Chapter 118: Threat
The battlefield upon which the fate of the world hungâMarineford, headquarters of the Navy.
The threads encircling the island were a steel barrier crushing the hopes of those who wished to escape this hell.
âWhat the hell is this fence!?â
âItâs insanely toughâŠ!!â
âWeâve lost all communication with the outside!!â
Neither pirates nor marines could escape this battlefield. No help would come from beyond.
The only solution was violence.
âFufufufufufuâŠ!! So, what now!? Navy!! Whitebeard Pirates!! Impel Down escapees!! And even the Celestial Dragons!!! Can you stop this storm!?â
Laughing mockingly, the one who triggered the âBirdcageâ and sealed everyone inside, Donquixote Doflamingo, called them out by name.
A storm of violence was about to erupt. If it couldnât be stopped, the worldâs order would collapse.
The two great powers that had ruled these seasâthe Navy Headquarters and the Whitebeard Piratesâwould be annihilated, and the world would be swallowed by chaos.
That very collapse was Doflamingoâs desire. And so, he couldnât stop laughing.
âYou bastardâŠ!!â
â! Fufufufu⊠Whatâs wrong? You donât like seeing Whitebeard in danger, Crocodile? I thought you came to take his head?â
ââŠThat half-dead old man can waitâbut I sure as hell donât want to see the look on your smug faces first!!!â
Former Warlord Crocodile, who had escaped from Impel Down, launched a sand blade at Doflamingo. Doflamingo dodged it easily and grinned as he asked his taunt.
But unlike Doflamingoâs composed smirk, Crocodileâs expression was grimâclearly annoyed. He glared with killing intent, determined to take Doflamingo down first.
âFufufu!! If youâve got time to aim at me, I suggest you use it to escape⊠A Logia user like you might be able to slip out of the Birdcage⊠Keep wasting time and youâre not gonna like what happens next!! Fufufufufu!!â
âThen Iâll take you out first⊠and then Iâll think about it!!â
Their clash ignitedâCrocodileâs claw and Doflamingoâs razor-sharp threads collided.
If Doflamingo, who was maintaining the Birdcage, could be knocked unconscious or killed, the trap would be lifted. Even without knowing the exact mechanism, any experienced fighter could deduce that much.
âCaptain!! Weâre trapped in here too!! What do we do!?â
âZehaha⊠Yeah. This ainât good⊠But the chance will come!! Letâs lay low for now and watch the monsters fight it out⊠ZehahahahaâŠ!!â
Only those with overwhelming power could hope to escape this battlefield.
âCaptain Buggy!! You got out so easilyâŠ!!?â
âBut what are you planning to do out thereâŠ?â
âHe must have a plan!!â
âGyaâgyahahahaha!! Damn right I do! You lot keep fighting strong!! I, the great Buggy, shall now begin preparations for a spectacular strategy to turn this mess on its head!!!â
âWoooooh!!! Thatâs our living legend!!â
âNot even this situation shakes him!!â
âAlright! Until Captain Buggyâs plan is ready, weâll defend this bay with our lives!!â
âYEEAAHHHH!!!â
âY-Yeah, do that!! (Phew⊠That was close. I managed to talk my way out of it. Still, this place is a death trap⊠I need to find a way to escape nowâŠ!!)â
And for everyone else, the only option left⊠was to fight.
Using every ounce of strength they hadâto take what they wanted.
âBut the weak⊠could only die.
âHaa⊠HaaâŠâ
âUghâŠâ
âSmoker-san!! Hina-san!!â
In the heart of the deadly melee, many battles had already been settled. And strewn across the plaza were mostly the bodies of fallen marines.
So, the sight of two wounded marines collapsing, covered in slash wounds, wasnât all that unusual.
Even if those two were âWhite Chase Smokerâ and âBlack Cage Hinaââpromising future stars of the Navyâit made little difference. To the elite officers of the Beast Pirates, it was no harder than cutting down any other marine.
âCame charging in all bold⊠and this is all youâve got?â
â...Youâre one of the TobiroppoâŠ!! Whoâs-Who of the Beast PiratesâŠ!!â
Tashigi glared at the man who had cut down her two superiors.
The âTobiroppoâ were second only to the Lead Performers in Kaidoâs crew. And Whoâs-Who, along with Sasaki, stood at the top among them.
Smoker and Hina had tried to intercept the Beast Pirates entering the plaza, only to be instantly struck down by Whoâs-Who.
âYou thought just eating a Logia fruit was enough to beat me?â
ââŠ!!â
What that meant was clearâa massive gap in strength.
Both Hina and Smoker were Devil Fruit users. Smoker, in particular, had eaten the Moku Moku no Mi and was a smoke-human. Logia-class fruits were considered among the strongest types.
At first glance, Logia users seemed untouchable. And throughout the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, they were practically invincible.
But not in the New World.
Here, where Haki users were common, even Logia users couldnât avoid injury.
Those who relied too heavily on their fruitâthose who overestimated their invincibilityâwould meet an early grave.
That truth was about to be proven now.
âWhat are their ranks?â
ââWhite Chaseâ Smoker and âBlack Cageâ Hina. Rear Admiral and Captain, respectively.â
âIâve heard the names. Hah, so one of themâs technically a general. Still, theyâre pathetic.â
âThere are still a dozen or so Vice Admirals left in the plaza. A few Whitebeard Division Commanders are still alive. And some unusual figures believed to be Impel Down escapees. How should we proceed?â
âGo for the Commanders or the escapees. Taking down more Vice Admirals wonât mean much at this point.â
âYes, sir!!â
â...!! You people⊠What do you think justice even means to you!!!?â
â! Donât, TashigiâŠ!!â
Tashigi, overhearing Whoâs-Who and his men, was overcome with rage and drew her sword. Even as the wounded Smoker called out to stop her, she charged forward, refusing to back down.
âYAAAAHHHH!!!â
âHuh? Whatâs this brat?â
âGah!!â
âT-TashigiâŠ!!â
Just like Smoker, Hina had collapsed to the ground. In a raspy voice, she called out in worry for Tashigi.
Tashigi tried to slash at Whoâs-Who, but before her blade could reach him, he grabbed her by the neck and hoisted her into the air, a pained expression twisting her face.
It wasnât even a fight. The overwhelming difference in power decided everything. Tashigi's sword slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground. Smoker and Hina, watching helplessly, thought this might be the end for them too. They desperately searched for a way to get back on their feetâbut before they could act, Whoâs-Whoâs eyes caught sight of the fallen sword.
âHm? That sword... is it a quality blade?â
âHeh, just a moment... Ah, yes, as expected of you, Master Whoâs-Who. Thatâs the fine-grade blade Shigure.â
âNot bad. Alright, take it.â
âYes, sir.â
â...!! Thatâs... my... ngh!!?â
âShut up. A brat like youâa weak womanâdoesnât deserve a sword like this. Hey, what about her?â
âYes. Uh... apologies. She doesnât appear in any of our data. Most likely just an officer... or lower.â
âA grunt, huh. In that case, sheâll make for mer-ch-an-dise.â
âAaâgh...!!â
Still choking, Tashigi groaned in pain as she saw Whoâs-Whoâs subordinate pick up her beloved blade, Shigure. Then Whoâs-Who muttered something ominous. Even through her suffering, Tashigi didnât miss it. Gasping for air, she turned a questioning look toward him, asking silently what he meant by merchandise.
âShall I tell you, as thanks for the sword?â
Surprisingly, Whoâs-Who flashed a grin and leaned in to whisper to her.
âIn this war, we plan to slaughter every Marine... though I guess some of you might survive by chance. Those onesâweâre turning into slaves.â
â!!?â
Tashigiâs face went pale. Seeing that, Whoâs-Whoâs grin twisted into something cruelerâsick with sadism.
âEspecially small fry like you, officers and underâtheyâre no threat even if we keep them alive. Breaking their spiritâs not hard either. So weâll reduce âem below the level of human and make âem useful to us...!!â
â...!!â
âDamn you... donât screw with us...!!â
Lying on the ground near his feet, Smoker spat out the words with venom. He couldnât move. Whoâs-Whoâs subordinate had taken his seastone-tipped jitte and was pressing it against him, robbing him of all strength. Powerless and at their mercy, Smoker could only glare, and Whoâs-Who mocked him.
âYouâve got some nerve talking, after turning a blind eye to the Celestial Dragonsâ slave trade. So whatâs the problem? A Marine who was practically a slave to the Celestials... does it matter who their next master is? Hey.â
âYes, sir.â
Whoâs-Who handed Tashigi over to his men and turned to leave. This was a battlefieldâthere were still enemies to kill, glory to seize. He couldnât afford to linger too long.
But before he left, he turned back and said to Tashigi:
âSomeone like youâs got no business fighting. Iâll do you a favor and line up a new job for you. Something more fitting... for a woman like you...!!â
â...!!â
âJust to make sure you never get the idea of resisting againâwatch this. The look on your superiorâs face as he dies.â
â...!!?â
Then, with no hesitation, Whoâs-Who plunged a blade into the bodies of Smoker and Hina.
Tashigi saw it. The moment her two closest superiorsâdied.
âMMMâ!! MMMMHH!!â
âTake the girl and the sword. Iâll go find the next prey.â
âYes, sir! Best of luck!â
Even as tears streamed down her face and a gag muffled her cries, Tashigi kicked and struggled, but could do nothing.
Whoâs-Who and his men, after killing the people most important to her, tied her up with the cold efficiency of people doing nothing more than routine work.
âRemember this. In this world, it doesnât matter if youâre a woman or a kidâthe strong are the ones who win...!!!â
That was the brutal, unrelenting creed of the Beasts Pirates: a pure and absolute meritocracy. The weak had no rightsânot even the right to choose between life or death.
And on this battlefield, countless scenes like this were playing outâeach one a grim vision of the world to come.
The Navy Headquarters and the government-aligned Warlords of the Sea were at a disadvantageâand in a dire predicament.
The one hundred thousand Marines had seen their numbers drop drastically, now reduced to less than half. As for the Warlords, once a major force, one was missing, one had withdrawn, one had died, and two had defectedâleaving only two remaining.
One of them, the worldâs greatest swordsman, âHawk-Eyeâ Mihawk, remained active, cutting down the charging pirates one after another with a faint smile.
The other, howeverâBartholomew Kuma, known as the âTyrantââwas just about to reach the end of his role.
â!!â
His massive, specially mechanized bodyâonce so sturdyâwas kicked away by a pair of slim, pale legs and sent rolling across the ground.
It was a one-sided performance.
âWhatâs going on!!?â
âKuma!! Why arenât you attacking!?â
âDonât tell me⊠Kuma betrayed us tooâŠ!?â
âImpossible!! The âTyrantâ Kuma has no consciousness!! Heâs just a cyborg now!! A human weapon who fights pirates without a will of his own!!â
The Marines watching couldnât believe it. Something inexplicable was happening before their eyes, but no one could determine the cause.
From the right flank, the Beasts Pirates had launched an attack into the plazaâand the one who was supposed to counter them, Kuma, couldnât hold a candle to the woman before him.
âFufufu⊠How anticlimacticâĄâ
â!!â
Worse still, he wasnât even fighting backâjust being beaten down one-sidedly.
His opponent was the Beasts Piratesâ All-Star, âCalamity Joker.â A figure shrouded in mystery, yet infamous for her powerânever one to be underestimated.
But this wasnât even a battle. Kuma wasnât retaliating at all.
And so, battered and broken, Kuma stood unmoving before Joker. Watching him, Joker smiled.
âAlmost makes me feel guilty, like Iâm bullying you⊠Still, I suppose I should give credit where itâs due. As expected of Vegapunk. Using Kumaâs body as a baseâitâs remarkably durable.â
ââŠâŠâŠâŠâ
Kuma said nothing, simply standing silently before Joker. He neither attacked, defended, nor dodgedâa behavior so unnatural it seemed like he was malfunctioning. The Marines, fighting nearby, began voicing their frustration.
âWhat the hellâs wrong with him!?â
âDonât tell me⊠heâs actually broken!?â
ââŠâŠ!! What are you doing, Kuma!? Attack the enemy in front of you!!â
But Kuma didnât respond. The necessary conditions had not been met.
Still silent, Kuma was mocked by Joker, who touched her lips with her fingers, as if suppressing laughter. As though it was all too hilariousâshe sneered at the mindless weapon before her.
âObediently following assigned orders and doing nothing else⊠like a slaveâĄâ
ââŠâŠâŠâŠâ
âFufu⊠If you were still your old self, Iâd say you hit the mark. Sure, itâs convenient when thereâs no resistance, but bullying someone who doesnât react isnât very fun.â
His machine body was already falling apart, ready to shut down at any moment. Made from special alloy, it could not endure countless blows from one of the Four Emperorsâ top officers.
One or two more hitsâhe would go down. That was Jokerâs conclusion. And so, she decided to offer a hint behind this bizarre phenomenon.
âThe human weapon âPacifista.â A modified human built upon Kumaâs body, loaded with various weapons. Among them, you were the most advancedâequipped with the powers of the Paw-Paw Fruit. Programmed to obey Dr. Vegapunk, your creator, the governmentâs science division, the fleet admiral, the admirals, high-ranking officials, even the Celestial Dragons⊠Youâve had the faces of pirates and dangerous criminals all over the world input into your system, allowing you to accurately distinguish enemies from allies and strike them accordingly. Fufu⊠A truly excellent machine.â
Indeed, there had never been a weapon more perfectâor more convenientâfor the government.
Especially since it was built from Kuma himself, a Warlord whose formidable strength could be deployed without fear of betrayal. On the battlefield, there was nothing more reliable. No risk of friendly fire, either.
But the very excellence of that designâand the erasure of Kumaâs consciousnessâwould be their undoing.
âNo matter what disguise, no matter how the ability hides me⊠a machineâs eyes cannot be deceived.â
As she spoke, Joker felt a burden lift from her shoulders.
After all, until now, sheâd been extra cautious of those mechanical eyes.
No matter how much she manipulated human perception, machines couldnât be fooled.
Machines had no awareness. The ability that cloaked Jokerâs identity had no effect on them. This was a well-known factâand Jokerâs top concern in her role as a spy.
That was why, when Kuma still retained his human consciousness, she had never once approached him.
âBut now⊠Iâm finally free of that burden.â
Fortunately for her, Kuma had relinquished his humanity and fully become a government puppet.
His motives remained unclear, but the outcome was certain: Joker was not being attacked due to the mechanical recognition systems within Kuma.
No defenses. No evasions. Just silently enduring, like a slave awaiting orders from his master.
âBut donât worry⥠Youâre still useful. Iâll just shut you down for nowâI wonât destroy you completelyâŠ!!â
From the moment this match-up was arranged, Kumaâs fate was sealed.
Joker vanished. Or at least, she appeared to.
Using a motion akin to the Rokushiki technique "Soru," she burst forward with explosive leg power, silently closing the distance between them.
Her strike wasnât aimed at destroying external components, but at delivering an internal shockâone of the secret techniques of Rokushiki, customized into Jokerâs own finishing move.
âIâll hold back just enough not to break youâŠ!!â
â!!? That stanceâ!!!â
A Vice Admiral caught a glimpse of the techniqueâs pose and gasped in shock.
âBeast King Gun!!!â
â!!!â
A massive shock exploded inside Kumaâs body.
Even held back, the blow had more than enough power to kill a human. It was enough to completely shut down the âKumaâ weapon.
ââAnd at nearly the same moment, another battle reached its conclusion.
âYaaay, yaaay⥠I won~~~!! Peeee-tan, praise me, praise meee~~~âĄâ
âNot a damn chance!! ââAlright, things are wrapped up over here too. Get everything loaded!!â
âYes, sir!!â
âPRAISE MEEEEE!!!â
âGuhâŠ!! You bastards⊠Getting your hands on a Pacifista⊠What the hell⊠are you planning⊠to doâŠâŠâ
A shattered battleaxe and its wielder lay on the ground, blood gushing from his forehead, his bones broken. Scattered around were numerous human weapons.
Standing over them were the Beasts Piratesâ Flying Six siblingsâUlti and Page Oneâissuing orders to their subordinates to load the Pacifistas onto their ship.
Sensing this, Joker gave orders to recover Kuma and spoke aloud:
âTo create peace in the world⊠we must start a war. Blood must be spilled. Fufufu⊠From now on, weâll be the ones to put these tools to proper use. Just like the name you were givenââPacifista.â These weapons will fuel the wars that sweep across the globeâŠ!!!â
âWAAAAHHH!!! LADY JOKERRRRR!!!â
ââThe governmentâs human weapon âPacifista,â including Bartholomew Kuma, fell into the hands of the Beasts Pirates.
And beyond the plaza, the pirate alliance had seized control of almost every other area of the battlefield. Allied forces began converging on the central square.
âKoby!! This is hopelessâweâve got to run for it!! Weâll die if we stay here!!!â
âH-Helmeppo, you get awayâŠ!! Iâll⊠Iâll try to buy some timeâŠ!!â
âMy, my⊠Naughty little boys. You shouldnât be playing on such a dangerous battlefield. Youâll get yourselves killedâĄâ
As the promising young Marines faltered and attempted to flee, the Beasts Piratesâ Flying Six unit, led by Black Maria, infiltrated even the streets of Marineford.
There were few capable of stopping the pirate allianceâs elite officers, and the battlefield was suffering heavy losses.
âIf you donât knock it off, Iâm seriously gonna lose it, KomurasakiâŠ!!â
âI should be the one angry!! You and your brother (sister) always do whatever you wantâŠ!!â
In the plaza, swords clashed as Musashi and Komurasaki traded blows, steel ringing over and over.
Musashi had the edge, but their skill gap wasnât that wideâand Komurasakiâs toughness was already legendary within the Beasts Pirates. With no decisive strike landed, their duel showed no signs of ending.
âDanzenmaru!!!â
"âŠâŠ!!"
"! That technique... it's Izo, isn't it!?"
But just then, a Haki-infused bullet flew toward Komurasaki, forcing her to defend herself.
Upon seeing the technique, Musashi immediately realizedâit was the work of Izo, the 16th division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. And that meant the main forces of the Whitebeard Pirates were starting to break through the battlefield.
"Musashi!! You go on ahead!! I'll handle things here!!"
"! ...Got it!! I'm counting on you!!"
"âŠâŠ!!"
And so, Musashi turned to push forward, to do what only she couldâbut Komurasaki wasnât the only one aiming to capture her.
"It's Lady Musashi!! Go!! Capture her!!"
"Lady Musashi~~!! Catching her is just as big a deal as killing the enemy!!"
"Gwahaha!! Be a good girl and surrender~~~!!!"
"âŠâŠ!! Babanuuki, Poker, and Holdem...!!"
Standing in her way were the Shinuchi of the Beasts Pirates, faces Musashi recognized. Though inferior to the Tobi Roppo, each one of them was strong enough to be a pain to deal with individually. On top of that, their orders rallied the Gifters to swarm in as well.
Taking them down wasnât impossibleâbut there was no time for that. Musashi thought of leaping into the sky whenâ
"ââGet down, Musashi!!"
"!!?"
From behind her, rifle and pistol shots rang out, and blades and blunt weapons struck at the Gifters, wounding them just enough to stop their movements.
When the newcomers appeared, it wasn't just Musashi who reactedâeven Ace, bound at the execution platform, showed a change in expression.
"You guys too...!!!"
"âŠâŠ!! You fools came all the way here...! I wonât mourn you if you die!!!"
To those two voices, each of the arrivals responded one by one.
"Yeah, we know."
"We're well aware guys like us arenât walking out of here alive...!!"
"Weâre used to Ace-san dragging us into reckless messes, but... we've never seen a battlefield like this before."
"Damn right. Captain Ace, what kind of battlefield makes even pirate freaks piss themselves?"
"Yeah, you idiot. You really are...!!"
"Grururu... nyaan!"
"But still... Ace. Iâweâweâd give our lives for you!!! Ever since you invited us under your flag... weâve all been ready to die for you!!!"
They were the ones who stood beside Ace and Musashiâthe rest of Aceâs crew.
Twenty men and one beast, bonded with Ace long before he joined the Whitebeard Pirates. Outlaws who had nowhere else to go, who rallied under Aceâs own flag.
"We will never let you die!!! Ace!! Weâre getting you out of here!!!"
ăOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!ă
"Deuce...!! All of you...!!!"
The former Spade Pirates crewâDeuce, Kotatsu, Iska, Skull, Miharl⊠Aceâs oldest and closest companionsâhad come together to rescue him.
ââBut elsewhere on the battlefield, another confrontation, rooted in a very different connection, was beginning.
"Komurasaki, was it... why are you holding that sword!!?"
"âŠâŠâŠâŠ"
Izo, having stepped in to face Komurasaki in Musashiâs place, pointed his gun at her with a fury that was anything but normal.
This wasnât something Izo could overlook. Thatâs why he chose to confront herâto confirm the truth.
But Komurasaki remained silent for a time, then responded with a calm utterly at odds with Izoâs rage.
"...That has nothing to do with you."
"It does concern me!! That blade at your hip is without a doubt the famed grade sword Enma!!! And the one in your hand is Gaika Musou!!! Both of them... theyâre myâ"
"My?"
"Kh...!! The treasured blades of those dear to me!!!"
Komurasaki caught his stumble and threw the unfinished word back at him, forcing him to say what he had hesitated to.
But the full truth, that original relationship, was something Izo could not say. A samurai serves no second master. And now, the one he serves is Whitebeard.
So he voiced it in the only way he could. Even if, in his heart, he held that former master just as dear.
And thatâs why he couldnât ignore it. Why this pirate before him had those treasured swords.
"...Of those dear to you, huh?"
"Yeah, that's right!! Depending on the circumstancesâ"
"âWere these dear people of yours the sort... to hand their beloved blades to some stranger... worse, to someone like us, vile pirates?"
"...!! Thatâs...!!"
Komurasaki cut in, returning his accusation with a question of her own.
Again, Izo faltered. Of course they werenât. Those people would never have handed their treasured swords to a high-ranking member of the infamous Beasts Pirates. A samurai would never part with their blade so lightly.
And yet, those swords were now at her side.
"Donât tell me...!!"
"ââThe fact that these blades are on my hip... doesnât that answer your question?"
"...!!"
The worst possibility formed in his mind.
Heâd feared it. Thought it couldnât be.
But given Musashiâs true identity... deep down, heâd known it might be possible. And yet, heâd wanted to believe it couldnât be true.
But now, this woman hiding her faceâthese peopleâ
"Lord Oden, and Kawamatsu...!!"
"âŠYes, theyâve long since died. What of it?"
"Kh...!! You...!!!"
Izo pulled the trigger, aiming at Komurasaki. She sensed his rage, dodged the bullet, and as sweat beaded on the shaken Izoâs face, she cut into him with words sharper than any blade.
"Whatâs got you so angry? This doesnât concern you, remember?"
"Shut up...!! Haa... haa... You... you did this to Lord Oden and the others...!!"
"âŠAre you seriously saying it's important?"
"Of course it is!!!"
Izo declared it with such force that anyone could see his feelings were genuine.
But even then, Komurasaki sneered. She scoffed at Izoâs words, mocking the man pointing his killing intent at herâ
"âThen why did you abandon them?"
"!?!"
âShe unleashed such overwhelming bloodlust that even Izo was momentarily overpowered.
"You say they were important. That you were given everything. That they were comrades, even benefactors. And yet, you threw them away⊠and chose someone else instead, didnât you?"
"Wh⊠What are you talking about!?"
"Youâre wondering how I know? You seem shaken by thatâbut I wonât be answering. After all⊠youâre an outsider."
Izo stared at this enemy who had suddenly changed, thinkingâ
Who the hell is this woman?
There was something terrifying about her presence. As if he were staring down a real demon. It was Haki, yesâbut not just any kind. The emotions poured into it were so intense he couldnât even tell what they were anymore.
He sensed anger and bloodlust⊠but also something else, something deeper that he couldnât place.
"You said the owner of this blade was important to you⊠but perhaps it wasnât as deep a bond as you believed. Maybe it was just a shallow sentiment."
"! What proof do you haveâ!?"
"I donât need proof. If something could be abandoned, then it was never truly precious to begin with, was it?"
"You're wrong!! I never abandoned them!!"
"Thatâs just what you think. But in reality, you did abandon them. And now, after all this time, youâre suddenly clinging to them again? How pathetic."
Komurasaki denied everything Izo had saidâevery word, every feeling. And it wasnât just verbal dismissal.
There was something far more personal behind her fury. Something deep-rooted. It wasnât just angerâit meant something.
"And on top of that, in the new place you chose, you're throwing yourself into this foolish war. How noble of you."
"WhatâŠ!?"
"Foolish doesnât even begin to cover it. Youâre charging into a battle you canât win. A battle where death is the only outcome. Even if you do manage to save that 'Fire Fist Ace,' if you die in the process, all youâll leave him is grief."
"âŠ!!"
"But the opposite is true too⊠If he dies, then you will mourn. Youâre not strong enough to protect both. Choosing one means losing the other. No matter what you do, someone suffers. Someone ends up in pain. So thenâ"
Komurasaki slowly sheathed her blade, Sotogamusou, and reached for another.
Once hailed as the strongest samurai in Wanoâhe who alone scarred the world's strongest creatureâhis blade was said to cut all the way to the depths of hell.
"With this cursed sword, EnmaâŠ!!! I will bring closure to your tragic fate myselfâŠ!!!"
"âŠâŠ!!!"
âEnma, one of the 21 Great Grade swords. A blade of legend, wielded by the mightiest of samurai. Izo, knowing its nature, was stunned to see Komurasaki handle it.
"You can⊠wield that swordâŠ!?"
"Yes. Not perfectly, but with how riled up I am now⊠itâll last long enough to kill youâŠ!!!"
"âŠ!!"
She's comingâŠ!!
Sensing Komurasakiâs intent to attack, Izo immediately moved to evade.
Blocking was not an option. He likely couldnât block it.
"Kappa StyleâŠ!!"
âAnd his decision proved correct.
"Kinugawa!!!"
"!!!?"
The slashâsame move Musashi had used earlierâwas now far sharper, far more devastating. It tore across the plaza.
And in the blink of an eye, it reached the defensive barrier, slicing through even the Whitebeard Piratesâ flagship, the Moby Dick, along the way. That sword techniqueâan overwhelming finisherâsent ripples through the battlefield.
"HohâŠ"
"That was Komurasaki, wasnât it?"
"That damn brat⊠she actually drew Enma."
Swordsmen like Mihawk, King, and Whoâs-Who reacted from across the plaza. Especially those from the Beasts Piratesâthey knew Komurasaki was stronger when she drew that blade. It meant she could actually deliver results.
One of them, someone who could be called Komurasakiâs mentor, sensed her emotion through Observation Haki and smiled fondly.
"Nice, nice! Komurasaki-chanâs really getting fired up now~âĄ"
"âMiss Nue. Reports say the eastern flank has been nearly wiped out."
"Yeees~⥠Thanks, Jack~!! Then letâs go clean up those Marines we cornered in the plaza, every last one of them! Iâll leave finishing off that half-dead old hag to you~!!!"
"Yes, maâam!!"
"Fufufu~âȘ Looks like Borsalinoâs running outta steam too, huh~? As fun and strong as he is⊠maybe itâs time to put him down~?"
"Huff⊠huff⊠You really donât hold back, huh~~âŠ"
âAll across the battlefield, Marines were dying. Even Vice Admirals, and now Admirals, were facing defeat.
From the original force of 100,000⊠the Marinesâ numbers had already dropped below 40,000.
âStraw Hat Luffyâ and âGolden Lion Shiki.â
A rookie from the East Blue versus a legendary pirate from before the Great Pirate Era. From beginning to end, the fight was one-sided, favoring the latter.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong, Straw Hat? That all you've got?"
"Haa⊠haa⊠Not yetâŠ!! Gear SecondâŠ!!"
Floating in the air, Shiki looked down at Luffy on the ground and taunted him. Luffy had already been slammed into the dirt numerous times and looked like he was about to collapse.
"Gomu Gomu noâŠ!! JET Pistol!!"
Yet even so, Luffy refused to give up. Pushing beyond his physical limits, he kept fighting the legendary pirate.
By accelerating his blood flow and enhancing his physical prowess, Luffyâs techniques became far more powerful. The speed of Gear Second was difficult to follow even for Marine HQ officers, and could overwhelm even CP9 agents who had mastered the Six Powersâbarring a few exceptions.
"Jiha ha⊠Youâve gotten a little faster⊠but still too slow."
"!!?"
But even hereâwhere others had failed again and againâShiki remained unfazed.
"Zanpa!!!"
"TchâŠ!!"
With a swing of his footâonce wielding a blade with the skill of a first-rate swordsmanâShiki unleashed a slicing attack. It wasn't even comparable to a standard Rankyaku. Luffy instinctively leapt to the side, and it was the right call. A deep crack split the ground where he had just been standing.
"Haa⊠that was closeâŠ!!"
"Jiha ha!! Not badâpretty sharp instincts for someone your age. But let's see if you can dodge the next one."
"âŠâŠ!!"
Shiki flicked his palm, activating the same ability that kept him afloat: the power of the Float-Float Fruit.
"!! What the hell!?"
"It's the Golden Lion!!"
"Shit!! Get back, everyone!!"
The plaza's ground around Luffy rose up, taking the shape of a lion and encircling them. Marines, pirates, and prisoners alike recognized the danger and scrambled to get away, but Shiki, unconcerned with collateral damage to friend or foe, unleashed a massive technique.
"Shi Shi Odoshi!! Earth Entangle!!!"
"!!!"
The lion-shaped terrain, hardened by the Float-Float power, swallowed up marines, pirates, and finally, Luffy himself.
"Guagh⊠damn it⊠gotta do somethingâŠ!!"
"Straw Hat Boy!! Jinbei, help me!!"
"Yeah!! Right awayâ"
"Tch⊠That bastard Golden Lion⊠trying to drag us in tooâŠ!!"
"!!?"
Watching Luffy being engulfed by the shifting ground, powerless to escape, Ivankov and Jinbei sprang into action.
But their path was blockedâby the Beasts Pirates.
And not just anyone. It was someone Jinbei recognizedâone of the famed Tobi Roppo, even if theyâd never met directly.
"The Tobi Roppo⊠Sasaki!!"
"Yo, JinbeiâŠ!! Been a while, huh? I didnât get your head last time⊠but Iâm here to collect nowâŠ!!!"
"Tch⊠Always with the interruptionsâŠ!!"
Sasaki of the Tobi Roppo. An opponent Jinbei had once encountered nearly a decade ago, back when he was still part of the Sun Pirates. Now, faced with this sudden reappearance, Jinbei had no choice but to halt. Ivankov, trailing just behind, was also forced to a stop.
"Kwa kwa!! Look who it is!! Itâs Ivankov of the Revolutionary Army!!"
"Whatâre you doing here, freak!? Ainât the World Government your target!? We already broke 'em down for ya!! Ka ka ka!!"
"You all shouldâve sided with Kaido-sama. Even the Revolutionary Army wouldâve been welcomed if you were strong enoughâĄ"
"Shut your filthy mouth!! Ngh⊠Straw Hat Boy!!"
Before they knew it, the square was packed with the Beasts Piratesâ Headliners, Gifters, and animal-type Zoan users. Not even Jinbei or Ivankov could easily break through such a force.
"Jiha ha ha ha!! Iâm gonna beat the hell out of you for a whileâŠ!! If youâve got a grudge, blame your brother!!!"
"Ugh⊠dammit⊠I canât break outâŠ!!"
Luffy was trapped inside the terrain, sealed away by Shikiâs power.
It looked like torture was about to beginâto force Ace to give in. But someone unexpected put a stop to it.
"Perfume Femur!!!"
"!!!"
"What theâŠ!? Thatâs⊠the Pirate Empress!?"
With a single kick, she shattered the pillar of earth restraining Luffy, setting him free. The one who had betrayed the government and joined the Pirate Allianceâone of the Seven Warlords, Boa Hancock.
"GuhâŠ!! Huff⊠huff⊠Thank youâŠ!! Hancock!!"
"âŠThe hell? I thought you were on our side. Whyâre you getting in my way?"
"âŠâŠ!! SilenceâŠ!! Itâs true I betrayed the government⊠but I never swore allegiance to you!! I owe you no explanation for my actions!!!"
"âŠHmph. Fair enough⊠but if you're going to get in my way, Iâve got no problem killing you right here!!"
"âŠ!!"
"YouâŠ!"
Shiki was clearly enraged by Hancock, who insisted she wasnât under his command and had chosen to save Luffy on her own. His killing intent turned toward her.
Naturally, the others had noticed Hancockâs open defiance of Shiki.
"Kaido-sama!! The Empress is interfering with Shiki!!"
"âŠLeave her. Weâll deal with her later. Focus on finishing off the Navy and Whitebeardâs crew first!!!"
"Yes!!"
"Ma-ma-ma~ ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Finally, their numbers are thinning out, huh!? The NavyâŠ!!"
At the center of Oris Plaza, directly in front of the execution platform, the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, "Kaido of the Beasts," and the Captain of the Big Mom Pirates, Charlotte Linlin, were locked in a battle so overwhelming it barely seemed of this worldâfacing off against the Navyâs main force and the Whitebeard Pirates' elite.
"I wonât let you tarnish the justice and order of this worldâŠ!! Not while I still draw breathâŠ!!!"
"Hah⊠hah⊠Evil must be eradicated!!!"
"Stay back, my sonsâŠ!!!"
Vice Admiral and Navy hero "Garp the Fist" stood alongside Admiral "Akainu," and the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, "Whitebeard" Edward Newgateâall three giants gathered in one place, fighting side by side.
"WRAAAAHHH!!!"
"!!"
Whitebeard imbued his bisento with the power of the Quake-Quake Fruit and swung it with full force. The resulting shockwave shook the battlefield, blasting back the forces of both the Beasts and Big Mom Piratesâand even rattling their two emperors.
"WhitebeardâŠ!! You were a fine man⊠but youâre half-dead now, arenât you!? Time I put you out of your misery!!!"
"You think trash like you can take me downâŠ!!!"
"You said it!! Then letâs see you take this!!!"
Big Mom moved. Leaping over Whitebeardâs shockwave, she imbued her sword Napoleon with Prometheusâ flame and raised it high.
"Emperor Blade Cognac⊠Hahaba Slash!!!"
"TchâŠ!! GuhâŠ!! RAAAAHHH!!!"
Whitebeard barely managed to block it, but the result was a massive explosion of force and destruction that scattered in all directions.
The thunderous sound and shockwaves pierced the skyâanyone, no matter where they stood on the battlefield, could see it. And yet, it didnât harm the Whitebeard Pirates. That was only because Whitebeard himself was shielding them.
But he couldnât spare much more attention to protect others. Even if he could hold one monster back, others remained.
"Big MomâŠ!! Youâre showing your backâŠ!!!"
ăMama!! An admiralâs coming from behind!!ă
Akainuâreal name Sakazukiâwas targeting Big Mom from behind. Her homie Zeus screamed out a warning.
But the sneak attack wouldnât land. They couldnât afford to focus solely on Big Mom either.
"You think you can ignore me, AkainuâŠ!? Iâm sick of your face⊠your end is here!!!"
"!!"
Kaido, drenched in blood but radiating with Haki and murderous intent, lunged at Sakazuki. The admiralâs face went pale. He was near his limit. If he took that blow unguarded, he wouldn't be getting back up.
He raised a magma-cloaked fist, trying to brace himselfâbut he didnât know if he could withstand it. And thenâ
"âMatch me!! Sakazuki!!"
"!"
Garp was there. The hero of the Navy shouted as he moved in, and together, their Haki-infused fists met Kaidoâs kanabo head-on.
"Thunder Bagua!!!"
"!!!"
Kaidoâs deadly signature attack crashed into their fistsâand stopped. Once again, the battlefield exploded with destruction and a deafening roar.
"Kaido-sanâs Thunder Bagua was stopped!!?"
"No way!?"
Even the Beasts Pirates couldnât believe it. They knew only one man who could stand up to Thunder Bagua like that.
But it wouldnât last. The clash barely held. Kaido glared down at the two men with feral eyes.
"GarpâŠ!! Isnât it time you bowed outâŠ? Iâll settle all my old debts right hereâŠ!!!"
"âŠ!!"
Garp realized it was bad. In the next instant, Kaidoâs bulging muscles surged with power.
"WRAAAAHHHH!!!"
"!!!"
"Vice Admiral Garp!! Admiral Sakazuki!!"
With a roar, Kaido unleashed even greater force, blasting Garp and Sakazuki away. They crashed into the wall near the execution platform, destroying it completely.
Ten years ago, twenty years ago⊠thirty-six years ago, evenâmaybe things wouldâve been different. But now, in terms of raw physical power, there was no one in the Navy or the world who could match Kaido. He proved that as he rampaged across the battlefield.
"WhitebeardâŠ!!! Sorry to butt in, but youâre as good as dead too!!! Consider this a mercy⊠Iâll finish you off myself!!!"
"TchâŠ!!"
Kaido turned away from the Navy and toward Whitebeard, aiming his kanabo at the old man still locked in battle with Big Mom. Even Whitebeard flinchedâhe felt it. The end was near. Is this⊠as far as I goâŠ?
Even among the Four Emperors, an aging beast couldnât hold back two others at once.
"Look out, Pops!!"
"Muhaha!! Hey now, where do you think youâre going!? Letâs enjoy this execution together!!"
"Might be a bit uncouth⊠but if we can crush them here, we will."
"Give it up!! Weâll send every last one of you to the afterlife!!"
"âŠâŠ!!"
The commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, including Jozu, were blocked by the All-Stars of the Beasts PiratesâQueen among themâand the Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates, like Smoothie and Cracker.
It was over. No one was left to guard Whitebeardâs back.
ââDie!!! Whitebeard!!!â
âOyajiiiiiiii!!!â
Kaidoâs kanabo swung toward Whitebeardâs exposed back. The voices of the Whitebeard Pirates trembled with helpless rage.
âBut then, it happened.
ââŠ! Kaido!! Behind you!!â
â! â!!?â
From a distance, the Beasts Piratesâ Vice Governor, the âDemonic Beast Nue,â sensed something and shouted Kaidoâs name. Kaido, recognizing her siblingâs voice, moved to stop his strikeâbut he was too late.
âKaido-san!!â
âAaah⊠Guess I didnât quite make it in time⊠Well, I doubt that did much to you, but I wasnât expecting to get interrupted thereâŠ!!â
One of the Beasts Pirates called out in shock as Kaido was struck and sent flying. Nue, the one who had warned him, wasnât worried. She simply shrugged, mildly exasperated by the surprise attack. Then she turned and glared at the assailant with a thin smile.
âEhâŠ!! WhyâŠ!!?â
âWhatâs the meaning of thisâŠ!?â
The Whitebeard Piratesâand even the Marinesâwere stunned by who had done it.
Why had he done that? No one could make sense of it in that moment.
But everyone recognized the man instantly. His form had transformed, now equal in size to Kaido himself. A legendary Marine who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Garpâthe man who had once commanded the entire Navy.
âFleet Admiral Sengoku⊠protected Whitebeardâs backâŠâŠ!!?â
âEhhhhhhhhh!!?â
âSengokuâŠ!!â
Fleet Admiral SengokuââBuddha Sengoku.â Everyone was shocked at his move. Some were so stunned their eyes practically popped out of their heads.
ââŠâŠâŠâŠâ
In the midst of it all, Sengoku remained silent. Like the Buddha his title invoked, his face was stern, unreadable.
âHeyâŠ!! The execution platform is unguardedâŠ!!â
âIsnât this our chanceâŠ!?â
ââŠ!! Fleet Admiral Sengoku!! What about guarding the platformâŠ!?â
Then came the second shock.
He had left the platform unprotectedâleaving âFire Fist Ace,â the condemned man meant to be executed publicly, completely exposed. When asked what would become of the platformâs defensesâ
ââŠUnnecessary.â
âHuhâŠ?â
âAll forces⊠focus only on the threat in front of us!!!â
âThat was his command.
A simple order for a fleet admiralâto engage the pirates head-on.
But Sengokuâs actions spoke louder: he had no intention of attacking Whitebeardâs exposed back. Instead, he showed his willingness to fight Kaido and Big Mom.
âNo wayâŠâ
âThat canât beâŠâ
No one could quite grasp the meaning behind those few words and actions. Many Marines were left confused. As a fleet admiral, his behavior was unthinkableâcreating doubt among his troops, fear among civilians.
Butâhe had to do it.
As the man leading the Navy, Sengoku could not give that order outright.
So instead, he conveyed his true intent through unspoken signals and subtle action.
âDonât fight the âevilâ before you⊠fight the threat.
ââŠI see.â
ââŠ!!â
âWell⊠given the situation, thereâs no helping it, huhâŠ!!â
âYeah⊠guess we donât have a choiceâŠâ
The first to understand was Garp. Then followed the three admirals.
Gradually, Sengokuâs silent intent began to spread among the Marines.
Many accepted it with bitter resolve. They were Marinesâjoining hands was not so simple.
But no one voiced objection. And it was anotherâs words that ultimately pushed them forward.
ââOi, bastards!!!â
â!â
Not only the Marines had caught on.
One of the legendary pirates of Sengokuâs generationâwho had fought countless battles across the seaâhad also understood. And unlike Sengoku, he shouted it aloud.
âSecure Aceâs escape route first!!! Take out the ones tightening the net!!!â
âOyajiâŠ!!â
âThat orderâŠ!!â
The Whitebeard Pirates wavered, all realizing the same thing. That commandâit was practically telling them not to attack the Marines.
ââŠâPhoenixâ Marco⊠you're going along with this?â
ââŠYeah. If itâs the Captainâs order, then of course. You guys feel the same, right?â
âYeah⊠if itâs from the Fleet Admiral, guess thereâs no choice⊠Weâve gotta deal with the⊠threat in front of us firstâŠ!!â
â! Donât tell me you guysâŠ!!â
ââŠ! Looks like we really are doing thatâŠâ
First Division Commander Marco and Marine Admiral Aokijiâtwo warriors who had been struggling against the overwhelming enemy forceâsaid it almost like an excuse, then turned to face their âtrueâ opponents. King narrowed his eyes. Katakuri used Observation Haki to peek into the future⊠and didnât like what he saw.
Seconds later, they charged at the shared âthreat.â
To somehow claw their way through this despairâto survive and see another tomorrowâ
ăUOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!ă
â!!? Youâve gotta be kiddingâŠ!!â
âThe Marines and the Whitebeard Piratesâtheyâre clearly⊠theyâve stopped fighting each otherâŠ!!â
âNow this is interesting⊠Ahaha⥠I wasnât expecting that at all! Things just got real fun!!â
Among the Beasts Pirates, Big Mom Pirates, and Golden Lion Pirates, a ripple of unease spread. Nue, watching with amusement, made no effort to hide her glee.
âThe Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy⊠have joined forces~~~~~!!!â
âUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!â
âPirates and Marines. Two forces that were never meant to unite.
And yet, in the face of a shared threatâa danger to the entire worldâthey had formed an unprecedented alliance.
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