Marine flags snapped in the wind atop the masts, decks crowded with fully armed G-5 soldiers.
And at the bow of the lead ship, a golden figure shimmered.
"Ooh~ How terrifying~"
Kizaru sat cross-legged on the prow, his sunglasses reflecting the blood-red sunset.
"To be beaten this badly... and to lose Sakazuki..." He tilted his head, his tone unreadable.
"The New World is truly scary~"
"It's… the Admirals!"
"Admiral Aokiji! Admiral Kizaru!"
"We're saved! Swim toward them!"
"We haven't been abandoned after all!"
The previously dying Marines suddenly erupted with an astonishing will to survive.
Vice Admiral Doberman's single eye glistened with tears.
Onigumo waved his broken sword with his last ounce of strength.
Momonga even leaped into the sea, desperately swimming toward the reinforcements.
Aokiji yawned, parking his bicycle on the water and pressing one hand against the sea surface.
"Ice Age."
CRACKLE!
In an instant, a broad ice path extended from beneath his bicycle, reaching straight to the Marines who had fallen into the sea.
Wherever the biting cold passed, the turbulent waves instantly solidified into a solid platform.
"Hurry up and get on." Aokiji extended a hand toward the exhausted Vice Admirals, his voice lacking its usual laziness.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is absolutely furious."
Kizaru stood up, gathering a blinding golden light at his fingertips.
"So... shall we run or fight~?"
He looked toward the distant circling dragons, a dangerous curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
...
In the air.
The Pink Dragon (Nami) abruptly halted her flight.
Her vertical draconic pupils reflected the ice path and warships speeding across the distant sea.
Her slender whiskers swayed in the wind, her scales shimmering with magnificent luster under the setting sun.
"Aokiji Kuzan... Borsalino..."
She murmured softly, her dragon claws unconsciously tightening on the clouds.
Her mind flashed with images of her past—Arlong Park, the corruption of Captain Nezumi, the Merry Go burning at Enies Lobby, and the days and nights when her crewmates were forced to scatter and flee.
Furious Blast Breath churned in her throat, almost uncontrollably about to erupt.
But reason ultimately prevailed.
She sharply turned her dragon head, her massive body stirring up fierce winds as she stepped on flame clouds, swiftly flying toward where Ron was stationed.
WHOOSH!
"Ron-san!"
Nami landed at the cliff's edge, her dragon form instantly reverting to human form upon landing.
Her orange short hair was tousled by the sea breeze, her eyes burning with unwilling flames.
"The other two Marine Admirals have arrived. They are rescuing the survivors. Should we attack?"
Ron stood at the cliff's edge, lightly tapping the ground with his White Moon scabbard.
His gaze swept deeply across the battlefield.
Below, though the pirates' morale was high, each bore numerous wounds.
Captain Whitebeard displayed divine might, but even he showed signs of fatigue from continuously using his Awakened abilities.
Further away, the newcomers who had obtained Devil Fruits were panting heavily from improper control of their powers, some completely exhausted.
"Let's pause for now and observe," Ron's voice was soft yet carried unquestionable determination.
"Have everyone standby at the border of the restricted zone and monitor the situation. If they want to fight, then we'll continue fighting. If they run, let them go."
Nami gripped her Clima-Tact tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"But... we have the advantage!"
"Ace is still in Kaido's hands," Ron interrupted her, his eyes sharp as blades.
He meaningfully glanced at the cheering pirates below.
"And... look at them. When they come to their senses and realize they're being used as pawns... they'll definitely protest against us one by one. Though we fear no pirates, fighting a civil war right now would severely damage our Divine Kingdom's reputation."
"Plus, Ace's matter remains unresolved—we shouldn't continue depleting our strength against two fresh Admirals. At worst, Ace can endure a few more days of suffering—we can rescue him later."
Nami's pupils contracted, instantly understanding the stakes.
She took a deep breath and nodded solemnity.
"I'll go relay the orders immediately."
...
Moments later.
ROAR!
Ten Dragons formed a deterrent formation at the border of the Divine Kingdom's airspace, with Nami's Pink Dragon circling at the forefront, her dragon roar echoing through the skies.
"All units, heed the command! Hundred-mile restricted zone! Maintain positions and stay alert!"
At the same time, on the island below.
CLANG!
Before the sound of the Seastone cuffs hitting the ground had faded, Crocodile's face had already darkened like the bottom of a pot.
He flexed his stiff wrist, his knuckles cracking loudly.
The ash from his cigar fell due to his intense trembling.
"What kind of joke is this..."
The power of the Sand-Sand Fruit gathered and dissipated in his palm.
He stared intently at the retreating warships in the distance, his golden hook gleaming coldly under the sunlight.
"I was just about to go on a killing spree... and it's already over? Akainu is dead, and I didn't even get a hit in?!"
Those bastards had ambushed him early using the Dark-Dark Fruit ability, descending from the sky with Seastone nets...
A dignified former Warlord, actually dragged onto a warship like a drowned dog!
How utterly humiliating!
"...Crocodile, I was on the neighboring island at the time. Why didn't you scream your lungs out for me to come save you?"
Douglas Bullet laughed heartily as he looked at the sullen Crocodile.
"...Get lost!"
Crocodile swung his golden hook furiously, sand swirling around him in a small storm.
"Those Navy scum... how dare they..."
His voice twisted with extreme rage, the scar on his face appearing especially vicious.
On the distant sea, the last warship was being pulled further away by Aokiji's ice path when Crocodile suddenly erupted.
WOOSH!
He transformed into a massive sandstorm that shot into the sky.
"Desert La Spada!"
The massive sand blade split the sea surface, racing toward the fleet.
ZAP!
It was intercepted by a golden laser just before reaching the warship.
Kizaru stood on the mast, tilting his head. "How terrifying~ Former Warlord Crocodile is throwing a tantrum~"
"YOU BASTARD!!"
Crocodile screamed hysterically, the sandstorm sweeping several unlucky pirates into the air.
He intended to pursue and unleash carnage, but Shiki blocked his path with his floating withered tree.
"Save your strength, Crocodile."
Shiki looked at him with a faint smile. "Rather than raging helplessly here..."
He then pointed his sword tip toward the direction of Wano. "...better think about the upcoming battle with Kaido. You can vent your anger there."
Crocodile's pupils contracted violently.
The furious sandstorm suddenly stilled.
He viciously bit through his cigar, grinding out words through clenched teeth.
"This debt... I'll remember it!"
Aokiji's bicycle left long tracks on the ice.
He looked up at the dragons arrayed in the sky, his lazy expression gradually turning serious.
"It seems... they don't plan to keep playing around. They are letting us leave."
Kizaru pursed his lips, the golden light at his fingertips slowly fading.
"What a pity~ I was just getting ready to stretch my limbs~ But without Sakazuki to take the lead... it's quite troublesome~"
"That..."
On the sea surface, Navy soldiers who had survived the ordeal embraced each other in tears.
Vice Admiral Doberman's eyes shifted between the circling dragon shadows in the distance and his own trembling hands.
Was this survival by chance?
Or had they been deliberately spared by the Monster of the Divine Kingdom?
Regardless, one thing was certain: The Marines had suffered their greatest defeat in history.
Admiral Akainu was dead.
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