Upon hearing the officer's report, Sengoku's expression darkened like a thundercloud.
He hadn't expected even Kuzan to be held back. That meant support to the other armories was likely impossible.
The Navy might soon find itself in a terrifying predicament—out of ammunition.
At that same moment, the tide of battle shifted outside the Marine Headquarters' main gate.
Under the fierce assault of Vice Admirals Onigumo and Doberman, the elite warriors of Rosinante's Second Division were repeatedly knocked flying. Though their injuries rapidly healed thanks to the regenerative sealing marks, they were still being forced back under the sheer might of their opponents.
Even with the powerful recovery ability of the healing seals, the difference in strength between them and the Vice Admirals was overwhelming.
Just when they could no longer hold the line, Onigumo and Doberman suddenly halted their attacks.
Both their expressions turned to shock—disbelief in their eyes.
Seeing the Vice Admirals suddenly freeze, the battered Second Division fighters let out sighs of relief.
"I thought we were going to die here!"
"Damn it, being cut up by them hurt like hell!" the Second Division warriors said with ragged but exhilarated voices.
"What's happening? Why can't we move?!"
"It feels like… something's binding us."
"Strings…! So many thin, nearly invisible, but unbelievably strong threads! When did they wrap around us?!"
The stunned voices of Onigumo and Doberman revealed their disbelief.
At the start, they had looked down on these so-called elite warriors. They hadn't even bothered using Observation Haki, thinking raw force would be enough to slash them down and then go after their real target—Raelmann.
But they'd unknowingly walked right into the Second Division's trap.
Now, as they activated their Haki, they could sense it clearly—countless fine, transparent threads had silently bound them at some point during the battle.
"…It actually worked?" Raelmann blinked in surprise as he saw the Vice Admirals immobilized.
Even he hadn't expected the plan to succeed so easily.
After all, they were dealing with two Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters—some of the most formidable fighters in the entire Navy.
Originally, his plan had just been to buy time so his team could escape the encirclement. But now, even he couldn't believe they'd managed to snare two titans with such ease.
"Looks like Marine Vice Admirals aren't all that after all. How do you like the special Sky Island gift we brought just for you—the Cloud Rope Trap? These clouds are ultra-fine, soft, and incredibly tough. Once they've got you, don't even dream of breaking free!" one Second Division elite said smugly.
"Caught in our trap? Just sit still and wait to be cut down!" shouted another warrior, aiming his knight's rifle at Onigumo and Doberman.
"You bastards made us bleed! Now it's our turn!" a soldier armed with an Impact Dial roared, his face twisted with rage.
"Don't get cocky! They're still Vice Admirals! Finish them off—now!" Raelmann barked, his voice cutting through the momentary high spirits.
He knew this kind of trap wouldn't hold Onigumo and Doberman for long. If they didn't finish them quickly, it would be a missed opportunity.
Not far away, high-ranking officers on the Navy's side noticed the scene as well.
"Damn it! After this is over, I'm dragging those two back to the training camp so Zephyr can beat them senseless!" gritted Kong, face livid. With a roar, he ripped off his coat, clearly intending to end this personally.
"Fleet Admiral, let me handle this!" Sengoku immediately stepped up.
"Let us do it, Fleet Admiral!" several Vice Admirals volunteered at once.
If Kong had to intervene against some random pirates, even if they won, the Navy's reputation would take a massive blow. If they needed the Fleet Admiral to deal with every pirate, then what was the point of having Admirals and Vice Admirals?
"Damn it! Don't underestimate Marine Vice Admirals!"
Suddenly, a cold shout erupted from the battlefield.
"Rokushiki Secret Technique—Life Return!"
With a sharp snap, Onigumo shattered the cloud ropes binding him. His eight blades danced like death incarnate, slashing through the Second Division elites. Several were flung back, and some were cut clean in half—killed instantly.
At the same time, Doberman roared and burst free from the trap as well. His longsword swept in wide arcs, massive sword waves slicing down multiple elite soldiers at the waist.
Raelmann's eyes turned bloodshot as he watched over a dozen elite soldiers die in the blink of an eye.
These men were the cream of the Second Division—each one had undergone years of training. His heart ached as they fell.
With a thunderous burst of Soru beneath his feet, Raelmann lunged at Onigumo, his fist blazing with Dial energy.
His punch collided with Onigumo's crossed blades, releasing a fierce explosion that shook the air. Onigumo was knocked back several paces by the impact.
"You all stand down! I'll handle this myself!" Raelmann ordered the remaining fighters.
They backed away at once. They knew this fight had escalated beyond their level.
"Raelmann!" Onigumo growled, his eyes burning with cold fury as he charged forward again.
Doberman wasn't far behind. In an instant, the three clashed with steel and fury once more.
From afar, seeing the two Vice Admirals escape the trap and engage Raelmann in battle—gaining the upper hand—Kong finally relaxed a little. He no longer felt the need to step in personally.
But just as that relief settled in, the cannon fire around them suddenly ceased, and the sound of melee combat from below grew louder and louder.
Kong's expression turned grim again.
"What happened to the artillery?! Why did it stop firing?!" he demanded.
"Fleet Admiral! The cannons have run out of ammunition!" a senior officer reported, breathless.
"WHAT?! Didn't we send reinforcements to the armories?! What's going on?!" Kong roared.
"Fleet Admiral! The pirates attacking the armories are powerful and numerous! Our officers are locked in intense combat!" the officer replied, face pale.
"Are you telling me... that we, the mighty Navy, might run out of firepower inside our own headquarters?!" Kong thundered in disbelief.
—came a calm, steady voice from behind.