Possessing both the Impact-Impact Fruit and the Float-Float Fruit abilities came as a complete shock to everyone, deepening their dread of Aeridar even further.
Of course, that was secondary. The use of the Float-Float Fruit's power had clearly raised Aeridar's strength significantly in a short time.
It could be said that Whitebeard's defeat was now a certainty under the siege of three world-class peak powerhouses; the only difference was the time it would take.
What's more, although Aeridar couldn't fly around with dozens of islands like Shiki, he certainly wasn't limited to floating just one. For this Paramount War and his confrontation with Whitebeard, he had actually floated three entire islands high in the sky, ready for deployment.
Suddenly, many people were stunned again when Garp, the Marine Hero, was punched off the platform by Luffy. Garp, after all, was a symbol of the Navy's spirit.
However, many Marines also knew that Luffy was Garp's grandson, and they could understand his leniency toward a family member.
Aeridar commanded several huge roaring lion heads on the ground, while Sakazuki stood opposite Whitebeard.
"Oh~ It seems they're reaching the execution platform now," Borsalino leisurely stepped on Whitebeard's naginata, saying.
"The thoughtless idiot you spoke of," Whitebeard glanced sideways at Borsalino.
"He's still just as thoughtless," Borsalino replied indifferently. "How is he going to unlock Fire Fist Ace?" As he spoke, he looked back at Whitebeard.
"Get down! Brat!"
Whitebeard roared, quickly yanking the naginata out from under Borsalino's foot and swinging it toward him.
Boom!
The naginata slammed into the ground, its mighty force shattering the earth and raising dust high into the air. Borsalino willingly transformed into light particles to dodge the strike.
Whoosh!
Countless light particles condensed, forming half an arm that shot a Laser Beam from his index finger through the smoke, piercing Whitebeard's chest.
"You were careless, weren't you?" Borsalino once again stepped onto Whitebeard's naginata, speaking languidly.
"Pops!!!"
The surrounding pirates cried out in alarm.
At this moment, Luffy had finally reached the execution platform.
"I made it!" Luffy looked at Ace in front of him, relieved.
"Luffy!" Ace was in disbelief for a moment, then a smile spread across his face. "You idiot!"
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Luffy looked at the shackles on Ace's back and was dumbfounded.
"Without the key, how will you unlock it?" Sengoku said unhurriedly.
"No key!" Luffy clutched his head, looking exasperated. "I forgot to look for the key!"
"Hmph! Straw Hat Luffy, you are a great villain whose death would be no loss. Since you've come, then stay here together!" Sengoku snorted coldly. The skin on his face immediately changed, and a blinding light emanated from his body.
Sengoku's body rapidly inflated and grew, instantly transforming into a giant golden Buddha statue. Circles of golden Buddhist light radiated from him, making him look like a Buddha descended to earth, a Golden Buddha cast in gold. The execution platform began to groan under his weight, and the rivets underneath continuously popped out.
Buddha Sengoku, Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Great Buddha Form!!!
"What is that?" Both Luffy and Ace looked completely bewildered.
After all, since Sengoku became Fleet Admiral, he rarely had a chance to fight. Except for the older, more experienced Marines and pirates, the new generation had no idea what Sengoku's ability was.
"Did you think you could escape the palm of my hand? Both of you brothers will be executed by me!" A deep, resonating voice boomed out. Sengoku, in his giant Golden Buddha form, slammed a fist toward Luffy and Ace.
"Gomu Gomu no Balloon!!!"
In a flash, Luffy's body inflated rapidly, transforming into a massive rubber balloon, shielding Ace behind him.
Bang—
Boom!
The heavy fist brutally struck Luffy's body. A ring of shockwaves spread out. The support beams beneath the execution platform snapped in the middle, and the platform above collapsed instantly.
"The execution platform is collapsing!"
"What's happening?"
"Ace isn't dead yet!"
Watching Luffy, Ace, and an executioner with a topknot shaped like the number '3', all fall along with the collapsing platform, the Marines erupted in noise.
"That guy, Crocodile's subordinate. I think his code name was Mr. 3." Aeridar raised an eyebrow, looking at the man who had suddenly appeared.
Mr. 3, wearing the executioner's cloak, produced a pool of white fluid in his hands, which extended towards the shackles on Ace's back.
The rest was history. Even with the Marines bombarding the area with cannons, they could not prevent Ace from being rescued. A tunnel of fire emerged from the explosion smoke, and the figures of Ace and Luffy appeared, dragging Mr. 3 behind them. Ah, right, his real name was Galdino.
Facing Fire Fist Ace and Luffy, the Marine elite were no match at all. One was the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, and the other had defeated two great pirates who held Warlord positions. The duo's power was undeniable.
Even Kuzan had to move to block their path.
On the battlefield, Ace's "Mirror Flame" and Kuzan's "Pheasant Beak" reached a stalemate, generating copious amounts of steam.
Sengoku, standing amidst the execution platform's ruins, looked utterly furious. He had shown leniency at the last moment, perhaps because he didn't want to break ties with Garp, or for some other reason.
"Heh~ Honestly, do all of you like holding back? Kizaru." Aeridar pouted and teased Borsalino beside him.
"Well~ who knows, ne. As long as he doesn't escape Marineford, there's still a chance," Borsalino replied with a pout, maintaining his unhurried demeanor.
However, he rolled his eyes and said in a roundabout way, "Speaking of which, someone who possesses the Golden Lion's ability is a much greater threat than Fire Fist Ace. Don't you have something to explain?"
"Heh heh heh heh~ That's private, why would I tell anyone." Aeridar suddenly gave a wicked smile and turned his head. "In fact, the Flame-Flame Fruit's power is quite good, even if it's been developed a bit poorly. How about you hand Fire Fist Ace over to me?"
"Hmph. Don't even think about it!" Borsalino lightly snorted, flatly refusing.
"Tch~ How stingy!" Aeridar pouted.
"Discussing such things in front of me. You should just die!" Whitebeard's fury erupted, and he swung his naginata at Aeridar.
Boom!
The strike cleaved the earth and raised dust everywhere.
"You're really getting in the way! Whitebeard, I'll just slaughter you first!" Aeridar flew into the air, and the several colossal lion heads behind him roared continuously, slowly closing in.
"Don't get too carried away, you brat!"
Whitebeard's face was cold. Inside his monster-like, robust body, the terrifying power ready to topple everything was now fully prepared.