"What? Admiral Akainu has disappeared?"
Even in the heat of the most intense combat, the Marine soldiers couldn't help but turn their heads toward the base of the execution platform. Though they had absolute faith in their Admiral, hearing such a claim from the enemy made them feel an urgent need to verify the situation for themselves.
Because of Yamato's sudden shout, the Marines on the battlefield were momentarily distracted, their focus wavering.
"Don't fall for it! They're just trying to disturb our morale! Admiral Akainu is likely on a secret mission. Don't believe the enemy's nonsense!"
"Exactly! The enemy is trying to confuse us. It's an insult to the Admiral to believe such lies!"
The Marine officers refused to be outdone, shouting one after another to expose Yamato's "rumors."
"The officers are right! Don't let them trick us!"
"Damned pirates, using Admiral Akainu's name to deceive us! They really are the lowest of the low!"
Many Marine soldiers grew indignant. Just moments ago, that brief distraction had cost lives, with several soldiers falling to pirate blades while they were looking away.
"Ah, right, right. Your Admiral Akainu is on a 'secret mission.' Definitely don't believe me," Yamato shouted back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Anyway, it's you small fry fighting on the battlefield; there are as many of you as needed. You just need to fight to the death while the Fleet Admiral and the Admirals stay in the safe zone. They have much more 'important' things to consider than your lives."
These biting words stunned the Marines. Even if they didn't want to doubt their superiors, their minds began to race.
"This isn't good!"
Sengoku's expression shifted. Yamato's words were effectively driving a wedge between the rank-and-file soldiers and the high command. Without a second to lose, Sengoku grabbed a Transponder Snail.
"Do not be deceived! We Marines stand on the side of Justice! No matter how silver-tongued these pirates are, it will not shake our resolve!"
"Then where is Akainu? Call him out and let me see him," Yamato countered instantly, refusing to let Sengoku regain control of the narrative. "Surely an Admiral wouldn't just wander off while his men are dying on the front lines, right?"
Sengoku's gaze was murderous. He realized Yamato's tongue was coated in poison; she could sow discord with just a few sentences.
"Damned brat... she only knows how to play these underhanded schemes," Sengoku cursed inwardly. It wasn't the honorable enemies he feared, but the shameless ones.
"Look at that! Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku is speechless. I hit the mark, didn't I?" Yamato added fuel to the fire. "Marine brothers, don't fight so hard. It's just not worth it."
"Onihime... stop your lies!" Sengoku's face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink.
"As expected of the Marine's Great Strategist, I admit defeat," Yamato threw out one last mocking sentence and then went silent.
The sudden silence nearly made Sengoku lose his breath. The girl was utterly shameless.
"Gurararara! Sengoku, at your age, are you really being led by the nose by a junior?" Whitebeard laughed loudly.
Sengoku said nothing, struggling to maintain the composure of a commander.
"Yamato, you really are something. A few words and the Marines are in chaos," Marco said, sounding genuinely impressed.
"It's just a little trick. A verbal spat can only do so much; it won't change the outcome of the battle on its own," Yamato replied with a smile.
"Young Master, it's that mouth of yours that has caused Lord Kaido no small amount of trouble over the years," Haruko teased.
"That's for sure," Yamato said, completely unembarrassed.
Thump! Thump!
At that moment, a massive shadow loomed from behind the fleet. A figure several times taller than even a normal Giant appeared: Little Oars Jr., the Demon Oars! He was a descendant of the legendary "Continent-Puller" and a loyal ally of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Holding a massive blade, Oars stepped onto the ice and strode toward the bay. Marine cannon fire struck him, but it had no effect; to him, it was like a minor itch.
"That's Oars... Uncle, he's too big," Yamato said, glancing back at Whitebeard. "If he charges the front lines like that, he'll be a sitting duck. He'll die a miserable death."
Whitebeard nodded gravely. "I know. A body that massive in the center of the battlefield is an easy target. Marco, go tell Oars not to charge too far ahead. Have him cover the others' advance instead."
"Understood, Pops," Marco transformed into his Phoenix form and flew toward the giant.
Yamato's eyes flickered as she watched Oars. "Uncle, how about letting Oars pick up the Marine warships and hurl them toward the shore? That would clear a path through the defensive line. Even the Shichibukai would have to dodge; they aren't stupid enough to try and block a flying ship."
She continued, "Since the goal is to rescue Ace, it's best to avoid a direct clash with the Warlords if we can. Just driving them back will let us focus on the Marines."
Whitebeard's eyes shifted. The idea was brilliant. Oars was strong enough to be a living artillery platform, far more powerful than any cannon. Using him this way would mitigate the weakness of his massive size.
"You're a clever girl. We'll do exactly that," Whitebeard said. His impression of Yamato was improving by the minute. She had courage and resourcefulness—traits he had never seen in Kaido.
"Pops, it's no use. Oars refuses to stay in the back," Marco said as he returned.
Whitebeard sighed, knowing Oars' stubborn nature. "In that case, go back and tell him I have a special mission for him—one that is the only way to save Ace."
"Right! Oars and Ace are best friends. If you put it that way, he'll listen to anything," Marco realized.
"It's not just a trick. I really do have a mission that only he can pull off," Whitebeard explained Yamato's plan to Marco.
"I didn't think of that! Pops, did you come up with this?" Marco's eyes lit up.
"I didn't. Now go arrange it," Whitebeard shook his head.
As Marco flew off again, Whitebeard turned to Yamato. "Where did a young girl like you learn about military formations? Don't tell me Kaido taught you."
"Of course not. He's illiterate; how could he teach me anything?" Yamato scoffed. "I learned it myself from books. It's not that hard. You divide people into infantry and artillery. You use specialized units to tear through enemy lines, then penetrate deep to divide and surround them..."
Yamato accidentally blurted out concepts she remembered from her past life. To her, it was common knowledge, but to Whitebeard and Haruko, it sounded like revolutionary military theory.
"Young Master... did you really see that in a book?" Haruko asked, her face full of disbelief. She had never heard of such advanced strategies in any book on the Grand Line.
"Some of it was, and some of it I just thought of," Yamato said quickly, realizing she had overshared.
"Gurararara! Brat, if you had joined the Marines, you'd be Fleet Admiral material by now!" Whitebeard laughed.
"I'll pass. Being a pirate is much more free," Yamato replied.
Just then, a massive shadow crossed the sky. A Marine warship soared through the air and crashed toward the shoreline.
"Get out of the way! A ship is falling!" the Marines screamed, scattering in terror.
"Fufufu! As expected of a Giant, using warships as throwing stones," Doflamingo laughed, leaping gracefully to the side. Kuma vanished instantly, and Boa Hancock moved with blinding speed to dodge. Only Gekko Moriah and Hawkeye remained in place.
"Damned Oars!" Moriah snarled. His obese build meant he wasn't fast; if the ship landed, he'd have to take the hit. Fortunately, Hawkeye was beside him. With a casual swing of Yoru, the master swordsman disintegrated the massive vessel in mid-air.
Moriah breathed a sigh of relief.
In the distance, Marco frowned. "Hawkeye is a problem. Oars, keep throwing!"
"Understood!" Oars roared. He hoisted a second warship and hurled it with even more force.
"Hawkeye will cut this one too, right?" Moriah looked at his fellow Warlord, only to see Mihawk walking away.
"I don't want to keep cutting boring things," Hawkeye said indifferently.
Moriah's face turned green as the shadow of the second warship loomed over him. "Wait, say something first!"
"Fufufu! Moriah, what now? Surely you won't be killed by a boat," Doflamingo mocked.
Boom!
The warship smashed into the shore, obliterating the ground where Moriah had stood.
"Moriah shouldn't be the type to die from one ship," Hawkeye remarked.
"If he were, it would be a disgrace to the Shichibukai," Hancock added coldly.
"Dammit, Hawkeye! Why didn't you swing again?" Moriah's voice grumbled from the wreckage. He crawled out, covered in dust and a few scratches, looking utterly disheveled.
Hawkeye didn't even look back. "I have no such obligation. On a battlefield, you are responsible for your own life."
Moriah was speechless with rage.
"Oars, it's working!" Marco shouted. "The Warlords have moved back! Now start smashing ships onto the shore to level the height difference. Build us a bridge to the defensive line!"
"I got it! Leave it to me!" Oars strode toward another ship.
"Attack! Don't let him get near the ships!" the Marines screamed in panic.
But the cannon fire was useless. Oars grabbed a warship by its hull and hoisted it up. Marines fell off the deck like droplets of water.
"Aim carefully, Oars! Don't hit the execution platform!" Marco directed.
"Watch me!" Oars roared, hurling the vessel like a giant cannonball.
The ship smashed into the shoreline with a thunderous bang, blowing away the Marine defenses.
"We can't let him continue this," Sengoku growled from the platform. "Giant Unit, move out! Stop Oars immediately!"
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