Marineford, Marine Headquarters. A salty sea breeze swept across the military port, carrying with it the faint cries of seagulls. The birds, initially seeking to land and rest, veered sharply away, driven off by the palpable aura of killing intent that permeated the island. As noon approached, the tension of impending war gripped the entire headquarters.
The breeze drifted past the crescent-shaped military port, where the first line of defense stood—five Shichibukai, their presence formidable. It continued onward to Oris Plaza, where the second line of defense awaited: 100,000 Marines, crowded and ready. Here, the air grew warmer, charged with anticipation.
Finally, the breeze reached its destination—the execution platform. Below it stood the third line of defense, the Marine's elite force: the three Admirals. Here, the breeze dissipated completely, as if swallowed by the overwhelming gravity of their presence.
The Marine had been caught off guard. Just five days ago, they learned that three of the Four Emperors were preparing a joint assault on Marineford. With such short notice, there hadn't been enough time to bolster the lower ranks. Still, most of the Grand Line's General officers had been urgently recalled.
Among them were thirty-six Vice Admirals. In the crowded Oris Plaza, Tokikake stood proudly in his Vice Admiral's cape. His gaze shifted to Sephiroth, who stood to his right, equally adorned in the mantle of his rank. Nearby, Gion, Tina, Tashigi, and Ain subtly gravitated toward Sephiroth, their presence unmistakable.
Tokikake's eyes betrayed a flicker of envy, jealousy, and resentment. He muttered under his breath, "That bastard Sephiroth. Wherever he goes, he's surrounded by beautiful women. I'm handsome, I'm rich—why don't I get the same treatment? Damn it!"
He forced a smile and called out, "Sephiroth! When I heard you'd returned to the Marine and had your rank restored, I was genuinely happy for you. But tell me—why did you leave in the first place? If you'd stayed, you might've been an Admiral candidate like me by now!"
Tokikake's tone carried a hint of smugness. Sephiroth shrugged, his expression indifferent. "Rank? Doesn't matter to me. I've never cared about that sort of thing." He paused, then added casually, "Speaking of which, Tokikake—you're not getting any younger. Found yourself a girlfriend yet? When's the wedding? I'll make sure to give you a generous gift."
Tokikake's hand instinctively clutched his chest, as if the words had struck a physical blow. He glanced at the four women standing beside Sephiroth and smirked mischievously. "I'm in no rush. I'm a free spirit, after all. But what about you? It's been years. Don't tell me you've never thought about settling down?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the gazes of all four women snapped toward Sephiroth. Ain, in particular, silently drew the blade tucked into her waist and made a subtle stabbing motion in the air, her expression calm but menacing.
Sephiroth coughed awkwardly, whistling softly as he averted his gaze. "Soon, soon... maybe in a few more years," he mumbled, his guilty expression betraying his discomfort.
Inadvertently, his gaze caught sight of two men and one woman standing not far below the execution platform. The men wore white suits, the woman a white short skirt. Each of them bore a strange mask on their face. CP0—the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield.
Members who earned their place in this organization through sheer strength, without relying on connections or background, had all reached the level of Marine Generals. Each one was a highly trained top-tier agent. Sephiroth studied their auras carefully. Among the three CP0 agents, the woman holding the live Den Den Mushi gave him a faint sense of familiarity...
By analyzing her leg shape and breast size, he instantly identified her—Stussy, the Queen of the Pleasure Quarter. Sephiroth had also heard rumors about why these three CP0 agents were here.
It was said they had been dispatched by the Gorosei to oversee the battle. Even Kong, Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's armed forces, couldn't issue orders to them. The live Den Den Mushi in Stussy's hand was broadcasting the battlefield directly to the Gorosei...
Marine Headquarters, Detention Center.
Deep beneath Marineford lay a prison reserved for temporary detainees. A heavy metal door clanged open. Ace, shackled with seastone cuffs and seated in a restraint chair, lifted his head slightly toward the entrance.
Domino, the Deputy Warden of Impel Down who had escorted him to Marineford, entered pushing a cart laden with food. "What's this?" Ace asked, surprised.
Domino's expression remained cold as she replied, "Your last meal."
Ace chuckled dryly. "Didn't expect the Marines to be so generous. Letting me eat before I die..."
"You misunderstood. The Marines don't feed prisoners before execution. It's against protocol."
"Then why are you doing it?"
"Sephiroth asked me to fulfill your last wish. That's why I brought this."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me. Thank Sephiroth. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't waste a crumb on pirate scum like you."
Domino grabbed a loaf of bread from the cart and shoved it into Ace's mouth, her demeanor harsh and unyielding. Ace could only offer a bitter smile as he chewed and swallowed.
One by one, Domino fed him the food. With each bite, the weakness and hunger that had plagued him began to fade, and his strength gradually returned.
Marine Headquarters, Marshal's Office.
Sengoku, Garp, Kong, and Zephyr were finalizing the details of Ace's public execution. With a loud bang, Garp slammed his fist on the desk in front of Sengoku. His face darkened as he growled, "I won't agree to this. Is it really necessary to go this far?"
Sengoku crossed his arms, meeting Garp's gaze without flinching. "This execution isn't just about killing a pirate. If it were, I wouldn't broadcast it live to the entire world. Revealing Ace's identity as Roger's son and executing him carries immense significance for the future of the world."
"I support Sengoku's decision," Zephyr interjected. "The Marines have staked everything on this war."
"Garp," Kong added firmly, "there's no turning back. It's victory or death. The hundred thousand soldiers outside need to understand the true purpose of this execution. If we succeed, the Great Pirate Era will end."
"Fine. Do whatever you want." Garp's face remained grim as he turned and left the office, his cape flicking behind him.