According to Crocodile's speculation, the legendary Vice Admiral Tsuru should be guarding Marco's position, while Garp would be defending the execution platform.
This should be the safest arrangement.
Because no matter how you looked at it, it would be extremely difficult for him to reach the execution platform alone within 15 minutes.
Even if he managed to break through the Navy's blockade, how could he possibly rescue Ace under Garp's defense?
But now, the Navy had made the opposite arrangement.
There was only one explanation—the Navy still had someone who could stop Whitebeard's three division commanders.
Just then, a massive forest emerged from the right side of the inner city where Marco was, blocking the advancing three division commanders of Whitebeard who had previously been breaking through effortlessly.
Crocodile leaped up and turned to look.
He didn't recognize that person!
'Just based on this ability... damn, another guy who counters me. Trees specifically countered quicksand.'
At this moment, Crocodile felt somewhat glad that it wasn't that green-haired guy coming to trouble him, otherwise he would have been captured on the spot.
...
Marco and the others frowned as they looked at the man before them.
After a brief exchange, the three knew their opponent was definitely not weak—after all, he was a monster who could create an entire forest in the blink of an eye.
Moreover, the branches of these trees were exceptionally flexible and possessed strong regenerative abilities.
The newcomer smiled slightly at Marco, Jozu, and Vista.
"My name is Aramaki, i'm ordered by Commander-in-Chief Kong to stop you."
If Ray were here, he would definitely recognize who this person was.
This was the new Admiral two years later in the original story: Green Bull.
Named Aramaki, he was a monster discovered during the Navy's massive World Military Draft.
His appearance now was probably because Ray's arrival had affected the development of the pirate world, leading to Kong recruiting talents from around the world in advance.
But regardless, Aramaki possessed genuine Admiral-level combat power. Marco and the others found themselves in a tough battle.
Fortunately, although Aramaki's wood possessed the power to absorb moisture from enemies, Marco's regenerative abilities, Jozu's impenetrable diamond body, and Vista's superb swordsmanship could all counter Aramaki's power.
Thus, they weren't easily defeated by him.
With their seamless coordination, they could even inflict significant damage on Aramaki.
However, the battle situation was consequently stalled.
...
Ten minutes later.
Only three minutes remained until Ace's execution.
On the front battlefield, Rayleigh was still fighting Kizaru, with neither gaining the upper hand. Whitebeard and Akainu were also locked in intense combat.
Akainu had even used his Awakening ability just to stall Whitebeard, because Whitebeard had dragged him into the inner city.
It was only after leaving the ice surface and entering the inner city that Akainu dared to use his Awakening.
To avoid affecting other Navy personnel, he reduced the range of his domain's influence to 500 meters, but the power of his ability increased significantly, successfully stalling Whitebeard.
At this moment, Akainu was heavily injured, while Whitebeard's body bore numerous burn marks.
...
The 70,000 pirate forces had already routed the 40,000 Navy troops on the ice battlefield.
They now all stood at the foot of the Seastone wall.
Facing the 50-meter-high Seastone wall, the ordinary members of the pirate alliance had no way to breach it.
To rescue Ace, they had to breach the inner city and create a passage for those who had seized him.
Surveying the entire battlefield, there was only one possible breakthrough point—the location of Little Oars Jr.'s "corpse."
But there, tens of thousands of Marine soldiers blocked the passage as if their lives meant nothing.
Elite Marine Vice Admirals, CP organization experts, and marine prodigies had also retreated to that position.
Without any combatants at or above the level of a Yonko's top commander on their side, breaking through was impossible.
Just then, the Moby Dick suddenly shattered the ice and charged toward the passage near Little Oars Jr.
The ship was packed with over a thousand Whitebeard Pirates division commanders and crew members.
This was the Whitebeard Pirates' original plan: to coordinate with Oars and storm the inner city.
However, division commanders like Izo and the others at the bow wore anxious expressions.
With too many Marine elites near Oars, their chances of breaking through were slim.
At that moment, hundreds of colossal figures emerged from beneath the ice near the inner city.
Two of them positioned themselves beneath the Moby Dick and, leveraging the ship's forward momentum, heaved it upward.
Three seconds later, the remaining 98 giant figures appeared, shattering the ice closest to the Seastone wall and bursting out of the water.
"Sea Kings!"
"So many?!"
Both Marines and pirates felt their scalps tingle at the sight.
Even members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, who had seen these Sea Kings before, were stirred by the spectacular scene.
Initially, only ten Sea Kings had escorted them, but now there were a full hundred!
Those in the know cheered loudly.
"Chouchou is awesome!"
"Chouchou is the coolest dog in the world!"
High above, Chouchou, commanding the hundred Sea Kings, swelled with pride and nearly preened.
But he decided to focus on the task at hand, not wanting to disappoint his master.
"All Sea Kings, climb the wall and build a bridge for our pirate friends! You two whales, put some muscle into it—make the Moby Dick fly!"
Two simple commands drastically altered the battlefield.
The Marines had initially held an impregnable position guarding Little Oars Jr.'s corpse.
But now, the enemy bypassed them entirely.
With the help of two island whales, the Moby Dick soared over the wall and crashed toward the Marines in the inner city.
The other hundred-meter-tall Sea Kings propped their upper bodies against the Seastone wall, their lower halves anchored to the ice, forming a stable bridge for the 70,000 pirates.
Instantly, pirate morale skyrocketed, and they roared as they charged into the inner city.
The Marine Vice Admirals guarding Oars' corpse panicked and shouted.
"Fall back! Stop these pirates in the inner city!"
On the surface, the pirates had regained the upper hand.
But in reality, this maneuver had consumed another two minutes.
Only one minute remained until Ace's execution.
...
Half a minute passed.
On the Marine side, Sengoku was still battling Luffy, Jinbe, Buggy, and Boa Hancock.
The four of them were indeed powerful, and Sengoku couldn't subdue them quickly.
Vice Admiral Tsuru had completely suppressed Crocodile.
It seemed the "Sand Crocodile" would soon face a "pure baptism."
Aramaki also held off Marco, Jozu, and Vista.
Whitebeard was temporarily unable to break through Akainu's magma world.
Aokiji had already activated his Awakening skill, and while he was suppressing Yamato and the Calamities, the coordination among his four opponents was quite seamless, so he couldn't gain the upper hand anytime soon.
As for Kizaru, it went without saying that fighting against Rayleigh was no simple task.
He could defeat Rayleigh, but he would likely end up severely injured himself.
He was just a government employee and he wouldn't go all out like that!
The Straw Hat crew had already taken down five CP0 agents, but those who remained to fight were the strongest among CP0.
They were also held back.
As for Zoro, he was still battling Mihawk on the ice.
The two were thoroughly enjoying their fight, and neither wanted to end it prematurely.
Besides, even if Zoro rushed over now, it would be too late.
At this moment, only one person could charge onto the execution platform.
No, only one dog.
Chouchou howled furiously at the sky, his entire body erupting with Demonic Power, and he charged toward the execution platform at an incredible speed.
His mouth opened wide, and he unleashed a massive Beast Roar.
The powerful shockwave shot straight toward the base of the execution platform. If it hit, it would surely collapse the entire structure.
At that moment, the attention of both pirates and Marines was entirely focused on Chouchou's massive shockwave.
The pirates silently chanted, 'Succeed, he must succeed.'
The Marines, in their panic, urged, 'Someone, anyone, go and defend it!'
Just then, a white figure appeared in front of the Beast Roar.
Red and black lightning crackled as a terrifying punch exploded forth.
The Beast Roar shattered instantly under the "Fist Shock," and the force sent Chouchou flying back over a thousand meters.
Seeing the newcomer, the Marines cheered loudly.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
At the same time, Sengoku gathered his strength and punched, sending Luffy and the other three flying back.
Seizing the moment, he shouted, "Execution time has arrived! Execute 'Fire Fist' Ace!"
The words echoed like a demonic chant, and the pirates widened their eyes in utter despair.
At that moment, Whitebeard flung Akainu aside and prepared to unleash his Conqueror's Haki.
But before Akainu even landed, he used his Awakening skill to swap the positions of the magma around him and Whitebeard, launching a Meigo strike right at Whitebeard's face.
Whitebeard, too frantic about Ace's situation, failed to dodge completely, leaving three deep, bone-exposing gashes on his face.
The release of his Conqueror's Haki was halted as a result.
Luffy and Hancock were in the same situation.
Just as they were about to unleash their Conqueror's Haki to rescue Ace from a distance, they were sent flying by Sengoku's attack.
The others were even more helpless, watching as the executioners' blades were about to pierce Ace's heart.
But at that moment, the two executioners suddenly plunged their swords into the ground.
One of them even produced a key made of wax!
Under the gaze of over a hundred thousand people, he unlocked the Seastone cuffs behind Ace's back.
"Hahaha, the credit goes to my ability. A simple disguise was enough to fool the Marines!"
"Wrong, my key deserves the most credit!"
The executioners revealed their true faces—it was Mr. 2 Bon Clay and Mr. 3 Galdino.
The two stopped arguing as they looked at Ace, now freed from his restraints.
"Fire Fist, you're free."
Ace, feeling his strength and abilities return, showed a smile on his face.
"Thank you, both of you!"
"Don't mention it. We're both under Ray-sama and Luffy. Saving you is our duty."
...
Meanwhile, Ray and Scopper Gaban arrived at the Red Line.
As soon as they reached the place, an unpleasant odor wafted into Ray's nose.
He turned to Gaban.
"Let's head to Pangea Castle first. I smell a very strange monster there."