Before the eyes of the entire world—
The ruthless and brutal Blackbeard Pirates had chosen an entry point that was highly advantageous for themselves yet disastrous for both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marines.
They cut in from the outskirts of the battlefield.
While launching a sneak attack on the Whitebeard Pirates, they simultaneously cleared out every Marine within their reach with overwhelming individual strength.
Merciless. Unforgiving. Leaving no room for survival.
This was the true face of pirates born from the Great Pirate Era.
They took lives as effortlessly as slaughtering chickens.
They plundered others' possessions as if they were simply reclaiming what was already theirs.
They roamed the seas, doing whatever they pleased.
And then, they called it "freedom."
"Zehahaha!"
Blackbeard's maniacal laughter was like a piercing dagger, stabbing into the hearts of countless onlookers.
Exchanging the lives of the innocent for the notoriety they desired—this was the very essence of their plan.
"You couldn't even take one hit? You lot are way too weak! Zehahaha!!!"
Stepping over a field of corpses, Blackbeard spread his arms wide, tilted his head back, and laughed wildly.
Dark mist swirled around his shoulders, exuding an ominous aura.
"Teach!!!"
"Blackbeard..."
Both the Whitebeard Pirates and the battle-hardened Marines regarded the unexpected arrival of the Blackbeard Pirates with grave expressions.
By this point in the war, stamina and Haki reserves had been significantly depleted on both sides, making exhaustion inevitable.
For the Blackbeard Pirates to enter at this moment—this was nothing short of a catastrophe.
"Can't a real opponent show up already?"
Blackbeard shouted in an exaggeratedly disappointed tone.
He had a complete grasp of the battlefield.
He knew that the Whitebeard Pirates had committed their strongest fighters to the frontlines to break through the Marine formations and reach Ace.
He knew that the Marines were hell-bent on executing Fire Fist Ace and the Devil Child, Nico Robin, right here and now.
To demonstrate to the world that justice would always prevail, the Marines had concentrated their most formidable forces in one area.
Which meant—the place where the Blackbeard Pirates had entered was precisely where both the Marines and Whitebeard Pirates were at their weakest.
Thus, with their sheer strength, Blackbeard and his crew slaughtered their way through the weaker Marines and Whitebeard Pirates as easily as scooping fish from a barrel.
And they had no need to worry about the stronger combatants turning back to challenge them.
"Oi, oi, hurry up and bring me someone worth fighting! Otherwise, this is just too boring! Zehahaha!"
Under the eyes of countless spectators, Blackbeard carried himself with boundless arrogance.
Seizing an opportunity and using it to his advantage—this was one of Blackbeard's most despicable traits.
And at this moment, he was showcasing it to the fullest.
The fatigued Marines and Whitebeard Pirates in the rear had no means to stop the advance of the Blackbeard Pirates, a crew composed of notorious powerhouses.
Within moments, they had carved a bloody path through the battlefield.
"Too weak, far too weak."
"So this is the so-called power of justice? What a joke."
Like an unstoppable force, the Blackbeard Pirates turned this section of the battlefield into a living hell.
Their brutal rampage was broadcasted live, etching an unforgettable image of terror into the hearts of the world's citizens.
Dread. Fear.
A complex mix of emotions surfaced in the minds of those watching, their expressions contorted with horror.
How would this war, which had captured the attention of the entire world, come to an end?
Could the Marines still claim victory?
If they lost, what would become of the world?
The people, wracked with worry, stared at their screens—at Blackbeard, whose mad laughter reverberated across the battlefield.
At this moment, Blackbeard's plan to seize the spotlight had undeniably succeeded.
The only regret was that he had failed to claim the power of the Gura Gura no Mi.
Had he acquired it, he would have been able to create an even more shocking spectacle, one that would attract even more "like-minded" companions.
If that had happened, he wouldn't have cared how many people came.
As long as they were strong enough, he would welcome them all with open arms.
That was the "glorious future" he had envisioned countless times—but thanks to Maude's interference, it had all crumbled into nothing.
Now, without the destructive power of earthquakes to bolster his presence, Blackbeard wasn't sure if his display had left the impact he had hoped for.
But at the very least, his voice had been heard.
"If no one's coming to stop us, then we'll just keep killing!"
Blackbeard cast a distant glance toward the top-tier Marine forces who were still focused on Ace's group.
Just as he had expected, the Marines had no choice but to prioritize Fire Fist Ace and the Devil Child. They had no time to deal with him.
And that meant he and his crew were free to do as they pleased.
"Oi, don't mess with those two."
Out of the corner of his eye, Blackbeard noticed the presence of Dracule Mihawk and Boa Hancock. He immediately called out a warning.
His crew members hesitated slightly upon hearing his words.
Only one person showed no signs of backing down—the Mythical Zoan Nine-Tailed Fox user, Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon.
"Such a perfect 'prey.' How could I possibly ignore her? Hehehe!"
Catarina Devon's eyes burned with destructive desire as she fixated on Hancock's breathtaking beauty.
The title "Crescent Moon Hunter" had been earned by treating humans as prey—particularly young and beautiful women.
"Don't be reckless. Picking a fight with a Warlord now is just asking for trouble."
Van Augur sensed Catarina Devon's intentions and immediately warned her.
She merely glanced at him and sneered. "Oh? What a coincidence. Trouble is exactly what I enjoy the most."
Having encountered a "specimen" as exquisite as Boa Hancock, Catarina Devon had no intention of letting the opportunity slip away.
Van Augur furrowed his brow. He could already tell she wasn't going to listen.
"Oi! Another one of those machines is coming our way!"
At that moment, Burgess spotted Bartholomew Kuma approaching with slow, heavy steps.
"Cough, cough..." Doc Q, slumped on his horse, squinted his eyes. "That's the real one."
"Huh? If it's the real one, he should be stronger than the machines, right?"
"Who knows... Cough, cough..."
The Blackbeard Pirates grew wary as they watched Kuma approach.
At the same time, Catarina Devon remained fixated on Hancock, intent on claiming her as a "trophy," while the lifeless, mind-controlled Kuma marched toward them.
One crisis after another.
"Zehahaha! Do whatever you want—but don't go getting yourselves killed in a meaningless place like this!"
Blackbeard saw that conflict was unavoidable and simply let his crew act according to their own desires.
Meanwhile, near the execution platform—
Watching the chaos sown by the Blackbeard Pirates, Sengoku's face darkened.
His eyes fell on Shiryu of the Rain, who was using his "Poison Blade" to slaughter Marines.
That was Magellan's Doku Doku no Mi (Venom-Venom Fruit)!
How had the Blackbeard Pirates managed to steal that power?
Sengoku's gut twisted with unease over what might have happened at Impel Down.
But right now, nothing mattered more than ensuring Ace and Robin never left this place alive.
On the Battlefield.
With Bartolomeo's barrier ability gone, the Straw Hat Pirates was in grave danger, besieged by the Marines.
Ace and the others were occupied dealing with the Admirals, leaving them unable to relieve the pressure on the Straw Hats.
Among the crew, only Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji could wield Armament Haki proficiently.
But Luffy's arm was severely fractured, and Zoro had fallen unconscious from his injuries.
Sanji alone couldn't possibly hold the line against the elite Vice Admirals, who not only possessed advanced Armament Haki but also had some degree of Observation Haki.
Not to mention the countless Marines surrounding them.
The fact that they had lasted this long was already a feat.
"An opening!"
Amidst the chaos, Vice Admiral Dalmatian, a user of the Inu Inu no Mi, spotted a chance to eliminate Nico Robin.
In his hybrid spotted-dog form, he kicked off the ground, flashing toward Robin in an instant.
Finger Pistol!
His elongated, razor-sharp claws tore through the air, aiming straight for Robin's forehead.
"Huh!?"
Robin, struggling against the Marines' relentless assault, was already breathless.
Without Observation Haki, she only noticed Dalmatian's attack at the last second—far too late to dodge.
She could only watch as the lethal Finger Pistol closed in on her.
Then—
At that critical moment, fresh from dealing with Momousagi, Maude arrived just in time.
The instant he appeared before Robin, his leg lashed out like a whip, striking Dalmatian square in the ribs.
Crack!
A crisp sound of breaking bones rang out.
Dalmatian coughed up a mouthful of blood as his body was sent hurtling through the air like a cannonball.
Even with the enhanced defense of his hybrid form, he was nearly knocked unconscious by Maude's devastating kick.
"Maude..."
The crisis averted, Robin's heart was still racing.
She widened her eyes, staring silently at Maude's back—the very image of safety and reassurance.
For a brief moment, she had felt the shadow of death looming over her.
If Maude hadn't intervened just now…
"Bacardi Maude!"
The surrounding Marines turned wary, eyes filled with apprehension as they faced this unexpected intruder.
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