Celestial Dragons are this world's apex beings.
Celestial Dragons are beings who may possess everything in this world.
That was the law and norm maintaining order for 800 years in this world.
Yes, everything is in Celestial Dragon hands.
A clan inheriting those words goes outside, attended by many soldiers.
The one who was commanding couldn't meet the absolute Celestial Dragons' expectations.
Rather, he told them to release what they obtained.
Leading an army yet saying such shameless things—such fools are unnecessary.
Rather, they'll move soldiers themselves.
In place of lower beings who can't even give simple orders to scatter fish and save brethren.
They'll move the military themselves.
It didn't take long for creatures called Celestial Dragons to reach that thinking.
If only one or two Celestial Dragons existed, this wouldn't have happened.
If a few more proper Vice Admirals with accumulated achievements were present, things might have worked out.
If veteran soldiers like Sengoku or Tsuru were here, this situation would have been stopped entirely.
But that didn't happen.
Called and narrated as the First Fishman Island Defensive Battle by later generations—ultimately, this war's beginning resulted from many misfortunes.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"All personnel, prepare to charge! Capture fishmen and rescue every last Celestial Dragon!!"
"Give everything! We have no retreat!!"
Beyond where they're hastily reinforcing barricades, Marines apparently unit commanders—around Chief Petty Officer rank maybe?—desperately rally soldiers.
(The besieging side is more cornered than the besieged side. ...Meaning, that's how it is.)
As expected.
The worst among worst expectations.
Celestial Dragons personally seized military authority.
(Capable officers and soldiers were probably already dispatched to nations or bases erupting from blunders.)
Everywhere's now the frontline. Among them, veterans get dispatched to the biggest fire sources first.
Next, units with high recruit ratios but still operational.
So hastily assembled makeshift units comprise soldiers who still remained despite that.
Namely, logistics personnel handling supply transport rather than fighting—especially those with minimal experience, I presume.
Low training and morale—soldiers whose rank may be high but whose experience making decisions in such crucibles is scarce.
(Don't really want to cause casualties...)
Observing anew, many young Marines are over there.
Even including officer-like figures.
Probably panicking to prepare charges while faces pale at Celestial Dragon orders shouting from inside.
In that process, terrible chaos occurs.
Formations don't fulfill formation roles.
(Truly pitiful. Celestial Dragons don't understand the difficulty of assembling charge procedures without breaking siege formation.)
First, this siege line's meaning is preventing barricaded fishmen from escaping with captured Celestial Dragons.
Breaking it creates siege gaps, and charge—combat inevitably becoming melee—makes securing Celestial Dragons extremely difficult.
(Think everyone returns if you send people to shoot lead balls? This isn't children's errands but a crucible, damn.)
If at least experienced officers commanded, they could handle information gathering and charge procedures skillfully...
"Pirate!"
"Arlong, the kingdom forces?"
"Joined including King Neptune! Galling, but when I told them you said we should unite, they agreed easily. Soldiers are now reinforcing thin barricade spots!"
"Good. The separate force formation?"
"Volunteers emerged from kingdom forces, now joining initially gathered folks. You'll command, but I'm going too at this point!! Got it!?"
"...Understood. But the Celestial Dragons on our side?"
"Entrusted to trustworthy people with strict orders not to touch them. Don't worry—if I ordered it, they'll follow."
"OK. I trust your judgment."
Slight unease remains since Arlong isn't directly watching. ...But under current circumstances, that's better?
Once things reached this point, releasing imprisoned people requires even slightly reliable forces.
Celestial Dragons... preferably want kingdom personnel watching, but even minuscule risks of them being accused of directly holding Celestial Dragons hostage as Ryugu Kingdom should be reduced.
(Even if too late, must accumulate even small facts or there's no continuation...)
At this rate, Fishman Island must be abandoned.
Topographically speaking, it's a natural fortress, but if situations expand this far, Navy reinforcements will be sent sooner or later.
If they worked some scheme against Whitebeard, the government definitely seriously intended obtaining Fishman Island.
Even now when procedures went awry—rather, precisely because various things went awry—they might erase entire races at worst.
Those guys would do it.
(Evacuate fishmen from the island. Plus time needed for that persuasion. Still must repel these guys once.)
If any executive-level person were here that's one thing, but without even royal guards much less soldiers currently, maintaining frontlines—or rather, situation awareness necessary for that—is difficult.
In emergencies, no leeway to deploy operations on two fronts.
(If Robin or Perona were here... Anyway, must make one certain move or the battlefield becomes unnecessarily chaotic. How to move...)
And enemy's anxiety factors are simultaneously our anxiety factors.
If we scatter enemies, unpredictable chaos levels result.
To rescue imprisoned fishmen, must scatter those fixed at the front, but...
"Arlong."
"Yeah."
"Simultaneously with enemies arranging assault formation and moving, I'll break it. Match that timing to save imprisoned civilians. Gather everyone."
"Not while they're obviously fumbling now?"
"Blowing them away while confused might prevent creating paths. Hence have them thoroughly prepare, then pry open."
Want to additionally critically lower enemy morale.
With me present for charges, they should place slightly combat-experienced people at the frontline.
In such situations, those serving front rows are determined by either having that experience plus responsibility, or thick popularity from surroundings.
Break that and thoroughly crush enemy morale.
Understanding after hearing, Arlong raises his arm and a group doubled from initial numbers gathers.
...Ah, Jinbe-san, hey hey.
Yeah, allies, so seriously that suspicious-looking gaze... well, whatever.
Just don't shoot my back—well, fine.
Anyway, preparations complete.
Enemies trying to somehow raise morale—strange oppressive feeling with "Ooooh" sounds since earlier.
"Ah, is that Marine's treatment progressing?"
"Left that to kingdom forces' military doctor. We can't save him."
"Thanks, Arlong."
"Hmph. ...You need him, right?"
"Yeah."
Good, no problems.
Whatever his true feelings, that Vice Admiral is reasonable.
If he survives here, his psychology will lean toward Navy rather than government.
Then he'll convey this reckless attack's details and the fact fishmen treated him to Sengoku-san and others.
His testimony becomes Navy cards, letting Sengoku-san and others gain advantage over the government.
Sounds grow louder.
Enemies finally forming formations.
Nothing special—flat formation.
Basic square formation arranging one 300-person unit in 20×15 lines.
Spreading multiple such unit-worths across the front, trying to advance.
Conversely, no movement signs from surroundings or rear.
(Not narrowing the siege network overall, but maintaining other units attacking from one direction only. Good judgment assuming overall command is uncertain. Don't know who instructed, but someone capable exists.)
Now, war begins.
Sounds approach, shadows spread—
(Shadows? ...Sounds approaching, plus shadows falling?)
Recalled is that incident opening this hell's curtain.
Involuntarily looking up, one ship floats at altitude barely inside the bubble enclosing this island.
Of all things, an extremely familiar ship—one I rode until recently... is rapidly descending.
"Perfect surprise timing! Struck perfectly! Kuro!!"
"You—youuuuuu!!"
Hina, you bastard!!!
Thought Colonel Wired momentarily, but he concentrates on coordinating units and casually delegates decision-making to Hina.
Issho also gets along basically well with Hina, so can't imagine him opposing!
You really did it!!?
When enemy Marines finally noticed thickening shadows, already too late—the ship crashes down with roaring sounds right before units beginning charges.
Barely, Issho probably manipulated gravity adjusting. Landing sliding without damaging the ship hull, frontline enemy soldiers completely had their noses bloodied.
"In anti-multiple combat, Kuro favoring surprise and disruption waited means enemy formations and lineups are necessary situations!"
Simultaneously as the ship completely stops, Marines wearing suits like ours jump down, standing before completely intimidated enemy Marines.
At their head—
"Then roughly the objective is charging ships guarded wastefully using soldiers behind formations. Definite path-making for that. Meaning not just Kuro alone but many fishmen's cooperation needed. This strategy's essence is a rescue operation to those ships."
Someone nearly constantly beside me since joining in West Blue.
"Without usual soldiers, Kuro can only lead units himself and charge."
An excellent soldier who felt our Black Cat fighting style on her skin and began mastering tactical theory I personally taught—albeit just the basics.
"But even with Kuro's breakthrough power, in this situation, must move with nearly one unit. Other untrained fishmen will probably barely manage stalemate frontlines clashing desperately with Marines."
Not the usual white Marine uniform but wearing black suits like ours—lacking three-claw embroidery but identical—a light pink-haired Marine stands straight with folded arms.
"By attacking from here too, I can greatly reduce your burden! Kuro, let's go!"
...
"Mostly correct. Correct and helpful, but you—lecture later."
Don't give me that 'why!?' face!!
Helpful, but! Helpful, but!
"Pirates!? They're—"
"Allies! No changes to plans! Arlong, fishmen! Follow me!!"
Sorry Marine folks, but no leeway for restraint! I'll blow you away!!
"False Canon—Ikoku!!"
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