When everything settled, the entire Marineford was a complete wreck.
Pop!
Aeridar appeared like a phantom on the execution platform.
'A troublesome ability!' Sengoku thought inwardly, then asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Garp, standing nearby, also watched Aeridar warily, afraid the man might attempt something.
"Just taking a look. Don't be nervous, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Aeridar smiled indifferently, then turned his gaze to Ace. "Long time no see. Watching this war, what are your thoughts?"
"Did you come specifically to mock me?" Ace gritted his teeth, glaring at Aeridar. He still couldn't forget his failure at the Sabaody Archipelago years ago.
"Don't say such things. Are our relations that good? And besides, are you worthy?"
Aeridar countered, leaving Ace speechless.
That's right! After two years in the New World, Ace knew Aeridar's status. While he might not be on equal footing with a Yonko, he was certainly the next best thing.
Furthermore, in both strength and standing, Ace was far inferior. Why would Aeridar intentionally come over just to mock him?
"I'm just…"
Aeridar suddenly lowered his head and whispered into Ace's ear, "...a little disappointed. Honestly, the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit is wasted on you. After you die, the Flame-Flame Fruit will reappear. Wouldn't it be interesting to have one of my subordinates inherit that ability and then kill the Straw Hat Kid? Hehehehe~"
"You—" Ace's expression drastically changed.
Although Aeridar's voice was soft, who were Garp and Sengoku? One was a Marine Hero who had chased the Pirate King all over the world; the other was the Fleet Admiral. No matter how low the sound, it couldn't escape them.
"Aeridar, to say such a thing in front of me... do you truly believe this old man won't kill you?" Garp stared intently at Aeridar, his voice cold as a blade.
Aeridar turned his head, meeting Garp's gaze. The air momentarily solidified.
A moment later, Aeridar grinned brazenly. "Naw~ Vice Admiral Garp, just a joke. Even if the Marines win and Fire Fist Ace dies, the world is vast. It's not a guarantee that I'd be able to find it again."
Garp's expression remained glacial, and his fists clenched upon hearing Aeridar's words.
"Enough! This is not where you belong!"
Sengoku interrupted, his voice cold, looking at Aeridar's deliberate provocation.
"Hehehehe~ Jeez, not giving me any face at all!" Aeridar said playfully, completely unconcerned.
Ignoring Aeridar, Sengoku, who was directing the battle, raised his Den Den Mushi and gave a command: "Halt all town machinery! Divert all energy to the Encircling Wall!"
....
"What terrifying power!"
"But on the line is the Justice of the Marines! We absolutely cannot allow you to pass here!"
At that moment, John Giant grabbed his fallen sword, clambered up from the ground, and roared as he charged toward Whitebeard.
Unfortunately, his opponent was Whitebeard.
RUMBLE—
With a single punch, the atmosphere fractured. The powerful shockwave formed by the tremor instantly passed straight through John Giant's body, shattering the port embankment and charging toward the execution platform. It kicked up massive amounts of dust and knocked down countless Marines along the way.
BAM!!
The three Admirals stood beneath the execution platform, simultaneously pushing out their palms. Invisible Haki immediately blocked the powerful quake-induced shockwave.
A white ring of air expanded, and the force spread out on either side, instantly shattering the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.
"It's the Admirals!"
The Marines' morale instantly lifted.
Click, click, click, click… Clang, clang, clang, clang…
Seeing Whitebeard's attack blocked, the pirates, unwilling to give up, launched another charge. However, the sound of mechanical gears turning rang out. Tall steel walls broke through the ice and rose up one by one, completely encircling the entire bay.
There were only gaps at the bay entrance and where Little Oars Jr. had fallen. Most of the pirates were now trapped within the bay, and only a very small number had managed to enter the port and the plaza.
"Begin! Akainu!"
Sengoku commanded from the execution platform.
Below, Sakazuki stepped forward expressionlessly, standing a few steps ahead of Borsalino and Kuzan.
Sizzle— Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle… gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…
Sakazuki's arms turned red and caught fire, melting instantly into rolling lava that poured downward.
"Ryūsei Kazan!" (Meteor Volcano)
His cold voice couldn't drown out the scorching heat. Sakazuki raised his arms and launched a massive volume of gigantic magma fists, like a volcanic eruption. They rushed into the darkened sky, illuminating and dyeing it red.
The scorching hot lava blossomed in the air, staining and illuminating the clear sky. Countless massive magma fists plummeted rapidly from high altitude, falling like a fiery meteor shower, resembling the end of the world.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh… BOOM, BOOM, BOOM…
Deafening explosions continued unabated, and fire shot into the sky. The ice plain was continuously melted. Virtually every gigantic magma fist, carrying scorching hot magma, left a crater deep enough to reveal the seawater beneath the thick ice plain, and the high-temperature magma spread like an infection.
The pirates in the bay suffered heavy casualties from Sakazuki's massive attack. They tried to break through the Encircling Wall, but despite using cudgels and cannons, and even Whitebeard striking it personally, they only managed to dent one section of the wall; they couldn't break it.
However, no one had expected Little Oars Jr., despite being attacked by three Warlords, to still be alive, currently tying up the Marines in the plaza.
Splash—
Suddenly, a torrent of seawater rose behind Little Oars Jr., carrying a young man who plummeted from the sky and crashed directly into the plaza.
The seawater dissipated, soaking the ground. A soaking-wet Luffy stood before countless people, clutching a long mast.
A moment of silence fell over the plaza. Everyone stared at the young man who had fallen from the sky and burst into the plaza. Standing directly in front of him were the three Marine Admirals.
"Arara~ So you finally made it here?"
"That Dragon's son, he truly is fearless!"
"So young, yet so terrifying!"
The three Admirals looked down at Luffy from their commanding height.
"Vice Admiral Garp, do you think he'll die here today? Hehehehe~" Aeridar turned his head and asked with a light chuckle.
Garp remained silent.
"Your determination is commendable!"
"However, this stage is far too early for you!"
"There's no way you can win against us!"
The three Admirals spoke one after another, as if the battle was already won.
"Give Ace back to me!"
Luffy looked up at Ace on the execution platform, then shouted and hurled the long mast toward the three Admirals.
Aeridar pursed his lips, watching Luffy's futile attack on the Admirals below, even trying a clever trick. He used the resulting smoke from the attack to cover his movement, then utilized his Gear 2 speed to charge past the Admirals' defenses.
However, every move Luffy made was easily sensed by the Admirals. As for his Gear 2 speed, it was miles slower compared to Borsalino's.
Luffy had only just burst into the air when Borsalino intercepted him and swept him away with a kick.