"So strong! So powerful!"
Amidst the battlefield, someone couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
Uchiha Madara was an unknown individual to the natives of the pirate world. However, from this day forward, from this very moment, his reputation would truly soar to the heavens, becoming a renowned figure across the vast seas.
Or perhaps... another god.
"So, the trump card of the Sage Shinobi Nation wasn't a god... but it might as well be one."
"... are we destined to lose this war after all?"
Someone muttered in despair.
The pirates of the Avengers, who had believed victory was within their grasp, found themselves facing yet another reversal, once more plunged into the abyss of defeat.
"Damn it! Why? Why didn't this guy show up sooner?!"
Someone cursed, their voice filled with panic.
They were among those who had recently rebelled, betraying the Sage Shinobi Nation to join the Avengers.
What they thought was a wise decision had instead become their march toward death.
Some panicked completely, already stealthily edging toward the fringes of the battlefield, hoping to escape the conflict and flee this place entirely.
However, under the watchful eyes of others, they could only halt their steps, forcing themselves to remain where they stood, their scalps tingling with fear.
During this time, news of the events on Post Island had spread across the seas, reaching every corner of the world.
"A Twist! There's been another Twist to the battle!"
Someone spoke in disbelief, listening to the reports coming through the phone, completely astonished that after one turn of events, the war could experience yet another dramatic shift.
"Uchiha Madara, is this another god?"
Someone asked, their heart trembling with uncertainty.
"Perhaps not. While his displayed combat power has completely overshadowed Garp, Whitebeard, and the others, a god is someone capable of obliterating a Marine Admiral with a single punch!"
Another countered. Indeed, based on Uchiha Madara's current display of strength, he hadn't quite reached the level of a god.
After all, his achievements didn't seem that spectacular yet.
So, it was understandable why some held that opinion.
The world was once again in an uproar due to Madara's appearance.
People discussed and debated, speculating about the future course of events. No one knew if this war would see yet another reversal.
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku's body jolted upright upon hearing the news.
But the moment he moved, a searing pain shot through him, making him grimace.
Seeing this, Tsuru quickly urged Sengoku to lie back down.
But the worry on Tsuru's face was evident.
She hadn't expected that even without the appearance of a god, another mysterious powerhouse, whose strength far surpassed their own, would emerge.
"Uchiha Madara, another name we've never heard before, just like those people from the Sage Shinobi Nation. They appeared out of thin air." Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke.
They had naturally investigated the individuals from the Sage Shinobi Nation, but their efforts had yielded nothing.
This was highly irregular.
Because even if someone had remained obscure and acted discreetly in the past, there would inevitably be witnesses or evidence of their abilities.
Yet, the people from the Sage Shinobi Nation, especially the Ninja Pirate Crew, each seemed to have materialized from nothingness.
Their pasts were complete blanks.
"God, Uchiha Madara, the Ninja Pirate Crew..."
Muttering these names, Sengoku clenched his fists.
"These individuals are likely connected. Could it be... that they come from the Sky Island?!"
Sengoku suddenly thought of Sky Island, a place recorded in history but long since vanished from sight.
Legend had it that above the clouds lay a cluster of islands inhabited by people known as angels.
And who did the angels worship? Wasn't it God?!
Furthermore, wasn't Konan directly referred to as an angel?
The more he thought about it, the more Sengoku believed he was close to the truth.
Even Vice Admiral Tsuru couldn't help but fall into contemplative silence.
"Regardless of their origin, the most crucial matter is their objective, and our inability to stop them."
Tsuru concluded her thoughts with a sigh of resignation.
Her words stunned Sengoku, who then lapsed into silence.
Indeed, whether they hailed from Sky Island or elsewhere, the Navy was powerless to prevent their actions in this world.
This realization drained Sengoku of all spirit. He lay sprawled on his sickbed, eyes closed, silently praying for Garp's safety.
Tsuru, too, fell silent, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, filled with worry.
Meanwhile, Garp, staring at Madara in the sky, felt his heart sink.
That previous punch had demonstrated the sheer power of the man before him.
How could he possibly overcome such overwhelming strength?
Could this truly be the end?
The memory of the 40,000 Marines who had perished in the depths of the sea weighed heavily on Garp's heart.
He had come seeking vengeance!
Not only Garp, but Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin –each of them felt a deep sense of unwillingness to accept defeat.
"Today... we might all die here."
Whitebeard's words hung heavy in the air, causing the others to stiffen. A somber silence followed.
"Death is not the most terrible outcome, but if we fail to avenge our fallen comrades, how will we face them in the afterlife?"
Whitebeard's words resonated with the trio, their fists clenching tightly.
Indeed, their fallen crewmates were likely waiting for them to exact revenge. How could they face them otherwise?
"Everyone, let's give it our all. At the very least, we must take down that woman."
With these words, Whitebeard cast aside all hesitation.
This war was reaching its final, decisive moment.
In all likelihood, he would die here.
But even in death, he would avenge his crew.
"Alright, let's fight to the death!"
Garp declared.
When he defected from the Marines and set out with this plan, he had already accepted the possibility of death. Whether he perished at the hands of a god or this man called Madara made little difference.
However, unlike the resolute Whitebeard and Garp, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin remained silent, their hearts wavering.
While avenging their crews had been their initial motivation, the prospect of sacrificing their own lives for revenge suddenly seemed... not so worth it.
For only the living possessed endless possibilities.
Lost crewmates could be replaced.
But if they themselves perished, then everything would truly be over.
The burning hatred in their hearts finally dissipated in the face of imminent death.
Now, all that remained was the fear of oblivion and a profound sense of uncertainty.
Not just Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, but other powerful pirates within the Avengers were also wavering drastically.
No, it wasn't merely wavering; they were already desperately seeking an escape route.
Dividing the spoils was tempting, but sacrificing their lives for a piece of the pie was simply too steep a price, a foolish endeavor.
Therefore, they must escape.
But how...?
Many had already identified their opportunity.
It would be when Whitebeard, Garp, and the other two clashed with Madara!
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