"Damn Marines!"
The Division Commanders were struck with horror. They had never anticipated the Navy would strike so ruthlessly. Judging by the coordinated movements of the Pacifistas, this was clearly a pre-planned slaughter.
They had been played. The Navy had lured the heavy hitters away, then used that opening to systematically dismantle their only means of escape.
"Quick! Save as many as you can!" Not just the Commanders, but the allied pirate captains were burning with anxiety. Ace was saved—the mission was complete—but if they were forced to stay and fight to the last man because they had no ships...
The thought made the pirates' hearts waver. Without ships, they would all die here, no matter how many Marines they took with them.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The Pacifistas' cold, systematic bombardment continued without pause.
"Pops..." Seeing their fleet being vaporized, Jozu couldn't stay still. He called out urgently.
Whitebeard looked at Sengoku's stoic face. His heart sank slightly, but then his lips curled into a fierce smirk. "You really play for keeps, don't you... Sengoku?"
"This war... the Navy MUST win!" Sengoku replied calmly. He knew many pirates would still manage to flee, but this blow would be enough. Whitebeard would never abandon his sons, and the sons would never leave their father.
And Fire Fist Ace would certainly not leave either!
"We are ALL going back to the New World!" Whitebeard declared, his voice brook no argument. "Sengoku... you cannot stop us!"
Whitebeard gathered his strength. Dark red Conqueror's Haki spiraled around Murakumogiri, the energy so dense it was visible to the naked eye.
"Not good!" Sengoku and Garp both gasped, but it was too late.
Whitebeard swung his blade downward with a monstrous roar. An invisible shockwave of sheer power tore through the air, slamming directly into the Marine Headquarters fortress!
KABOOM!!
The massive, iconic building shuddered. A giant crack slowly spider-webbed across the structure, creating a cut as smooth as glass. He had split the Marine Headquarters in two.
"WHITEBEARD!" Sengoku snarled, his eyes fixed on the Emperor.
Whoosh—!
Marco interceded, absorbing every laser beam aimed at the Moby Dick. His body, riddled with holes, knit back together instantly. With a burst of speed, he reached the line of Pacifistas, his legs coated in dense Armament Haki.
"Go to hell!"
Marco was a blue blur. He kicked one, then pivoted to strike the next. Though the Pacifistas were powerful, they were no match for a First Division Commander—especially one fueled by pure rage. He dismantled them systematically, his Haki-clad strikes crushing their metal frames.
"First Division Commander... Marco!" Sentomaru noted grimly.
Marco didn't even give him a second glance. He turned and soared back toward Akainu's location. "I'll leave the rest to you!"
The other Commanders had arrived at the harbor, nodding to Marco. The elite of the Whitebeard Pirates versus the Pacifista army!
The few remaining ships began frantically pulling their drowning comrades from the freezing water.
Meanwhile, Kenshin was carrying the exhausted Drake, retreating at high speed. Akainu was relentless in his pursuit. His primary goal: eliminate the brothers!
Their potential was too dangerous. To have this much power at such a young age meant they would become terminal threats to the World Government if allowed to mature.
"Anyone else can leave, but you few MUST stay!" Akainu's voice was cold, sounding like a demon emerging from the depths of the earth.
Kenshin didn't waste breath on a reply. His only thought was survival. Every second spent talking was a second Akainu used to close the gap. Their journey had been a chaotic one—joining this "crew" and immediately being thrown into a global war before they even had a name.
But it didn't matter.
Drake was mysterious, and the things he produced were beyond logic, but Kenshin saw the boy's sincerity and the genuine bond between the brothers. Kenshin decided then that this crew was worth fighting for. He wouldn't let it end before it even began.
BOOM! Akainu launched a magma fist at Kenshin's back.
Sensing the danger, Kenshin leaped and spiraled through the air. Their flight units were out of energy; they were grounded. Escaping an Admiral on foot was a different beast entirely.
Kenshin dodged the strikes, but he was slower than Akainu. In a flash, the Admiral appeared in front of them, magma dripping from his hands, his presence suffocatingly powerful.
Kenshin set Drake down. He knew that running any further would only lead to a magma fist through the back.
Sizzle... Lightning crackled around Kenshin. He gripped his sword. This fight was unavoidable.
Drake collapsed to one knee, looking up at the two combatants. His mind was racing. System! System, are you there!?
[Ding! The System is present.]
"Senzu Beans," Drake thought frantically. "I need Senzu Beans. Where can I get them?"
[Ding! Since the Host has completed the first Main Mission, the System Mall is now open. The Host may purchase items using earned points.]
Drake's heart leapt. Good dog—I mean, Great System!
"Open the Mall!"
A mental interface flooded Drake's consciousness, displaying a vast array of items neatly categorized. He felt like he was browsing an interdimensional shopping app.
While Drake "shopped," Kenshin was locked in a fierce struggle with Akainu. Kenshin went all out, every strike erupting with lightning. He knew his physical blade wouldn't harm the Admiral, so he focused on channeling the Goro Goro no Mi's power. Lightning doesn't care if you're magma.
However, Kenshin was outmatched. Even with the lightning fruit, he was being pushed back, barely managing to parry Akainu's heavy blows.
VROOM!
Just as Kenshin's defense was about to crumble, a pillar of blue flames descended from the sky, slamming directly into Akainu's back!
KABOOM!!
The impact cratered the ground beneath the Admiral's feet!
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