Chapter 210: Tactics
At this moment, in a corner of the battlefield...
"Straw Hat's been stealing the show since he arrived! We came here together!"
"Captain Buggy, we can't lose to him!"
"Go, Captain Buggy! Go take Whitebeard's head and shake the world!"
Buggy observed these admirers, his heart surging with excitement, yet he didn't allow himself to get carried away. Instead, he turned around, pondering carefully.
"Speaking of which, what's going on with this insane battlefield? Why are there so many famous Marines and pirates everywhere? I'd better be careful, or I might actually be in serious danger..."
Just as he contemplated, a voice suddenly echoed from nearby.
"Hey, Red Nose."
Buggy instantly erupted in fury upon hearing this, whirling around and roaring:
"Who're you calling Red Nose, you bastard?! I'll kill you, you bast—"
He couldn't finish his threat because after turning around and identifying who'd called him Red Nose, Buggy immediately recoiled in horror. His previously surging confidence plummeted to rock bottom.
"I thought it was someone else, but it's just that brat from Roger's ship. Brings back memories. I didn't expect you'd still be alive."
Buggy felt utterly defeated—his future bleak, his survival chances slim—yet he'd actually uttered the words "I'll kill you" to such a legendary monster.
However, the Impel Down prisoners, completely unaware of the reality, instantly erupted in euphoria, their reverence for Buggy reaching unprecedented heights.
Encouraged by his followers, Buggy—tears streaming down his face—uttered words even he couldn't believe:
"Prepare yourself, Whitebeard! Today I'll take your head!"
Having declared this, Buggy felt on the verge of collapse, certain he was about to be crushed, when Whitebeard unexpectedly proposed an alliance instead.
With a figure like Whitebeard proactively suggesting cooperation, the Impel Down prisoners' reverence for Buggy suddenly reached indescribable levels—their gazes toward him like believers beholding a deity.
"I have a feeling that if things get serious, I can really do this!"
The Clown—the inflated Buggy—seemed to already envision himself dominating the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Rhodes was locked in combat with two division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates.
His opponents were Blenheim, the Ninth Division Commander, and Curiel, the Tenth Division Commander.
Individually, their strength fell far short of Diamond Jozu and Vista's levels.
However, one was a master swordsman specializing in close-quarters combat, while the other was a firearms expert with formidable firepower.
Working together seamlessly—one providing long-range support while the other engaged at close range—they managed to keep Rhodes occupied temporarily.
BOOM!
Curiel fired simultaneously from his dual pistols and shoulder-mounted cannon, creating a massive barrage that severely hampered Rhodes's speed advantage.
Blenheim, gripping his blade, stood guard before Curiel, vigilantly watching Rhodes while protecting his partner's vulnerable position.
Both commanders understood the Dragon Slayer Swordsman's strength clearly—they harbored no illusions about defeating him. They simply wanted to keep him occupied and away from their allies.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, a silver flash streaked across their vision.
Blenheim's Observation Haki flickered to life, his mind sharpening. Without hesitation, he slashed downward defensively.
CLANG!
The blades collided, sending sparks flying. Amidst the ear-piercing metallic screech, Blenheim's feet sank deep into the ice, clearly subjected to immense force.
Crack...
To Blenheim's shock, his cherished blade was notched significantly by Rhodes's sword.
"Such a sharp blade!"
Blenheim thought incredulously, though his movements remained swift—he used the momentum to leap backward immediately.
Almost simultaneously, Curiel's firepower followed, halting Rhodes's further pursuit.
Both men possessed exceptional Observation Haki, allowing them to react to Rhodes's incredible speed.
"..."
Rhodes remained composed, evading the barrage.
This man's firepower was high-tech weaponry, incredibly destructive—a single shot could create a large crater in the ice. His firearms were equipped with specially designed armor-piercing rounds, extremely lethal.
Swoosh!
Just then, Rhodes noticed Blenheim twitching, paralyzed by the residual lightning imbued in Rhodes's previous strike. He acted without hesitation.
Flash!
A gleam of cold steel arrived first—the blade carrying ruthless, all-severing sharpness as it descended.
Blenheim, as expected of a Whitebeard Pirates division commander, possessed vast experience. The moment he felt the lightning affecting his body, he'd already anticipated the ensuing attack and parried with his sword.
However, due to his paralyzed condition, he couldn't unleash his full power—his state was severely compromised.
CRACK!
Rhodes's strike actually severed Blenheim's blade in two, leaving a deep, bloody gash across his torso, nearly exposing bone.
Enduring excruciating pain, Blenheim swung his broken blade, unleashing a burst of sword energy while swiftly retreating.
Simultaneously, Curiel unleashed maximum firepower, saturating a ten-meter radius around Rhodes with devastating explosions.
Smoke billowed as rising dust obscured visibility.
"Did we hit him?!"
Both Curiel and Blenheim remained tense.
Their coordination was excellent—they'd cleverly used Blenheim's paralysis to set a trap. An ordinary opponent caught in this assault would be severely injured, if not killed outright.
Unfortunately, Rhodes was far too fast.
In almost an instant, he'd reached the blast radius's edge.
Although Rhodes's defense was merely average, the explosion's aftershocks couldn't harm him. He used Geppo mid-air and landed smoothly beyond the smoke.
"You two are quite skilled. Continue forward."
With that declaration, Rhodes sheathed his sword and turned to leave.
Witnessing Rhodes's retreating figure, Blenheim and his companion lacked the courage to launch a sneak attack.
"Is this the Dragon Slayer Swordsman's true strength? I heard even Captain Jozu and Captain Vista couldn't gain any advantage against him."
"What a formidable rookie. If he entered the New World, he'd probably cause tremendous upheaval."
Blenheim and his companion exchanged glances, slowly walking toward the front lines while bandaging their wounds.
"This kid..."
Whitebeard noticed this exchange, and a slight smile crept onto his lips.
Interesting. He actually came to this battlefield to find worthy opponents and hone his skills.
Truly worthy of being this era's strongest rookie.
And that Straw Hat kid too—the future world is going to be very exciting indeed.
Considering this, Whitebeard couldn't help glancing toward Ace on the execution platform. He could let himself fall, but a young life like Ace's couldn't be absent from that future.
Meanwhile, Sengoku—observing Rhodes wound two more division commanders—felt his eyes flicker before suddenly issuing an order.
"Cut the broadcast signal immediately. This war was initiated by our Navy and the World Government in the name of absolute justice, and we must achieve victory—no matter what methods prove necessary.
However, what's about to unfold would be too disturbing for civilians. The tragedy we're preparing doesn't need broadcasting to the world.
In a few hours, what we'll announce to the world is simply our victory. Those few words will suffice."
After delivering this decree, Sengoku signaled his subordinates to terminate the Den Den Mushi transmission.
Another reason was his intention to execute Ace ahead of schedule, which would damage the Navy's public reputation if broadcast.
The purpose was making the Whitebeard Pirates desperate enough to rush into their carefully prepared encirclement.
As Sengoku's orders were relayed, the battlefield situation suddenly transformed.
Several massive explosions suddenly erupted behind the Whitebeard Pirates' position, accompanied by thick smoke. Sentomaru emerged, leading rows of Pacifista units.
This was one of Sengoku's primary strategies.
Marine Headquarters harbor formed a circle with a single gap.
Now, the Pacifista legion blocked this only exit, and combined with the towering ice walls flanking headquarters, the Whitebeard Pirates would be completely trapped.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Pacifistas' laser beams proved incredibly destructive—once formed into a coordinated unit, they became unstoppable.
However, when pirates attempted attacking the Pacifistas directly, they discovered these machines were forged from special metal, making them impervious to conventional blades and bullets—extraordinarily durable.
With their retreat severed, the Whitebeard Pirates' morale temporarily dipped.
But this was a world where might made right, and just as Napoleon inspired France, Whitebeard's personal charisma within his crew was equally boundless.
"Don't back down, sons! Charge into the plaza!"
With Whitebeard's thunderous roar, the pirates' momentarily wavering morale surged dramatically once more.
And this time—because their escape route was severed—the pirates fought with incredible ferocity, berserk determination, and complete recklessness.
Piracy was inherently a life-or-death profession. Those who dared come here weren't afraid of death!
It had become a do-or-die situation.
Under this desperate momentum, the Marine front immediately buckled, and even elite troops proved no match for these ravenous, ferocious pirates.
On a tactical level, the Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy remained evenly matched, each possessing distinct strengths and weaknesses.
(End of Chapter)
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