Luo Yan sighed inwardly, a hint of alarm in his heart.
"Captain, you've been discovered?"
Xia Tali was also startled; they had been observing the battle for so long, and it seemed this was the first time they had been found out.
Luo Yan nodded. Although he had been discovered, he wasn't worried. After all, Hawk-Eye was just a bystander in this battle.
"That's Hawk-Eye, one of the Shichibukai, the world's greatest swordsman. It's normal for his Observation Haki to be strong. The main thing is, that guy's attention isn't even on the battlefield; he has more than enough energy to notice other things, like my gaze."
"Oh, I see. He sounds very strong."
Xia Tali nodded in understanding, already having a basic grasp of Hawk-Eye.
Luo Yan nodded, his gaze becoming a little more cautious as he watched the battle.
"Let's be careful. I don't want to join the fight right now."
"Mhm!"
Xia Tali nodded, lowering her body slightly. Luo Yan did the same...
"Ace! I will definitely save you!"
Just then, Luffy's voice echoed across the battlefield. Luo Yan quickly looked over, only to see Luffy, who had already fallen once, rise again and charge forward with immense excitement.
Ace, on the execution platform, was touched, pained, and filled with deep self-reproach at the sight.
"Don't come! Luffy!"
Ace, as if using all his strength, screamed hysterically:
"You have your companions, and I have mine! My business has nothing to do with you! I don't need you to save me! Get out of here!"
By this point, Ace was in tears. He bent down, resting his head on the execution platform, turning his face away so others wouldn't see his sobbing expression.
Luffy's steps paused slightly before he again strode forward: "I don't care about any of that! You're my brother!"
At these words, the entire crowd was shocked. Some Marines even wavered, and pirates took the opportunity to launch surprise attacks, gaining many victories.
Sengoku, seeing the chaos among the Marines, immediately stepped forward and began broadcasting with his den den mushi.
"Don't waver! They are not blood brothers. Portgas D. Ace's father is Pirate King Roger, while Straw Hat Kid's father is the Revolutionary Army's Monkey D. Dragon!"
Whoosh!
At these words, both Marines and pirates were in an uproar, their discussions even drowning out the sounds of battle.
"He's Dragon's son!"
Xia Tali also covered her mouth in surprise. She looked at her Captain, Luo Yan, but found that he remained unchanged, his expression showing no alteration.
"Captain, you knew already?"
"Ah? Yes, I knew already."
Luo Yan nodded. This news could not stir the slightest ripple in his heart.
"Then why didn't you tell us?"
Xia Tali was a little displeased, but Luo Yan was confused.
"What does that matter? What does it have to do with you whose son Luffy is?"
"I... that's true..."
Xia Tali, who had been about to demand an explanation, suddenly realized that it was indeed true. What did it matter to her who Luffy's father was? It didn't!
After learning Luffy's identity and his relationship with Ace, the pirates' morale soared. They charged forward, roaring, following behind Luffy.
Sengoku's face grew increasingly grim. He then issued an order through his den den mushi. Soon, the ice surface trembled, and one metal wall after another rose from beneath the ice, forming a cage that trapped all the pirates, with only a gap where the giant Oars had fallen.
Whitebeard's face also darkened at the sight. He went to the wall and punched it, but the punch that could shatter air only left a dent in the wall and could not break it.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes and looked up at Sengoku. Sengoku's lips curled into a tiny smile, and his gaze sharpened.
"Akainu!"
Sengoku called out to Akainu. Akainu's hands suddenly swelled into flowing magma, and then countless magma streams shot towards the sky. After a while, they transformed into countless magma fists that rained down. The solid ice surface cracked and melted, and the pirates fell into the water one after another.
Luo Yan, who was observing, stood up, a hint of amusement on his face.
"This is the Marines' resolve."
"Captain, is it time to act?"
Seeing Luo Yan stand up, Xia Tali also immediately rose, looking eager to try. Luo Yan shook his head, looking with interest at the giant Oars lying on the ground.
"How could it be? Let's continue watching. It's not time to act yet."
With that, Luo Yan sat back down. Xia Tali's face showed unconcealed disappointment. Then she thought of something else and quickly pulled out a vial of medicine from her clothes and drank it, her blush fading a little more.
The war's progression after this point was largely similar to the original story Luo Yan knew. Luffy, with Jinbe's help, broke through the blockade first and entered the plaza. Squard brought the last ship, hidden underwater, and with Oars's help, entered the plaza, and the war officially reached its climax.
The three Admirals all made their moves, and Whitebeard also personally joined the battle. Marines below the rank of Admiral didn't even have the courage to face Whitebeard directly; even Vice Admirals couldn't contend with him head-on. Only the Admirals could directly stop Whitebeard's advance.
Whitebeard swung his bisento at the Marine Headquarters' main building. The air shattered, and an invisible shockwave instantly cracked the building.
Akainu's lower body transformed into magma, while his upper body remained human as he rapidly charged towards Whitebeard.
"Dogtooth Crimson Lotus!"
Akainu threw a magma punch, and Whitebeard brought his bisento down. Their Devil Fruits and Haki clashed simultaneously, and the massive shockwave directly knocked away everyone around them. Their battlefield seemed to be divided into two halves, one white and one red.
The two colors initially stalemated, then white began to gain the upper hand, pushing back red.
Akainu's forehead was sweating, and he was about to give way when the sky suddenly brightened. Kizaru had ascended at some point, transforming into a dazzling light.
"Yasakani Sacred Jewel!"
"How could I let you have your way!"
Seeing Kizaru's sneak attack, Marco transformed into a phoenix and blocked all the light beams flying towards Whitebeard.
His attack thwarted, Kizaru did not linger in the air. He transformed into a golden light and instantly returned to the ground. The next moment, dozens of bullets passed through his body, but they caused no damage.
"The Phoenix is truly terrifying."
Kizaru showed no hint of dejection at his failed sneak attack, maintaining his annoying expression.
Marco slowly descended, his body returning to human form, only his hands still maintaining the shape of wings.
"Does a dignified Admiral resort to sneak attacks?"
"Hahahaha! I wasn't sneaking around. If it were a sneak attack, how would you have had the chance to block my attack?"
"Is that so? I don't believe it!"
Marco proactively attacked Kizaru, who did not retreat. His body transformed into light and instantly appeared before Marco. Fists and feet clashed, and Kizaru, a Logia-type, was not at a disadvantage when competing in hand-to-hand combat with Marco, a Zoan-type.