end of the world.
As the monstrous waves surged, threatening to swallow all of Marineford whole, Aokiji swiftly left his seat. In a move just like in the original events, he leaped into action, freezing the massive waves on both sides to stop their advance. Right after, he attempted to strike Whitebeard directly.
However, his attack was effortlessly destroyed by Whitebeard, and Aokiji was sent flying, crashing into the sea.
"Ice Age!"
Kneeling on one knee atop the water, Aokiji, his body fully covered in ice, roared as he pressed his palm against the sea. A tremendous surge of freezing energy burst forth, rapidly spreading across the entire bay. In mere seconds, the entire bay had been completely frozen.
This, of course, included the three ships of the Whitebeard Pirates, now stuck firmly in the ice.
"Whoa! The Admiral actually made a foothold for us! Let's go, boys! Save Ace!!"
"The Whitebeard Pirates are gonna win! Let's show Marine Headquarters the true power of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
As the sea turned into solid ice, the morale of Whitebeard's forces soared. Fighting from the ships had been a major disadvantage — but now, with solid ground beneath their feet, they could charge straight across the frozen bay towards the plaza, rushing for the execution platform to rescue Ace!
That's right.
This is it!
"Ah... did I just do something bad?" Aokiji muttered with a sigh. "I only meant to create a foothold to stop the Whitebeard Pirates..."
On the other side, the Marine had already opened fire. Countless cannonballs rained down without pause.
"That fool Kuzan! He actually made a foothold for the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Akainu growled from his seat, furious.
Had the sea remained liquid, the Marine would have had a massive advantage, bombarding the pirates before they could even land. But now? Now everything was different.
As Akainu watched dozens of Whitebeard's men pouring from their ships onto the ice, his fury only grew. And as he considered that he'd likely be facing Elior and his crew soon, the rage boiling inside him became unbearable. Steam hissed from his body, and his fists transformed into molten lava.
Akainu was on the verge of launching his assault.
But right then — clang — the sound of a sword being drawn echoed. Mihawk stepped onto a high platform, unsheathing Yoru.
"Oh?"
Akainu paused, momentarily distracted. Kizaru raised an eyebrow with curiosity, while Garp, Sengoku, and many others turned their gazes toward Mihawk.
The world's greatest swordsman... a man who had crossed blades with the Red-Haired countless times... was about to act?
"Well, isn't that rare? Getting that man to move... not easy at all" Kizaru remarked lazily.
"Hmph. I thought he was just going to stand there and be decoration" Akainu snorted. His hatred for pirates was absolute — even the Shichibukai disgusted him. After all, both Crocodile and Blackbeard, who had already fallen earlier that day, were scum in his eyes.
"All pirates are evil. They must be eradicated."
"Hey, Mihawk... you're actually serious?" Doflamingo chuckled, somewhat shocked. He knew Mihawk fairly well. Originally, it had seemed like Mihawk had no interest in getting involved at all — fitting for a man who wandered the seas alone, rarely moved by anything. Now, seeing him about to attack... it was genuinely surprising.
The Black Blade gleamed, pitch-black like the depths of the abyss.
Even Boa Hancock glanced over in surprise. That a man like Mihawk was drawing his sword... even she didn't expect it.
The strongest swordsman in the world was about to act. Instantly, the focus of everyone present — even the cameras broadcasting the war worldwide — shifted to him.
"One of the Supreme Grade blades — the Black Blade, Yoru... and due to years of infusing it with Armament Haki, it's become even darker. Truly worthy of the world's strongest swordsman" Tashigi murmured, her eyes shining.
"I simply wish to measure... the distance between that man and myself" Mihawk declared, his golden eyes sharp, filled with unprecedented seriousness.
BOOM!
With a swing of Yoru, a massive green slash shot forward. The air itself trembled as the sound reverberated throughout Marineford.
The slash tore through the air, split the frozen sea, and surged toward the Moby Dick — no, not just the ship... it was aimed straight at Whitebeard himself.
But on the deck of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard merely smiled — calm and unfazed. Holding his massive naginata, Murakumogiri, the old man didn't even flinch.
Not even a blink.
Panic? Such an emotion had never existed within a man like Edward Newgate.
"What a terrifying slash..."
"I can't even breathe...!"
Many trembled in fear, though for swordsmen among the spectators, witnessing Hawkeye's skill was an awe-inspiring sight — a swordsmanship most could only dream of attaining.
Tap... tap... tap...
Heavy footsteps echoed amidst the tension.
BOOM!
Diamond Jozu lunged forward, meeting Mihawk's devastating slash head-on. The impact sent shockwaves through the ice, blinding light flaring as sparks flew. Jozu skidded backward from the force — but with a loud roar, he managed to deflect the slash upwards, sending it harmlessly into the sky.
"It's Diamond Jozu! One of Whitebeard's strongest commanders! A user of the Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit — insanely powerful!"
"He actually blocked Hawkeye's slash! It didn't even reach Whitebeard!"
The Navy was visibly disappointed.
Mihawk didn't follow up with another swing. His sharp gaze remained fixed on Whitebeard — who, moments ago, hadn't even moved.
Not even a blink... how terrifying.
He truly is the strongest man in the world... both his power and his spirit are beyond comprehension... Mihawk thought.
"Hawkeye... you're not gonna swing again?" Doflamingo asked with a crooked grin. "That slash actually got blocked... by the diamond guy!"
Mihawk said nothing. Silently, he lowered his sword. He had no further intention of attacking.
"Charge!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates let out deafening roars. Led by their captains, they charged across the frozen bay toward the plaza.
The sounds of battle shook the heavens.
Jozu, having just blocked Mihawk's attack, wasn't finished. He shattered a massive chunk of ice, hefted it over his head, and hurled it straight toward the Admirals' platform.
"You dare... disregard the authority of the Admirals... you're just a pirate captain!!"
Akainu exploded in fury. The massive block of blackened ice loomed overhead, casting a shadow over the Marines below. If it fell, many wouldn't be able to escape in time — there were simply too many packed together.
Akainu rose to his feet.
"Great Eruption!!"
Lava burst from his fists, utterly obliterating the ice block with a deafening explosion.
But just as he prepared to turn his attention back to Whitebeard, something caught his eye.
Another ship.
A vessel sailing in behind the Whitebeard fleet.
"Borsalino... are you seeing that ship?"
After smashing the ice, Akainu narrowed his eyes toward the horizon, uneasy.
"It's... the Revolutionary Army."
Kizaru, usually laid-back, now showed genuine shock.
"The Revolutionary Army!?"
"No... no way...!"
Akainu's expression twisted in disbelief. They had expected Elior's crew to possibly show up — but now the Revolutionary Army too!?
"Borsalino... are you sure!?"
The distance made it hard to see, but Kizaru had already raised a small telescope to his eyes.
"Absolutely sure. It's them! That group from Impel Down — Dragon himself, Ivankov, Sabo, and all four Army Commanders! And... even someone unexpected. Sakazuki... Straw Hat's there too."
There was a tremor in Kizaru's voice now.
That ship... it carried the full force of the Revolutionary Army's top fighters.
How could even Kizaru stay calm?
"Damn it..."
Akainu clenched his fists, lava dripping to the ice below. Things had just taken a turn for the worse. A war with the Whitebeard Pirates was already bad enough... but now the Revolutionary Army as well!?
"Sengoku! Do you see that ship!?"
Akainu shouted, his voice echoing. Sengoku spun toward the horizon — and his eyes widened.
For a brief moment, his heart skipped a beat. Conditioned by the appearance of Elior's crew earlier, he instinctively thought it was them.
But no... it wasn't Elior.
It was worse.
Behind the Whitebeard fleet... sailed the Revolutionary Army.
Vice Admiral Tsuru and Garp also noticed, tension gripping them. From the distance, they couldn't make out faces yet — but Garp... Garp felt something bad. Something really bad.
Because he saw two silhouettes.
One big... one small.
"D... Dragon? And... Luffy!?"
Sengoku raised his telescope, and the moment he focused on the ship, his face drained of color.
Every major force in the Revolutionary Army... was there.
Including Luffy... and Jinbei.
This crew... was a force to be reckoned with.
"Ace!!!"
"I'm coming!!"
Luffy stood at the prow of the ship, filling his lungs and bellowing at the top of his voice toward the distant execution platform.
Right now. Right there.
"Ace!! I'm here to save you!!"
"Ace!! It's me, Sabo!!"
Sabo's voice joined his.
The Marine Headquarters fell dead silent.
"Luffy!? And... Sabo!?"
"Sabo... isn't he supposed to be dead!?"
On the execution platform, Ace stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. His gaze locked onto Luffy... and Sabo... and Jinbei, whom he had shared a cell with in Impel Down.
"Luffy... why... why would you come... to save me...?"
Tears welled in Ace's eyes. The Whitebeard Pirates... his father... were already here to save him — and now even his little brother Luffy had come, too.
"So many... so many people... risking everything to save me..."
"I... I was so reckless... so selfish... I..."
Ace bit his lip, tears streaming down his face. The overwhelming wave of love and guilt crushed his heart.
"Ace!! I'll save you!! Anyone who tries to stop me... I'll send them flying!!"
Luffy shouted, face dead serious.
"Luffy! Be careful!!"
"And you too, Sabo!"
Dragon's cold voice rang out as he glared at Marine Headquarters ahead.
"Hmph... looks like the war's only just begun."
"Quite the lineup..." Dragon muttered, frowning.
"Brothers!! Into the battlefield!!"
Dragon roared, rallying the Revolutionary Army. Originally, they had intended to withdraw after rescuing Luffy from Impel Down — but Luffy and Sabo had been firm. They were determined to save their sworn brother Ace.
One was Dragon's biological son.
The other, Sabo, was like a son to him.
How could he refuse them?
And besides... if Whitebeard died here... the New World would descend into utter chaos. A bloodbath of territory wars. The innocent would suffer — islands like Fish-Man Island would fall into ruin, just as it had nearly been destroyed during the early years of the Great Pirate Era.
It was Whitebeard's protection that had kept it safe all this time.
Whitebeard... must not fall.
And Ace... must be saved.
Dragon's eyes sharpened as his gaze locked onto one person in the distance.
Garp.
This may be what old man Garp wishes for too... but as a Marine, his hands are tied...
Amidst the stunned silence of the world, the Revolutionary Army surged into battle — their arrival shaking the very heavens.
"LUFFY!!!"
"YOU...!!!"
Garp clutched his head, face twisting in disbelief.
If Luffy hadn't been there... Garp would've already jumped down to beat Dragon senseless. What kind of father... brings his son... to the most dangerous place on earth!?
And what the hell are you both doing here!?
Garp nearly lost his mind. Three generations of his family... now stood on the battlefield.
Marine... Revolutionary Army... Pirates...
All one family...
Sengoku's jaw dropped.
Sengoku and Akainu were so furious that the muscles in their faces twitched uncontrollably, and the rage in their hearts was about to explode.
"Jinbei! You...!"
Seeing Jinbei, a symbol of peace between Fish-Man Island and humanity—standing alongside the Revolutionary Army and Straw Hat Luffy, Sengoku felt both furious and disappointed.
"Attention! The world's most dangerous criminal, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon, has entered the battlefield! In addition, his biological son, Monkey D. Luffy — who carries the bloodline of a criminal — and one of the Worst Generation, the Straw Hat kid, are also present! All Marine personnel and all Revolutionary Army forces, be advised! Our enemies today are not only the Whitebeard Pirates but now also include the Revolutionary Army and others who have joined the battle!"