As the power of the people in the nutrient pods diminished, the nutrients in the pods were once again injected into their bodies, helping them recover the power they had lost.
Everything here was the nourishment Imu cultivated, and it was cultivated using living people. These people were none other than the Celestial Dragons, descendants who shared a blood relation with Imu.
Only his descendants were qualified to become his nourishment.
He used his ability to create the Dark Contract, binding it to these descendants. Then, after his descendants became stronger, they would enter the nutrient pods to continuously provide him with nourishment, maintaining his body in peak condition.
Although he had undergone the "Immortality Operation," the operation had side effects. As time passed, while his body wouldn't age, the power in his body was constantly draining away. Even with the power of Life Return, he couldn't stop the loss of physical power.
To keep himself in peak condition at all times, he needed a continuous supply of nourishment. That's why he created the Dark Contract, plundering the power of his descendants, who shared his origin, to maintain his peak.
To ensure these people could provide him with power, Imu had the Gorosei Training his descendants as much as possible. Whenever his descendants reached a certain level, they would fabricate an accidental death, capture the person, and imprison them in this basement.
The nutrient pods were created so that these people could recover after having some of their power drained, allowing him to continuously plunder.
"The last explosion killed many of my descendants. This explosion probably killed some more. The bloodline is getting thinner and thinner. This won't do!"
"If the Gorosei can't eliminate them this time, then I will personally take action and erase them!"
As soon as Imu thought about how many of his descendants had died, resulting in fewer people providing him with nourishment, a nameless rage instantly surged into his heart!
Immediately, Imu walked out of this underground world and returned to the surface.
Marine Headquarters Marineford:
"What's going on? How could there be such a terrifying explosion on the Red Line!"
"Could something have happened in Mary Geoise!"
"I remember something similar happening before. Back then, a great Pirate seemed to have blown up Mary Geoise!"
"The Pirates started taking action earlier. Could their target be the Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise!"
"..."
The explosion in Mary Geoise was too terrifying. Marineford, being very close to the Red Line, naturally detected it immediately.
At this moment, many Marines walked outside and looked in the direction of the Red Line. They could vaguely see the huge firelight rising from the explosion.
"Quickly contact Mary Geoise and ask what happened!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku said loudly.
"Fleet Admiral, all our communications with Mary Geoise are disconnected!"
The communication officer wiped the sweat from his forehead and said.
"Then contact the Army on the Red Line and ask them what's going on!"
"Also, isn't Admiral Mounis on duty near the Red Line? Quickly contact Admiral Mounis and ask!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku continued.
"I remember a long time ago, the World Destroyer World used the Explosive Rock that our Marine had developed to blow up Mary Geoise. Is it possible that Nox and the others also used the same method to blow up Mary Geoise, which is why we can't contact them?"
While waiting for the communication officer, the high-level officials were already filling the Fleet Admiral's office.
Without orders from the World Government, the Marine couldn't leave Marineford on its own.
If they had just left Marineford and then the Pirates attacked, it would be dangerous!
"Fleet Admiral, we can't contact the Army either, but we've connected to Admiral Mounis's den den mushi!"
The communication officer brought the den den mushi and placed it in the middle of the Marine high-level officials.
"Moshi moshi, I am Admiral Mounis of the Marine!"
From the other end of the den den mushi came Mounis's voice, but his tone seemed not at all anxious.
"Mounis, what's happening on the Red Line? Are the Pirates attacking Mary Geoise!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku heard Mounis's words and quickly inquired.
"That's right, the Pirate Alliance is attacking Mary Geoise. Let me tell you, Fleet Admiral, the Pirate Alliance is too terrifying! They actually flattened the entire Mary Geoise! No, they blew it down by dozens of meters!"
"The numerous Pirate Crew led by the Limitless Pirates and the Flying Pirates are now fighting everyone in Mary Geoise, and the World Government personnel are being pushed back by the Pirate Alliance. If this continues, the World Government is bound to lose!"
Mounis said.
"What? It's really like that!"
"But why does your tone sound not anxious at all, and aren't you participating in the battle now?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku inquired.
"Hahahaha, well, that explosion just now was too terrifying. If I were within the range of the explosion, I would definitely have been blown to death. So I'll wait and see if there are any more explosions like that. I'll make my move after I'm sure there won't be any more explosions like that."
Mounis laughed.
"Mounis, go immediately and help the World Government fight the Pirates! We Marine will also go to support Mary Geoise right away. Tell the Gorosei to hold on!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku said sternly.
He was very aware of Mounis's personality. This guy was definitely not participating in the battle now, and he didn't even plan to participate. After all, the World Government was at a disadvantage, and the risk of participating was extremely high, so Mounis didn't want to participate.
"Hahahaha, alright, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. But I'll remind you, you'd better not come to support the World Government, because I've noticed that Whitebeard doesn't seem to be among the Pirate Alliance. If you come to support Mary Geoise, Marineford is likely to be ambushed by Whitebeard!"
After Mounis finished speaking, he directly hung up the den den mushi.
"Sorry, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I will participate in the battle, but I won't be representing the Marine to support the World Government. Instead, I'll be representing the Limitless Pirates to overthrow the World Government's rule. Celestial Dragons and all that, I really hate them!"
Mounis smiled slightly and transformed into a puff of steam, rushing towards Mary Geoise at high speed.
"Mounis, what do you mean? You didn't see the Whitebeard Pirates? Were there any other Pirate Crew you didn't see?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately inquired, but he found that the other party had already hung up the den den mushi!
"That guy Mounis didn't finish his sentence. What do you think Mounis meant? The Whitebeard Pirates aren't in the Pirate Alliance, so where are they?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the others looked at their colleagues around them in great confusion after hearing Mounis's words.
"Boom! Boom!"
"Splash! Splash!"
However, before Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the others could figure it out, the entire Marineford began to shake, and they could even hear the roar of the rising and falling tide.
"What's going on!!!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the others saw this and immediately rushed out of the office.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, it's the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates!"
A Marine soldier ran over in a hurry and said.
"What? The Whitebeard Pirates? Are they here to attack Marineford and prevent us from supporting Mary Geoise?"
As soon as Fleet Admiral Sengoku thought about the battle happening in Marineford, this possibility immediately came to mind.
However, no one needed to answer him, because Whitebeard's classic Tremor-Tremor Fruit power had already spread over.
In front of Marineford, the huge waves rolled continuously. Soon, giant waves hundreds of meters high formed in the blink of an eye and rushed towards Marineford mercilessly.
"Ice Age!"
Seeing this, Kuzan immediately rushed out at the fastest speed. Two streams of ice power shot from his hands into the seawater, and in an instant, all the waves were frozen, turning into incredibly hard ice sculptures.
In a flash, the giant waves that were enough to submerge Marineford were disintegrated.
"Crack!!!"
However, the hundred-meter-high giant ice sculpture of the frozen waves in front was instantly shattered by a vibrating force.
"How terrifying! It's indeed the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates!"
When the numerous Marine soldiers arrived at the coast, they saw the two Pirate Crew that appeared after the ice sculpture shattered.
It was the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick and the Red Hair Pirates' Red Force.
"gura rara rara, the ability of the refrigerator kid is quite good!"
Whitebeard's hearty laughter sent chills down the spines of the Marine soldiers present.
This was Whitebeard, the legendary figure said to possess the power to destroy the World! That terrifying Tremor-Tremor Fruit power was simply a force of nature. If he were to unleash his power freely, Marineford would be directly destroyed by him in less than half a minute!
"Whitebeard, Red Hair, why are you two Pirates attacking Marineford?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku questioned angrily. Although he had some guesses, he still asked!
"gura rara rara, Sengoku, with your intelligence, can't you guess?"
"I'll say it here today. With our Whitebeard Pirates here, none of your Marine soldiers from Marineford can go to support Mary Geoise!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily.
"Well, Whitebeard, don't hog all the attention. Our Red Hair Pirates are here too!"
Red Hair Shanks laughed.
"Damn it, do you really think two Pirate Crew can stop our Marine!"
Even with his guesses, Fleet Admiral Sengoku couldn't help but get angry when he heard these arrogant words!
"gura rara rara, Sengoku, aren't you the one who knows best whether we can stop you?"
"If you ask me, you Marine aren't the World Government's real dogs. You don't need to risk your lives for them."
"Now Nox and Golden Lion are attacking Mary Geoise, which means the World Government is destined to be annihilated. At that time, your Marine's hats will be gone anyway. You might as well surrender directly!"
"Even if you don't surrender, there's no need to resist. Our goal is just to stop you from supporting Mary Geoise. As long as you don't make a move, we won't either. Just wait until everything is over. Anyway, you can't influence the outcome of the final battle, and you can reduce the Marine's losses."
Whitebeard said seriously.
Just as he said, his and the Red Hair Pirates' mission was simply to stop the Marine. If they didn't have to fight, he naturally didn't want to fight. Once the battle started, there would be casualties, and he didn't want his Pirate Crew to suffer any damage.
"Impossible! We are the Marine! How could we be threatened by Pirates!"
"We Marine belong to the World Government. Eliminating Pirates is our responsibility and obligation. We will never compromise with Pirates!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku said loudly and righteously.
As the Marine, their justice did not allow them to compromise with Pirates!
Even though Whitebeard was right, their Marine being stopped was bound to not affect the government of Mary Geoise.
But this was not a reason for the Marine to compromise. The Pirates had come to block the entrance of their Marine Headquarters. If their Marine Headquarters still didn't dare to fight, then the belief of the entire Marine would be severely impacted!
"I said it, this fight is unavoidable!"
Red Hair pressed down on the straw hat on his head and said seriously.
Immediately, the Haoshoku Haki on his body turned into a red impact that swept across the entire Marineford. At the same time, Whitebeard also cooperated with Red Hair's Haoshoku Haki in a tacit understanding, launching an impact on all the Marine soldiers in Marineford.
"Hmph!!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Garp's Haoshoku Haki also erupted, blocking the incoming Haoshoku Haki.
However, as the defenders, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Garp could only protect most of the surrounding Marine soldiers. The Marine soldiers in the peripheral areas were all knocked unconscious by the impact of the Haoshoku Haki.
"Damn Haoshoku Haki!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku said through gritted teeth as he watched this scene.
Their Haoshoku Haki was weaker than Whitebeard's and Red Hair's, making it difficult to defend the entire Marineford!
"gura rara rara, the clearing is over. Since you won't give up, let's have a grand battle!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, lifted his Supreme Grade Swords, Murakumogiri, and leaped up from the Moby Dick, jumping into the sky.
"Air Quake!!!"
The incredibly powerful Tremor-Tremor Fruit power and Haoshoku Haki were all gathered on the sword body, and then he swung a full-strength slash downwards towards the most densely populated area of Marineford below.
"Damn Whitebeard, don't be so arrogant!"
Seeing Whitebeard attack, Fleet Admiral Sengoku didn't dare to be negligent at all. He immediately used Moonwalk to step into the air and rushed into the sky, then transformed into a golden Great Buddha.
"Great Buddha Impact!!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was very aware of Whitebeard's power. As soon as he made his move, he combined the largest impact wave with Haoshoku Haki and slammed it towards Whitebeard's sword body.
"Boom!!!!"
As the two terrifying forces collided, the aftermath instantly swept across a radius of ten kilometers. Many of the Marine soldiers below were shaken and stumbled, and some were even directly shaken to death.
"gura rara rara, Sengoku, your impact wave is still so weak and powerless!!!!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily. In an instant, his muscles bulged, his veins popped, and his strength reached a higher level. With one slash, he directly sent Fleet Admiral Sengoku flying down from the air.
"Bang!!!"
When Fleet Admiral Sengoku landed, the ground beneath his feet caved in by more than ten meters, and his palms were numb from the shock..