Across the chaotic seas, most factions involved in the Golden Sea maintained a restrained stance.
Even so, small-scale clashes never ceased.
The tension lingered like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
Among all conflicts, the most intense remained the battles between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Flying Pirates. No one clearly understood the root cause, yet their hostility had reached an extreme level.
Their wars were brutal.
Edward Newgate and Golden Lion Shiki clashed repeatedly, fighting both across islands and on the open sea of the New World.
In naval combat, Shiki held a clear advantage.
His ability to manipulate the sea deprived Whitebeard of stable footing, making it difficult for him to fully unleash his strength.
However, once the battlefield shifted to land, the situation reversed completely.
Whitebeard dominated.
No matter what methods Shiki employed, Whitebeard broke through them with overwhelming force. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit possessed terrifying destructive power, capable of shattering islands, splitting seas, and even cracking the sky itself.
Its raw might far surpassed the shockwaves produced by Sengoku.
Sengoku could stand against Whitebeard not only because of his abilities, but because of his powerful Armament Haki, his physical strength, and the resilience granted by his Mythical Zoan form.
Though some of their clashes were meant to maintain appearances, they could not afford to make them look staged. A battle that felt real prevented suspicion.
Beyond that, they were already natural enemies.
Their territories bordered one another, and their conflict over land and influence had never stopped.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
As expected, the war in the Golden Sea reignited.
The World Government Allied Forces returned, their massive fleet advancing toward Jaya Island.
During the previous period, an uneasy calm had settled.
There were no skirmishes.
Even Jaya Island abandoned its earlier surprise attack tactics. Such methods would no longer be effective. The Allied Forces had grown cautious, and Army Admiral White Ghost now commanded them.
Without a strong leader, even a minor mistake could lead to devastating losses.
Both sides had used this time to recover.
Now, the moment had come again.
The movement of the Allied Forces instantly drew the attention of the world.
Compared to the fierce but scattered conflicts across the New World, the Golden Sea war remained the true focal point.
In the past half-month, Army Admiral Vulture had mostly recovered. Though minor injuries remained, they no longer affected his combat ability.
Morale had also stabilized.
Under White Ghost's command, the Allied Forces underwent significant strategic adjustments.
Kuzan, however, remained frozen.
Through Observation Haki, one could sense his faint life force, slowly strengthening. It would still take time before he awakened, but his condition was stable.
Even without him, the Allied Forces retained enough strength to fight.
The true pressure came from above.
The World Government could not wait.
Time had become their greatest enemy.
Their financial reserves were depleting at an alarming rate. Maintaining an army of one hundred thousand required enormous resources. Even without active combat, daily consumption alone was staggering.
Add to that the cost of maintaining equipment, suppressing rebellions, stabilizing chaotic seas, handling protests from allied nations, and dealing with growing global dissatisfaction.
The burden was immense.
In the past, they had spent freely without concern.
Now, they were forced to tighten every expense.
Even so, it was not enough.
Within the World Government, a new problem had emerged.
The Celestial Dragons had begun to complain.
Each year, vast sums were allocated to maintain their extravagant lifestyle. As the so-called World Nobles, they stood at the pinnacle of privilege and demanded nothing less.
Yet this year, their funds had been cut.
Naturally, they were dissatisfied.
The Heavenly Tribute, collected from allied nations, existed largely to sustain them.
Now, with tribute payments faltering and war draining resources, the World Government faced pressure from both within and without.
It was a true crisis.
Ironically, the wealthiest individuals within the World Government were not its officials, but the Celestial Dragons themselves.
Their palaces and private collections held countless priceless treasures.
If the situation worsened, the World Government might even be forced to borrow from them.
They could not easily target their own officials, despite widespread corruption, as those officials were essential to maintaining operations.
Instead, they had begun targeting weaker nobles and wealthy individuals.
Assassination.
Confiscation.
These methods were already being used to secure short-term funds.
Just as the Navy's military budget was its lifeline, the Heavenly Tribute was the foundation of the World Government's rule.
Now that foundation was cracking.
Allied nations were no longer willing to pay.
They were allies in name, not in loyalty.
Without protection or stability, the World Government had lost its justification.
Despite this turmoil, information within the Allied Forces remained tightly controlled.
White Ghost's ability created a network of ghosts across their bases, preventing spies from transmitting intelligence.
Even so, Redyat was not blind.
Both sides had planted scouts throughout the region. The moment movement began, information spread.
At the same time, Morgans ensured that nothing went unnoticed.
Reporter birds hovered constantly.
The moment the Allied Forces advanced, live broadcasts resumed. Visual Den Den Mushi across the world lit up once more.
The Golden Sea war had restarted.
The Allied Forces moved as one.
Unlike before, they did not divide their troops.
Instead, they advanced in a unified formation.
From the broadcast, the scale was overwhelming. Warships filled the sea, stretching beyond the horizon.
This approach had clear advantages.
Support could arrive quickly.
Losses could be minimized.
A unified army, properly coordinated, could exert far greater force than a fragmented alliance.
The battlefield was set.
At the border of their territories lay a small island once held by the Allied Forces.
After their retreat, pirates had occupied it, though only lightly. Redyat had anticipated this.
The island would inevitably be retaken.
There was no reason to invest heavily in something temporary.
Now, that very island would become the starting point.
From there, the Allied Forces intended to push forward, break through the pirate defenses, and advance all the way to Jaya Island.
There was no hidden strategy.
Only a direct assault.
Redyat saw through it immediately.
He mobilized his forces accordingly.
While ensuring strong defenses remained on Jaya Island, he personally led a large army into battle. White Ghost had to be dealt with directly.
At the same time, he remained wary.
CP0 had not yet appeared.
Their timing was uncertain.
The most likely moment would be during the final assault on Jaya Island.
But uncertainty remained.
If they struck early, targeting the rear, the consequences would be severe.
Precautions were necessary.
Because of this, a portion of high-level combat power remained behind.
This weakened the frontline slightly compared to the Allied Forces.
However, it was acceptable.
They only needed to hold the line.
Teach would arrive soon.
Once he entered the battlefield, everything would change.
With his vast Observation Haki, he would detect any hidden presence instantly.
CP0 would have nowhere to hide.
The armies advanced.
Then they collided.
Like two colossal beasts, they crashed into one another.
Cannons roared.
Flames spread.
Chaos erupted across the sea.
Strong fighters scattered, each seeking out their opponents.
At the highest level, battles reignited instantly.
Kronos clashed with Frieda once more.
They were old rivals.
Their collision alone sent shockwaves across the battlefield. Lightning split the sky, and the force of their attacks injured friend and foe alike.
But no one cared.
In war, weakness was a crime.
Vulture faced Marco.
Though Marco could not defeat him, his regenerative abilities allowed him to stall effectively.
His role was simple.
Hold the Admiral in place.
Katakuri fought alone against Army Admiral Raging Bear.
With Future Sight and the support of his Homies, he managed to maintain a temporary stalemate.
Elsewhere, the situation grew more strained.
Redyat had shifted many capable fighters to the rear, forcing those at the front to stretch their limits.
Shiryu fought Vice Admiral Juan.
Gar and King were forced to handle multiple opponents simultaneously.
Nelson, Lemor, and Oven remained stationed on Jaya Island, strengthening its defenses.
At the center of it all stood two figures.
Redyat.
White Ghost.
The wind howled, their cloaks fluttering as they faced each other.
Neither moved.
Both observed.
Redyat's mind raced.
Information about the Ghost-Ghost Fruit surfaced as he analyzed White Ghost.
It was a rare Paramecia.
Few had ever mastered it.
White Ghost was one of those few.
Most likely, he had reached awakening.
Paramecia awakening was troublesome.
For some, it meant assimilation.
For others, it greatly enhanced their abilities.
In White Ghost's case, it was impossible to predict the full extent.
Redyat prepared for the worst.
Armament Haki coated his entire body.
Shadow power coiled around him like living serpents.
If ghosts were the threat, then shadows might be the answer.
Still, something felt wrong.
Redyat attempted to listen.
To read White Ghost's thoughts.
But there was nothing.
No heartbeat.
No presence.
White Ghost was no longer human.
His body had become something else entirely.
A ghost.
Even Observation Haki struggled to track him.
He stood right there, yet felt distant.
Untouchable.
Elusive.
At that moment, White Ghost recalled the orders he had received.
"You are to end this war and take Jaya Island within two months. The World Government does not have time to spare."
The words of the Five Elders echoed in his mind.
He knew the difficulty.
He also knew he had no choice.
This would likely be his final war.
His body was failing.
Each battle shortened his remaining time.
White Ghost let out a quiet sigh.
Then his gaze sharpened.
Locked onto Redyat.
The next moment would decide everything.
The battle between them was about to begin.