Kong took a deep breath, his voice amplified across the entire plaza through the Amplifying Transponder Snail:
"All Marines—"
"The Rocks Pirates have openly assaulted the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, killing one and capturing two, subjecting them to inhuman torture and humiliation."
"This is a provocation against the World Government's authority, a trampling of the order of justice, and a complete destruction of the foundation of peace maintained for eight hundred years!"
"As the Marines who uphold justice, we cannot tolerate such actions!"
"Relay the order: All Marine branches and bases in the New World, except for necessary garrison forces, shall coordinate with Headquarters operations—"
"To encircle and annihilate Hachinosu Island and the Rocks Pirates."
"Strategic objective: Sink Hachinosu Island and completely eradicate the Rocks Pirates."
"In this battle—there will be no prisoners, no negotiations, only total annihilation!"
Kong's voice echoed across the plaza. Every Marine soldier tightened their grip on their weapons, battle intent burning in their eyes.
"All forces—advance!"
The command was given.
Marine Headquarters transformed into a massive war machine, operating at full capacity.
At the harbor, over three hundred elite warships simultaneously raised anchor, hoisted sails, and roared to life with steam turbines.
This fleet included ten super battleships, fifty large battleships, two hundred medium-sized battleships, along with numerous supply ships, medical ships, and reconnaissance vessels.
Soldiers flooded the decks like tides, cannons were rolled into position, ammunition was loaded into holds—all preparations completed in an astonishingly short time.
Standing on the bridge of the flagship, Kong watched the massive fleet with no trace of relief in his heart.
He knew perfectly well that with such a full-scale deployment, Marine Headquarters would be left critically vulnerable.
If any other major pirate crew seized this opportunity to strike, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But this was a direct order from the Five Elders—even he, the Fleet Admiral, had no choice but absolute obedience.
Either annihilate the Rocks Pirates, or... the Marines would suffer devastating losses, never to recover.
There was no third option.
"Set sail."
Kong commanded in a low voice.
"Woooo—"
Long steam whistles blared as hundreds of warships simultaneously departed, flowing out of Marineford like a steel tide, passing through the Gates of Justice as they sailed toward the New World.
Destination: Hachinosu Island.
Thus, Marine Headquarters combined with forces from major New World bases to form a colossal fleet—comprising hundreds of elite warships and hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers—advancing mightily straight toward Hachinosu Island.
This was the largest military operation in Marine history.
...
Meanwhile, as the Marine fleet surged toward Hachinosu Island.
At Hachinosu Island's harbor.
The Rocks Pirates had completed full wartime mobilization.
Along the harbor's coast, thirty heavily armed giant warships stood ready for battle.
Each ship carried no fewer than three thousand elite pirates with ferocious glints in their eyes.
At the bow of the flagship stood Rocks.
Behind him, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Raiver Sky, and other Officers stood in formation, their Haki radiating magnificently.
Rocks slowly raised his right hand.
The entire port instantly fell silent, so quiet that even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.
One hundred thousand pairs of eyes focused on him, awaiting the captain's command.
Rocks' voice echoed throughout the harbor:
"Listen up, crew!"
"The Marine Headquarters is mobilizing its entire force at this very moment, foolishly attempting to besiege our Hachinosu Island and annihilate us in one fell swoop!"
"Three hundred warships, hundreds of thousands of troops, an overwhelming force advancing with menacing Haki.
They think we'll cower on this island like lambs waiting for slaughter, waiting for them to chop off our heads!"
"What a joke!"
Rocks suddenly spread his arms wide, his eyes burning with the fire of mad ambition:
"My decision is—while Marine Headquarters is emptied and the Holy Land Mariejois is at its most vulnerable..."
He paused for a second, ensuring everyone heard his next words clearly:
"We'll do the opposite—strike straight at the heart, invade that self-proclaimed 'Holy Land' Mary Geoise, and plunder to our heart's content!!"
The entire harbor fell into dead silence for a moment.
Then, a tsunami-like collective gasp erupted.
Invade Mary Geoise?
That legendary Holy Land?
That divine domain of the Celestial Dragons?
That nerve center of the World Government?
The idea was so insane, so heretical, that many pirates' brains short-circuited instantly.
But the next second, when the idea was truly understood and digested, an even more fanatical emotion swept through everyone.
Rocks' voice continued, like the whisper of a devil, tempting the deepest desires in every person's heart:
"That place holds the world's most concentrated wealth, with treasures piled up like mountains!"
"Gold, jewels, Famous Swords, Devil Fruits—everything you could want!"
"For eight hundred years, the Celestial Dragons have plundered wealth from across the world, and it's all accumulated there!"
"And now, all that wealth is there, unguarded, ripe for the taking!"
He paused, then delivered the most enticing bait:
"Moreover, I hereby swear this oath: anyone who brings me the head of a Celestial Dragon can present it as proof and claim treasure worth three hundred million Belly from me!"
Three hundred million Belly!
The number exploded in every pirate's heart like a bomb.
"Now, crew—"
Rocks' voice reached its peak:
"Move out!"
"Let the whole world watch with wide eyes what the true Rocks Pirates are capable of!"
"Ooh—!!"
"Woooh—!!"
The harbor was instantly drowned in deafening, frenzied cheers.
All hesitation, all fear, all concerns were cast to the winds at this moment.
Every pirate's blood boiled, their eyes filled only with craving for wealth, slaughter, and subversion.
"Attack Mary Geoise?! It's insane, but so exhilarating!"
"Heheh... perfect chance to make those high-and-mighty 'gods' taste what it's like to be trampled underfoot!"
"Long live the Rocks Pirates—!!"
"Long live the Captain—!!"
"Kill all the Celestial Dragons! Plunder Mary Geoise clean!"
If they could truly turn Mary Geoise upside down, their fearsome reputation and power would surely shake the heavens and make the entire sea tremble!
Rocks looked down with satisfaction at his passionate subordinates, revealing a ferocious smile.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
Fear makes people shrink back, but greed drives them mad.
And now, one hundred thousand madmen were about to descend upon the heart of the World Government.
He turned around and issued a low command to the two behind him:
"Shiki, Raiver Sky—it's your turn now."
"Kekekeke... I've been waiting impatiently for this!"
Golden Lion Shiki strode forward with maniacal laughter, reaching the forefront of the deck.
He spread his arms wide as if to embrace the entire world, then—clenched both fists!
The power of the Float-Float Fruit erupted violently!
An immense, invisible buoyancy field instantly enveloped the entire harbor area.
Thirty massive battleships, heavy as mountains, simultaneously emitted a deep "hum." Their hulls shuddered before breaking free from the ocean's grasp!
The ships began to rise slowly into the air.
One meter.
Ten meters.
Fifty meters.
In just a few seconds, an enormous fleet hung suspended in midair.
"What—what's happening?!"
"Idiot! Don't panic, this is Lord Shiki's Float-Float Fruit ability!"
The pirates aboard were initially terrified, many instinctively grabbing nearby fixed objects for fear of falling.
But they quickly steadied themselves under the officers' reprimands, their eyes burning with increasingly intense awe and excitement.
Next, Raiver Sky stepped forward to the deck's edge, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Golden Lion.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then, he raised his hands.
"Space Flow."
Hum—!!!
A low, majestic hum resonated through the air.
The very fabric of space began to flow, with space ahead "pulling" the ships forward while space behind "pushed" them to accelerate.
"Whoa—so fast!"
"Is—is this Officer Raiver Sky's power?!"
"We're really flying toward Mary Geoise!"
Exclamations erupted among the pirates aboard.
This speed, this power, this common-sense-defying method of navigation—they were making history!
The coordination between two top-tier ability users propelled this aerial fleet across the New World's skies at an incredible velocity.
Destination: Mary Geoise.
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