Somewhere upon the turbulent seas of the Grand Line.
The massive island-ship Grosseadi, its mineral fuel reserves nearly depleted, was beginning to lose propulsion. The giant engines sputtered weakly before fading altogether, and the colossal vessel slowed to a crawl.
Behind it, the Navy fleet led by Admiral Akainu was closing in fast.
"Fire every last cannonball we've got!"
Bundy Walde roared from atop one of the massive cannon turrets. Each time a shell was fired, he used the power of his Momo Momo no Mi to enlarge it hundreds of times, hurling mountain-sized projectiles toward Akainu's advancing warships.
Three- or four-meter shells became titanic masses three hundred meters across, crashing down like falling mountains upon the hundred-meter-long Marine battleships.
But Akainu's Great Eruption and Meteor Volcano attacks met them head-on, spewing endless torrents of molten rock that collided with the enormous shells midair.
The repeated detonations shook the entire sea.
Each explosion spawned walls of waves that spread outward in violent rings — small-scale tsunamis ripping through the ocean surface.
"Captain! We're out of shells too!"
Gairam ran up to Walde, face pale. First the fuel, and now even the specially crafted giant shells were gone.
Their bombardment had been devastating enough to destroy two or three islands… yet Akainu had blocked every single shot.
No wonder they called him the Navy's strongest admiral — his power was monstrous.
"Just two lousy ships sunk, and that's all?!"
Walde's fury erupted. His roar thundered across the deck, his dissatisfaction with his crew boiling over. Nothing they did seemed good enough.
"Captain, I'll go sink their ships myself," said Sebastian, the shark-fish giant wearing black shades.
Without waiting for permission, he dove straight off the side of the Grosseadi, vanishing into the dark waters below.
As a hybrid between Fish-Man and Giant, Sebastian possessed both extraordinary swimming ability and overwhelming strength. He had plenty of experience punching holes in ships — back when they needed gold to build this island-ship, he had sunk countless pirate and bounty-hunter vessels for plunder.
"Walde, when will Souta Kiryuu's crew arrive?"
Elder Binjack, now nearly eighty years old, leaned on a cane connected to an IV bag. He coughed between words, anxiety etched across his face.
These old men couldn't withstand another assault from a full admiral's fleet.
Binjack was frail and sickly — the brains of the crew, but with no real combat power.
Sebastian's morale and faith had long since eroded; his once-great strength had faded.
Natchin, using medical tonics and her ancient healing martial arts, could temporarily regain youth and stamina, but she too was past seventy. Her endurance for battle was limited.
"Maybe we should retreat inside the Grosseadi," Gairam suggested softly, not daring to meet his captain's furious gaze. "I can use my Cube-Cube Fruit to fight a guerrilla battle. We can trap them inside, buy time until Souta Kiryuu arrives."
The island-ship was enormous — even without power, as long as Akainu couldn't destroy the entire structure, they could hide within its labyrinthine interior.
With Gairam's ability, the interior of the ship had already been reshaped into a maze of shifting rooms and passages. He could modify it at will — the perfect battlefield for hit-and-run tactics.
But Walde's pride was volcanic.
"You worthless cowards can go hide all you want! I'll fight Akainu myself!"
The captain's temper exploded, his glare fierce as ever. He turned away, waving them off with disgust.
He would stand his ground. He would face Akainu again — and fight until Souta Kiryuu arrived.
He refused to believe he couldn't hold out that long.
Hide? Wait for rescue? Then be mocked later by monsters like Bullet or Enel? Never.
He'd rather die standing than live hiding.
"Walde!"
Binjack slammed his cane into the floor, anger replacing fear.
Calling his comrades "useless" again — that damn fool of a brother!
He turned to Gairam and Natchin, both of whom looked equally disheartened. They no longer knew how to deal with their once-revered captain.
For a moment, even Walde faltered.
His rage faded to confusion. He had spent years resenting these "traitorous subordinates," yet now, seeing them wounded and weary, something inside his chest ached.
Without another word, he blurred into motion, disappearing from their sight in a streak of shadow.
He reappeared on the stern of the ship, staring out over the waves.
Below him, Sebastian had succeeded in sinking another Marine warship — but paid the price dearly. Several Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals had followed him underwater, slashing his massive body into ribbons.
Barely alive, bleeding heavily, Sebastian dragged himself back onto the deck.
"Sorry… Captain… I did my best…"
His sunglasses were gone, revealing scarred eyes — now rolled back, blinded by pain.
Walde's fists trembled. A suffocating ache gripped his chest.
"I'll avenge you, Sebastian."
For the first time in years, his voice wavered.
Yes — his men had abandoned him three decades ago when Impel Down fell. But now, staring at the broken warrior before him, he finally understood. They hadn't betrayed him.
He had just spent too long in darkness, twisting his own heart into something bitter and cruel.
"C… Captain…"
Sebastian coughed blood, his lips curling into a weak smile.
Hearing that tone — that forgiveness — lifted something heavy from his spirit.
The pain in his heart had always been worse than the pain of his wounds.
Now, at last, he felt warmth again.
"Sebastian!!"
Gairam and Natchin appeared suddenly, followed closely by Binjack. They had seen the scene unfold on the monitors and rushed to his side, carrying the wounded giant away for emergency treatment.
As they vanished below deck, Walde's expression darkened again. He turned toward the approaching Marine fleet, eyes burning with fury.
"You're all dead men!"
He drew his twin pistols and fired rapidly.
Tiny bullets, no more than five millimeters across, expanded instantly — hundredfold in size and speed — transforming into half-meter-wide black shells screaming through the air toward Akainu's remaining ships.
Each shot split the air with sonic booms.
Akainu, leading two Vice Admirals and six Rear Admirals, met the assault head-on. Their Rankyaku slashes and flying sword waves intercepted the storm of projectiles.
The admiral raised his magma-coated arms, his expression grim and cold.
"Great Eruption! Meteor Volcano!"
A dozen magma fists burst upward, colliding with Walde's enormous bullets in a hail of fiery explosions.
"Bundy Walde!" Akainu's voice thundered across the sea. "If that's all you've got left, then get ready to rot in Impel Down again!"
His cruel smile widened. He had long since deciphered the workings of Walde's Momo Momo Fruit.
This time, there would be no escape.
Despite the damage to several ships, Akainu's fleet pressed forward. The moment they drew alongside the powerless island-ship, Marines swarmed across the chains and boarding planks — an elite strike force radiating killing intent.
These were Akainu's chosen men — soldiers who despised pirates with unshakable conviction.
Each one was hardened, disciplined, and utterly merciless.
The best of the Navy's iron-blooded warriors.
The battle for the Grosseadi had begun.