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"Damn it! Have these unpredictable variables finally shown up?" Sengoku muttered through gritted teeth, his frustration evident.
Days before the execution, government intelligence agencies had warned Sengoku about Kaido's potential involvement.
Both Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru had been deeply concerned. However, they had felt some relief upon learning that Red-Haired Shanks had taken it upon himself to intercept Kaido and prevent him from advancing.
Now, however, it was clear that Kaido had broken through Shanks' blockade. Worse, there was a possibility Shanks himself might follow Kaido into the war.
The revelation that Ace was Gold Roger's son added another layer of unpredictability. Sengoku couldn't even begin to guess how Shanks, a former crew member of Roger's, would react.
The mere thought made Sengoku's headache worse.
For a war that the Marines had to win, it was clear that contingency plans needed to be enacted immediately.
Sengoku exhaled sharply, steeling himself, and reached for the Den Den Mushi to issue new commands.
While the battle raged at Marineford, far above the clouds, at an altitude of 10,000 meters, Kaido hovered in his dragon form.
His massive, serpentine body coiled through the sky, exuding raw power. Perched leisurely atop Kaido's colossal head was Alex.
Through the use of Dark-Dark Fruit and Observation Killing, neither the Marines nor the World Government had detected Kaido's approach. Alongside Kaido, another fearsome presence loomed—one of the Ten Dragon Kings.
"One is enough for this, isn't it?"
Kaido said while pointing to the 'Linlin' above.
"Don't worry," Alex replied with a smirk. "With the Castle-Castle Fruit, one force can turn into an entire legion."
He leaned forward slightly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Besides, the real show hasn't started yet. Let's let them sweat it out a bit first."
Kaido snorted, his deep, guttural sound rumbling through the air. He said nothing but seemed to agree.
Alex, holding a custom-built video Den Den Mushi in his hand, watched the live broadcast on its screen. The view, courtesy of Stussy and Comps, provided an aerial perspective of the battle below.
The war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates had reached a fever pitch.
On the battlefield, both sides clashed with unrelenting fury.
"Justice shall prevail!" a Marine bellowed, his voice booming over the cacophony of combat as he swung his sword down upon an enemy pirate.
The Whitebeard Pirates roared back with equal ferocity.
"Destroy the Marines!"
"Save Ace!"
Thousands of voices rang out in unison, their cries a rallying call to their comrades. Though lacking formal training, the pirates' spirit burned brightly, their determination echoing across the battlefield.
One after another, they leapt from their ships, set up cannons, and raised their blades, charging fearlessly into the fray.
The bay became a chaotic blur of overlapping figures, flashes of steel, and roaring cannonfire. The sounds of war were deafening—screams, explosions, and the clash of weapons filled the air.
For viewers around the world, the spectacle was overwhelming. Even from the safety of their homes, they could feel the battle's sheer intensity, as if the aura of conflict itself might drag them into the chaos.
Outside the Bay
While the fighting inside the bay raged on, the waters outside Marineford were no less contested.
Dozens of pirate ships belonging to Whitebeard's allies pressed toward the fortress, forcing the Marines to split their focus.
"Bombard them! Sink those blasted pirate ships!" a Marine general shouted from the fort, rallying his forces to man the cannons and fire at will.
The Marines believed they had the upper hand. With their superior numbers, strategic terrain, and elite forces, victory seemed inevitable.
As long as there were no unforeseen developments.
"Report!" A Marine scout rushed to the fort, his voice trembling with urgency. "A ship has been spotted in the distance!"
The Marine general turned sharply, his teeth clenched in frustration. "Is it another one of Whitebeard's pirate crews coming to reinforce?!"
"It doesn't seem to be!" the lookout shouted back, squinting through his spyglass. "It's… a lion-headed pirate ship! The flag belongs to the Straw Hat Pirates, one of this year's Supernovas!"
The general's face twisted in disdain. "Straw Hat Pirates? It doesn't matter! Pirates are pirates! Sink them all!"
On the Thousand Sunny
Aboard the Thousand Sunny, the Straw Hat crew pushed forward with determination.
"Ace, you'd better be okay!" Luffy muttered, fists clenched tightly, his nerves visible in his trembling hands. "I'm going to save you—no matter what!"
"Don't worry!" Usopp said, trying his best to sound confident as he patted Luffy on the back. His voice shook slightly, betraying his own fear, but he pressed on. "We've come this far, haven't we? We'll save your brother!"
Everyone aboard had made their choice. There was no turning back now.
Suddenly, a distant rumble echoed across the sea, followed by the sharp whistle of cannon fire.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless black shells arced through the air, hurtling toward the Sunny. Despite the chaos of the battlefield, many enemy ships were targeting the Straw Hats.
"Incoming!" Sanji barked, his cigarette glowing as he scanned the battlefield.
"Leave it to me," Enel said coolly, leaping into the air. He swung his tech staff, blasting the cannonballs out of the sky with precision.
"Hehehe, it seems like we've been spotted," Brook chuckled, unsheathing his sword. Despite the grim situation, he still retained his signature humor. "Yohoho! I hope they're ready for us."
Sanji, blocking a stray shell with a sharp kick, growled, "The bay's swarming with Marines. We need a plan to get inside."
"We're flying in!" Luffy declared without hesitation.
"Franky!"
"Oh yeah!" Franky grinned as he adjusted his sunglasses, his voice booming. "The Cola energy is fully charged!"
Hearing the exchange, Usopp and Chopper immediately paled.
"Wait, Luffy!" Usopp yelled, waving his arms frantically. "Are you seriously going with that plan?!"
"Luffy, think this through—" Chopper started, panic rising in his voice.
But it was too late.
"COUP DE BURST!!"
With a thunderous roar, the Sunny's engines fired, a powerful blast of Cola-propelled energy erupting from the ship's stern. The Thousand Sunny shot into the air, arcing over the battlefield.
The sudden appearance of the Sunny in the skies above Marineford caused immediate confusion among the combatants.
"Hey! What's flying overhead?!"
"Is that… a ship?!"
"They're heading straight for the bay! Someone stop them!"
The Marines and pirates alike scrambled as the Sunny barreled toward the ice-covered battlefield.
Boom! Boom!
The Thousand Sunny slammed into the ice with a deafening crash, its hull trembling from the impact as it slid across the frozen surface. After skidding a long distance, the ship finally came to a halt—just a short distance from the Moby Dick, Whitebeard's flagship.