At night above Marine Headquarters, Marineford, a colossal golden Buddha loomed in the sky, steadfastly supporting two massive volcanoes and an icy peak.
It was a sight of divine majesty, inspiring awe among all who beheld it.
Below, Navy Soldiers watched in amazement.
"With Fleet Admiral Sengoku here, we have nothing to fear! Justice will prevail!"
The Marines, battle-weary from the undead assault, found renewed vigor from this spectacle.
"For justice! For Mariejois!"
"Stay calm! Keep your positions, the Admirals and reinforcements will arrive!"
"Kill those cursed corpses! Their weapons are primitive—stick together and they can't overwhelm us!"
"Justice will prevail! Destroy them all!"
Shouts of righteous fury reignited their courage, and the Marines once again advanced against the tireless undead.
Leading the charge were the Vice Admirals. Their mastery of Haki allowed them to face the unkillable monsters without hesitation.
To these elite fighters, the spirits' attacks were simple, though difficult to finish off. As long as the Marines could shred them, their regeneration would take significant time.
"Fire! Use fire against them!"
Some Marines discovered that while the undead shrugged off bullets and cannon fire, explosive flames inflicted real damage. Even if reduced to ash, the spirits required considerable time to regenerate. This knowledge lifted their morale.
"Quick! Light the gunpowder barrels and alcohol!"
The soldiers worked swiftly, creating walls of fire to intercept the relentless undead, offsetting their limited numbers.
Though Marineford was a renowned headquarters, the actual stationed force was not overwhelming. The Marine organization, tasked with global security, distributed most troops across the seas, with Marineford serving as both a deterrent and command hub.
Historically, the presence of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and any one Admiral was sufficient to intimidate pirates. Yet today, that deterrent was tested.
Over twenty years ago, Golden Lion Shiki had once assaulted Marineford. Today, a new threat emerged: Shirogai Yamikuro.
---
"As expected of Buddha Sengoku."
Shirogai stood atop the icy peak, surveying the golden Buddha below, a faint smile on his lips.
"Although your wisdom is unmatched, your combat strength remains formidable," he said lightly.
"Shirogai, if you cease now, there's still time!"
Sengoku's booming voice resonated across the sky, shaking clouds with righteous authority.
"Our actions are not meant to threaten, but to pull you from the bitter sea of piracy!"
Shirogai smiled faintly and stomped gently on the iceberg.
Crack!
The structure collapsed, the balance Sengoku had maintained shattered.
Rumble!
The two massive peaks plummeted toward Marineford, the golden Buddha struggling to support them.
"Hmph!"
Sengoku roared, radiating dazzling light as he attempted to resist the descent.
"Shirogai, evil cannot triumph over good! Summon all the evil you like, but justice cannot be erased! Pirates are never tolerated by this world!"
"Of course, I agree," Shirogai replied casually, standing atop the falling iceberg.
He gazed down at the Marines below, fighting the tireless vengeful spirits summoned from the fire and bone-white mist. Without the Admirals, Marineford would soon be overwhelmed.
"Evil cannot triumph over good," he repeated, voice calm.
Shirogai's gaze returned to Sengoku. "Fleet Admiral, would you like to know the identities of these spirits? Or rather, who killed them in life?"
Sengoku froze. Normally, his words of justice were met with disdain, but Shirogai agreed with his view. A cold premonition gripped the Admiral.
Click!
"Don't Marines always brand yourselves as symbols of justice?" Shirogai snapped his fingers, a smile on his face.
"Listen closely, and you'll understand where this towering resentment is directed!"
"Wait!" Sengoku's expression hardened. "Stop, what are you doing!"
"Doing what?" Shirogai's eyes gleamed, his smile bright.
"Learning from you, righteous Marines," he said, "to let justice be served and to confront the culprits!"
---
Suddenly, the bone-white mist below turned a deep, blood-red.
Within it, the spirits, previously capable of only vague cries for revenge, regained fragments of rationality.
They halted their attacks, staring at their own decayed bodies.
"Who… who am I?"
"I'm already dead..."
"My children… where are my children?"
"The Marines… the Marines killed us! They bombed our island!"
"The Marines… they murdered us! They are the killers!"
Memories long buried surged back, igniting deep resentment in the hearts of these eternal spirits.
"Marine!!!!!!!!!!"
They twisted their rotting faces into grotesque snarls, opening their mouths in soul-piercing wails that echoed across the heavens.
"You Marines are the murderers who stole our lives! How dare you call us evil!"
Marineford fell silent under the spirits' fury, as the soldiers realized their righteous comrades had provoked the wrath of those long dead.