After Red-Haired Shanks was buried on Glass Island, a monument was erected in his honor. Once everything was settled, the remaining forces returned and began preparing for the final war.
Two days later, the combined forces of the Emperor Alliance and the Revolutionary Army had fully assembled.
The Phoenix Pirates alone brought more than seven thousand members. The Beasts Pirates contributed over two thousand, while the Big Mom Pirates deployed more than eight thousand fighters. The Revolutionary Army mobilized over twenty thousand troops of its own.
In addition, Vegapunk and Bonney provided five Seraphim units along with a large number of Pacifista.
According to Vegapunk, although the Marines had obtained the Pacifista production line, he had secretly installed a hierarchy of authority within every Pacifista chip.
From highest to lowest, the command authority was arranged as the Gorosei, Vegapunk, Sentomaru, and finally authorized chip holders.
However, there was one hidden exception.
Bonney possessed an authority level above even the Gorosei.
Vegapunk had personally created it.
He refused to allow Bonney and Kuma, father and daughter, to become enemies on the battlefield. Because of that, he secretly granted Bonney absolute authority over S-Bear and the Pacifista stationed in Mary Geoise.
At the same time, the World Government had already made preparations for the incoming war.
The Marines completely withdrew from the New World. Although Fleet Admiral Sengoku strongly opposed the order, he still had no choice but to obey.
All major Marine forces gathered at the entrance to the Red Line leading into Mary Geoise.
If the Emperor Alliance wished to invade the Holy Land, they would have to break through this point first.
The Red Line itself towered like a natural fortress wall separating the seas. There were only a handful of entrances throughout the entire continent, and the World Government had intentionally fortified every one of them over the centuries.
As long as those entrances remained secure, invading Mary Geoise would be nearly impossible.
At this moment, the entrance to the Red Line was packed with forces from the World Government.
Two hundred thousand Marine elites stood alongside another two hundred thousand Holy Land guards, creating a total army of four hundred thousand soldiers.
Behind them stood hundreds of Giant warriors.
But these were not ordinary Giants.
Each one possessed sharp fangs, black horns protruding from their heads, and massive demonic wings spreading from their backs.
They resembled monsters more than Giants.
Their size was equally terrifying.
Normal Giants were usually around twenty meters tall, yet these creatures had seemingly returned to an ancient form. Every one of them exceeded sixty meters in height.
Ancient Giants.
Standing at the center of the massive defensive force was not Fleet Admiral Sengoku, but the Commander-in-Chief himself, Kong.
This battle involved not only the Marines but also the Holy Land's military forces, giving Kong direct authority over the battlefield.
Meanwhile, inside Pangea Castle in Mary Geoise, the atmosphere had become extremely tense.
The Holy Land itself was nearly empty.
All ordinary Celestial Dragons had already been forcibly evacuated to the Grand Line under the escort of the God's Knights.
The World Government clearly understood the scale of the upcoming war.
This battle would determine whether they continued ruling the world or were completely destroyed.
Failure was not an option.
Inside the Room of Flowers, beneath the Empty Throne, Imu silently looked down at the Gorosei kneeling before her.
Behind them stood over forty members of the God's Knights.
Normally, the God's Knights maintained only around eighteen elite members selected from among the Celestial Dragons. Every one of them possessed immense strength and had received immortality from Imu herself, placing them at least at the level of Vice Admiral candidates.
But now, due to the war, the God's Knights had expanded dramatically.
Former reserve members and even elite Celestial Dragons who had never officially qualified were granted immortality and promoted into the organization.
The World Government desperately needed power.
Among all their forces, only the God's Knights were considered completely trustworthy. The Marines and Holy Land guards were still viewed as expendable tools rather than true allies.
Imu's cold voice echoed through the chamber.
"Are all preparations complete?"
Saint Nusjuro lowered his head respectfully.
"Yes, Lord Imu. Two hundred thousand Marine elites, two hundred thousand Holy Land guards, and seven hundred seventy-two Ancient Giant war slaves have all been deployed."
Saint Garling spoke with confidence.
"Our forces exceed the enemy by ten times. The Emperor Alliance and Revolutionary Army together barely number forty thousand."
Imu's expression remained indifferent.
"Numbers are meaningless before those who possess Conqueror's Haki."
Her scarlet eyes carried complete disdain.
"I only expect those insects to exhaust the alliance before dying."
Saint Warcury nodded in agreement.
"That is the only purpose those lower creatures can serve."
To them, the so-called Marine elites and Holy Land guards were nothing more than disposable cannon fodder.
The outcome of this war would ultimately be decided by only a handful of monsters standing at the top of the world.
Their role was simply to weaken the enemy before the true battle began at Pangaea Castle.
Soon, Imu gave her final order.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Lord Imu."
The Gorosei immediately departed and headed toward the entrance of the Holy Land to personally oversee the battlefield.
They understood clearly that Kong alone could never stop Marco and the others.
If Kong and Sengoku were killed early in the war, the entire four hundred thousand-man army would collapse into chaos.
That was why the Gorosei had personally taken command.
Two hours later, dozens of warships appeared on the distant sea.
Alarms instantly rang throughout the Red Line.
Commander-in-Chief Kong stepped forward and roared across the battlefield.
"All forces, prepare for battle! The enemy has arrived!"
The atmosphere instantly tightened.
The Gorosei narrowed their eyes as they stared toward the approaching fleet.
Even though Imu had already stated that drawing Marco to her was enough, they still hoped to eliminate the threat themselves if possible.
After all, this time they held an overwhelming numerical advantage.
Without hesitation, the Gorosei exchanged glances before taking out the Four Soul Divine Blood hidden within their robes.
Each of them injected it directly into their bodies.
In an instant, their auras exploded violently.
Their skin turned crimson, veins bulged across their bodies, and their strength rose dramatically.
Saint Somars watched with visible envy.
"As expected of the Gorosei, they used the Four Soul Divine Blood without hesitation."
Beside him, Saint Shamrock coldly replied,
"Stop talking nonsense. The enemy is already here."
His gaze sharpened as he looked toward the sea.
"Do not assume victory simply because we outnumber them. Those soldiers probably cannot even slow down monsters like Marco."
Saint Somars exhaled slowly before nodding.
"I understand."
His expression gradually became serious.
"I'll fight with everything I have."