Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The vast, oval-shaped naval port was steeped in a tense atmosphere.
"Hurry up!"
"Move it!"
"Get the ammunition and supplies loaded onto the ships!"
"Delay the operation, and you'll face military punishment!"
...
With a single order from the admiral's office, the entire Marine Headquarters roared to life like a massive, well-oiled war machine.
Hundreds of elite Marines bustled through the docks—hauling supplies, inspecting ships, maintaining artillery... Everyone was at their stations, brimming with anticipation for the monumental New World battle to come.
Once preparations were complete, the Marines swiftly boarded their warships. At the dock, the core officers of HQ stood in sharp formation before Admiral Sengoku.
"For this main campaign, there will be a total of six warships. I will now announce the commanding officers for each ship!"
Sengoku stood tall as his booming voice echoed through the port. The admiral's cloak, adorned with wheat insignias, snapped dramatically in the biting wind behind him.
"The first warship, total force of 3,000 men—Commander: Vice Admiral Sakazuki of Marine Headquarters!"
Sakazuki stepped forward and saluted.
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku!"
Sengoku gave a curt nod before continuing.
"The second warship, 3,000 men—Commander: Vice Admiral Borsalino of Marine Headquarters!"
Borsalino saluted lazily, muttering under his breath,
"What a pain..."
Sengoku shot him a fierce glare, restraining the urge to beat him senseless, and ground out,
"The third warship, 3,000 men—Commander: Vice Admiral Kuzan!"
"Dahahaha! Finally, it's my turn!!"
Kuzan stepped out, visibly trembling with excitement. He raised a hand and flashed Sengoku a thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming in the sunlight.
"I won't let you down, Admiral Sengoku!"
Sengoku: ...
"…Next is the fourth warship."
His eyes scanned the rows of gathered HQ officers. Each one instinctively stood straighter, their gazes burning with determination.
In that moment, even their breath seemed to carry heat.
They all understood the gravity and strategy of this war—taking on the Beasts Pirates, Big Mom Pirates, and the Roger Pirates simultaneously, the most powerful forces on the seas. Being named a warship commander in such a battle would be an unmatched honor!
It would be a massive boost to their careers—both military and political.
Everyone craved advancement.
Even though the captains for the first three ships were already decided, no one objected. The three towering figures standing ahead were recognized as the "monsters" of Marine Headquarters—titles they had earned without question.
But as for the fourth and fifth ships...
Everyone still had a shot.
"It's gotta be me, it's gotta be me!"
Tokikake kept shoving his way to the front, face flushed red as he tried to draw Sengoku's attention.
Whenever Sengoku's gaze shifted left, he darted in that direction, his face all but shouting, "Pick me!"
"The fourth warship, total force of 2,000 men—Commander is..."
Sengoku glanced at the bouncing Tokikake and grumbled,
"...Rear Admiral Tokikake of Marine Headquarters."
"Yes!!"
Tokikake burst out laughing and swaggered forward to stand beside Kuzan.
He turned around, hands on his hips, and grinned smugly at the "rejected" officers.
"Hahahaha! Jealous, aren't you?"
"Too bad you normies can't understand the brilliance of a genius like me!"
Sengoku: ...
Everyone else: ...
Tokikake flamboyantly flipped his tuft of hair, pulled a brown hat onto his head, and fished out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. Lighting one with exaggerated flair, he exhaled dramatically and muttered,
"Looks like it's up to me—genius Tokikake—to turn the tide of this war..."
He shot the officers a smug look and said with a grin,
"You bunch of mediocre nobodies... Hahaha! This genius will protect you."
"—No, I've changed my mind."
Just then, Sengoku cut in coldly.
"Rear Admiral Tokikake is powerful and gifted. A soldier of his caliber must remain at Marine Headquarters to guard our rear and ensure our strategic safety."
The grin on Tokikake's face froze.
As his anguished cries rang out, Sengoku announced the final decision without a hint of sympathy.
"Commander of the fourth warship—Rear Admiral Gion!"
"For justice!"
Gion stepped forward, her voice clear and confident.
Sengoku didn't spare Tokikake another glance. He moved straight on to the final announcement.
"The fifth warship, total force of 2,000—Commander: Rear Admiral Yamakaji."
His gaze fell on a calm, honest-looking face, and he smiled with approval.
"Rear Admiral Yamakaji, don't let me down."
Yamakaji, who hadn't dared to expect anything, froze for a moment, then stepped forward in excitement and saluted sharply.
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku!"
"I'll do my utmost!"
Sengoku nodded.
"In addition, I will command the main flagship myself—total force, 5,000!"
He swept his gaze across the crowd, eyes deep and stern.
"This battle carries great weight. Its outcome may shape the world for years—decades even. We, as Marines, bear the mantle of justice... We must emerge victorious!"
"Justice... will prevail!!"
As his voice rang out,
dozens of HQ officers and tens of thousands of elite Marines trembled as one, erupting in a thunderous roar.
"Justice... will prevail!!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
With their battle cries shaking the heavens, warships unfurled their sails. Flags bearing the proud white seagull soared into the sky.
"They're coming!"
"Over there—look!"
"The Shichibukai... and Vice Admiral Daren!"
"They're all here!!"
...
Suddenly, a Marine shouted in surprise, drawing everyone's attention.
All eyes turned in unison toward the source of the commotion.
In the distance, across the land—seven figures walked in a line, each brimming with a wild, oppressive aura.
Their appearances were bizarre, their heights and features vastly different.
One towered several meters tall, skin pale like a demon;
Another was surrounded by swirling sand and a gleaming golden hook;
One wore a flamboyant pink coat, laughing eerily;
Another had unruly golden hair and a twisted grin;
One stood calm and composed, a massive, mismatched black blade strapped to his back;
Another had blood-red skin like fire, with streams of water dancing around him...
At the front was a man with short, tousled black hair. His uniform was sharp and imposing, eyes glimmering like stars.
Hands in his pockets, a lit cigar clenched between his teeth, he walked through the icy wind, flickering between shadow and flame—mysterious, unruly.
These seven figures radiated overwhelming presence, utterly out of place amid the order and discipline of the Marine base—like a gang of delinquents striding into a royal palace.
And yet, the oppressive killing intent rolling off them felt so real it seemed to crush the presence of the tens of thousands of Marines on-site.
In that instant, the once-battle-ready troops fell silent, instinctively holding their breath as they watched the seven swaggering figures approach the dock.
"Damn it!!"
Tokikake ground his teeth so hard he nearly cracked his molars.
"...That bastard stole the spotlight again!"
Kuzan's eyes sparkled.
"Dahahaha! Even surrounded by a bunch of pirates, Daren's still ridiculously cool!"
Gion's eyes gleamed, a smile tugging at her lips.
Borsalino muttered quietly,
"Looks like things are more fun on that side..."
Sengoku: …
Tsuru quietly stepped up beside him and said, half helplessly,
"Why do I feel like that kid Daren's blended perfectly with the Shichibukai..."
Sengoku's mouth twitched.
Of course he did.
They're all thugs and degenerates!
And that bastard Daren? He's the worst of them all—the king of thugs, the ultimate degenerate!
"Well then, we'll head out first, Admiral Sengoku."
Daren, still biting his cigar, walked up with a grin.
Then he raised his hand.
Sparks of blue electricity crackled to life. Moments later, movement stirred the waters of the port.
Bubbles rose to the surface, and a small metallic submarine quickly emerged from the depths.
With a chorus of creaks—and a stream of curses from Douglas Bullet—the vessel twisted and morphed, reshaping into something that looked like an airship.
Streamlined and sharp-nosed, it gleamed under the light, drawing gasps from the onlooking Marines.
"So cool!"
"That thing's insane!"
"Are they really heading out on that?"
"Wait—is it going to fly?!"
"Damn it! I should've fought to get on Daren's team, even if it killed me!"
"Our HQ warships... feel kinda lame now."
...
The awe and envy in the voices around him made Sengoku's face grow darker by the second.
Soon, Daren and the Shichibukai boarded the ship.
"The Whitebeard Pirates... leave them to me, comrades."
Standing on the hovering vessel, Daren looked down on the Marines below with a smile.
"I'll be waiting for your good news."
The moment he finished, the magnetic field exploded with energy.
The metal airship, carrying all seven of them, blasted into the sky with a deafening roar!
The port fell dead silent.
Then—
"Attack!!"
"For justice!!"
"For Vice Admiral Daren!!"
"Take down Roger!!"
Roars like crashing waves and crumbling mountains echoed across the heavens.
Sengoku's face was darker than a thundercloud.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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