"Has it started?" Garp asked calmly as a report was delivered to him.
"The lure of one trillion really is something else," Kizaru said lazily, his trademark smirk curling at his lips. "Didn't think it'd attract this many people."
"They're nothing but cannon fodder," Tsuru replied coolly. "Most of them are mercenaries from the War House, and the rest are the slave armies belonging to Lord Fosfite. Even if they're all wiped out, no one will shed a tear. Besides, when mercenaries die, the employer doesn't have to pay their remaining wages."
"Hmph. A bunch of worthless trash," Sakazuki growled from the side, his voice cold as iron. "The more of them that die, the better."
To prevent pirates and war profiteers from charging into Sabaody Archipelago—and possibly looting it—the Marine Headquarters had already strengthened its military presence there. Even Sakazuki himself had been dispatched to join Garp and Tsuru in defending the islands.
After all, Sabaody wasn't just home to countless civilians; it was also close to Marineford—and most importantly, it served as a resort for the World Nobles. For that reason, both the World Government and Marine Headquarters had issued strict orders: the war must be contained within the lawless zone.
"The problem," Kizaru said, tilting his head curiously, "is that there doesn't seem to be any movement from the Grey Nation. Their divisions across the Four Seas haven't been mobilized at all. Even if they have spatial teleportation abilities, transporting such a large force should take time—and yet, there's not a hint of activity. Why is that?"
"They won't be mobilizing the divisions from the Four Seas," Garp said flatly.
At that, both Kizaru and Sakazuki exchanged shocked looks. "You're saying they won't use their Four Sea divisions? Against an army of over a hundred thousand?" Sakazuki muttered in disbelief. "Does the Grey Nation really have that kind of power?"
"Fuffuffuffu… how spectacular," Doflamingo's laughter echoed from above the Soap Bubble Park.
He sat cross-legged upon a throne woven from strings high in the clouds, watching the battlefield below with a grin that promised chaos. "A battle of over a hundred thousand… warships packed tight across the sea. Let's see, Rosinante—how will you handle this war?"
"Has it begun?" Rosinante murmured softly, glancing skyward.
"There's quite a crowd," Rayleigh commented with a faint smile.
"Then let's continue," Rosinante said.
Without further words, he returned to his sword training—still refining the techniques Rayleigh had passed down to him. The clash of a war involving hundreds of thousands didn't stir him. His focus was absolute, his mind quiet as a blade's edge.
Meanwhile, on Sky Island, inside the War Room of the BloodSworn Guard, a deep hum filled the air.
"It seems our guests have arrived," Enel said, lips curving into a sharp smile. "Then, let's begin."
Enel sat at a round table with Laki and Bins.
"Operation—commence!" Bins commanded sharply.
"Electromagnetic link—engage," Enel declared, lightning flickering within his eyes.
A pulse of invisible electricity spread outward from his body, flowing into Laki and Bins. In an instant, the three of them felt their thoughts intertwine—their minds connected through pure current.
"Data transfer—begin," Enel continued.
At once, the sensory information gathered through his Observation Haki and electromagnetic waves was transmitted directly to Laki.
"Super-computation mode," Laki whispered, her eyes gleaming as countless streams of data reflected within them. She rapidly analyzed the information before transmitting her processed results back through Enel's electric network.
Receiving her analysis, Enel waved his hand—and before them, the tabletop shimmered. A holographic screen emerged, glowing with vivid clarity.
Anyone who saw that screen would have been struck speechless—for Sabaody Archipelago was displayed upon it in perfect detail, every ship, every movement rendered in real-time.
Through Enel's vast sensory range and electromagnetic data gathering, refined by Laki's lightning-fast computation and then projected by Enel's power, the battlefield unfolded before them as though they stood among it.
Because their communication was through instantaneous electromagnetic transfer, the images on the screen were nearly synchronous with real events—almost no delay at all.
"There are quite a few of them," Enel said with a chuckle.
On the screen, countless red, green, and blue dots glimmered across the archipelago. Red marked hostiles. Green denoted neutral or non-threatening presences. Blue represented unknowns.
"Based on current data," Laki began, her voice precise and cold, "enemy forces present around Sabaody number 137,631. Besides the ships we see on the surface, many more are observing from a distance. The ones currently advancing onto the islands are merely cannon fodder—probing our defenses."
"Tell squads twenty-one through forty-one to prepare," Bins ordered, grabbing a Den Den Mushi. "As soon as the wormholes open, fire immediately."
"No need to deploy the Pulse Cannons?" Enel asked with a bored grin. "How dull."
"These enemies don't warrant the use of pulse weapons," Laki replied. "However, given their numbers, I recommend deploying Thunder Strike bombardment."
"We'll see," Bins said coolly. "If the numbers are small, it's not worth it. We'd only end up scaring them off."
"Hmph. Using my Ten-Thousand Thunder to deal with these insects? You give them too much credit," Enel said dismissively.
Meanwhile, out at sea, aboard one of the massive warships…
"So that's Sabaody Archipelago up ahead," a mercenary said, peering through a spyglass. "Looks quiet, though. No movement. Are we supposed to attack empty air?"
"If no one's there to fight," another sneered, "why not just sack the island and head home?"
Mercenaries from the dark world were no different from pirates—killers for hire who would plunder for profit if given the chance.
"Sack Sabaody?" someone scoffed. "Don't be stupid. Look there."
He pointed ahead—and the others followed his gaze.
"Holy hell… Garp, the Marine Hero… Tsuru, the Grand Strategist… that monster Vice Admiral Sakazuki… and Kizaru too? They've gathered half the Marine Headquarters' power here!"
"No wonder," another muttered. "This place houses the Celestial Dragons themselves. When the assault begins, don't you dare cross the border of the lawless zone—or you'll wake that monster Garp."
"Look—something's moving!" a voice shouted suddenly.
Across the distant fleet lines, figures were leaping off ships—charging toward Sabaody like a dark tide.
The attackers were split into two forces: one made up of Fosfite's slave army, the other of mercenaries hired from the War House.
And the first to move… were the slaves.
"Kill!" roared a commander from atop a warship. "Lord Fosfite has decreed—those who perform great deeds in this battle will earn their freedom! Slaves will be freed from bondage, and officers will be promoted three ranks!"
The words ignited the hearts of the downtrodden. Whether slave or soldier, their eyes blazed with desperation and hunger—bloodlust mingled with hope.
In that moment, thousands of eyes gleamed red. The scent of freedom and blood merged into one.
The battlefield was about to awaken.