Even in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Imu and the Five Elders could already sense it—the situation was beginning to slip out of their control.
Imu never imagined that this brat, Souta Kiryuu, could actually wield a force of influence and unity comparable to the Sun God Nika.
Before the era's true Sun God could bloom…
Imu was being forced into the open—cornered into stepping out directly by Souta Kiryuu.
After urgently discussing the situation, the Five Elders received Imu's approval and immediately issued a sweeping command:
Consolidate all Marine forces in the New World.
Steel Bone Kong and Fleet Admiral Sengoku received the order quickly.
"G-3 and G-4 Fortress forces will merge with G-1 Headquarters to form a joint defensive front!"
"G-6 through G-9 Fortress forces, assemble at G-9 near the Kingdom of Adams."
"G-10 through G-15 Fortress forces, converge near G-14 Fortress, close to the waters of Beehive Island, to suppress pirate revolts!"
"Remaining rear support fortresses are to regroup near G-18 Base, close to Egghead territory!"
"Until the eradication of the Kiryuu Pirates, the New World will only maintain four main fortresses—all remaining forces will be concentrated to confront the Kiryuu Pirates and the Four Emperors."
Under Sengoku and Tsuru's additional coordination, the orders spread rapidly to every Marine fortress commander in the New World.
To avoid being crushed one-by-one by pirates, the Marines had no choice but to abandon most outposts and gather at the major strategic bases.
Each fortress began packing artillery, evacuating supplies, and mobilizing troops toward their new designated strongholds.
With just one live Den Den Mushi broadcast, Souta Kiryuu had set the entire New World into motion.
The seas erupted into chaos.
As the Marine fleets traveled, they inevitably clashed with excited, opportunistic, or disorder-hungry pirate crews.
On that day alone, hundreds of battles broke out across the New World—
thick smoke staining every horizon.
The Second Day
Hearing that the New World's balance had effectively collapsed, Red-Haired Shanks felt a growing irritation.
Under his command, the Red-Haired Pirates moved to extinguish conflict wherever they could—
first suppressing pirates under their own flag,
then confronting the Beasts Pirates and their affiliates.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard Edward Newgate forcibly restrained his own subordinate crews and territories.
He even personally called Wang Zhi on Beehive Island—
a rare direct warning.
Whitebeard wanted no part of this war.
However—
The Big Mom Pirates launched a punitive fleet and obliterated the Marine G-20 transfer fleet in a head-on assault.
The names of the Sweet Commanders Cracker and Snack spread across the New World once more.
Big Mom's decisive action was celebrated by countless pirate crews.
Meanwhile—
The Whitebeard Pirates, who hid themselves away,
and the Red-Haired Pirates, suspected by many of colluding with the Marines,
saw their reputations collapse.
The title of "Strongest Man in the World" slipped away from Edward Newgate.
The Beasts Pirates' expeditionary forces soon reached G-18 Fortress, clashing violently with several Marine fleets.
With King the Wildfire and Jack the Drought joining the fight, the fortress suffered massive losses.
Yet, thanks to its overwhelming artillery, it still managed to hold.
But when Kaido himself arrived, the fortress commanders nearly lost their sanity and repeatedly requested immediate reinforcement from Admiral Aokiji.
Under Kaido's burning dragon breath, half the fortress structures and cannons were turned to ash.
Just as the Marines were about to fall into despair—
A pirate ship bearing a red dragon figurehead entered the waters.
"Kaido! Are you really going to act as Souta Kiryuu's blunt instrument?!
The New World falling into chaos benefits no one!"
A thunderous Conqueror's Haki swept the sea.
Even Beasts Pirates' Tobi Roppo elite fighters froze in place, their bodies locked as though trapped in mud.
Shanks' Conqueror's Haki—
was stronger than even Kaido's.
Even among the ten towering ancient giant berserkers,
three or four collapsed instantly beneath the overwhelming pressure.
"Red-Hair!! You again!!"
Kaido, enraged at being interrupted, launched himself in dragon form directly toward the Red Force.
"If it's a fight you want—we will face you!"
Shanks met Kaido head-on, with Benn Beckman, Yasopp and the officers all ready for war.
They had fought many times before—
and this would be no different.
Near G-18 Fortress, a cataclysmic clash of Emperors erupted.
Big News Morgans nearly lost his mind with excitement.
This time, the headlines wrote themselves.
And this battle was real—both sides took casualties.
One of the Tobi Roppo was killed in brutal combat.
Red-Hair's officer Roux was gravely injured and near death.
Meanwhile—
The Kiryuu Pirates, who had caused all this chaos,
had vanished into the sea after destroying G-5 Fortress.
But the chapter is not over. Continue reading.
Souta Kiryuu's unpredictable movements forced Saint Marcus Mars to hold Aokiji and Garp with the main Marine force near the Adams Sea.
They ignored G-18's desperate requests for support—
and had no time to exploit the brutal Yonko clash either.
The Big Mom Pirates, taking advantage of the chaos, looted several abandoned Marine bases, devouring huge spoils in one sweep.
Other pirate crews seized fortresses, ambushed reinforcement fleets, or launched assaults on the newly consolidated Marine strongholds.
Both G-1 Headquarters and G-14 Fortress faced massive pirate sieges—but held their ground.
Whitebeard suppressed Wang Zhi's crew, but other Beehive pirates ignored him and continued attacking G-14 relentlessly.
The fleets assaulting G-9 were wiped out entirely—
slaughtered by Admiral Green Bull.
Marcus Mars and the Marine main force waited in the Adams waters—
but instead of meeting the Kiryuu Pirates, they were swarmed only by small fry.
Their frustration grew unbearable.
New World — Sky Island, Barloon Archipelago
The Kiryuu Pirates' aerial fleet was stationed here, having seized the sky island successfully.
This territory lay close to Kaido's domain—
one of the very cliffs from which Kaido had attempted his many suicide leaps.
"Kaido is fighting Shanks.
The Marines are clearly positioned to intercept us.
Souta Kiryuu—have you decided whether we strike G-18 Fortress,
or the Kingdom of Adams?"
Upon reviewing gathered intelligence, Barrett was practically trembling with eagerness—
eyes burning with excitement.
He was ready to challenge either two Yonko—
or storm the Marine main force head-on.