Black clouds hung low over Marineford.
Kaido's colossal dragon form coiled amid the storm, his draconic might rolling out unrestrained as lightning cracked around him.
On the plaza, Whitebeard swung Murakumogiri, each quake-powered blow sending terrifying shockwaves across the battlefield.
The Three Admirals split up—Akainu tangled with Whitebeard while Aokiji and Kizaru worked together to pin down Kaido.
All Marineford descended into chaos.
Marine Soldiers fell beneath the shelling; the Whitebeard Pirates' Division Commanders charged to the fore, the two sides locked in a slaughter neither could break.
On the execution scaffold, veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead.
Two Emperors had appeared at once; the situation had slipped beyond his control.
Right then—
"Bzzzz—"
A strange hum suddenly rang out at the center of the plaza.
Everyone instinctively froze and turned toward the sound.
A huge Pentagram Array blossomed in mid-air, dazzling golden light gushing from it and bathing the whole square in daylight brilliance.
"What is that?!"
Marine Soldiers recoiled in terror.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes and halted his assault.
Kaido stopped his fiery breath, massive dragon pupils fixed on the array below.
At the array's center, a giant vortex slowly rotated.
A moment later, a figure stepped from the swirl.
A man in white robes, golden mask upon his face.
He walked at ease, the aura rolling off him pressing down on everyone present.
A second figure followed.
A third.
A fourth.
In total, nine silhouettes emerged and lined up in perfect formation on the plaza.
Their white robes snapped in the wind; each wore a golden mask that hid every feature.
Yet the pressure radiating from them left the entire square suffocating.
The plaza sank into deathly silence.
Everyone stared blankly at the nine sudden arrivals, minds gone blank.
Sabaody Archipelago.
In front of the screens, the crowd first froze—then erupted in deafening uproar.
"What are those?!"
"Reinforcements falling from the sky?!"
"Wait—their clothes…""
An old reporter's eyes bulged, voice shaking: "It's the God's Knights!"
The instant the name rang out, the whole square exploded.
"The God's Knights?!"
"Heavens—that legendary unit?!"
"I thought they were only a myth!"
Most listeners had never heard the name and stood bewildered.
But a handful of seasoned veterans went white as paper.
"We're finished…"
An aging pirate collapsed, trembling. "The World Government's gone mad—they actually deployed the God's Knights…"
"The strongest force that answers directly to the Celestial Dragons!"
"Whitebeard and Kaido… are done for…"
Grand Line, a certain Marine branch base.
Inside the mess hall, Marine Soldiers first stood stunned—then burst into thunderous cheers.
"It's the God's Knights!"
"Reinforcements are here!"
"Whitebeard and Kaido are dead men!"
Tears of excitement streamed down every face.
New World, a pirate stronghold.
Moments earlier these pirates had been howling about seizing Whitebeard's turf; now every mouth snapped shut.
They stared at the screen, terror written in their eyes.
"The God's Knights…"
"The World Government means to wipe out both Whitebeard and Kaido in one sweep…"
"This war… is going to rewrite the entire world…"
Marineford, the plaza.
Leading the nine, Shamrock lifted his golden mask, revealing a face strikingly similar to Red Hair Shanks.
He dropped to one knee toward Marine HQ and spoke in a clear, respectful voice: "God's Knights, by order of the Young Master—we are here to assist!"
Behind him, the eight other knights knelt in perfect unison.
"By order of the Young Master—here to assist!"
The nine voices echoed across every corner of the square.
Sengoku's eyes widened.
"Young Master?"
"Saint Ian?!"
He spun toward Marine HQ, waves of shock crashing in his heart.
So everything had been within that crown prince's grasp from the start!
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip on Murakumogiri.
Kaido let out a low draconic growl, his tone now tinged with gravity.
"God's Knights… Worororo… interesting."
Shamrock rose slowly, sweeping his gaze across the battlefield.
His eyes lingered on Whitebeard for a few seconds, then lifted to Kaido in the sky.
"Whitebeard. Kaido."
Shamrock's voice was calm, yet everyone felt an invisible weight pressing down.
"Your era ends today."
The instant the words left his lips, he drew the Longsword at his waist.
Sunlight flashed blindingly along the blade.
In the next second, he turned into a blur, shooting straight for Kaido in the sky!
So fast no one could even react!
"What?!"
Kaido's pupils shrank; instinct screamed at him to dodge.
Yet Shamrock's figure flickered uncannily mid-air!
"Too slow."
Shamrock's voice sounded right beside Kaido's ear.
Alarmed, Kaido whipped his dragon tail!
"Clang!"
Sword met tail with an earsplitting metallic roar.
The shockwave shredded the surrounding clouds in an instant!
Kaido's massive body was driven dozens of meters back through the sky!
"Impossible!"
He stared at Shamrock in disbelief.
This man had actually taken the full brunt of his dragon tail head-on!
Shamrock offered no reply—only another slash!
Sword-qi tore the air, racing straight for Kaido's draconic body.
Kaido roared, Armament Haki coating his entire frame as he met the slash head-first!
"Boom!"
The sword-qi bit into his scales, carving a shallow wound!
Blood sprayed from the gash, raining down onto the plaza!
"Damn it!"
Fully enraged, Kaido opened his jaws and blasted a searing Heat Breath!
Shamrock's expression never changed; with a flourish of his blade, a gigantic arc of sword-qi formed, cutting every tongue of flame to pieces!
On the plaza, the eight other God's Knights sprang into action at the same moment!
Each locked onto a Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates!
First-Division Commander Marco had barely leapt to aid Whitebeard before a Knight blocked his path.
In moments, every Division Commander was pinned by a Knight.
The tide of battle reversed in an instant!
On the execution scaffold, Sengoku watched, a smile finally crossing his face.
He raised the den den mushi and boomed, "All forces—cooperate with the God's Knights! Crush Whitebeard and Kaido!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine Soldiers' morale soared; a thunderous roar shook the square.
Right then—
The main doors of Marine HQ swung open.
A tall, slender figure stepped out unhurriedly.
Ian strolled forward, Boa Hancock on his arm, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He lifted his gaze to Kaido battling Shamrock in the sky, then to Whitebeard clashing with Akainu on the plaza.
"Whitebeard. Kaido."
Ian's voice was soft, yet it carried clearly across every inch of Marineford.
"Welcome—This Young Master's carefully prepared graveyard awaits you."