The pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates stared blankly at the collapsing Marine ranks, exchanging uncertain glances.
"What's going on?"
"How would I know? It looks like the Shichibukai have rebelled!"
Three Seven Warlords of the Sea defected in rapid succession, turning their blades on the Gorosei themselves, the highest authority of the World Government.
The Marines were not the only ones caught off guard.
Even the seasoned Whitebeard Pirates were stunned by the sudden reversal, so abrupt that many wondered if this was some elaborate trap.
Click!
"Hehehe… hehe… hehe…"
Gecko Moria snapped his scissors shut, severing the shadows of a group of charging Marine soldiers. The shadows poured into his body, and his form began to swell grotesquely as he cackled madly.
"Marines, give me all your shadows!!!"
"Doflamingo, Crocodile, Moria… are these arrogant monsters really being controlled by the Arrogant Emperor?"
Jinbe stared at Moria's rampage, disbelief thick in his voice.
"And even Mihawk… what exactly did that man do?"
Having dealt with the Shichibukai before, Jinbe understood them better than most.
Aside from himself and Kuma, every Shichibukai was an overwhelmingly proud powerhouse.
Whether it was crocodile from the previous generation or the current monsters like Doflamingo and Moria, they all shared the same nature, tyrants who bowed to no one.
Yet now, those same figures were acting in unison, following commands from a single individual.
The only one who had ever commanded them like this before was the World Government itself, the very force they were now attacking.
"Shirogai Yamikuro is no ordinary man," Jinbe thought grimly.
"His ability to control people may surpass even Big Mom or Whitebeard."
Even when facing the Four Emperors, the Shichibukai never behaved like obedient subordinates.
Jinbe lived mostly on Fish-Man Island, far removed from the flow of information, and he rarely paid attention to newspapers. His impression of Shirogai, the Arrogant Emperor with a five billion Berries bounty, was still limited to the idea of a terrifying fighter and former Marine instructor.
He had only seen Shirogai make a few brief moves on Level Six of Impel Down.
Impressive, yes, but nothing that suggested this level of orchestration.
"Heh, Jinbe, stop right there and leave Moria to me. I have my own arrangements for him."
The voice echoed directly in Jinbe's mind.
Only then did Jinbe fully realize his mistake.
Shirogai was not merely a monster who relied on overwhelming strength like Kaido.
He was a strategist, someone who moved people like pieces on a board.
As Marine morale crumbled and their formation fell apart, some of the Whitebeard Pirates began to grow restless.
"Ace is already rescued. Why don't we seize this chance and take Marineford?"
"This is our moment! If we capture Marineford, the Whitebeard Pirates will stand above all other Emperors!"
Ambition spread quickly.
"Don't be stupid. We're leaving immediately."
Vista, the Flower Sword, forced Aokiji back with a clean slash before retreating, his voice heavy with warning.
"This battlefield is wrong. We need to get out now."
"Vista!"
One of the Decalvan Brothers protested eagerly.
"This is clearly in our favor. The Marines are panicking, and those five monsters are almost… huh?!"
Everyone froze.
The five massive, beast-like figures of the Gorosei, who had been wounded moments ago, were now enveloped in pitch-black flames.
As the flames spread, torn flesh reformed, shattered bodies restored themselves, and the monsters rose again without a trace of injury.
"Woof… woof…"
Their already grotesque appearances became even more horrifying. The strange patterns on their bodies deepened, and the black flames burning around them radiated a bone-chilling cold.
"This will only get worse if it drags on," Financial and Military God Saint Nusjuro said coldly through the Gorosei's internal communication.
"If Joy Boy escapes, Imu will be furious."
"Do not hold back any longer."
Defense God Saint Saturn's voice followed, utterly devoid of compassion.
"Even Marines are nothing more than obedient insects. They are not worth restraint. If one batch dies, another can always be recruited."
"I doubt Sengoku will be pleased," Law God Saint Warcury snorted.
"But compared to Imu's will, the dissatisfaction of insects means nothing. Proceed."
Environment God Saint Mars was the most extreme of all.
"Erase Marineford completely. Kill nearly everyone on this island. If no one survives, no information about Joy Boy can leak."
"Begin."
Agriculture God Saint Peter acted without hesitation.
"Die, insects…"
His enormous maw opened, spewing a sky of viscous black-green fluid toward Doflamingo and crocodile. The corrosive rain consumed Marines and pirates alike, screams vanishing as bodies melted away.
"Not a single bug escapes…"
Saint Mars, transformed into a serpent-bird, dove from the sky. His beak opened, releasing scorching black flames toward Luffy and Ace, incinerating everything in his path.
The Gorosei's indiscriminate slaughter sent terror rippling through the Marine ranks.
"Why are the Gorosei attacking us too?!"
Marines fled in panic, dodging attacks from the very rulers they served.
"Don't panic!" Vice Admiral Yamakaji shouted, slashing his blade through the air.
"They're aiming for the pirates, we're just caught in the crossfire!"
No one listened.
As Yamakaji turned to block a strike from Doma, a deafening roar erupted behind him.
"Hmph!!!"
Yamakaji felt the overwhelming pressure of Conqueror's Haki within that roar, and his pupils shrank.
"No…!"
Boom!!!
It was already too late.
Yamakaji and Doma roared back instinctively, their wills colliding. In less than three seconds, both collapsed, bones shattered, flesh torn apart, their lives extinguished instantly.
…
"I… I think I recorded something even worse…"
From afar, Buggy the Clown trembled uncontrollably, clutching a Transponder Snail.
"The Gorosei are slaughtering pirates and Marines alike…"
His mind was already in shambles, fear paralyzing his body.
Around him, the Impel Down escapees stared at Buggy with awe.
"As expected of Buggy-sama! Broadcasting the Gorosei's massacre without fear!"
"He's incredible!"
"Buggy-sama is the god we follow!"
…
"The Gorosei revealing their true nature so openly, treating lives as nothing."
Shirogai had already left the VIP seats and appeared inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Holding the eerie crimson Devil Fruit in one hand, he gazed at the word "Justice" hanging on the wall and smiled faintly.
"As expected of the Gorosei. They never cared about consequences. Public outrage, Marine resentment, the authority of justice… none of it matters to them."
"To them, everyone is an insect. Only those who resist are worth noticing."
His tone shifted as he turned.
"Don't you agree, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Chief of Staff of the Marines?"
Shirogai smiled calmly.
An elderly woman with neatly tied white hair, emerald earrings, and a Vice Admiral's coat sat across from him, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
…
Tsuru looked at him steadily and spoke at last.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time," she said slowly.
"Shirogai Yamikuro."
___
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