"The shadow of death hangs over every wavering Marine heart. The fallen are consumed by regret and unwillingness… Even those who survive are beginning to question why this battle was started."
Shirogai lounged lazily, one leg draped over the table, tossing a half-red, half-green fruit in his hand. A faint, amused smile curved his lips. "The stage is set. Now it's time for the stars to make their entrances, one by one…"
With a smooth motion, Shirogai formed his left hand into the shape of a pistol, closed his right eye, aimed at the sky with precision, and mimicked the crack of a gunshot. "Bang!"
Whoosh!
A purple beam of energy ripped through the air, striking the giant ice sculpture in the sky.
Crack…
Tiny fissures raced upward, reaching the frozen hulls of two hovering warships.
"You finally made your move!"
No one else on the battlefield noticed, only one observer—Fleet Admiral Buddha Sengoku.
Sengoku stood atop the execution platform, face grim, eyes like lightning, fixed on Shirogai in the VIP section.
"Shirogai!" he shouted. "What exactly are you trying to accomplish?!"
Shirogai didn't look at him, his smile only widening. He shook his head slowly, letting his words carry across the battlefield and directly into Sengoku's mind:
"Sengoku, perhaps you should focus on how to execute your crude 'catch a turtle in a jar' plan. Sometimes, a scheme to annihilate your enemy only exposes your weaknesses to them. When the pirates, intimidated by the imagined might of the Marines, hesitate to act, they'll be shocked to discover that your true strength is far less than you imagined."
Sengoku's thoughts raced. Something was very wrong.
Could Shirogai have more schemes beyond Impel Down? Indeed, this man was the single greatest variable in the war.
The Admiral's eyes narrowed, a cold and resolute glare forming.
Arrogant Emperor Shirogai.
If he truly wishes to act… Sengoku would have no choice but to adjust his strategy.
Did repeated victories against the Marines and the World Government make him believe he was invincible? Hmph.
If Shirogai acted on behalf of the Whitebeard Pirates, what happened next would spiral beyond control. The World Government might release Ace and the Whitebeard Crew just to avoid the danger posed by a monster capable of overturning world order.
Sengoku's mind whirled, yet he did not fear Shirogai reading his thoughts. Those few Marine officers tasked with guarding against him had been memory-isolated by a Devil Fruit ability, making their innermost thoughts inaccessible.
It was a shame the ability user could only protect a handful. Otherwise, Shirogai's powers would be fully contained.
"You'd better not act…" Sengoku muttered, lowering his gaze. "Life and death now rest in your hands."
Shirogai's Glint-Glint Fruit granted him unparalleled speed. Whether Sengoku watched him or not made no difference—he was already inside Marineford, surely detected by the few who had been prepared.
The World Government had been observing Shirogai closely, recording every action and sending it to CIPHER POL. His personality and patterns were thoroughly analyzed. They believed this seemingly amiable yet infinitely arrogant powerhouse would act exactly as predicted.
Indeed, the VIP section's two Celestial Dragons were a trap and bait for the Arrogant Emperor. Ordinary humans would never dare such a move, but the Gorosei could.
Two young Celestial Dragons had requested to witness the battle up close, having heard the cannon fire would surpass even the world's grandest fireworks. What seemed like coincidence was actually careful orchestration by the World Government.
Plan A of Marineford War: publicly execute Ace and battle the Whitebeard Crew.
Plan B: secretly capture or eliminate Arrogant Emperor Shirogai. Multiple contingency plans had been laid for when he made his move.
Yet Sengoku did not want to change the strategy entirely against Shirogai. A lone powerhouse like him could still be a potential ally. Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Crew remained a force to intimidate the world, a warning to all.
"The plan is about to unfold…"
Sengoku's gaze shifted to the approaching pirates, flooding the bay, and then to the distant Moby Dick.
Emperor, Whitebeard Edward Newgate…
Old man, pray that Shirogai moves first. Otherwise, your crew could be annihilated at Marineford.
A hint of killing intent flickered in Sengoku's eyes.
…
Whitebeard, standing tall on the main deck, leaning on Murakumogiri, seemed to sense something.
"Gurararara…"
He tilted his head, white crescent-shaped mustache swaying, eyes locked on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's solemn figure atop the execution platform.
"Old man, thinking of another one of your schemes?"
A disdainful sneer spread across his lips. "Sengoku, even in your old age, your love for mind games hasn't faded. Bring it on—your schemes, your tricks."
For a fleeting moment, the lines between Marine and pirate blurred. The Pirate, honest and forthright. The Marine, scheming and calculating.
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