The war had begun.
And it was a war between a Four Emperor and the Marines Headquarters.
To face this battle, the Marines mobilized elite soldiers from Marine bases all over the world.
At the same time, Sengoku reinforced and fortified the entire island of Marineford, laying out numerous defensive traps.
"Bzzzz!!!"
"Whitebeard's allied fleet detected on the sea surface! All personnel prepare for battle!"
As the report spread across the battlefield, the already prepared Marineford began to move again.
Everything was orderly and silent.
A killing intent filled the air and rushed into the sky.
"For justice!"
All the Marines shouted in unison.
Not a single soldier stepped back, and not a single pair of eyes showed hesitation.
Everyone stood quietly, waiting for the arrival of the allied fleet of Edward Newgate.
They were expecting this war.
They were eager for this war.
They would fight for justice and for peace across the seas.
"The Giant Squad is ready!"
At the very front stood more than a dozen giant Vice Admirals.
Each formation had a giant standing at its forefront.
Those giants stood like mountains, commanding the Marines behind them.
Their presence represented the confidence of the Marines.
Their presence represented the resolve of the Marines.
Like towering lighthouses, they gave courage to the ordinary soldiers standing behind them.
"We are fully prepared!"
"We are ready to face the enemy at any moment!"
Behind the giant Vice Admirals stood the Marine elites gathered from every corner of the world.
Together with the forces already stationed at Marineford, their numbers reached more than 150,000.
Every one of them represented the honor of a Marine base.
Every one of them represented the protector of an island or a nation.
One hundred and fifty thousand soldiers stood in perfect formation.
Under the shining blue and white Marine uniforms, they looked like warriors marching to conquer the world.
They were the greatest confidence behind the Marines' decision to challenge the Whitebeard Pirates.
Marineford was an enormous island.
Across the entire world, very few islands could compare to its size.
Yet even such a massive island was now filled entirely with Marine soldiers.
"For the honor of the Marines!"
Behind the army of 150,000 elite soldiers stood a row of famous Marine Vice Admirals known throughout the world.
Doberman, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and one of the five Vice Admirals who executed the Buster Call during the Enies Lobby incident.
Onigumo, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and another of the five officers who participated in the Buster Call.
Strawberry, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and one of the commanders involved in that same operation.
Yamakaji, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral who also took part in the Enies Lobby campaign.
Momonga, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and another participant of the Buster Call.
Bastille, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
Dalmatian, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
Stainless, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
There were dozens of elite Vice Admirals with known reputations, along with many others whose strength had remained hidden until now.
If the giant Vice Admirals were the vanguard… the true core of Marine power had yet to appear.
The dozens of elite Marine Vice Admirals were the core striking force of the Marines, the main power responsible for confronting the high-ranking members of the Whitebeard Pirates.
At this moment, every Vice Admiral stood silently in place, staring forward with solemn expressions.
The giant Vice Admirals stood at the front, the 150,000 Marine elites occupied the center, and the dozens of elite Vice Admirals stood behind them.
This was the front line prepared to face the Whitebeard Pirates.
Behind them, at the very center of Marineford, stood the execution platform specially constructed for Portgas D. Ace.
Several figures stood in front of the platform.
Dracule Mihawk, known as "Hawk Eyes," the world's greatest swordsman and a close acquaintance of Shanks.
Bartholomew Kuma, known as "Tyrant Kuma," the former king of the Sorbet Kingdom.
Boa Hancock, known as the Pirate Empress and ruler of Amazon Lily.
Gecko Moria, who once fought a fierce battle with Kaidou in the New World.
Donquixote Doflamingo, nicknamed "Heavenly Yaksha," the king of Dressrosa and ruler of the New World's underground trade.
These were the Seven Warlords of the Sea, pirates officially recognized by the Marines.
Pirates granted legal authority by the government, whose names alone could make countless people tremble in fear.
At the same time, they were the absolute defense ensuring that Ace's execution would not be interrupted.
With these individuals present, even the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates would struggle to gain any advantage.
"Admirals! The Admirals have arrived!"
At that moment, three figures appeared one after another.
They were quickly noticed.
Sakazuki, wearing a crimson suit and Marine cap, draped in the cloak of justice.
Kuzan, wearing white trousers and a blue shirt with an eye mask, also wearing the Marine justice coat.
Borsalino, dressed in a yellow-striped suit with orange sunglasses and the cloak of justice.
"Th-this…"
In an instant, all the reporters went mad.
Seeing such a lineup drove them into a frenzy.
"The three Admirals… all three Admirals are here?!"
Every reporter began writing furiously, recording everything they saw and heard.
Information from Marineford spread rapidly across the world.
"And that's not all."
At that moment, another figure slowly appeared on the execution platform.
The reporters immediately stopped writing.
Even from a distance, the vague outline alone was enough for them to recognize him.
Sengoku, the Marine Fleet Admiral known as the "Strategist," who once captured the legendary pirate Shiki together with Monkey D. Garp.
"This war is personally commanded by Fleet Admiral Sengoku?!"
If the appearance of the three Admirals had already shocked the reporters, Sengoku's presence pushed them into complete hysteria.
One hundred and fifty thousand Marine elites gathered from around the world.
More than a dozen giant Vice Admirals and dozens of elite Vice Admirals.
The Marines' three greatest combat forces, the Admirals, all assembled.
Yet even that was not the end.
This war was being commanded directly by Sengoku himself.
But still, it was not over.
Through the Marine surveillance Den Den Mushi, images began appearing on the screens.
Across the sea within several hundred nautical miles surrounding Marineford, more than three hundred Marine warships were patrolling.
"Are they insane?!"
One reporter dropped his pen in shock.
Staring with wide eyes, he muttered to himself.
"There's almost one warship per nautical mile."
"If any ship is attacked, the surrounding ships will immediately receive the signal."
"With defenses like this… can the Whitebeard allied fleet really break through?"
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