At the center of the battlefield.
As if receiving orders, the Marine Headquarters officers abandoned their opponents and charged toward Reverse Mountain.
"What are they trying to do?!"
"Probably trying to locate the Den Den Mushi!"
"Stop them!"
The Hoenn officers gave chase.
The coastal area was the reporters' stronghold, housing their live broadcast Den Den Mushi—a rare breed from Elbaf.
The Den Den Mushi Warchief!
By transmitting signals to the Den Den Mushi Commander stationed at Hoenn's headquarters, who then relayed them to Fortuna Communities worldwide, the global broadcast was made possible.
From the outside, the broadcast angle could roughly pinpoint the Warchief's location, which the Marines seemed to have figured out.
But the Hoenn officers couldn't fathom why the Marines would sabotage the Den Den Mushi. The war had already begun—victory should be their top priority.
At this stage, the Marines had nothing left to hide.
"Could they have another secret weapon?"
During the Summit War, the Marines unveiled the Pacifista. This time, perhaps they'd developed another formidable, clandestine weapon!
Reverse Mountain, coastal entrance.
The battlefield was split into two zones: one engulfed in blizzards and biting winds, the other scarred and cratered.
And then there were the reporters holding the line!
"So cold!"
The reporters shivered uncontrollably but refused to retreat, documenting the battle while relaying updates to their newspapers.
Speed stood at the forefront with her subordinates, shielding both the reporters and the Den Den Mushi Warchief.
"The Marines are coming! Prepare for battle!"
Holding a Den Den Mushi, Speed received intel that Marine officers were heading their way.
"Speed-chan, Chikara-chan, I'll protect you with my life!"
Sanji, clad in his black Battle Suit, stood gallantly beside his sister Reiju, eager to showcase his masculinity.
Alas, neither woman was impressed.
Soon, several Marine Vice Admirals reached the coast first.
"It's here!"
Vice Admiral Tsucha charged forth like a tank, plowing through intercepting soldiers who couldn't even slow him down.
"Phantom Speed! You're first!"
Tsucha leaped, hands outstretched to grab her: "These hands of mine can crush armored vehicles—my Ten Finger Pistol!"
"You'd have to catch me first."
The words barely left her lips as Speed appeared on Tsucha's back, her drawn bow glowing red at the tip.
"What?!"
Tsucha's face paled in horror before his neck exploded in pain. Smoke billowed from his head as he collapsed.
"Tsucha's down!"
The arriving Vice Admirals grimaced.
Vice Admiral Dore shouted a warning.
"Don't underestimate her! That woman's the Teleportation Man—she can move anywhere within her line of sight! Use Observation Haki to track her!"
"Teleportation Man!"
The Vice Admirals immediately activated Observation Haki.
Fighting ability users was always tricky; without understanding their powers, you could die without knowing how.
"I'll handle her!"
Vice Admiral Urban raised his arm, transforming it into a steel cannon barrel. As a Cannon-Cannon Fruit user, his entire body could morph into artillery.
"Boom!"
A cannonball shot toward Speed.
She dodged effortlessly.
Such conspicuous attacks obviously couldn't hit Teleportation Man.
Urban knew this well—his goal was to stall Speed while others destroyed the Den Den Mushi.
Observation Haki locked on, continuous cannon fire!
"Endless nuisance!"
Speed teleported repeatedly, quickly growing impatient with Urban's attacks. Afterimages appeared mid-air as she flipped upside down to draw her bow.
A rain of arrows poured down!
"Don't underestimate me!"
Urban's arms transformed into cannons, even his hat becoming a barrel as he unleashed a barrage against the arrows.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
Countless explosions lit up the sky.
With proper preparation, a Vice Admiral wouldn't fall so easily.
Other Vice Admirals also pressed forward, but breaching the defensive line wasn't simple, especially with Hoenn's Amity General reinforcements approaching from behind.
A pincer attack!
At the rear of the officer assault team, Smoker gripped his jutte, blocking the razor-sharp tiger claws crackling with electricity.
Beside him, his adjutant Tashigi faced off against the enemy's deputy—an adorable rabbit from the Mink Tribe.
Smoker pressed down hard with his jutte.
"White Tiger—Karura!"
"Pleasure, White Hunter!"
Karura flashed a wild grin, twisting her body as her electricity-wreathed right leg spun toward Smoker's chest!
"WHOOSH!"
Smoke exploded!
Smoker transformed into smoke, his upper body circling behind Karura—just as he prepared to strike, a thick tiger tail whipped toward him!
"CLANG!"
A devastating blow!
Two white figures clashed fiercely!
Nearby, Tashigi and Carrot also battled intensely. Unlike their evenly matched superiors, Carrot's agility allowed her to completely overwhelm Tashigi.
Not because she was exceptionally strong—she hadn't even mastered Moon Lion form yet, and many in the Mink Tribe surpassed her. Her advantage came from the swordswoman's glaring weakness.
"SLASH!"
A blade flashed as Carrot's Electric Claw stopped millimeters from Tashigi's throat—one more inch would have killed her.
Yet Carrot showed no murderous intent, instead beaming an adorable smile, her rabbit lips quirking upward.
Tashigi felt humiliated.
"Are you pitying me?!"
"Not at all. I just don't like killing."
Carrot shook her head.
Nearby, Smoker noticed Tashigi's predicament, his attacks growing increasingly reckless.
The Hoenn Navy boasted not only renowned fighters like Jimbei but also formidable mid-ranking officers, especially those from special races.
Now, they were surrounded!
Other officers struggled too. Without an escape plan, annihilation seemed inevitable—yet their orders prioritized destroying the Den Den Mushi!
Though recently promoted to Marine Rear Admiral, his authority remained limited. Whoever issued these foolish commands clearly disregarded their lives.
Fury burned within him.
"Just stopping the broadcast will suffice!"
"White Smoke Emitter!"
Smoke jetted from Smoker's legs as he abandoned his opponent, soaring skyward before unleashing massive smoke clouds downward.
Soon, the battlefield vanished in haze.
"What's with this smoke?!"
Combatants on both sides lost visibility, seeing only movements within a few meters, forcing them to halt fighting.
"It's Rear Admiral Smoker!"
"The smoke's blocking the Den Den Mushi's view!"
"Smoker, brilliant move!"
The Den Den Mushi Warchief was also shrouded in smoke, his vision completely blank as the footage showed nothing but white fog.
The live broadcast was cut off!
The Navy's announcement blared out:
"All naval personnel, take note! The Five Elders' Saint Nusjuro is about to land. Anyone below the rank of commodore must withdraw immediately—no observation permitted!"
A massive Pentagram Magic Circle appeared on the coastal battlefield!
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