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A frigid gale swept across the island.
The arrival of the Moby Dick was not merely the arrival of a ship—it was the coming of a storm. Waves churned, lightning tore through the churning atmosphere, and the very world—sky, land, and sea—seemed to tremble in its presence.
This was the raw, untamed power of a Yonko and his crew.
In that instant, every heart on the island hammered against its owner's ribs.
An oppressive aura washed over them. It was a primal, suffocating pressure, the kind that precedes the charge of a beast—a feeling that made the skin crawl and the hair on their arms stand on end.
The sense of crisis was a physical thing, tightening their scalps and stealing the air from their lungs.
"He's... he's really here."
"Are we actually supposed to fight them?"
"There's no way... We can't win."
The G-5 Marines trembled. The only thing keeping them from breaking formation and fleeing was the knowledge of Jin's execution squad positioned behind them—a single step back, and a sniper's bullet would be the last thing they ever knew.
"So that... is one of the Four Emperors, Whitebeard?"
Law took a sharp breath. Even from this distance, he could feel it—a palpable, overwhelming presence that seemed to press down on his very soul.
"It's terrifying," Wilson gasped, trying to draw a sliver of oxygen from the suffocating atmosphere to slow his frantic heart.
They were about to fight a being like that?
Three years ago, when he was still repaying his debt to Captain Sherlock, the very thought of facing a Yonko was unimaginable.
But now...
Wilson glanced at the figure standing before them, still impossibly calm and composed, and a surge of profound admiration burned in his chest.
Wyper and Raki, however, remained impassive. Hailing from a sky island, the titles of "Yonko" and "Whitebeard" were just words to them, devoid of the weight they carried on the blue sea. Ignorance was, in its own way, a kind of courage.
Reiju let out a slow exhale. Challenging a Yonko... it was truly unbelievable.
Beside her stood the Germa 66 clone soldiers, emotionless weapons of war. Using the Lineage Factors collected from Enel, Hanafuda, and Kuma, Judge was in the process of developing a new generation of soldiers—a "mass-production model" of the Seraphim. The research was slow, however, as he had not yet managed to acquire Vegapunk's technology through Reiju.
Robin was perfectly calm. Having been at Jin's side for so long, she had come to understand his audacity and his brilliant, calculating mind.
He would not have started this fight if he wasn't certain of the outcome.
Maya sat atop the massive head of "Shiro," the giant sabertooth tiger, its eyes narrowed to slits, its fangs bared as it watched the approaching ship.
Doma and his crew were a mixture of excitement and dread. Excited, because they were finally meeting the legendary Whitebeard. They were about to witness a battle for the ages.
But the dread was a cold knot in their stomachs. The sheer pressure radiating from Whitebeard was enough to make them swallow hard, the hair on the backs of their necks standing on end.
"That's... that's Whitebeard," Doma whispered, his eyes locked on the figure that stood at the prow of the colossal ship. "This is completely different from anyone we've ever faced. Even Ace and Vista... this is on another level. This is overwhelming."
His gaze shifted to the king, standing on the high platform.
Did he really have a chance?
It didn't matter. They had come this far. There was no turning back. They would fight to the death.
Jin stood at the forefront, both hands resting on the hilt of Shusui, the scabbard pressed against the ground. He was completely unmoved.
In fact, his eyes were burning with excitement.
Whitebeard. A living legend from the last era. The World's Strongest Man.
Finally. We meet.
The Moby Dick crashed against the shore.
Vergo ordered the Marines to open fire. He didn't want to, but he had no choice.
That king controlled everything.
Even Marine Headquarters had agreed to his terms. It was unbelievable.
Whitebeard casually swung his bisento, the force of the blow creating a wall of wind that deflected the cannonballs, sending them exploding harmlessly in the sky.
"CHARGE! FOR VISTA AND ACE!"
With a deafening roar, Marco, Jozu, and the other commanders leaped from the ship, followed by a tide of over a thousand pirates.
"Hold your positions! Stick to the plan!" Marco commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. "First, Third, Fifth, and Sixth Divisions—you're on assault! Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth—find and rescue Ace and Vista! Fourth and Eleventh—support the medical teams and keep an eye on Pops' condition! Twelfth and Thirteenth—protect the Moby Dick! Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth—you're the reserve! Watch for Marine reinforcements or any other crews looking to interfere!"
He rattled off the orders with practiced ease.
"YEAH!"
"UNDERSTOOD!"
The divisions broke off, moving with the disciplined precision of an army. These were the elite of the Whitebeard Pirates, veterans of a hundred battles.
And Whitebeard... he simply stood there.
With a thunderous THUD, he slammed the butt of his colossal bisento onto the deck.
"WHERE IS THE MAN WHO HARMED MY SON?" he bellowed, his voice a physical force that rolled across the battlefield. "They say Whitebeard is old! They say he's finished! LET MY BLADE BE THE ANSWER!"
The roar was a tangible shockwave, rippling out in all directions. His coat billowed in the wind, his presence an storm of killing intent.
The sky, the sea, the island itself—everything fell silent, crushed beneath the weight of his voice, his Haki.
That colossal figure radiated the undeniable aura of a king.
The man who had once clashed with Roger, the great pirate who lived by a code of honor and family... his power had not waned with the years.
The Marines stared in terror, their skin crawling.
So this was a monster who stood at the pinnacle of the world.
"Right here," a calm, steady voice replied.
Marco and the other commanders looked toward the sound. At the far end of the battlefield, on a high platform, a lone figure stood.
All eyes were on him.
"No need to shout," Jin said with a small smile. "You'll hurt your throat. But that was quite a roar. It seems the old dog still has some bite."
"You're the one," Whitebeard said, his eyes narrowing. "You're the one I'm after. Hand over Vista and Ace, and I will be your opponent."
"They're on the island," Jin replied. "Whether you can get them back or not... that depends on you."
Whitebeard just snorted.
"Alright, men! Let's move!" Marco yelled.
"Third Division! With me!" Jozu roared.
Half of his massive body transformed into diamond. He was a living tank, charging forward through a hail of bullets, the rest of his division following in his wake, smashing through the Marine lines.
The other assault divisions surged forward as well.
"HOLD THE LINE!" Vergo bellowed, his entire body coated in black Armament, as he charged to meet Jozu.
Jin glanced at the battle. The G-5 defensive line wasn't just crumbling; it was on the verge of complete collapse.
It was no surprise. The morale of the G-5 Marines had always been low. They were only on the front lines because of the execution squad at their backs. The fact that they hadn't mutinied already was a miracle.
So why put them on the front lines at all?
To die?
Yes.
Exactly.
Headquarters was well aware of the situation with G-5. They were infuriated by their constant insubordination. But the Marines' presence in the New World was limited, and dealing with the non-affiliated nations and pirates of the region was a logistical nightmare. So they had let it slide.
Now, Jin was challenging Whitebeard, and he had asked Headquarters for troops. If he could use them to wear down Whitebeard's forces... it was a worthy sacrifice.
When Jin had made the proposal, Sengoku, the old fox, had immediately seen the opportunity and had already begun making plans to rebuild G-5.
No matter how this turned out, the Marines wouldn't lose. That was why they had supported Jin.
"You all go, too," Jin said to his own commanders. "Get a taste of what a Yonko's crew can do."
"Yes, sir!"
Law, Wilson, Wyper, Robin, and Reiju, with her Germa 66 soldiers, all joined the fray.
"ROOM!"
Law unleashed his ability. Within the surgical space, he swung his blade at the charging Whitebeard Pirates.
His cuts passed through everything.
The pirates were sliced apart—an arm here, a leg there—but strangely, they weren't killed.
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