The prisoners confined in Impel Down's Level 5 were far from ordinary criminals.
The zombies created from their corpses and shadows immediately demonstrated extraordinary combat prowess upon entering the battlefield.
This was something even Sengoku had not anticipated.
Although Maude had violated their agreement by deploying the zombie army ahead of schedule, given the current circumstances, their deployment was not inappropriate.
Sengoku silently let the matter pass in his heart.
At this moment,
Below the execution platform, Akainu stood firm, overseeing the battlefield.
In front of the platform, Garp's presence was the greatest obstacle to Marco's attempt to rescue Ace.
Even for Marco, the Whitebeard Pirates' second-in-command, facing a legendary Marine hero was proving to be an uphill battle.
Above the plaza, Fujitora had managed to suppress a portion of Golden Lion's abilities, while Kizaru, leveraging the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, held an unyielding stance against the Golden Lion's airborne fleet, single-handedly preventing their advance.
To further ensure Kizaru's operational effectiveness, Sengoku had, even before Maude released the zombie army, dispatched hundreds of elite Marines proficient in Moonwalk to provide aerial support.
This swift and strategic command had indeed yielded results.
At the very least, they did not have to immediately bear the full brunt of the Golden Lion's airborne assault.
However, with forces being diverted in multiple directions, combined with the Whitebeard Pirates' frontal assault, the rampaging beast army that had invaded the plaza's center had become the Marines' biggest headache.
Until these savage creatures were dealt with, the Marines assigned to hold back the Whitebeard Pirates were essentially acting as a desperate vanguard, buying time for those in the rear.
This was the inevitable cost of fighting a large-scale war while being outnumbered.
Thus, casualties were unavoidable.
By the time this battle ended, no one could predict how many lives would be lost.
This land beneath their feet had already witnessed countless brutal conflicts before.
The corpses of the fallen, too numerous to count, had long been buried deep beneath the thick stone slabs of the plaza.
Such was the price of upholding justice and maintaining order.
No matter how much more blood was shed, victory in this war was the only option.
From his position on the execution platform, Sengoku observed the ever-changing battlefield.
"Hm..."
With fingers pressed against his chin, Sengoku let out a contemplative murmur.
The most pressing issue at present was the rampaging beast army wreaking havoc in the plaza's center. The most formidable threat, without a doubt, was the Whitebeard Pirates' direct assault.
If not for the arrival of the Golden Lion Pirates...
Judging from the current situation, defeating the Whitebeard Pirates outright was practically impossible.
Given this reality, there was no longer any point in holding back their trump card.
"It's time to deploy the Pacifistas."
Sengoku cast a distant glance at the pirates, who, under Whitebeard's command, were cutting through the battlefield like an unstoppable force. Then, he took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed Sentomaru's number.
The call was answered in an instant.
"Sentomaru, commence the operation."
Sengoku issued the order firmly.
"Understood."
Sentomaru's voice came through the receiver.
After giving the command, Sengoku hung up and shifted his gaze to the zombie army, which was engaged in fierce combat.
Thus far, the greatest surprise of this war was not only Maude's exceptional performance as a Warlord but also the battle prowess demonstrated by his zombie forces.
Therefore,
Before the Pacifistas entered from the rear, deploying the powerful and pain-immune zombie army to restrain the Whitebeard Pirates' main force was undoubtedly the best choice.
"Maude."
Sengoku turned his gaze toward Maude.
Hearing his name, Maude paused momentarily and looked back at Sengoku atop the execution platform.
Meeting Maude's inquisitive gaze, Sengoku spoke in a serious tone: "Send the zombie army to engage the Whitebeard Pirates' main force."
Upon hearing this, Maude shrugged and spread his hands. "I can't."
"Hm?"
Sengoku furrowed his brows, scrutinizing Maude's expression.
Maude remained composed as he explained, "To maximize their combat potential, I only instilled two commands in them when forming the contract: 'Appear upon command' and 'Eliminate enemies with full force.'"
"Beyond that, I gave them complete autonomy. Only in this way can their own willpower be transformed into an effective driving force."
Gesturing toward the zombie warriors clashing with the pirates, Maude smiled. "Look, they are following their own instincts, indulging in the thrill of battle. Under these circumstances, it's best not to disrupt their enthusiasm."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed slightly as he locked onto Maude's unnervingly calm face.
He could tell Maude was being deliberately evasive. More importantly, Maude had no intention of following orders.
These Warlords—except for Bartholomew Kuma, who was completely obedient to the World Government—were all unpredictable and self-serving.
Maude's current stance reminded Sengoku of Blackbeard, who had fled just before the war.
Some matters could only be dealt with after the war...
Recognizing that Maude was determined to let his zombie army fight freely—and that they were indeed holding back part of the Whitebeard Pirates' forces—Sengoku chose not to pursue the issue further.
"Sakazuki."
He turned his gaze toward Akainu below the execution platform.
Akainu immediately understood the signal. He nodded to Sengoku and then advanced directly toward the heart of the Whitebeard Pirates' main forces.
With the situation now more stabilized, there was no longer a need for him to remain as the final defensive line for the execution platform.
By personally pressuring the Whitebeard Pirates from the front, he could help create an optimal battlefield for the incoming Pacifistas.
"Akainu."
Whitebeard immediately noticed the movement.
As expected of an admiral—any action he took drew Whitebeard's attention at once.
"The last monster has finally entered the stage."
Several powerful fleet captains flanking Whitebeard observed Akainu's advance with solemn expressions.
This Marine powerhouse, wielding the power of the Magma-Magma Fruit, was likely to become their greatest obstacle in pushing forward.
"Gurarara..."
Whitebeard's eyes gleamed.
Since an admiral had stepped up, he alone would hold him back to ensure his crew's continued advance.
In the plaza's center,
Maude raised his twin pistols and fired a few token shots, though his attention remained fixed on Akainu's back.
With the arrival of the beast army, Marine forces were becoming stretched thin. Coupled with Maude's refusal to comply, Sengoku had been forced to send out his last remaining trump card.
"The final line of defense has moved."
Maude withdrew his gaze, glanced briefly at the ongoing clash between Garp and Marco, then finally set his sights on Sengoku and Ace atop the execution platform.
"So, when do you plan to make your move…?"
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