Rolan gave a faint grin after hearing Ace's shout.
"That's more like it."
Whitebeard laughed in satisfaction.
The commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates smiled as well. Sabo felt relief wash over him, while Luffy grinned widely without hiding his excitement. Even Garp, standing among the Marines, felt his heart stir uncontrollably.
For a brief moment, the battlefield itself seemed to breathe again.
The arrival of the Ion Tempest had exploded across Marineford like a thunderbolt, and its impact spread throughout the entire pirate world through the live broadcast.
"Ro... Rolan really showed up!"
"So that's the World's Strongest Man!"
"I can feel that pressure even through the screen!"
"He's so handsome, I want to have his babies!"
"With Rolan here, Ace is definitely getting rescued!"
"The strongest pirate crew has entered the war!"
"The Marines picked a terrifying enemy this time!"
Across countless islands, people watched in shock, fear, and excitement.
---
Water 7
Inside Galley-La Company's office, Iceburg casually teased the white mouse resting on his desk while watching the broadcast of the Marineford War.
The screen reflected flames, explosions, and overwhelming figures clashing at sea.
"So this is the great event you were talking about," Iceburg muttered. "Next step might really be open war against the World Government."
At that moment, a young girl entered the office carrying a stack of documents.
"Mr. Iceburg, is that big brother Rolan?"
Iceburg turned and nodded.
The girl tilted her head innocently. "Is he a bad person? Why is he fighting the Marines?"
In her eyes, Marines represented justice while pirates were villains.
That belief was not entirely wrong.
Most Marines protected civilians, while many pirates survived through destruction and violence.
That was why her question sounded so genuine.
Iceburg shook his head slowly.
"Pirates can be evil, yes. But Rolan is different."
He looked back at the screen, eyes calm.
"He might become the person who changes this world."
The girl brightened immediately.
"I knew it. Big Brother Rolan looks too cool to be bad."
She placed the documents on the desk.
"Oh right, Mr. Iceburg, this is the contract submitted by Saint Capuchin Island."
The white mouse on the desk stared at the screen as well, squeaking excitedly.
---
Fish-Man Island
Gilongcord Plaza was completely packed with fishmen and merfolk.
All eyes were fixed on the enormous broadcast screen.
"Quick, look!"
"I saw it!"
"You already said that!"
"So what if I did?"
Several medaka fish surrounded a green-haired merfolk as arguments broke out in excitement.
From the moment the war broadcast began, the entire island had gathered to watch.
To Fish-Man Island, Whitebeard was a savior who once protected them from destruction. Without the Whitebeard Pirates, the island might have already fallen into chaos long ago.
Even after the territory shifted under Rolan's protection, Ace continued to show concern for the island.
Because of that, everyone prayed for Ace's survival.
And now, seeing Rolan appear at Marineford filled them with hope.
They might not fully understand how powerful Rolan truly was, but one thing was clear.
If the strongest man in the world had arrived, Ace's rescue felt inevitable.
---
Ryugu Palace
Inside the palace, King Neptune and his three sons stared intensely at the screen.
Neptune shifted anxiously.
"Why haven't I seen Shirahoshi yet? Where is my daughter?"
Ever since the Ion Tempest appeared, he had searched desperately for her figure.
Fukaboshi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Father, please calm down. Lord Rolan likely left Shirahoshi behind for safety instead of bringing her into this war."
Neptune still looked uneasy.
"But Lina, Nami, and Hancock are all beside him."
Ryuboshi spoke from the side while maintaining composure.
"Do not worry, Father. Lord Rolan is not someone who abandons people carelessly. Some members of the crew probably remained behind to guard the territory and prevent surprise attacks."
Neptune sighed deeply.
"I hope so. I wonder when Rolan plans to move Fish-Man Island to the surface."
It was not dissatisfaction with the sea.
He simply wanted to see the outside world and remain close to his daughter.
---
Marineford Headquarters, Conference Hall
Inside the massive conference chamber, several World Government officials observed the battlefield through reinforced windows and live feeds.
One elder stared quietly at the young man standing at the bow earlier.
"So this is Rolan," he said slowly. "His presence alone is extraordinary."
Another spoke with visible shock.
"He is far stronger than expected. Are we really not intervening yet? Should we just allow Ace to be rescued?"
A calm laugh followed.
"Why rush? This is nothing more than insects performing."
"It has been a long time since we watched such an entertaining show."
"Even if Ace escapes, none of them will leave Marineford alive."
Confidence filled the room.
To them, everything was still under control.
---
Back on the battlefield, Enel clicked his tongue in boredom while floating above the chaos.
"Heh, the Marines have gotten weak. There's barely anyone worth fighting."
Surprisingly, Crocodile agreed.
"At this rate, we might not even need to move."
Boa Hancock scanned the battlefield with clear disgust.
"Hmph. Nothing but filthy men everywhere."
Then her gaze landed on Rolan, instantly softening.
"Only my husband is worth looking at."
Lina placed a hand against her chest while observing the destruction around them.
"Scary... what a terrifying battlefield."
Despite her words, there was no fear in her expression.
Nearby, Kuro carefully analyzed the situation instead of relaxing.
"Rolan, something feels wrong."
Rolan glanced sideways. "Explain."
Kuro narrowed his eyes.
"Since our arrival, Sengoku hasn't shown real panic. He publicly announced Ace is your disciple, which means the Marines expected you to appear."
Enel immediately became excited again.
"So you're saying they prepared something hidden?"
Kuro nodded.
"Most likely reinforcements from the World Government. Special forces, or something stronger."
Enel grinned wildly.
"Then where are they? Come out already!"
His body turned into lightning as he shot across the battlefield searching for opponents.
Rolan had already considered the same possibility.
Using his Observation Haki combined with his wide sensing ability, he scanned the entire battlefield.
Nothing unusual appeared.
He shrugged casually.
"Trap or not, it doesn't matter."
"There isn't anywhere in this world I can't go."
The moment those words fell, Rolan vanished from the bow of the ship.
Sengoku's pupils shrank instantly.
"He disappeared... impossible!"
___
Support the story by sending Power Stones to unlock bonus chapters.
===
If you want to read more, there are up to 100 chapters available on patreon.
Patreon.com/ _Zeph