The atmosphere in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise grew thick with disgust and irritation.
"What a revolting resurrection! This is going to bring us nothing but trouble!"
Saint Saturn, God of Defense, sitting coldly on the sofa, glanced at the other Gorosei with dismissive eyes.
"Those insignificant insects have surely developed rebellious thoughts."
He spoke without concern. "Then let us find a way to destroy them all and start anew. Insects have limited memory. History has proven that over and over again. In a few years, these insects will forget everything that happened here and continue to shout 'justice' in our service."
"Sengoku has truly disappointed us."
Saint Mars, God of the Environment Military, stroked his beard and said with chilling contempt, "He actually reached an agreement with the Plunderer, Shirogai, without our permission. It seems he has slipped out of our control."
"Then we shall replace him."
Saint Nusjuro, God of the Financial Military, casually tapped his scabbard. "The Marines have been led by Sengoku for far too long, and yet his achievements are minimal. This blade has grown dull. It is time for a sharper one."
"Oh? Are you referring to Sakazuki?"
Saint Warcury, God of Law, widened his eyes and spoke deeply, "But that fellow may not be as easy to control as Sengoku. We do not need a restless, foolish guard dog."
"A dog that is unruly and aggressive merely requires training,"
Saint Saturn replied with disdain. "So long as it knows who its master is, who it should bite and who it should not, that is sufficient."
"Hmm, then once this storm subsides, we shall dismiss Sengoku from his position as Fleet Admiral!"
Saint Mars nodded deeply. "And conveniently enough, Imu has already decided to first capture the families of the pirate crew on Shirogai's ship. Sakazuki also harbors immense hatred for Shirogai. Let him participate, and let CP‑0 complete the matter."
While they spoke, the decision to remove the Marine Fleet Admiral was quietly made.
"Then issue the order. Let those resurrected insects be utterly annihilated in this battle."
Saint Peter, God of Agriculture, said in a deep voice.
…
"But Mortal Battlefield currently presents a problem: no one can be lethally wounded. The ability displayed by the Plunderer causes fatal injuries to heal rapidly in moments."
Facing the Gorosei's command — the highest authority of the World Government — Fleet Admiral Sengoku exhaled deeply and reported the situation.
"Of course we are aware. But presumably this healing and restoration cannot last forever. It must naturally expire after a certain period."
"Find a way to completely contain the Whitebeard Pirates before it expires," Saint Nusjuro said without emotion.
"…" Sengoku breathed in deeply. Raising his gaze, he looked at the Marines reforming under his orders — their faces alight with the exhilaration of new life — and declared in a voice full of resolve:
"Impossible!!!"
…
Admiral Kizaru and Admiral Aokiji both pretended not to hear Sengoku's defiance of the World Government.
Kizaru glanced around casually, as though nothing had occurred.
Aokiji, with his eye mask on, lazily drifted into sleep.
"What!? You…"
The Gorosei's anger boiled, but before a single word could be spoken, Sengoku had already ended the Den Den Mushi transmission.
"Ah, Fleet Admiral Sengoku…"
CP‑0 No Name watched the disconnected device, sorrowful. "It seems you have truly defied the World Government's highest authority."
"I will bear the responsibility for this alone."
Sengoku stared calmly at CP‑0 No Name.
"What, do you intend to kill me, the standing Marine Fleet Admiral?"
"Of course not."
CP‑0 No Name bowed his head, smiled, and retreated from Sengoku's sight, chuckling softly before gradually disappearing.
"I hope no similar orders are issued in the future. Goodbye, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Swish!
With the power of the Stealth Fruit, CP‑0 No Name vanished silently from view.
…
"Damn it…"
At the dock, Sakazuki glared fiercely as Whitebeard's ship prepared to depart.
Just then, Blackbeard, seeing the situation worsening, forcibly shattered the ground, sending countless swallowed fragments flying toward Whitebeard and Sakazuki as a cover.
The Blackbeard Pirates seized the opportunity and swiftly fled.
"Gorosei's command…"
Suddenly, a voice with no name spoke beside Sakazuki.
"Sengoku has defied orders and has now been removed from his position as Fleet Admiral by the Gorosei. You are no longer bound to obey his commands. The current order is to cease attacking Whitebeard and find a way to kill Straw Hat Luffy."
"…" Sakazuki's brow tightened as he stared at the empty space.
He knew whom that voice belonged to — CP‑0's stealth agent, No Name.
"Sakazuki," the unseen voice continued with a smile, "if you kill Straw Hat Boy Luffy, you will be appointed Marine Fleet Admiral personally by the Gorosei…"
A burning flame flickered in Sakazuki's eyes.
"Oh?"
"This is the will of the Gorosei."
Boom!!!!
A crimson inferno erupted from Sakazuki's body, consuming the surrounding pirates in a torrent of magma explosion as he roared toward the Marines,
"Attack those pirates! You must not let them escape from here!"
"Ah?! Yes!!"
The Marines, momentarily stunned, then in a frenzy raised their cannons and fired toward the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Boom!"
"The Marines have betrayed their word!!"
Pirates stationed at the surrounding docks, still preparing to board ship, braced for battle once more.
"The Marines have turned on us!!"
"Beware of the Marines!!"
Sakazuki, magma burning across his body, propelled himself explosively toward a nearby Straw Hat Pirate, snarling deeply,
"Straw Hat Boy! Die!"
Magma explosions consumed the sky above the pirate ship.
"Damn it! The Marines can never be trusted!"
"Fight back! The Marines are completely untrustworthy!"
The pirates who had already reached their vessels roared as they fired back at the Marines.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
But in the next moment all cannonballs fired by both Marines and pirates were halted mid‑flight as cloud‑like formations suddenly fell from the sky, suspending in the air without detonating.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
Simultaneously, across the sky above Marineford, curved arches of clouds formed, descending downward.
"What is this?"
"What are these strange clouds?"
"Oh my god! Look! Warships are sailing down from the clouds in the sky!!!"
"Illegal warships have appeared in the sky! Attention! Aim all available cannons at the sky! Illegal warships approach!!!"
Then an astonishing sight unfolded before both Marines and pirates.
Tall warships, bearing white dove flags fluttering in the wind, descended from above, their cannons already trained on those below.
"Do not be alarmed, they are not Marines."
Shirogai smiled as he looked at the Whitebeard Pirates nervously aiming their cannons toward the descending fleet.
"This is?"
Marco stared at the sky fleet in disbelief, his voice filled with astonishment.
"Shirogai, who are they?"
"They are…"
Shirogai looked up at the orderly formations of white dove flags and spoke with a confident smile,
"The Air Force."
At that moment, the leading ship in the sky broadcasted clearly:
"We are the Air Force from Sky Island, here to halt this battle. Marines and pirates, do not escalate this conflict further. If you insist on fighting despite our warning…"
The Air Force member's voice turned calm and resolute:
"Then we will engage you in combat!"
---