Each fleet, the Red-Hair Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates, had combined into a massive alliance of nearly 100,000 troops.
Under the cover of night, they slowly advanced toward Marineford.
Meanwhile, in the East Blue, the Revolutionary Army also led nearly 50,000 troops toward Marineford under the night sky.
The decisive battle would take place tomorrow!!!
Night fell silent, waiting for the dawn.
—Deep into the night, Marineford.
Inside the Admirals' quarters, Good stood on the watchtower, staring at the vast sea under the moonlight.
He chuckled, "Tonight I'll sleep well. Tomorrow, it's time to fight hard!"
Behind him, Gion's voice sounded: "Admiral Good, aren't you afraid?"
Since the announcement of the public executions, she had been watching him closely.
What shocked her was that Good had always been utterly indifferent, as if tomorrow was not a life-or-death battle, but merely a military exercise.
Even Gion, a veteran with years of service, felt tense and uneasy, harboring fear.
But in Good, she couldn't see any of that.
She was baffled. Could it be that Admiral Good truly felt no fear?
Good, having sacrificed his intelligence, was straightforward: "Afraid? Of course I'm afraid!"
Sacrificing IQ didn't mean he had no emotions. He was still human.
Fear was normal—everyone felt it. Especially for Good, who had only been in this dangerous world for one month.
"But what does fear change? You just finish the job!"
Good's way of thinking was simple: since fear couldn't change anything, it had to be overcome.
Having already died once in his past life, he valued survival above all.
His method was direct—beat his enemies down until they were terrified of him.
By suppressing the entire world, his name would strike fear, and no one would dare oppose him.
Hearing this, Gion's heart trembled.
So Admiral Good was afraid too, but he could perfectly conceal it.
A smile formed on her lips.
In that moment, she realized Good wasn't just a war machine, but a living human being, struggling in his own way to survive in this world.
He used his spine and courage to crush his inner fear.
Her own anxiety faded away.
"Admiral Good, tomorrow I'll fight with you until the very end!"
"Even if I die, I won't regret it!"
Good turned around with a confident smile.
In the moonlight, Gion's figure appeared graceful and resolute, her fair face full of determination.
She had always seen Good as an unreachable existence, born a battle maniac, untouchable.
But now she felt the truth: he was human too.
She remembered the scene of him fighting Whitebeard—the strongest man alive.
Even drenched in blood, he had stood tall, refusing to back down.
Perhaps that was why he had become such a revered Marine hero.
Fearless courage—that was the source of his strength.
It even eased Gion's own tension.
Inside the room, Good laughed heartily, patting her shoulder.
"What are you saying, Gion?"
"With me here, how could you die?"
"You're my vice admiral. Without you, I'd forget half the orders from the Fleet Admiral. I need you!"
Gion's smile blossomed into brilliance.
"Yes!" she replied firmly.
Indeed—with Admiral Good here, how could she die?
In the corner, Tokikake, who had recently joined Good's command, silently watched.
His heart roared like waves.
Good's image as a mentor and leader became deeply rooted in him.
This was Admiral Good!
So towering, giving everyone around him a sense of absolute safety.
With him present, all difficulties seemed surmountable.
At that moment, Tokikake felt the urge to kneel before Good.
Truly, following him had been the right choice!
Elsewhere, several visiting vice admirals from different divisions who had stayed behind also watched silently.
Their eyes shone with admiration.
Good's presence had calmed their nerves, moved them deeply.
To them, he wasn't just an admiral—he was a Marine hero.
Tomorrow—they would finish the fight!
…
The moon faded. The sun rose as usual, but today was different.
Marineford was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere.
Today would be a day of history.
The world order itself might be overturned after today.
Though it looked like a war between the Marines and other great powers, its outcome would touch every single person in the world.
As the appointed hour struck, the broadcast flickered to life.
The dark screen filled with color—revealing Marineford.
Across the world, countless people watching tightened their chests.
It had begun!
The public execution had started!!
"The Marines are serious this time. Look at that army they've gathered!"
"So this is the strongest force under the World Government? Truly terrifying!"
"Huh? Where's Admiral Sakazuki?"
"And what about that new admiral, the reckless Good? I haven't seen him yet."
"Maybe they'll appear later. None of the three admirals are out yet."
"True!"
As the world buzzed, the feed showed Marineford's mighty sight: more than a dozen colossal warships encircled the bay like steel fortresses.
On the plaza, a sea of black uniforms—100,000 elite Marines.
The world was shaken.
Then, amid the deafening silence, Fleet Admiral Sengoku slowly stepped onto the platform.
He gazed at the vast army below, then spoke solemnly into the Den Den Mushi:
"Soldiers!"
"The war is about to begin. Are you ready?"
The answer erupted below:
"Ready!"
"Ready!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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