As Garp's words fell, Bogard pulled out a gigantic cannonball, half the size of a warship.
"...?!"
What is this bastard trying to do?!
Tsuru's eyes widened, the corner of her mouth twitching. After hesitating for a moment, she asked: "You don't happen to have a grudge against Zephyr, do you?"
Isn't he your comrade-in-arms?
"I'm a righteous Marine."
Garp laughed heartily while lifting the massive cannonball above his head.
"No grudge, wouldn't that make us friends?"
...
"Is this guy for real?"
At this moment, Zephyr and everyone else also saw the enormous cannonball, all of them widening their eyes in disbelief, seemingly not expecting Garp to actually go that far.
"Ace, isn't that your grandpa?"
"I don't know either. Anyway, Gramps has always been like this, throwing punches at people all the time."
"What do we do now?"
"Kuma, push the cannonball away."
Zephyr was the first to regain his senses, immediately shouting: "Enel, help Kuma. When the cannonball gets close, everyone, together, hits it hard and sends it flying far away! Also, watch out for the massive waves that will follow and stabilize the ship!"
As Zephyr gave his orders, everyone's expression grew serious. They fixed their gaze on the cannonball, not daring to relax for even a moment.
At that same time, Garp moved. As he twisted his body, the massive cannonball, nearly the size of a ship, was hurled out.
Whoosh!
Although massive, as Garp threw it, it still carried a piercing sonic boom as it hurtled toward the ship.
The terrifying momentum made everyone's eyes narrow.
Just as they were about to act together…
"Hakoku Sovereignty!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind them. Everyone froze for a moment, and then, as if realizing something, smiles appeared on their faces.
"He's here!"
...
"He appeared?"
On the other side, Tsuru also sensed something. She raised her head, eyes focused solemnly on the enormous cannonball.
As her words fell, a powerful shockwave burst forth, not from the cannonball itself, but from in front of it.
Like a force that sought to turn everything before it into dust, the shockwave swept over the cannonball, instantly reversing its course and sending it back toward the Marines.
The terrifying blast stirred massive whirlpool-like waves, surging like a natural disaster, as though they would obliterate the marine warships.
"A giant's technique?!"
Tsuru's expression changed slightly, her eyes filled with surprise, but this was no time for questions.
She immediately came to her senses and shouted to the marines behind her: "Defend! Control the ship! Don't get overturned by the waves! Garp, what are you standing there for?"
"Hahahaha! That kid is here, huh?"
Garp burst out laughing, tugging the long iron chain in his hands. "He has gotten even stronger."
At this moment, all the marines watched the returning cannonball in shock, even Doflamingo was the same.
It was as if he had realized something; his eyes, hidden beneath his sunglasses, were filled with astonishment and disbelief while staring tightly not at the cannonball itself, but at the ship hidden behind it.
But in that instant, even with Garp restraining the cannonball, the overwhelming force still sent massive waves crashing down, scattering the once orderly formation of the warships into chaos.
"Stabilize the ships! Everyone, hold onto something!"
As the Marines scrambled to regain control amid the shouting of orders, that figure finally appeared before them all.
Bathed in sunlight, standing midair amidst the storming waves, he looked calmly upon the Marines.
At that moment, Doflamingo's expression changed drastically. With a dark look, he said slowly: "Retired Marine Lieutenant..."
Has the Marine Headquarters lost its damn mind?
...
"Ian."
"Mr. Ian."
Seeing Ian's appearance, Zephyr and everyone else all broke into joyful smiles.
"Hahaha! You kid, what brings you here?"
Zephyr laughed loudly while slapping Ian on the shoulder, then he looked at Ain, who had landed on the deck as well. "You came back this fast? Did you get the Devil Fruit?"
"Got it. But... Forget it, I'll explain later."
Ian replied briefly, then rested the Divine Axe Rhitta on his shoulder, turning toward the marine warships that had now steadied themselves beyond the waves.
Frowning, he asked: "But you guys, what happened? Why are you fighting the Marines?"
Weren't their relations with the Marines good right now?
He was even supposed to be invited to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
As his words fell, everyone looked at each other in confusion.
"I don't know either."
Zephyr finally said, his tone heavy. "Things were fine at first, but then suddenly, they came to arrest us. And the order they receive was... our life or death situation doesn't matter."
He sighed with disbelief, faint in his tone. "And the order came from Sengoku himself. I don't know what that old man's gone mad about."
"Fleet Admiral Sengokul?"
Hearing Zephyr's words, Ian frowned.
He wasn't surprised that the Marines or World Government would move against them, but to suddenly turn hostile right after peaceful talks?
Could it be they'd been discovered?
"We will look into it later."
Ian said, raising an eyebrow as he looked toward the central warship ahead. "For now, let's deal with what's in front of us."
As his words fell, everyone behind him collected their thoughts. With Ian's arrival, their worries seemed to fade away. They quietly stood beside and behind him.
Unknowingly, Ian stood in the center of them, with his axe placed on his shoulder while looking at the white-haired old woman standing at the bow of the enemy ship, "Do you still want to fight?"
"Former West Blue's Lieutenant, this bastard is just a Lieutenant?"
Doflamingo's eyes flickered slightly, and that gloomy expression instantly vanished, replaced by a look of, are you kidding me?!
He stared at Tsuru with a mocking yet incredulous tone: "Have your Marines gone insane? You actually let such a terrifying guy retire? Did the Marines feed their brains with crap?"
"Shut up!"
Tsuru glared at Doflamingo. She also wanted to ask whether those West Blue Marines really had eaten crap, how could they possibly let someone like that retire?
Taking a deep breath, her eyes fell back toward the other side. At that moment, as if seeing something, her heart trembled slightly.
From left to right, on the left was Chief Instructor Zephyr; on the right, the Tyrant Kuma; standing atop the mast behind them was that man with a Logia Devil Fruit, and those young brats as well.
She fell silent, but only for a moment. With a sigh, Tsuru said nothing more to the people across from her, nor did she make any other move; she just stood there without saying a word.