The battle reached white-hot intensity from the very start. No probing attacks, no testing the waters. From the beginning, all the high-end combat power on Silas's side threw themselves into the fray.
"It's the White Wolf Pirates' original crew members!"
"That's... Cunning Roy!? Why does he look so young!"
"And Rose Lily!"
Among the White Wolf Pirates remaining veteran crew members, Roy was about the same age as Silas. Originally, due to the Battle of Sphinx five years ago, Roy's combat power had completely fallen from frontline status. But with Stussy using her Devil Fruit ability to create youth hormones, after regaining his youth, Roy's strength had recovered to the White Wolf Pirates' top five level.
"Though aging means stepping aside for newcomers, I don't want to miss such a grand scene because of my age!"
In this era, great pirates with bounties over 100 million Berry were equivalent to Marine elite Vice Admirals, while those exceeding 200 million could only be handled by Marine Admirals or Admiral candidates.
So when Roy transformed into his beast form and began charging across the battlefield, for a moment, he moved through enemy ranks like they didn't exist!
"Damn, can anyone stop him?"
"Where's Vice Admiral Ross?"
"Stopped by Morian!"
The recently improved situation instantly took a sharp downturn. As the battle opened, the Marines' mid-to-high-level combat power generational gap was immediately exposed.
For this war, the Marines had assembled a hundred Vice Admiral-level fighters alone, but among these hundred, fewer than twenty Vice Admirals reached great pirate standards! Admiral candidates at the 200 million level numbered only one.
These seas were cruel. The strong decided everything; the strong defined everything.
The Marines had always relied on numerical advantage in top-tier combat power to suppress enemies. Even current Silas could fight two Admiral-level fighters simultaneously but not three or four. This was the Marines' advantage in top-tier combat power, but conversely, the same applied on the reverse.
One-on-one, Glyndwr could defeat current Newgate in two or three moves. But when he couldn't win instantly, that meant Newgate-level combatants could already threaten him. One wasn't enough? Then two. Two weren't enough? Then three.
Sharing damage, sharing pressure—after losing the initiative, Newgate, Ripley, and Linlin, three people, had formed a suppression over one CP organization Admiral-level fighter.
If the Marines or CP organizations could spare strength now to help Glyndwr share the pressure, the three's current advantage would instantly collapse. Unfortunately, the White Wolf Pirates still had over a dozen great pirate-level fighters, but the Marines were already stretched dangerously thin.
"What, only this level? Don't make me laugh! With your current power, what can you use to oppose me?"
Silas's arrogant voice constantly rang across Acropolis Port. His voice alone was enough to invigorate every pirate on the battlefield.
"Haha, so these are the Marines? Seems like nothing special!"
"I thought I was dead for sure."
"Haha, were you also dragged here by your bastard captain? Mine doesn't care about us subordinates' lives as long as he gets his youth restoration!"
Among the tens of thousands of pirates Silas had assembled, nearly half weren't willing participants. Only because their captains or important crew members needed Silas's youth medicine, needed Pure Gold, they'd been dragged here to fight.
They'd expected not to return alive. After all, this was direct war with the Marines, opposing the Marines, opposing the World Government! The World Government had ruled this world for eight hundred years. The Marines had stood on these seas for eight hundred years!
Over eight hundred years, this sea wasn't without legends capable of rivaling the Marines. Top-tier great pirates opposing Marine Admirals were countless—many had left heavy marks in history. But eight hundred years passed, and the World Government still ruled this world, the Marines still dominated these seas.
So however radiant Silas currently was, in many pirates' eyes, challenging the World Government and Marines was no different from suicide. But blade-licking pirates were excellent at hiding fear. They'd numb themselves with alcohol.
They'd never imagined this seemingly hopeless war would hold the advantage from the start. Especially Silas's opponent—that white-suited old man was being spun around like a top by Silas.
Seeing this scene, the pirates' spirits grew even more invigorated. Silas was right. Regardless of whether his pirates were a mob, as long as he still stood, as long as he still fought, their morale couldn't collapse!
"Damn!"
Facing Silas alone reminded Stephens of being severely wounded by Silas at Mary Geoise—that near-death feeling like drowning. He never wanted to taste that twice.
"Lord Lucas Saint, act quickly! I can't hold much longer!"
Without immortality, he'd already be torn apart by Silas. But even with immortality, as Silas continuously pounded Conqueror's Haki into his body, Stephens's recovery was slowing increasingly. The immortality mark seemed about to be forcibly erased by Silas.
"Useless!"
With Stephens prematurely exposing his presence, Holy Knights Commander-in-Chief Lucas Saint looked displeased. He didn't care whether Stephens lived or died—only whether his arrangements could succeed.
However, even without Stephens speaking, Lucas Saint knew he couldn't delay any longer. The Marines had fallen into a comprehensive disadvantage.
The White Wolf Pirates seemed to be consciously targeting Marine and CP organization fighters. Once Marine and CP high-ranking officers suffered massive casualties, his later entrance would be too late.
Overwhelming numbers could shift the balance of power! One 200-million-level great pirate couldn't defeat one Admiral-level fighter, but three? Even Admiral-level fighters would be hard-pressed.
Similarly, three 100-million-level great pirates could restrain one 200-million-level Admiral candidate. The extra fighter could move to higher-level battlefields.
The White Wolf Pirates' top-tier fighters were indeed fewer than the World Government's side, but their secondary fighters were more than sufficient!
All of Acropolis Port had descended into complete chaos. This was completely different from mortal warfare. Mortal wars had volleys of arrows and charging cavalry, but in a world where individuals possessed mountain-splitting, rock-shattering might, true war risked completely destroying this island.
Harald versus Ortega. The mountain-like giant swung his longsword. Anyone near Harald, friend or foe, was caught in the devastation of his attacks.
The Giant King years ago had been only at an ordinary Admiral-level standard, but continuous major battles had made Harald's strength surge dramatically.
He originally possessed Conqueror's Haki, and after repeatedly sparring with Silas, Harald had successfully mastered Conqueror's Haki infusion, pushing him even further toward the pinnacle of power.
So even Ortega, called the Marines' strongest Admiral, couldn't suppress Harald anymore—he could only give it everything he had.
"Breaking Sky!"
An extremely concentrated punch struck Harald's longsword. The Haki collision produced terrifying shockwaves. Marines and pirates with slightly weaker strength couldn't even keep their footing in these shockwaves. Survival meant staying far away from this battlefield.
But nearby, Dorry, Brogy, and Kong's battle was equally intense. Also giants, Dorry and Brogy lacked Harald's individual strength. After deciding to oppose Kong, both initially transformed into forms most suitable for fighting him: human size!
For this, they'd specifically spent a month adapting. So Kong faced two enemies with similar builds. Though far slower than him, their strength was absurdly great. Though individually no match for him, decades of coordination made Dorry and Brogy's cooperation seamlessly intimate.
Even though Kong wasn't weak among Admiral-level fighters, facing both of them, he momentarily couldn't break through at all.
"Gabababababa, how about it? This time isn't a sneak attack!"
"Kekekekeke, but we're still ganging up on you!"
"Against enemies invading our homeland, no need for honor!"
"Right!"
Their three-way battle's momentum didn't match Harald and Ortega's side, but looking at the ground beneath them constantly cracking like brittle pottery showed that approaching their battle was also a death sentence.
Then there was Tentsuki Takiichi and new Admiral Haines Oran's battle. One used swords; the other wielded endless ice.
"Why are Wano samurai here?"
"Hehe, because the Toki family's rise and fall depend entirely on that man alone, so this old man must go all out!"
Wano's surviving samurai had sought Silas's help but were rebuffed. Knowing they were in the wrong, they'd been helpless until learning Silas planned war with the World Government, then volunteered to join this battle.
To show Silas their value and to take revenge on the World Government!
In the distance, Shimotsuki Kouzaburou, compared to when he'd initially met Silas, had lost much of his cynicism and gained much more composure. Though he loved forging swords, if forged swords had no users, no admirers, they were meaningless!
He'd wanted to escape Wano, but when Wano truly no longer bound him, he began missing everything from the past. Now he could do nothing but fight!
Next was Jorul and Jarul's battle against Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen. This battlefield was truly a war of old veterans. Whether Jorul, Jarul, or Elephant Yama, Portman Nissen—all had aged and were now well into their twilight years.
But Jorul and Jarul had youth medicine, while Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen could only rely on their past accumulated strength.
In their prime, Jorul and Jarul definitely weren't a match for two former Marine Admirals, but dealing with two old men was sufficient! Two coordinated giant heroes completely restrained Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen—the Marines' symbol and chief strategist.
Yet Elephant Yama and Portman Nissen didn't dare let two old giants rampage, because if they let their guard down...
"Hakoku!!"
Their combination technique left another devastating wound on the already riddled island.
"Bokakakaka, truly satisfying! Haven't had such a satisfying fight in ages!"
"Zabababababa, after this battle ends, I'll go to taverns and boast to youngsters who missed this battle."
The two giant elders laughed heartily. Out of trust in Silas, the giants had mobilized a full thousand soldiers this time. Just Admiral-level giants numbered over ten—truly a battle staking their nation's future.
So all over Acropolis Port, the giants active figures were visible. Strong fighters battles appeared like gods unleashing their authority in the eyes of weaker combatants. Though the Marine-assembled soldiers were elites from worldwide bases, already "monsters" in ordinary people's eyes, in these elites' eyes, those top-tier fighters currently battling were true monsters!
Like the later Summit War, to save his beloved adopted son, Yonko Whitebeard—disregarding injury, illness, and age—desperately launched war with the Marines. That battle nearly sank all of Marineford!
And this war Silas started, though not technically the Summit War, had intensity surpassing it. After all, Summit War's Whitebeard Pirates truly had only one aging, elderly Whitebeard. Other commanders were also strong but still distanced from true peak strength, like current Newgate, Ripley, and others.
But unlike the Whitebeard Pirates, Silas was not only at life's peak himself but also brought not just his crew but also the Giant Kingdom's allies and masses of pirates willing to risk their lives for youth restoration.
So even though the Marines' currently assembled lineup wasn't much inferior to the Summit War period Marine assembly, facing Silas's White Wolf Pirates, they still fell into disadvantage.
Holding back? Nonexistent! The Marines were already fighting with full effort yet couldn't gain any advantage. This was the true Summit War! Full force! Bloody desperate fighting!
All of Acropolis Port's ten-plus kilometer diameter had been nearly half engulfed in warfare, torn apart in strong fighters' battles.
News reporters responsible for filming hid far behind, bodies trembling. This was true war; this was a battle capable of affecting this world's direction!
Though not much time had passed, from the situation, the White Wolf Pirates actually held the advantage. If this continued, the White Wolf Pirates might actually win!?
Before the battle started, who could have imagined such an outcome?
But standing at the world's peak, the World Government relied on more than just the Marines as their violence organ.
With the Marines falling into disadvantage, the Holy Knights finally appeared!