Whoosh!
The crimson fruit spun in the air before falling gently back down.
"It's clearly a victory purchased with the lives of ordinary Marines, yet in the end it is called a victory of justice, not a victory of the people."
Shirogai sat cross-legged, a faint smile on his face as he observed the Marines in the distance, a third of whom had already fallen in the brutal meat grinder of battle.
"But in the end, only the Marine Admirals are celebrated. Neither the Marines nor the World Government acknowledge the ordinary soldiers who sacrificed themselves, nor do they honor the lives lost for this hard-won triumph."
Shirogai shook his head lightly, murmuring with a touch of amusement:
"It is as if their sacrifices were taken for granted. And Admiral Akainu, hailed as the iron-blooded hero, after achieving victory at the cost of so many lives, still disregards the exhausted survivors, continuing to enforce his 'absolute justice' with the cheap lives of others, and yet he is absurdly praised for it."
The unripe parts of the blood-red fruit had almost disappeared, much like the bloody, harrowing battlefield of ice below.
"Is the existence of certain people truly absurd?" Shirogai muttered quietly.
His gaze fell on a corner of the plaza where a Marine, tears streaming down his face, fought desperately, slicing a pirate in a frenzy before rushing to aid a barely-living Marine.
"He knows he's just an ordinary soldier, so he doesn't cling to lofty notions of justice."
'Deserter King' Koby.
"He doesn't comprehend why this war must happen. He only knows that every life matters, that everyone has a family, everyone has dreams…"
Shirogai's gaze lifted from the sight of Koby weeping as he supported the fallen Marine's body and fell upon Garp, seated in the center of the void left by the three Admirals, smiling calmly.
"So, Navy Hero Garp… this is why you value him, isn't it? Only those who come from ordinary people truly understand the justice ordinary people need. Not the justice twisted under banners, hidden motives, or ambition. The Marines' justice is now tainted by selfishness. Such justice… Hah, let's not waste words on it."
The blood-red fruit hovered, orbiting Shirogai as if spoiled.
"Still not enough deaths? Don't worry, the remaining lives will soon follow."
Shirogai lightly flicked the fruit before him, a mischievous smile on his lips.
"It still needs a little catalyst, how about…"
His eyes locked on a certain perfectly preserved area, and a dangerous, sinister smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Slender fingers tapped the surface impatiently.
"Let you be the villains, my dear Gorosei… how about the Sixth Council plays with you? You're old; you need some stimulation. How about a pole dance to liven things up?"
Shirogai's gaze returned to the battlefield, spotting figures desperately fleeing toward the execution platform.
His friends, his brothers.
Captain Luffy.
"Unfortunately, Luffy, I can't intervene just yet," Shirogai sighed faintly. "And with your current strength, saving Ace on this battlefield is still extremely difficult. But that's no fault of yours. What you rely on now is your true power, not the exuberance of youthful impulse."
Crack!
Luffy was intercepted again by a Vice Admiral. Though he could not be killed, his steps were successfully blocked.
At the same time, a mechanical roar echoed through the area.
"Click, click, click…"
The vibrations caused by Whitebeard earlier had been so immense that the pre-buried Marine mechanism, the Iron Wall, began malfunctioning. Only after the three Admirals engaged Whitebeard and the maintenance personnel worked urgently to repair the mechanical core did it slowly begin to rise.
Rumble, rumble…
One by one, massive iron walls ascended, encasing the already elevated Marine plaza behind thick metallic barriers.
"Hmph, finally," Fleet Admiral Sengoku exhaled in relief, eyes fixed on the three Admirals entangled with Whitebeard. Coldly, he shouted:
"Akainu, return! Activate the Annihilation Plan!"
Buzz snap!
The air vibrated as Ama no Murakumo, imbued with terrifying Haki, tore through the sky.
Bang!
The three Admirals struck simultaneously from different positions, their Haki-wielding attacks skillfully dampening the tremors generated by Whitebeard.
Buzz!!!
The vibrations resonated, distorting the surrounding air into layers of dangerous airwaves.
Creak, creak, creak!!!
"… … …" But the three Admirals remained resolute, maintaining their Haki emissions and refusing to let the tremors spread.
"Aokiji brat, don't always be so cold. Did your Devil Fruit change your personality?" Whitebeard's frown deepened as he swung Ama no Murakumo toward the Admiral closest to him.
Buzz!
"I remember when you followed Zephyr, you seemed so hot-blooded!" Whitebeard's magnetic, smiling voice rang as if chatting, but the blade in his hand was merciless, aiming to strike Aokiji's head.
"…," Aokiji faltered, recalling fragments of the past. Zephyr…
"Brat, don't zone out! Are you giving the enemy an opening?" Whitebeard barked like a stern elder, exhaling a cold snort and kicking Aokiji, who lagged slightly.
Boom!
Aokiji turned to ice midair and shattered violently, using his elemental powers to reduce the impact before quickly rejoining the formation.
"Hmph!" Akainu's magma fist slammed toward Ama no Murakumo. His expression grim, he snorted coldly, clearly irritated at Aokiji being lectured.
"Magma brat, what are you snorting about? I lectured him, not you!" A single Haki-laden strike slashed toward Akainu.
"…," Though unwilling, he rationally dodged.
"Not bad, still strong. Your volatile Devil Fruit hasn't overwhelmed you yet!" Whitebeard teased, withdrawing his blade to push the three back.
Alas, he remained firmly entangled, unable to break free.
He glanced regretfully at the distant Whitebeard Pirates' Captains, who were pinned by unknown, powerful enemies. Sorry, my children. Pops can't support you at range.
This was also a limitation of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit: vibrations concentrated at one point are formidable, but the range is limited and easily defended against by those with powerful Haki.
Unlike long-range resonance capable of shaking the entire battlefield, these concentrated tremors are controllable, predictable, and less destructive overall.
The three Admirals understood this, engaging Whitebeard at close quarters to prevent long-range vibrations from destabilizing the battlefield.
"Gurarararara, you three brats are formidable indeed!" Whitebeard's Ama no Murakumo danced in his hands, scattering threats, yet he remained encircled.
Though he could entangle three Admirals, he could not kill them. These three were among the world's elite, experienced, awakened in their Devil Fruits, and synchronized in combat — not to be underestimated.
If given an opportunity, any of the Four Emperors could fall.
Akainu's magma mobility was slightly lacking, but the sheer destructive force of the Magma-Magma Fruit was unparalleled; even Kaido would hesitate to enter it. The other two Admirals — Aokiji and Kizaru — were unpredictable nuclear deterrents in their own right.
All at once, Sengoku's furious shout echoed:
"Sakazuki, return! Activate the Annihilation Plan!"
"…," Akainu remained calm, still focusing on Whitebeard.
"Ice Age!!!"
The other two Admirals understood immediately.
"Yasakani no Magatama!!!"
They widened their distance, launching wide-area attacks to provide Akainu a chance to disengage.
Whitebeard, hearing Sengoku's urgent shouts, realized the two were creating an opening for Akainu.
"Gurarararararara, you want me to fear your attacks? Who do you think I am, brats!" His eyes flared, and he swung Ama no Murakumo like a fan, sending vibrations outward to create an impenetrable minefield.
All bullets of light and intense cold were shattered, merely an aftershock.
Whitebeard's main target for the vibrations was Akainu, intent on preventing his retreat.
Crack!!!!!
The Haki-charged blade vibrated space itself, shattering Akainu's magma body. Whoosh! Whoosh!
The magma lumps could only gush in place, forced to remain, unable to leave the vibrating blockade.
"Magma brat, you won't escape my attack range!!!"
___
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