Swish!
The two figures vanished.
They reappeared midair, precisely between the split tips of the sword.
Clang!
The clash of metal rang out as Sakazuki and Whitebeard's blades collided.
The shockwave of blade aura and the black-purple lightning from their Conqueror's Haki burst in all directions, hanging momentarily in the air before crashing downward.
Behind them, the twin black magma blades began to crack inch by inch and crumble.
Countless pieces of shattered rock fell from above their heads.
Locked in deadlock, the two men stared each other down, the murderous intent in their eyes almost tangible.
Suddenly, Sakazuki took a deep breath.
His chest puffed up, and then—
Whooooosh!!!
Compressed black smoke and volcanic ash blasted from Sakazuki's mouth like a pressurized air cannon, erupting and expanding with a boom.
From afar, it looked like—
High in the sky, a massive black disc had formed around the frozen sword, suspended midair.
Within the endless mist of ash and smoke, lightning and blade aura streaked across wildly.
Like a doomsday thundercloud.
Within that smoke, both figures disappeared from sight.
But with their powerful Observation Haki, they could still sense and perceive each other's movements clearly.
Whitebeard raised his left hand and activated his ability, swinging toward a direction—air shattered as an endless wave of shockwaves blasted forward.
Sakazuki stomped down, shattering the air beneath him, and with a flash, he dodged the attack.
The intense shockwave tore open a massive hole in the smoke, but in the blink of an eye, it was filled again by surging air carrying ash and thick smoke.
The battle raged on. Countless flashes of lightning and explosions erupted within the black cloud layer.
...
Far off in the distance, Sengoku, in the form of a golden Buddha leaping midair, furrowed his brow as he stared at the black cloud above.
The aura from Kvel in his arms was growing weaker and weaker.
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi buzzed.
Sengoku returned to human form, cradling Kvel in one arm while reaching into his coat with the other to pull out the Den Den Mushi.
The moment he connected the call, the voice of Fleet Admiral Kong came through:
"Sengoku, what's the situation over there?"
"Over in the New World, Golden Lion is making a move."
"He's gathering his men and heading toward the G4 Branch."
Sengoku's brow furrowed deeper, and he replied in a low voice:
"Here at the G4 Branch, aside from Kvel, every other soldier has perished."
"Sakazuki is still fighting Whitebeard."
"What about the government's ability user from earlier?"
"Kvel's aura is getting weaker. I'm afraid he won't last much longer."
In the office, Fleet Admiral Kong frowned as he listened to Sengoku's report.
"Understood. I'll contact the government side first."
"You two, hold on as long as you can."
The Den Den Mushi fell silent for a few seconds before Kong asked again:
"Sengoku?"
Sengoku's low voice came through:
"I'm afraid it's not just Golden Lion."
"I saw... Roger."
Kong fell silent for a moment.
"The pirate web of favors, huh..."
"I see."
"Hang in there."
After ending the call, Kong immediately contacted the government and instructed the special ability user to head to Marine Headquarters.
At the same time, he called for his aide and issued the alert orders.
Moments later—
BZZT—BZZT! BZZT—BZZT! BZZT—!
Urgent alarm sirens blared across Marine Headquarters, Marineford. Everyone on the island dropped what they were doing.
All civilians took shelter in their homes, awaiting further instructions.
All soldiers entered full alert. Officers of Lieutenant rank and above began gathering at the central fortress.
...
At Zephyr's home.
Zephyr, who had been slumped in depression for days, immediately sprang to his feet the moment he heard the siren.
Looking toward the direction of the Fleet Admiral's office, he didn't hesitate.
He grabbed his coat marked with the word "Justice," threw it over his shoulders, and dashed out the door.
...
At the Marine Academy.
Upon hearing the alarm, Morris immediately ordered the instructors to lead the cadets into battle-ready formation.
Then, with several school directors, he rushed toward the Fleet Admiral's office.
Within the academy, Enel looked around at the tense atmosphere, gripping his golden staff tightly with his small hand.
He had a hunch this was related to the sudden mobilization of Admiral Sengoku and Sakazuki.
"Sakazuki-san..."
...
At Marineford Port.
Dozens of warships were docked, and the moment the alarm rang out, the crews onboard sprang into action.
Aboard Sakazuki's warship, Karol, who was in charge of the crew's training, suddenly turned to look toward the Fleet Admiral's office.
Then he shouted:
"Everyone, battle stations immediately!"
"Check supplies and ammunition."
"Prepare for combat."
With that, he stomped the deck and disappeared in a flash, rushing toward the central fortress.
Everyone aboard got to work at once, making all necessary preparations.
From high above, one could see that the moment the alarm rang out, the entire base was in motion.
Civilians rushed home. Soldiers gathered at the port.
And numerous figures were sprinting against the flow, heading toward the central fortress.
...
Time rewinds to half a day earlier.
In the second half of the Grand Line—New World—Skegli Sea.
Including the Marine G4 Branch, several archipelagos were collectively marked within the boundaries of the Skegli Sea on the charts.
At the edge of the Skegli Sea, aboard the Oro Jackson.
Roger casually sipped from a wine bottle and drained it in one go:
"Ahhh, we finally shook off that mad dog Garp, hahahahaha!"
Rayleigh stood beside him, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Seems like it."
Roger burst into another fit of hearty laughter, then both men looked up at the sky. Roger said:
"That kid's from Newgate's crew, isn't he?"
Rayleigh nodded.
"Yes, though judging by his aura, he's seriously wounded."
Roger laughed again.
"Let's just call him down and ask."
With that, his Conqueror's Haki surged out and slammed into Marco—already heavily injured, Marco plummeted straight down.
Rayleigh shook his head.
"Honestly..."
With a stomp of his foot, he leapt into the air and caught the falling Marco.
At this point, Marco had already fallen unconscious.
He called for the ship's doctor, who did a quick bandaging job and gave him some water.
But perhaps a bit too roughly—Marco choked and coughed as he woke up.
While coughing, Marco looked around warily:
"Cough... you guys... cough..."
At that moment, Roger pushed through the crowd surrounding Marco and walked in:
"No rush, kid from the Newgate family. It's me."
Marco's eyes lit up in surprise when he saw Roger. Roger and Whitebeard were close friends and drinking buddies.
So the crews on both sides knew each other.
He stood up from the bed, gave a deep bow, and spoke:
"Roger-sama, please help my Pops!"
Roger's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me everything."
...
After a while, having listened to the full story, Roger ordered the ship to turn around and head for the G4 base.
He walked out of the cabin and stood at the bow of the Oro Jackson.
Roger took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed.
When the line connected, a maniacal laugh rang out from the other end:
"Gyahahahahaha, Roger!"
"Have you finally come to your senses? Ready to be my right-hand man?"
Roger grinned:
"Hahahahaha, not a chance, Shiki."
"This call is about Newgate."
...
Aboard a massive floating ship, "Golden Lion" Shiki hung up the Den Den Mushi and suddenly burst out laughing:
"Gyahahahahaha, how interesting."
"Let's set this world ablaze!!!!!!"
He waved to summon his underlings and issued a call-to-arms.
With that order, dozens of pirate ships from all over began converging toward Shiki.
The title of Pirate Admiral was well earned.
Inside the ship, Shiki thought for a moment, then pulled out a pink Den Den Mushi.
The moment it connected, a bold female voice came through. Shiki said into the snail:
"Gyahahahahahahaha, Linlin!"
...
Aboard the Big Mom Pirates' ship, Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes after hanging up the call.
"That little brat, huh..."
She remembered that magma bomb back in God Valley.
Without delay, she summoned her crew and turned the ship toward the Skegli Sea.
...
Aboard the Oro Jackson, just as Roger finished his call with Shiki—
Whoosh!
BOOM!!!
A shell tore through the air and exploded over the sea in the distance, sending up a splash several dozen meters high.
Roger's expression fell:
"He's come again...."
He turned to the navigator and shouted:
"Target! Marine G4 base! Full speed ahead!"
"Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"
...
Aboard the pursuing Navy warship, Garp saw Roger's ship suddenly veer to the left and couldn't make sense of it.
But, he didn't care too much.
He ordered his subordinates to adjust course and go all in, then picked up two cannonballs, coated them in Armament Haki, and hurled them.
The cannonballs, infused with Armament Haki, flew like meteors toward Roger's pirate ship.
"Roger!!"
"Die!!!"
...
Half a day later.
The Roger Pirates arrived—only to find that the G4 base was not in sight.
Instead, a towering cliff, a thousand meters high, stood before them.
Above the peak swirled a ring of dark clouds, lightning and blade-like winds crisscrossing within.
Roger sensed a presence up there and grinned.
A trace of killing intent flashed in his eyes:
"Magma brat."
Far off in the sky, Sengoku frowned while holding a Den Den Mushi.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke to Fleet Admiral Kong on the other end:
"I'm afraid it's not just the Golden Lion."
"I saw... Roger."
Kong was silent for a moment on the other side of the line:
"That pirate web of favors..."
"I understand."
"Hold out."
He hung up.
Suddenly, Sengoku sensed Garp's presence arriving behind the Roger Pirates.
His tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed slightly as he looked toward Kvel.
He stomped forward, accelerating rapidly toward Garp's warship.
...
Roger and Garp, both now aware of Sengoku's presence.
Aboard the Oro Jackson, Roger chuckled.
He could also sense that someone near Sengoku was growing weaker and weaker.
He drew the Supreme Grade blade "Ace" from his waist.
Vmm—!
It instantly became coated in Armament Haki, with Conqueror's Haki wrapping around the blade. Both hands gripped the sword.
With a forward step, he unleashed a massive black slash, stretching several hundred meters, toward Sengoku in mid-air.
Far behind, Garp saw this scene.
He grabbed a nearby iron chain, rammed it into a cannonball, and with one hand holding the chain and the other swinging the cannonball—
BOOM!
A sonic boom erupted as Garp flew forward with the cannonball.
Just as the slash was about to hit Sengoku, he arrived and leapt in front of it.
"HAAAHHH!!!!"
Garp roared. His right arm bulged with muscle, covered in Armament Haki, and he punched the slash.
Zzzz—! Zzzz—! Zzzz—!
The extreme Armament Haki collided with the slash wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, sending out bursts of electrical noise.
CRACK!
Cracks began forming. As Garp increased his strength, the slash shattered with a boom.
With a stomp, another sonic boom exploded beneath him.
His body blurred as he accelerated through the air toward Roger.
Sengoku, now at full speed, returned to Garp's ship.
He handed Kvel over to the Navy doctors, then rushed out again—
Charging straight back into the battlefield.
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