While the Black Star Pirates were engaged in casual conversation on Treasure Island, the countless pirates who had been loudly clamoring to teach the Marines a lesson and attempting to organize a massive siege were now screaming in terror and running frantically across the ocean surface that had been transformed into a solid ice field.
The reason for their panic was immediately apparent: apart from the main Marine fleet, there were four imposing figures walking steadily across the frozen sea in four different directions radiating outward from the island like the points of a compass.
They moved like gods descended from heaven, and almost simultaneously launched attacks that were completely different in form but equally terrifying to every pirate who witnessed them.
On the northern approach, a figure wearing a distinctive red suit and Marine officer's coat appeared through the mist with deliberate, measured steps.
As Admiral Akainu advanced, countless giant fists of molten lava began raining down from the sky above, slamming into the vast frozen area ahead of him with devastating force. Each impact sent shockwaves across the ice field and left massive craters of melted rock and steam.
On the southern side, a tall and lean Marine with an aura of bone-chilling cold approached Treasure Island's direction with firm, unwavering steps.
Admiral Aokiji moved forward as endless waves of freezing energy spread outward from his position. Wherever his influence reached, whether it touched people or ships, everything was instantly encased in layers of solid ice that gleamed like crystal in the morning light.
On the eastern approach, a yellow figure with Admiral Kizaru's characteristic laid-back expression leaped high into the air, crossing his arms in preparation for his signature technique.
Countless dazzling points of light began falling from the sky like luminous artillery shells, illuminating the entire ice field as bright as midday while ruthlessly destroying every obstacle in their path with explosive force.
On the western side, there stood a blind man wearing a distinctive lavender kimono and carrying a walking stick that concealed a deadly blade.
Admiral Fujitora simply drew his long sword and waved it casually through the air with seemingly effortless grace, then sheathed the weapon and continued walking forward as if nothing significant had occurred.
However, several enormous meteorites were already plummeting from the heavens above, shaking the entire sea area and leaving the pirates on this side completely stunned by the overwhelming display of gravitational power.
Almost simultaneously, except for the southern sector where Aokiji's freezing advance was relatively quiet, the other three directions became shrouded in deafening roars and violent tremors that could be felt for miles in every direction.
Faced with these earth-shattering assaults, pirates who possessed exceptional strength, quick thinking, or extraordinary luck either took advantage of cracks appearing in the ice to leap into the water and attempt escape, or used the pirate ships that had been frozen in place as improvised cover while trying to avoid or resist the brutal long-range bombardment.
However, the vast majority of pirates couldn't escape their inevitable fate and fled in complete panic, their expressions showing absolute terror as they scrambled desperately for any form of shelter.
This incredible scene was being observed by Kotatsu, who was flying high above the battlefield, and was broadcast live to viewers around the world. Countless people watching were left completely speechless, shocked by the overwhelming destructive power of the Marine Admirals as if they were witnessing the actual end of the world unfolding before their eyes.
Inside Treasure Island itself, Jerry and his companions naturally felt and observed the tremendous noise and chaos erupting outside their defensive perimeter. Their island was also coming under direct threat from the giant lava fists and dazzling light bombardments raining down from above.
Noticing that Cavendish and Ace had already sprung into action to intercept any attacks that might cause damage to the island, Jerry waved his hand casually, covering everyone present with a protective layer of his signature spherical water barriers.
"The attraction of this pointer really is something else," he commented with obvious amazement. "I'm pretty sure the Marines have committed their entire force to this operation!"
Skull nodded with grave seriousness. "According to the intelligence I've gathered through my networks, the World Government has issued direct orders to seize or completely destroy our pointer here, regardless of the cost involved."
"The Marines just completed their World Draft not long ago, so their overall strength must have improved dramatically by now. That's how they were able to quickly suppress the pirates from all Four Blues and the Grand Line, then simultaneously deploy so many troops and powerful fighters to this single location."
After Skull finished his analysis, Brook continued with his characteristic dark humor, "So we're facing four Admirals coming at us from different directions? Are we about to be turned into dumplings? Though I have to say, my bone filling probably wouldn't taste very good! Yohohoho!"
Hearing Brook's morbid joke, Deuce and the others couldn't help but feel their anxiety levels spike considerably.
After all, there had only been three Admirals present during the legendary Battle of Marineford. Although there had been Admiral candidates available at that time, because the fighting took place at Marine Headquarters itself, the Admirals' area-of-effect attacks had been significantly restrained to avoid damaging their own facilities.
"Don't worry—it's not four Admirals," Jerry said, waving his hand dismissively. Just as Brook and the others were beginning to breathe sighs of relief, he held up his palm and added cheerfully, "It's actually five. And if you count those two old-timers, that makes seven total, though the positions of Garp and Sengoku are still uncertain."
Hearing this devastating news, Deuce raised his hand and pressed it against his forehead in obvious distress. "Jerry, this situation has gone way beyond our original expectations. Even with support from Whitebeard and the others, it's going to be incredibly difficult to resist this kind of overwhelming force. Why don't we escape right now while we still can?"
Unexpectedly, Jerry remained completely calm and replied, "Don't worry about it—the situation is still developing. But I do think you all should consider escaping first. How about everyone returns to our ship and sneaks out of here before things get worse?"
Feeling the tremendous vibrations coming from outside the island as the Admiral attacks continued, Deuce's expression became deadly serious. "Don't joke around, Jerry. Since we came back here, we've all made up our minds about this. If we're leaving, we're leaving together. If we're fighting, we're fighting together as a crew."
As soon as these words were spoken, Skull, Carrot, Brook, and all the others immediately turned their attention toward Jerry and nodded in unanimous agreement. "That's absolutely right!"
In truth, from the perspective of Deuce and the other crew members, Jerry didn't seem to possess any genuine ambition to become the Pirate King.
However, it was only natural that he wouldn't give up the permanent pointer easily. Even the most indifferent pirate in the world would inevitably want to investigate its secrets once such a legendary treasure came into their possession.
Although none of them completely understood Jerry's deeper motivations, they often wondered why he hadn't simply set off directly for the final island the moment he obtained the pointer.
But this confusion had long since faded into the background, because they all firmly believed that when the time was right, the complete truth would be revealed to them.
Seeing everyone's determined expressions and unwavering loyalty, Jerry decided not to offer any additional advice. Instead, he smiled warmly and said, "Alright, alright. But when the fighting starts, try to stay close to the shoreline where I can protect you better..."
At that exact moment, a thunderous chorus of unified battle cries resonated across the sky—the unmistakable sound of the main Marine force beginning their coordinated assault.
"Jerry, what's our move here?" Ace and Cavendish called out as they flew down from their defensive positions. "Do you want to attempt a breakout?"
Jerry shook his head decisively. "Let's wait and see how this develops first. I don't think the situation is completely hopeless yet."
As he spoke, he tilted his chin slightly toward Deuce and said simply, "Take us up."
Deuce nodded with obvious resignation but no hesitation.
As Deuce had adapted to and developed his Devil Fruit powers over time, he could now easily create massive clouds of pink flames capable of lifting enormous chunks of stone hundreds of meters in diameter. Carrying the entire Black Star Pirates crew into the sky had become a simple matter.
Just as everyone rose from their ground position and began surveying the battlefield from above, they could see countless Marine soldiers commanding their warships to slowly break through the ice field surrounding the island. The Marines were methodically closing their encirclement with firm, coordinated steps, clearly intending to trap all pirates and other hostile forces within their tightening net.
On the bow of each warship, numerous Pacifista units fashioned in Bartholomew Kuma's likeness were continuously firing laser beams and conducting relentless long-range bombardment strikes.
The pirates who had somehow managed to survive the initial devastating round of attacks from multiple Admirals were definitely not going to surrender without a fight.
They either fought back using their own unique abilities and techniques, or skillfully avoided the enemy attacks while retreating toward Treasure Island's direction, desperately hoping to find some glimmer of survival in the midst of all this chaos.
After the various bombardments had continued for several minutes, the ice in many locations had been completely shattered or even melted entirely, leaving countless chunks of frozen debris floating freely on the churning ocean surface.
This meant that most people were now forced to travel individually on foot across the unstable ice floes, with only a fortunate few still able to remain aboard functional vessels.
Among the various groups of survivors rushing toward Treasure Island from all directions, there were numerous notable forces and powerful individuals, including Zephyr's NEO Marines and the escaped former Warlord Crocodile.
Within just a few minutes, countless pirates had reached Treasure Island's immediate vicinity from every possible angle, while the Marines' encirclement continued shrinking steadily, slowly but inexorably approaching the island itself.
The desperate pirates had already spotted the Black Star Pirates floating above the battlefield, so at this critical juncture, they showed no hesitation whatsoever. Every single one of them rushed directly toward Jerry and his companions, abandoning all other considerations.
Compared to the overwhelming pressure being exerted by several Marine Admirals simultaneously, they instinctively calculated that the Black Star Pirates represented a more vulnerable target.
At this moment, their only focus was obtaining that legendary pointer. Everything else had completely disappeared from their tactical considerations.
However, at this absolutely critical moment, a sudden and dramatic change interrupted everyone's actions and shifted the entire balance of power.
"Gurararara! You Marines think you can run wild in my territory?"
As a heroic voice echoed majestically across the sky, the earth and heavens themselves began to shake violently. The ground trembled, the island tilted at impossible angles, the massive ice sheet covering the ocean surface was completely shattered into countless plates of different sizes, and a tremendous tsunami began building beneath the fractured surface.
At this critical moment that would determine the fate of everyone present, most pirates could think of nothing except the eternal pointer that would decide their ultimate destiny.