"Mr.3, give me a hand."
"Huh?"
Mr.3 paused his movements, then turned to look at Bon Clay and said, "Don't joke around! I don't want to get beaten to death by the Marine Admiral!"
"I know you're scared, but hiding here is pointless."
Seeing Mr.3 listening attentively, Bon Clay continued, "The Marines will eventually search the interior buildings. Do you think you can hide forever?"
Mr.3 fell silent. This was exactly what worried him.
'If the Marines corner me here, even ten lives wouldn't be enough for them to kill!' Mr.3 thought to himself.
But going with this guy to the execution platform to rescue Ace is equally dangerous, damn it!
Damn, what should he do?
Seeing Mr.3 remaining silent, Bon Clay assumed he wasn't willing to join the rescue mission.
So Bon Clay strode toward the door, clearly intending to leave.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Mr.3 instinctively asked, "Where are you going?"
"To the execution platform, of course," Bon Clay said matter-of-factly. "I promised Xiao Meiser I'd rescue Little Ace!"
Since he made a promise to a friend, he would spare no effort to fulfill it!
"You promised Meiser..." Mr.3 murmured.
Recalling that man's abilities, Mr.3's mind immediately became active.
'Just like Mr.2 said, staying here is no different from waiting to die,' Mr.3 thought to himself.
Rather than that, he might as well follow Mr.2 and take a gamble. At least Meiser and the others could help him escape from here!
As for possibly facing the Marine Admiral next...
'Although I might get killed by Sengoku with one punch, if we actually succeed, I'll gain the friendship of both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates!' Mr.3 thought to himself.
Let's do it!
Thinking this, Mr.3 immediately said, "I'll go with you!"
"Eh?!"
Bon Clay, who was about to leave, froze upon hearing this, then looked at Mr.3 in surprise. "You're willing to come with me to rescue him?"
Weren't you pretty resistant just a moment ago?
"Yeah, I'll go with you," Mr.3 nodded.
Hearing Mr.3's words, Bon Clay fell silent for a moment, then burst into loud laughter: "Gahahahaha!"
"You really are a reliable man, Little Three!"
As he spoke, Bon Clay excitedly patted Mr.3's shoulder, each pat stronger than the last.
"Damn it, that hurts!" Mr.3 swatted Bon Clay's hand away. "And I'm called Mr.3!"
"What's wrong with that nickname?!" Bon Clay looked at Mr.3 in confusion. "I call Little Straw Hat and Xiao Meiser the same way."
This was just his way of showing affection - there was no malice intended.
Mr.3: ...
Whatever, can't be bothered to argue with this bastard.
After shaking his head, Mr.3 said, "Let's go, we need to hurry."
"Once we rescue him, we'll leave together."
"Don't worry, Meiser will come in time to take us away," Bon Clay laughed heartily.
"Alright."
With this assurance, Mr.3 visibly relaxed and asked, "Do you have a plan?"
"Of course!" Bon Clay nodded. "After obtaining the executioners' uniforms, we'll disguise ourselves as executioners and approach the execution platform."
"Then, you'll create a candle wall to envelop the platform, temporarily blocking the Marines' view!"
Hearing Bon Clay's words, Mr.3's eyes lit up, and he added, "After that, I'll use a Sea Stone key made of wax to rescue Fire Fist Ace, right?"
"Exactly, that's the plan!"
"Good, then I have no issues." Mr.3 nodded.
With his abilities, he could create a candle wall in the blink of an eye.
As long as they seized the opportunity, they could rescue Fire Fist Ace!
"Then let's set off!" Bon Clay laughed loudly. "Let's work together to save Fire Fist Ace!"
"Whoo!"
"Gahahahaha!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Thanks to Meiser's Water Release Technique, the Moby Dick had risen above the Encirclement Wall and was now crashing down toward the Marine plaza!
"Charge, ninja boy!"
"Go, crush those Marines!"
"Whoo!!"
Seeing the scene below, the pirates roared with excitement, their expressions growing increasingly fervent.
The Marines, upon seeing the massive pirate ship descending upon them, were struck with terror.
"It's... it's Whitebeard's Moby Dick!"
"Quick, get out of the way!"
"Don't get hit, you'll die!"
Faced with the threat of death, the Marines immediately turned and fled, desperate to avoid being crushed by the enormous pirate ship.
Glancing at the figures on the pirate ship, Crocodile remarked, "They've finally arrived."
"Shurorororo~"
"It seems you're well aware of how powerful the Blood-Eyed Ninja's Water Release Technique is," Doflamingo chuckled. "Did you see it at Impel Down?"
"Ah, something like that," Crocodile replied.
On the way here, the ninja had used his Water Release Technique to lift a warship, so he wasn't surprised.
"Shurorororo~"
"Interesting."
Staring at the massive pirate ship crashing toward the ground, Doflamingo laughed loudly. "It seems the second round is about to begin!"
The Marines' Encirclement Wall plan had failed, meaning... the brutal close-quarters combat was next!
Come on, let him see if Whitebeard could truly sink Marine Headquarters!
Pashuroro!
"Heh, it seems things are progressing smoothly," Meiser said with a light laugh.
Without Aokiji around, his Water Release Technique could easily deliver Whitebeard and his crew to the plaza!
This way... the scales of victory would tilt in their favor!
"Ninjas are truly terrifying," Borsalino remarked with a smirk.
Meiser didn't respond, merely shrugging in response.
"So it's Whitebeard." Akainu looked up at the pirate ship, his eyes icy as he said, "Very well, I'll personally bury you here!"
"Hah, thinking of killing Pops?" Marco sneered coldly. "Keep dreaming!"
To this, Akainu merely responded with a cold laugh, saying nothing more.
The next moment...
"BOOM!!"
The Moby Dick, crashing down onto the plaza, instantly unleashed a terrifying blast of wind pressure!
"Ah!"
Some Marines who hadn't managed to escape in time were sent flying by the wind pressure, slamming into the ground in the distance!
"Pops and the others are here!" Jimbei said.
"So it's Whitebeard." Ivankov glanced back at Whitebeard and grinned. "With them joining us, our pressure will ease."
This way, they could reach the execution platform faster!
Just then, the pirates on the Moby Dick roared.
"We've entered the plaza!"
"Prepare for battle! We must save Ace!"
"Ooh!!"
"Everyone... Pops..."
Watching the people on the Moby Dick, Ace's eyes grew moist.
"Thank you, ninja kid," Whitebeard said.
If not for the other using the Water Release Technique to help them reach the plaza, they would have suffered far greater casualties getting here.
So Whitebeard was genuinely grateful to Meiser.
"No need for thanks," Meiser replied. "After all, we're on the same side now."
No matter what, he needed the Whitebeard Pirates' strength to confront the Marines in the plaza, so they were helping him too, weren't they!
"Gurararara~"
"True enough," Whitebeard laughed.
After his hearty laugh, the man turned and strode toward the ship's bow.
Reaching the bow, Whitebeard glanced down at the Marines below, then leaped from the ship!
The next moment...
"BOOM!!"
The moment he landed, all the Marines around Whitebeard were sent flying by the shockwave!
"Ah!"
"Wh-Whitebeard has entered the plaza!" a Marine screamed!
Seeing the cold-faced man up close, some nearby Marines trembled in fear.
Clearly, the title of the world's strongest man weighed heavily on them.
"So he's finally stepping onto the field himself!" Sengoku said.
It seemed he couldn't just stand by and watch any longer.
If their side showed signs of faltering, he would have to strike immediately!
But before that, he hoped to deal with Ace first.
Thinking this, Sengoku turned to the communications soldier and asked, "Hey, when will the executioners be in position?"
"They've been notified and are likely on their way here," the communications soldier replied.
"So slow," Sengoku frowned.
It seemed dealing with Ace would have to wait for now.
In that case... let's see if we can take down Whitebeard first!
With that thought, Sengoku fixed his gaze on Whitebeard.
Just then, Whitebeard moved!
"Hum~"
Raising his Naginata, Whitebeard immediately channeled his Devil Fruit ability into the blade.
The next moment...
"Crack!"
Whitebeard's slash tore through the very atmosphere, instantly generating a terrifying shockwave!!
"BOOM!!"
The dreadful shockwave blasted toward the Marines ahead, sending countless soldiers flying in the blink of an eye!
"Ahhh!!"
The Marines sent flying screamed as they were hurled toward the ruined buildings behind them, ultimately crashing violently into the debris and losing consciousness!
"Such destructive power from a single strike?!" Vice Admiral Momonga remarked. "As expected of Whitebeard."
Feeling the terrifying force of the shockwave, Momonga's expression turned grim.
Meanwhile, the pirates witnessing this scene erupted in roaring cheers!
"That's our Pops!"
"Follow Pops!"
"Raaah!!!"
Hordes of pirates leaped from the Moby Dick alongside their division commanders, landing steadily behind Whitebeard.
Sensing the commotion at his back, Whitebeard's lips curved into a slight smile.
He then raised his head to gaze at Sengoku, a challenging glint in his eyes.
His expression seemed to say: Sengoku, aren't you coming down to cross blades with me?
"This guy..." Sengoku's face darkened. "Is he challenging me?!"
If Ace had already been executed, he would indeed have descended to clash with this old rival he hadn't faced in decades.
But now... protecting the execution platform took priority.
With this thought, Sengoku averted his gaze from Whitebeard.
Seeing Sengoku showed no intention of moving, Whitebeard also withdrew his attention, shifting his focus to the Marines ahead.
He then commanded: "My sons!"
"Annihilate the Marines! Rescue Ace!"
"Raaah!!"
The pirates roared in unison upon receiving the order, their morale skyrocketing to its peak!
"Charge! Wipe out these Marines!" Jozu bellowed. Leading a group, he surged forward to eliminate as many Marine combatants as possible. "Advance with Captain Jozu!"
"Raaah!"
"Our Fifth Division won't fall behind either!" Vista roared.
"Raaah!"
The Fifth Division pirates followed closely behind Vista, charging toward the Marine ranks.
"Stay out of my direct path," Whitebeard instructed.
"Understood!!"
Well aware of their captain's Devil Fruit Ability, the pirates immediately veered toward the flanks, clearing the frontal battlefield for Whitebeard.
"Now, let the second round begin!" Whitebeard coldly declared to the Marines ahead. "Marines!"
"It seems we can't afford to waste any more time," Aokiji muttered with a furrowed brow.
Without hesitation, he shot toward Boa Hancock at blinding speed!
"Trying to defeat me quickly?!" Hancock's eyes turned icy. "Aren't you underestimating me too much?"
As she spoke, Hancock enveloped herself in Haki Infusion and launched a kick toward Aokiji.
"Freezing Time Capsule!"
"Hummm~"
A terrifying wave of frigid air erupted from Aokiji's palm, shooting straight toward Hancock mid-air!
"Wha...?!"
Sensing the deadly chill, Hancock's pupils contracted sharply. She immediately cloaked her entire body in Haki Infusion, forming a protective barrier around herself!
The next instant...
"Crack!"
Struck by the chilling air, Hancock was instantly frozen into an ice sculpture!
"What?!"
The nearby pirates stared in shock at Hancock, who had been effortlessly frozen by Aokiji.
That woman capable of trading blows with the Marine Hero... was now frozen solid?
Is this the power of a Marine Admiral?
Truly terrifying!
"Haa~"
After accomplishing this, Aokiji exhaled a breath of frost and said, "Finally resolved—"
Before he could finish, a series of cracking sounds echoed, as if something was shattering.
"Hmm?"
Glancing at the gradually fracturing ice sculpture, he murmured, "Did she protect her body with Haki?"
It seemed restraining this woman wouldn't be easy.
"Never mind, even trapping her for a while is enough," Aokiji thought to himself. "That should free up my hands."
With a nod, he swiftly departed, charging toward Whitebeard's location.
At that very moment, Whitebeard moved.
The man raised his massive blade, channeling the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit into his Cloud-Cutting Scythe, clearly preparing to unleash another attack like before.
"Not this move again!"
Some Marines watching the scene paled with terror.
Given their strength, there was no way they could withstand Whitebeard's tremor power!
"You won't succeed!"
Appearing directly in front of Whitebeard, Aokiji launched his attack without hesitation.
"Ice Ball!!"
"Boom!"
Several thick streams of frigid air shot from Aokiji's hands, heading straight for Whitebeard.
The next moment—
"Crack!"
Struck by the icy blast, Whitebeard was instantly encased within a massive ice sphere!!