With Aeridar and the Marines reaching an agreement, the two major forces began their handover, and the war finally drew to a close.
With a Vice Admiral, two Rear Admirals, four thousand elite Marines, and nine powerful warships blockading Port Florent, the remnants of the Garfield and Golden Lion Pirate crews and the remaining underworld mercenaries had no chance of breaking through the Marine's defensive line.
They had no choice but to launch a frontal assault against the Marines blockading Port Florent, since all other large-ship harbors had been seized by the forces of the Dunlite Kingdom, the Chris Pirates, and the Donquixote family.
Against the large-caliber cannons of nine powerful warships and the rifles of four thousand elite Marines, their attacks were futile. They left behind more than two thousand bodies and were unable to break the Marine's defense line.
Even a few powerful fighters who made it to the coast found themselves staring at a tragic sight—the port was filled with the wreckage of their sunken ships. They were subsequently shelled by the warships and overwhelmed by a team of elite Marines led by a Vice Admiral. Most were either killed on the spot or captured after being severely wounded.
The Marines' warships are technological masterpieces, blending the World Government and Marine's advanced engineering. They have high firepower, strong defenses, and incredible speed, making them nearly impossible for typical pirate ships to fight. Even many large pirate ships will choose to flee rather than engage in a direct confrontation with just a few Marine vessels.
The Marines' cannons can strike from a great distance with devastating force. While some powerful fighters can intercept cannonballs, they would never try to take a hit with their bodies. Furthermore, it's difficult for them to launch a powerful attack from hundreds or even thousands of meters away.
To launch an attack from such a distance and still have enough power to sink a warship, one must have the strength of at least Doflamingo's caliber and a Devil Fruit ability that allows for long-range attacks. Otherwise, a master of a fighting style, even if they can create long-range shockwaves, wouldn't have enough power left after traveling a thousand meters—unless you are on the level of Garp or Zephyr, and even for Zephyr, it would have to be in his prime.
Facing the bombardment from the nine Marine warships, even the Island Ruler-level executives of the Garfield Pirate Crew could only flee in a panic.
With the deal struck, Sakazuki led another group of Marines alongside the Dunlite Kingdom's army to destroy the Barrid Kingdom, while Kuzan returned alone to Port Florent to capture the remaining members of the Garfield and Golden Lion Pirate crews.
Under the overwhelming might of an Admiral, the already crumbling Barrid Kingdom had no chance. In just three days, the combined forces of the Dunlite Kingdom and the Marines broke into the Barrid Kingdom's capital.
Barrid XVI, the king of the Barrid Kingdom, killed his queen, concubines, and all of his children before setting fire to the palace and burning himself to death, signaling the end of the Barrid Kingdom.
On the other side, the remnants of the two pirate crews were crushed by Kuzan's overwhelming power. Most of the crew members were captured, but many of the more powerful ones were killed. While the Garfield and Golden Lion Pirates weren't completely wiped out, the remaining small fry couldn't cause any more trouble.
At the same time, Aeridar and Doflamingo, who remained at the now-ruined Fort Respler, began to dismiss their mercenaries. The mercenaries' presence cost a huge amount of money every day, and with the war over, it was time to pay them their last wages and send them on their way.
War is incredibly expensive—where cannons roar, a fortune in gold is spent. In over six months, Aeridar and Doflamingo had spent at least two to three billion Berries. While this wasn't a huge amount for Aeridar, it was a significant sum for Doflamingo.
The news of the war's end spread, shocking countless powers across the world. They weren't surprised by the end of the war, but rather by the constant plot twists. It was just ridiculous.
First, the alliance of two Warlords, Doflamingo and Aeridar, was unexpected but still within the realm of possibility.
But what about the sudden appearance of the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki? It was widely known that he had disappeared for more than a decade after escaping from Impel Down. His sudden appearance was completely out of the blue. And a man of his stature should have completely dominated the battlefield.
However, the result was a shock to the entire world: the Golden Lion had been defeated! He couldn't even escape and had died on the battlefield. Oh my god! This was one of the legendary top-tier pirates, a man on the same level as Whitebeard and the Pirate King. In terms of fame, even the Redfield was a step behind him.
In the eyes of the older generation of pirates, this victory was on par with defeating Whitebeard Newgate or the Pirate King Gold Roger. Many of them knew the details of the Battle of Edd War. If not for the sudden storm, Gold Roger wouldn't have become the Pirate King; it would have been Shiki.
In that era, Roger had a small crew and focused on adventure, sailing all over the sea. Whitebeard Newgate was content with his own territory, protecting his so-called family and rarely taking any initiative.
Then there was Golden Lion Shiki. With his massive fleet, he ruled over half the sea. All the pirates trembled in his presence, and even the Marines and the World Government were wary of him. This was why Shiki had the ambition and confidence to rule the world. Compared to Roger, who later became the Pirate King, Golden Lion Shiki was a better fit for the title of "King of the Pirates."
Thus, even after his defeat, no one, including the Marines and the World Government, underestimated him. Even after he was imprisoned and then disappeared for more than a decade, his legend continued to live on.
A single sentence summed it up perfectly: "He may be gone from the world, but the world is still buzzing with his legend!"
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