The Marine Headquarters hadn't committed its full force. A portion of the Admirals' fighting strength remained stationed across the Grand Line. Even so, Rosen, the three Admirals, and Douglas Bullet hadn't moved a muscle. It was merely the five giant Vice Admirals from the Marine Science Unit making their debut—a small test of their abilities that had already shown the Whitebeard Pirates the true meaning of overwhelming force.
Swoosh
After unleashing tornadoes that pierced sky and sea, deflecting the Whitebeard Pirates' barrage of bullets, the five Marine Azure Dragons didn't cease their attack. Instead, they coiled through the air, adjusting their positions before opening their mouths to unleash blazing flames.
"Heat Breath!"
Four scorching blasts pierced the sound barrier, carrying sharp whistles and intense energy like pillars of molten lava raining down on the Whitebeard Pirates' four ships. While Kaido's heat breath could incinerate mountains, the giant Vice Admirals' combined power would be enough to destroy the ships in minutes.
"Stop them!"
Jozu and Vista moved to intercept, but they froze mid-step. A red glint flashed in their eyes as they looked toward Gion and Kake. The two Marine Supernovas were already prepared—Gion crackling with lightning, Kake's revolver aimed squarely at Vista. Under their watch, neither Whitebeard commander dared act rashly.
Fortunately for them, the Whitebeard Pirates had other captains. Thatch, Bramanco, Rakuyo, and Namur charged forward simultaneously.
"Don't underestimate the Whitebeard Pirates' captains!"
Thatch leaped from the deck, his twin swords wrapped in Armament Haki that took the form of a soaring dragon. He slashed at the incoming heat breath.
Boom!
The collision created a tidal wave of flames. After a brief stalemate, the heat breath shattered into sparks raining across the ocean. Thatch was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the sea and sending up a towering column of water. The Vice Admiral's Azure Dragon form—combined with the giant's innate strength—had proven superior.
Bramanco fared better. The giant hammer in his hands, now coated in Haki like a small mountain, smashed into another heat breath. The explosion sent him crashing back onto his ship, but he landed on his feet.
Rakuyo's meteor hammer, a massive chain imbued with black Armament Haki, flew out like an imposing python and slammed head-on into a descending heat breath. After shattering the attack, he caught the chain and pulled it back, standing proudly on the bow.
These veteran commanders—adopted by Whitebeard young—possessed strength beyond their rankings. Even Namur, using Fish-Man Jujutsu to manipulate the currents, created a massive water bubble that intercepted and extinguished the final heat breath.
"They blocked them!"
"Charge! There are only five of them!"
"They're not Kaido—we can wear them down with numbers!"
The pirates' morale surged. Seeing the Azure Dragons stopped, they charged with renewed ferocity.
But Rosen's voice cut through the chaos, calm yet resonant.
"Elite Lieutenant Generals. Step forward."
Five elite officers in combat suits floated forward, forming a second line. Golden light erupted from them, illuminating the sky and sea like a massive curtain.
Their hair rose into topknots. Skin and justice coats turned golden. In an instant, Momonga, Onigumo, Doberman, Fire Mountain, and Stromberg transformed into towering Golden Buddhas, each over eight meters tall and radiating immense power.
Edward Newgate's pupils constricted. "Sengoku's ability."
Marco's expression turned grim. "Rosen... what did you do to these Marines?"
Jozu clenched his fists. "How is this possible?"
"Five Buddhas," someone whispered in horror. "First five dragons, now five Buddhas. When did Mythical Zoans become this common?"
The pirates paled as they watched ten Vice Admirals—five Azure Dragons and five Golden Buddhas—float above the waves.
Rosen had ten Admirals worth of power, and the Marine Science Unit hadn't even deployed yet. Dol, Gild Tesoro, Hina, and Monet remained motionless. Behind them waited the three actual Admirals and Douglas Bullet.
"Prepare yourselves," Momonga declared. "Your journey ends here. This sea is your graveyard."
The Five Buddhas raised their right arms in unison, palms facing the forty-odd pirate ships.
"Buddha Shockwave!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five waves of overwhelming force erupted from their palms, merging into a single devastating tsunami that split the turbulent sea, creating five terrifying chasms.
Bullets, cannonballs, and slashing waves from the Whitebeard Pirates shattered against the combined assault. Pirate ships that rushed ahead crumbled on contact—hulls exploding, masts splintering, decks disintegrating.
In one exchange, five ships were obliterated. Pirates who gripped their weapons moments before now coughed blood as they fell into the churning ocean.
This was only possible because some commanders arrived in time to unleash Armament Haki, punching and slashing to blunt the shockwave. Without them, a single Buddha Shockwave would have destroyed at least ten of the forty-eight ships.
The Whitebeard Pirates' charge had stalled. The Marine Science Unit's giant Vice Admirals had proven that Rosen's military doctrine—overwhelming force through artificial Devil Fruit powers—wasn't just theory. It was a living nightmare for the strongest pirate crew in the world.###
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