The Akainu was not on the front battlefield just now, but went to enforce some discipline.
In a force of a hundred thousand, it's inevitable that some would flinch, but on the battlefield, without orders from above, retreat and avoidance are not allowed.
One person's cowardly escape could trigger a chain reaction, ultimately leading to the collapse of the defensive line.
The rejuvenated Whitebeard, the disruptive Kaidou, and the destruction caused by the earthquake and Hot Breath shattered many soldiers' mental defenses.
They wanted to slip away amidst the battlefield chaos, but Akainu caught two typical ones, used them as a warning for others, and the observing deserters returned to the battlefield. Akainu also returned to the battle.
And before joining the fight, he made his suggestion.
The significance of Ace to the Navy is to attract the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates. At this point, the Whitebeard Pirates have entered the encirclement, and the subsequent battle has nothing to do with Ace but is rather a comparison of force between Navy Headquarters and Whitebeard.
To prevent further complications, Akainu believes Ace should be executed immediately to prevent the possibility of his rescue, avoiding the loss of bait.
"It's not time yet, Sakazuki."
"Does the Navy need to negotiate morality with pirates?"
"Killing him now would drive Whitebeard mad. If he engages in reckless destruction, Navy Headquarters cannot bear the consequence. Whitebeard and Kaidou are the main issues."
"Got it. I'll go deal with Whitebeard with Borsalino first."
Looking at the silent yet clenched Garp, Sakazuki said nothing more and inserted himself directly into the front lines.
He was curious to see what Sengoku would have to say after they wiped out Whitebeard.
...
"Wugorororo, the power of youth is really something. I should find something to do."
Whitebeard wouldn't properly fight him unless his objective was met, although he could help Whitebeard, Kaidou had no such intention.
Exploiting Whitebeard to exhaust the Navy was an opportunity Kaidou would not miss.
The Great Buddha Form of Sengoku piqued Kaidou's interest, and Yamato's loafing made him a little uneasy. Taking up his gourd, he drank the strong liquor inside. Just as Kaidou was about to act, a huge figure loomed over him.
"Kaidou... Die!"
A ghostly pale arm struck toward Kaidou, it was Moriah who had approached him. Moriah's towering form now exceeded that of Little Oars.
Along the way, he had absorbed countless shadows, to the point even his sleeve was bursting, yet his gaze remained clear.
Moriah himself didn't know what emotions he harbored for Kaidou, neither fear nor wrath, but a voice within urged him to kill Kaidou.
"Die, die! Shadow Hell!"
Numerous shadows formed into sharp thickets, stabbing at Kaidou's body, while Moriah's fists pounded the ground, seemingly venting years of resentment.
"I say, haven't you had enough?"
After a succession of fierce attacks, Kaidou's voice came from below, stopping Moriah's fists mid-air. Kaidou blocked Moriah's assault with one hand.
His other hand still held his gourd, Moriah couldn't even interrupt his drinking.
"If it's just a back massage, I suppose it's passable but... who are you again?"
Who are you...
Three words, sharp as steel nails, pierced Moriah's heart. The nightmare he couldn't forget for over ten years, Kaidou didn't even remember his name.
"Damn it... You slaughtered all my comrades! Kaidou, how dare you forget me!!! Shadow Horn Spear!"
"What nonsense. I'm a pirate, do you know how many pirates I've killed? The weak aren't worthy of me remembering their names. You even made me deal with you personally? I must have been really weak back then."
Kaidou emptied the gourd down his throat, slightly drunk, he turned his gaze to the gigantic Moriah.
"Looks vaguely familiar...."
"Moonlight Moriah! Kaidou, remember this name with your body! Everything from Wano Kuni, I'll take it all back! Shadow Box!"
A shadowy square box formed around Kaidou, who raised his palm to smash it down, but before it made contact, Moriah's Shadow Box was ripped apart by Kaidou.
"Now I remember. It's you. Compared to before, you've gotten a lot weaker."
Back then, Moriah could at least trade a few blows with him. Kaidou had thought he would have grown these years, but he became weaker.
"It's my mistake to even remember you. This time, I'll forget you completely.... Narikabura!"
Boom!
A cylindrical club struck Moriah's abdomen. His gigantic form brought no advantage; in one blow, Moriah was sent flying, countless shadows spilling from his mouth.
"Pathetic."
After the strike, Kaidou no longer paid Moriah any attention and continued walking into the battlefield.
...
"In just one blow... defeated a Warlord...."
"That's none of our concern! Focus on what's in front of us! The pirates are upon us!"
"Wait, something's falling from the sky again... It's the prisoners!"
From a Navy artillery platform, several gunners looked up dazedly. Ever since the war began, inexplicable things had increased in frequency descending from the sky.
This warship was what Shaina and King saw on the rising waves, aboard were prisoners from Impel Down and Luffy, who was striving to rescue his brother.
Earlier at the Shampodi Islands, Luffy was sent flying together with Heracross. They landed on an island swarming with Heracross, temporarily taken in and presented with recent newspapers.
With Heracross's flying capability, after great effort, Luffy found the Navy's Triangle Sea Flow and invaded Impel Down from high above. They managed to enter thanks to Blackbeard's crew.
This allowed Luffy to break in and pass through the sealed Gate of Justice.
Reaching this point was a result of the sudden tsunami. Utilizing the huge wave's power, he was able to arrive here on time.
As for the tsunami's instigator, Arceus, he remained at the center of the Triangle Sea Flow; however, the whirlpool which had spun for decades ceased at that moment.
Arceus's might forcibly halted the sea flow's rotation, leading to this massive tsunami's creation.
What appeared to be an apocalyptic tsunami to others was merely an after-effect of Arceus's intervention. At that moment, the Plate emerged from the ocean's depths, floating directly above the sea surface.