On the plaza of Marineford, the ground itself suddenly surged like ocean waves, tossing soldiers off their feet.
"What's going on!?"
"There's someone underground!?"
Shouts rang out as Sengoku's expression darkened.
The next moment, figures erupted from beneath the trembling ground.
"Ryuu no Kagizume (Dragon Claw Fist)!!"
The Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, Sabo, appeared with his arm transformed into a dragon's claw, wrapped in Armament Haki sharp enough to rend steel.
Garp's eyes narrowed. With a heavy heart, he raised his iron fist to meet him.
Though he didn't want to fight, as a Marine he had a duty. Even if the ones on the execution platform were his grandsons—the children he raised—he could not falter.
Suddenly, darkness engulfed Garp's sight as a cacophony of crows screeched around him.
A voice came: "Hero Garp, I'll be your opponent!"
It was Karasu, one of the Revolutionary Army's commanders, his black cloak unfurling into a flock of crows, obstructing Garp's vision.
Seizing the chance, Sabo rushed toward the platform. Sengoku's pupils shrank.
"Sabo!"
With a cold snort, Sengoku's body swelled, transforming into a massive golden Buddha. The execution platform creaked under his immense weight as golden light radiated from his body.
Yet before he could unleash a shockwave against Sabo, the platform trembled violently.
"Push Push Fruit!"
Below, Morley stabbed his trident into the ground, his ability causing the foundation to heave like tides. Already weakened by Sengoku's weight, the platform began to collapse, steel beams snapping apart.
Luffy and the others cried out in alarm.
"Damn it!" Sengoku roared. If the platform collapsed, protecting Luffy, Ace, and Kaido would become impossible.
Just then, Dragon appeared, carrying keys to the seastone shackles. Sengoku turned, fury blazing.
"You won't succeed!!"
Redirecting his shockwave, Sengoku hurled it toward Dragon. At the same time, Sabo's Dragon Claw Fist clashed against Sengoku's golden body, barely holding back the force.
The shockwave blasted Luffy and Ace dozens of meters away, but Kaido remained bound at the center.
Dragon's eyes flashed. "If Ace and Luffy can't be freed first… then Kaido will be."
Kaido, once released, would throw the battlefield into chaos and force the Navy deeper into crisis.
"Senju Butsu no Mai (Thousand-Handed Buddha's Dance)!!" Sengoku bellowed, unleashing a storm of strikes like a divine piling machine.
But even as he struck, Kaido's roar shook the skies.
"Finally… I'm free!!!"
His body expanded, transforming into a colossal Azure Dragon that soared into the heavens.
"Kaido!!" Sengoku's face twisted in horror.
Kaido coiled through the sky, his laughter echoing. "Time for revenge!"
The Beasts Pirates roared in triumph. Now, with Whitebeard's crew, the Red Hair Pirates, Rayleigh, and Kaido himself, the Navy was surrounded by three Emperor crews and legends.
In the live broadcasts, the world gasped.
"Kaido's been freed!?"
"This is a disaster for the Navy! Whitebeard, Shanks, Rayleigh… and now Kaido!"
"Even Akainu can't hold all this back!"
The balance of power had collapsed.
...
On Totto Land, Big Mom threw her head back in laughter.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! With Kaido freed, the Marines can't possibly win. Hahaha!"
Her grin twisted. "And with luck, even Sakazuki will fall!"
To her, this war was now her opportunity to rise as the final victor among the Yonko.
...
In the skies above, Kaido's dragon form unleashed torrents of fiery breath upon Marine soldiers, scorching the battlefield.
The Navy's crisis had reached its breaking point.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!]
[[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]