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"Is that guy finally here?"
Feeling the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Sengoku's expression darkened slightly.
This wasn't just any disturbance—it was an environmental change caused by Conqueror's Haki, and only someone like Whitebeard could exude such an overwhelming presence.
All eyes turned to the sea.
Responding to the oppressive aura, the Marines saw a sight that made their blood run cold. Emerging over the horizon, a massive fleet of pirate ships appeared, their black sails cutting through the air like blades.
More than forty ships, forming a colossal armada, sailed with unrelenting purpose toward Marineford. Each vessel carried members of the Whitebeard Pirates and their allied forces—tens of thousands of fighters renowned across the New World.
The front-line Marines, unable to hide their nerves, swallowed hard.
"Those ships... that's the Whitebeard Pirates' large fleet!"
"Look! It's [Bohemian Knight] Doma, [Maelstrom Spider] Squard, [Ice Witch] Whitey Bay, [Thunder Lord] McGuy, and the Decalvan Brothers!"
"All of them—commanders with fearsome reputations across the New World!"
"Is this the entire fleet under Whitebeard's command?!"
As the names of these notorious pirates were called out, a wave of dread rippled through the Marines and the audience watching the live broadcast. The sheer scale of the approaching fleet bore down on them like a storm, filling the air with palpable tension.
Marineford's alarm sirens blared, their piercing sound spreading across the island as the fleet drew closer.
"Enemy sighted! It's Whitebeard's pirates!"
The report crackled through the communication channels, raising Marine vigilance to its peak. Every Marine stood at the ready, weapons drawn, awaiting the onslaught.
But something was off.
The sentries at the front quickly realized that amidst the massive fleet, one critical ship was missing—the Moby Dick, Whitebeard's flagship.
In Crescent Bay, bubbles began rising to the surface. A shadow loomed beneath the waves, enormous and ominous, accompanied by a rhythmic, almost heartbeat-like sound.
It was the unmistakable sign of something massive about to breach the water.
Sengoku's eyes widened as the realization struck him.
"Whitebeard… you've invaded this close already?!"
And then, it happened.
From beneath the surface, the Moby Dick, coated in bubbles, burst forth with a thunderous splash. Water cascaded in all directions, drenching the bay in a sudden downpour. The flagship's sudden appearance left everyone—Marines and spectators alike—stunned.
The move was as audacious as it was brilliant. By breaching Marineford's defenses from below, Whitebeard had bypassed the countless warships stationed around the island, rendering Sengoku and Tsuru's careful preparations futile.
As the Moby Dick surfaced, the legendary pirate's seventeen division commanders stepped onto the deck. Their formidable presence sent a chill through the gathered forces.
Before the Marines could process what was happening, three more whale-headed ships emerged from beneath the waves, flanking the Moby Dick like guardians. The crescent-shaped pirate flags fluttered in the wind, their skull-and-crossbones insignia striking terror into onlookers.
Gasps erupted from the bay and across the world as viewers watching the broadcast realized the magnitude of the moment.
"The… the Whitebeard Pirates have breached the bay!"
Amid the chaos, Ace, chained to the execution platform, stared at the legendary ship—his home—his crew.
The sound of a blade tapping against the deck echoed across the bay, cutting through the tension like a knife.
The entire battlefield fell silent.
Everyone in the square turned their eyes toward the towering, imposing figure stepping onto the deck of the Moby Dick.
There was no need for introductions. The unmistakable white crescent-shaped mustache was all the world needed to recognize him.
"Gurararara! My silly son, have you suffered? How are you holding up?!"
His bold laughter thundered across the battlefield, carrying with it an aura of immense power that struck fear into the hearts of all who heard it.
The Summit War had officially begun.
"Zehahaha... Dad, we meet again at last," Teach muttered under his breath, watching Whitebeard's commanding presence.
Unlike in another timeline, Blackbeard had not acquired the Dark-Dark Fruit and lacked the confidence to face Magellan's terrifying toxins. As a result, he had refrained from venturing to Impel Down and remained at Marineford instead.
Though he had failed to recruit the infamous prisoners from the depths of the Great Prison, Teach glanced at Weevil, standing by his side, and smirked. Witnessing the end of Whitebeard firsthand wasn't a bad consolation prize.
Back at the port of Marineford, Whitebeard finished his words to Ace with a sly grin. His gaze shifted toward the assembled Marine forces, the disdain on his face unmistakable.
He clenched his massive fists, veins bulging like cables along his forearms. Then, with a single mighty swing, he hammered the air itself.
The atmosphere in front of him fractured like a shattered mirror, spiderweb cracks spreading outward with terrifying speed.
"If you think you can bully my sons, you'd better prepare yourselves, you bastards!!"
As his Seaquake rippled through the area, the ocean responded in kind. The water surrounding Marineford surged, rising higher and higher until it transformed into two colossal tsunamis, towering over the battlefield like mountains.
The waves, reaching thousands of meters high, loomed over Marine Headquarters, ready to crash down and obliterate everything in their path.
"This… this is Whitebeard's power?!"
Marines froze in awe and terror. Around the world, viewers of the live broadcast stared in disbelief. For many, this was their first glimpse of the full strength of the man hailed as the Strongest in the World.
Even those with fleeting thoughts of Whitebeard's defeat were forced to reconsider.
But just as the tidal waves threatened to engulf Marineford, a figure rose to the challenge.
With a burst of incredible speed and precise technique, Admiral Aokiji soared into the air, facing the towering tsunamis head-on.
His expression remained calm as he stretched out both hands. Twin streams of freezing air erupted from his palms, colliding with the massive waves.
In an instant, the roaring water solidified into ice, freezing the tsunamis mid-surge and creating a frozen battlefield spanning the bay.
This move not only neutralized Whitebeard's immediate threat but also provided a new arena for the battle to unfold.
Whitebeard's crew, undeterred by Aokiji's counter, seized the opportunity. With the ice providing a solid path, the pirates roared as they charged toward the Marines.
"Defeat the Marines!"
On both sides, war cries erupted as combat broke out. Cannons roared, swords clashed, and chaos consumed the bay.
High atop the execution platform, Sengoku surveyed the battlefield with a calculating gaze. As Fleet Admiral, his role was to oversee the operation, to command the flow of the battle rather than engage directly.
But no matter how carefully one plans, war always brings the unexpected.
A Marine adjutant rushed to the execution platform, urgency etched across his face. He leaned close to Sengoku and whispered the report.
Sengoku's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking as the shocking news sunk in.
Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, had been spotted near the earthquake zone—not far from Marineford.