Standing at the prow of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard gave a faint smile and called out toward the distant Ace.
"Wait for me just a bit longer, Ace!"
He set Murakumogiri down beside him, spread his massive arms wide, and then drew them in as though embracing the world itself, gathering power for his Devil Fruit ability.
Both of Whitebeard's fists slammed into the air to either side of him, like hammers striking a solid wall.
The atmosphere itself cracked like glass.
The terrifying tremor that followed caused the seas around Marineford to surge violently upward.
The ocean twisted, and in the blink of an eye, towering tsunamis hundreds of meters high rose and came crashing down toward Marine Headquarters with world-shaking force.
"Ice Age!"
Aokiji soared into the sky and thrust his arms outward. Ice lances extended from his hands into the surging waves, freezing the sea solid in an instant.
At last, both sides had begun their all-out battle.
Arima saw the Whitebeard Pirates take action and knew immediately, it was time for his side to move as well.
He picked up a Den Den Mushi and relayed an order to Dragon. Launch the counterattack immediately.
Then he created a shadow clone and sent it off with Sabo and Luffy toward Marineford.
Once everything was arranged, Arima turned to Tsunade.
"I leave the affairs of Konoha to you. I'm heading to Mary Geoise for a bit of… fun."
Tsunade stepped forward and hugged him gently, whispering, "Be careful. Don't make me worry again."
Arima pressed a kiss to her forehead, and then his figure vanished from her sight.
"Arima… I hope everything goes smoothly for you."
Years ago, Konoha had already dispatched countless soldiers to infiltrate nations across the four seas, lying in wait for this very day.
Casting away all sentiment, Tsunade began commanding troops with her usual decisiveness.
In that moment, she radiated the majesty of a queen, gone was the tender woman from moments before.
Arima left Skypiea and, using Kamui, appeared instantly above Mary Geoise.
He gazed down at the splendid city below, and a flicker of regret crossed his face.
These were the crystallized labors of common people over the past eight centuries, yet it would take less than a single breath to erase it all.
He shook the thought away and entered Six Paths Sage Mode.
A white robe draped over his body, the Truth-Seeking Staff appeared in his hand, and the vertical Rinnegan opened on his brow.
He would go all out, no hesitation, no mercy.
Floating high above, Arima extended his limbs and looked down upon the false prosperity beneath him.
"Six Paths: Almighty Push."
A wave of overwhelming repulsive force exploded outward from his body. Everything in its path was torn apart, and the resplendent buildings crumbled like paper.
Under that devastating attack, the once-holy and dignified Holy Land Mary Geoise became ruins within moments. Dust filled the skies, and the Red Line now bore a vast, spherical crater.
Curiously, at the bottom of that crater, the castle of the Five Elders still stood intact. Arima could sense the surviving Celestial Dragons trembling beside them.
"Hm? The Five Elders can still hold out after that? Not bad. But that mysterious figure still refuses to show up, quite the patient one. What kind of being are you, I wonder?"
A faint smile curled at the corner of Arima's lips.
Like his granduncle Tobirama, he was a man who hid his excitement behind a calm façade. His blood was surging, yet his expression remained composed.
"Six Paths: Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
He no longer even needed to enter Tenseigan Mode.
With a simple motion of his hand, the Truth-Seeking Orbs behind him merged into a massive blade of golden chakra.
Gripping the sword, Arima swung it down toward the castle below.
The blade cleaved the very earth in two, a brilliant golden light shooting skyward. Countless people across the world bore witness to that divine radiance.
At Marineford's execution plaza, the Whitebeard Pirates were already clashing with the Navy.
Each division captain faced their own formidable opponent.
But as the battle raged on, a sudden burst of golden light illuminated the skies.
Every motion froze, even Luffy and Sabo stopped mid-step.
The sounds of war, of steel and fury, vanished, silenced as if the world itself had muted.
On the platform above, Aokiji turned his gaze toward Mary Geoise, a deep unease welling in his chest.
He glanced toward Kizaru.
"How does that attack compare to your power?"
For once, Kizaru's usual levity was gone. His voice was calm and heavy.
"About the same… more or less."
But still the difference was… massive.
Aokiji didn't even attempt to laugh at the joke.
'Whoever unleashed that attack… friend or foe, we don't yet know,' he thought grimly.
He wasn't alone in his unease. Sengoku, Whitebeard, and the others all felt the same chill.
None of them could be certain they'd survive such an attack if it turned against them.
Garp leapt onto the execution platform beside Sengoku, his eyes fixed on the golden light in the distance.
"Sengoku, you think the Five Elders are pulling some secret weapon out of their sleeves?"
Sengoku's face was grave.
"I've never heard of them wielding such power. But if they've been forced to use something like that… it only means the enemy's strength has far surpassed what they can handle.
And there's only one person capable of pushing them this far, the resurrected monster."
Garp knew exactly who he meant. He reached for the Den Den Mushi that could contact Arima, but stopped halfway.
No matter what, Arima had already declared war on the World Government. Garp's words would mean nothing now.
Marco landed beside his father.
"Pops, does Mary Geoise really have a weapon like that?"
Whitebeard shook his head slowly.
"I've sailed these seas for decades, and never have I seen such power. That strike alone could erase an Emperor's crew from existence."
Marco wanted to protest, that the Whitebeard Pirates feared no one, but his instincts told him his father wasn't exaggerating.
Nearby, Doflamingo stared at the golden pillar of light, his voice rough and hoarse.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
Even Gecko Moria, who had been gleefully collecting fresh corpses for his army, fell silent. His trademark laughter caught in his throat, his bloodshot eyes wide in disbelief.
As for Blackbeard, the one who'd started this war, he'd been planning to sneak into Impel Down during the chaos, to free prisoners and swell his ranks.
But now, staring at that world-ending light, his ambition felt like a joke.
The gods themselves seemed to mock him, reminding him that no scheme could match the might of a single strike from that man.
Then, cutting through the stunned silence, came two loud voices from the plaza below:
"Ace! We're here to save you!"
Whitebeard turned toward the source of the shout, two boys, barely in their teens, eyes burning with determination. They were clearly close to Ace.
He couldn't help but think, These brats have more heart than this old man does.
The King of the Seas closed his eyes, took a long breath, and when he opened them again, his calm, confident smile had returned.
No matter who stood in his way, nothing would stop him from saving Ace.
Meanwhile, Blackbeard threw back his head and laughed madly.
"How ironic! Zehahahaha!"