The 150,000 elite Marines began retreating unconsciously.
Facing an enemy, even one of the Four Emperors, they could still force themselves to charge forward.
But what stood before them now did not feel like an enemy.
It felt like a natural disaster.
A catastrophe capable of destroying the entire island.
"This… this can't be real!"
"How could a human possibly wield such power?!"
For a moment, the morale of the Marines wavered.
Some of the elite soldiers even began thinking about escape.
They wanted to leave the island. They wanted nothing more than to distance themselves from this battlefield.
Dying in battle was one thing.
But being swallowed by the sea like this?
That was unimaginable.
"No… I don't want to die like this!"
"A monster… he's a monster!"
At that moment, the depth of Sengoku's strategy became clear.
The 150,000 Marines continued retreating.
Yet they could not abandon the shoreline of Marineford.
Behind them stood dozens of elite Marine Vice Admirals.
These Vice Admirals were also shocked by the sheer power of Edward Newgate's attack.
But unlike the ordinary soldiers, they were not worried that Marineford would actually be destroyed.
Glancing behind them, they knew that as long as Kuzan was present, the ocean alone could not truly threaten the island.
"Thank goodness this is a full-scale war," one Vice Admiral muttered.
"If I had to face Whitebeard alone… I might as well resign right now."
Even the elite Vice Admirals were shaken as they looked at the colossal waves rising hundreds of meters high on both sides of Marineford.
They knew Aokiji could counter the sea.
Yet fear still gripped them.
This was only the power of Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi.
If they actually fought him head-on, combined with his physical strength and mastery of all three forms of Haki, the outcome was unimaginable.
"Is Whitebeard really just a dying old man?"
"No wonder he dared to come despite all the Marines' preparations."
"His presence, ability, strategy, and strength are all at the very peak of this era."
Marine Vice Admirals were the backbone of the Navy.
Those chosen to participate in this war were the best among them.
Yet even these powerful officers could not help but offer such high praise for their enemy.
At that moment, the Admiral seated on the platform slowly stood up.
Kuzan looked around with a hint of helplessness on his face.
"I didn't expect the old man to still be this explosive at his age."
As one of the new-generation Admirals, he had never personally fought Whitebeard before.
He had little direct experience with the legendary figure of the previous era.
Though he often appeared lazy, Aokiji was still one of the world's greatest fighters.
And like any warrior at that level, he had no intention of backing down.
This was the perfect opportunity to face Whitebeard directly.
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
For once, the normally laid-back Admiral looked completely serious.
"Whitebeard, huh?"
"Let's see whether you truly deserve to be called the leader of the old era."
As he spoke, Aokiji's figure vanished from the Admiral platform.
In the next instant, he appeared high above Marineford.
"Admiral Aokiji has made his move!"
If there was anyone still able to clearly observe the movements of both sides on the battlefield, it was the reporters.
The reporters quickly noticed that Kuzan had moved.
They immediately redirected part of the cameras toward him.
"Unbelievable. The battle hasn't even started yet, and a Marine Admiral has already been forced to act."
"As expected of Edward Newgate, the man known as the strongest on the seas. That level of power is simply unimaginable!"
In an instant, the news spread across the world once again.
In a quiet corner, two veterans of the previous Marine generation were standing together.
Monkey D. Garp and Tsuru.
Unless absolutely necessary, they would not intervene.
If the three Admirals represented the Marines' public face and greatest military power, then these veterans were the hidden trump cards.
Cards that the Marines would never use lightly.
"As expected of Whitebeard," Garp said while glancing toward the battlefield.
"That old man hasn't changed at all since he was young."
Garp looked around calmly.
His strength rivaled Whitebeard's, and he understood the full extent of the Marines' military forces.
So he was not worried.
"But I do wonder how his body is holding up," Garp continued.
"They say he already has one foot in the grave. I wonder if he can survive this war."
Tsuru looked at Garp, who was pretending to stay calm.
Her gaze then shifted toward the execution platform where Portgas D. Ace stood.
As one of Garp's closest comrades, she understood him even better than he understood himself.
His family situation was already complicated enough.
Now the Marines he had served his entire life were using his adopted grandson as bait to lure Whitebeard into battle.
It was hard not to worry.
"Garp…"
Tsuru's concerned voice caught his attention.
Seeing Garp's innocent expression, she steadied herself and glared at him.
"We're in the middle of a war. Focus."
"Hahaha…"
Garp scratched the back of his head awkwardly and fell silent.
"Trying to intimidate us, huh?"
Watching everything unfold, Sengoku had already regained his composure.
He crossed his arms and showed no sign of concern.
Whitebeard's display was indeed shocking.
Even Sengoku himself had been startled.
But it was only a moment of glory.
It did not truly change the course of the battle.
Most of the troops Sengoku had mobilized from across the world were stationed along the coastline.
The naval blockade had only been the first layer of defense.
Even if it had been bypassed, it was still acceptable.
He might feel some regret about it, but it was not a decisive loss.
"The leader of the old era, huh?"
Sengoku recalled the title the world had given Whitebeard.
"That title fits him well."
"But with someone like you still around, how are the new generations supposed to rise?"
Sengoku paused and shook his head slightly.
"An Admiral has made his move!"
At that moment, a figure appeared high above Marineford.
It was Aokiji.
The method he used to stay airborne was the Marine technique known as Geppo, or Moonwalk.
When the Marines saw him move, the fear on their faces slowly disappeared.
Hope replaced it.
"That's right!"
"We still have Admiral Aokiji!"
Cheers erupted among the Marine ranks.
Aokiji's action alone reassured them.
"It's just a tsunami!"
"Admiral Aokiji once froze hundreds of kilometers of ocean!"
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