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The arrival of the Pacifistas brought immense psychological pressure to the pirates. These humanoid weapons automatically identified targets with bounties exceeding 100 million berries and unleashed devastating laser blasts from their palms and mouths. Within moments, the pirates began suffering heavy casualties.
"Damn it! Die, you bastard!"
One pirate, bearing a bounty of over 100 million berries, managed to survive the initial explosions. Fueled by desperation, he charged one of the Pacifistas and swung his blade with all his might, aiming for its chest.
"Clang!"
The sound of steel meeting steel rang out as the pirate froze in disbelief. His sword—sharp enough to cut through gold and iron—had barely scratched the Pacifista's clothing.
Through the torn fabric, he could see sparks flying where his blade had struck. Beneath the surface, the Pacifista's body was revealed to be made of a special metal.
"No way…"
Even pirates with bounties under 500 million berries couldn't penetrate the Pacifistas' defenses. This was the reason the Marines and the World Government had invested so heavily in these weapons. The Pacifistas were practically indestructible and represented the pinnacle of Marine technological warfare.
Before the pirate could react, the Pacifista locked onto him. Its mouth opened, and a searing laser beam shot out, piercing him instantly.
The smoking, lifeless body of the once-feared pirate fell heavily to the ground in front of the Pacifista.
The morale of the Whitebeard Pirates, already shaken, began to falter further. The intrusion of the Straw Hats had shifted the momentum, but now the battle seemed to teeter on a knife's edge.
It was clear to everyone that the Whitebeard Pirates were struggling. Their initial momentum had faded after repeated failed charges to break through the Marine's defenses.
"The Whitebeard Pirates' strength is waning," remarked Bad Wine Bardock with a smug grin. "After so many failed attempts to break out, they're clearly not as strong as they were at the start. It looks like this war is about to end."
"The war is over? Fufufufu, you think too much." Doflamingo's sinister laugh cut through the tension. "That man hasn't even made his move yet."
Bardock blinked in confusion before following Doflamingo's gaze. His eyes widened as he saw Whitebeard himself preparing to enter the fray.
The addition of the Pacifistas, combined with the Marines' overwhelming numbers and strength, had pushed the Whitebeard Pirates to their limits. But Whitebeard knew that it was time for him to step forward and turn the tide.
With a determined look, Whitebeard clenched his massive fist and struck the air with all his strength.
The atmosphere cracked open with a thunderous boom. From the point of impact, fractures spread rapidly across the sky and the ground, the force of the quake ripping through Crescent Bay with astonishing speed and range.
The Marines and the giants stationed at the frontlines were caught in the blast, their ranks scattered like leaves in a storm.
The frozen sea created by Admiral Aokiji shattered violently, breaking apart the battlefield and sinking many combatants. Even the cannons stationed on the shoreline in Marineford were obliterated by the shockwave.
The destruction left both sides scrambling to regain their footing. With the ice gone, the Pacifistas also lost their solid ground, forcing Sentomaru to order their immediate retreat back to shore.
This gave the Whitebeard Pirates a much-needed moment to regroup.
Taking a deep breath, Whitebeard raised his massive naginata—the Murakumogiri—and bellowed to his crew:
"Everyone! Rescue Ace! Push through to the square in one charge!"
With those words, he swung the Murakumogiri once more, the force of his strike creating another devastating shockwave that cleared the way for his crew.
The atmosphere cracked once more under the immense pressure, fractures spreading through the air like spider webs.
The violent impact sent waves of Marines flying.
"Go! Break through to the square!"
With a thunderous crash, the Moby Dick slammed into the edge of the battlefield.
Whitebeard's pirates surged forward like an unstoppable torrent, their spirits bolstered despite the danger. Under the protection of their comrades, they managed to push through the gap and finally set foot on Marineford's main square.
But this advance came at a cost—they now faced even more formidable opponents.
"It's Admiral Ryokugyu!"
The name sent shivers through the air, and the pirates turned to see the figure stepping calmly into the breach. His presence alone caused those in his path to retreat, their initial determination giving way to fear and awe.
Ryokugyu walked with his hands casually tucked into his pockets. Vitality seemed to radiate from him, particles of energy floating like pollen in the air.
"Ka ka ka..."
The ground beneath Ryokugyu cracked ominously as plant life began to erupt from the earth. In mere moments, trees and flowers burst forth, rapidly growing into a dense forest that transformed the battlefield. Even the Marines near him seemed to blend into the greenery, swallowed by the expansion.
"It's perfect… You'll all make excellent nourishment."
Under his control, massive tree trunks intertwined and formed an enormous arm.
The wooden hand, larger than even the Marine Giant Vice Admirals, shimmered with a coating of Armament Haki. Its sheer size and power were terrifying as it swung toward the pirates disembarking from the Moby Dick.
The air howled as the massive wooden palms descended with overwhelming force. The land beneath them dried and cracked, as if the trees themselves were draining every ounce of life from the soil. Simultaneously, the surrounding forest continued to grow more vibrant and menacing.
Suddenly, a tall figure leapt into the fray, crashing into the heart of the forest.
"Brilliant Clash!"
Under the sunlight, Diamond Jozu's body sparkled with a dazzling, noble brilliance. The Third Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates charged forward, his diamond-coated form enhanced with Armament Haki.
Jozu slammed into the wooden palm, creating massive cracks that spread across the surface of the attack. The collision was so powerful it momentarily halted Ryokugyu's offensive.
But Ryokugyu's forest was not so easily overcome. The wooden palm quickly regenerated, mending itself in an instant. With a renewed surge of force, it struck again, overwhelming Jozu and sending him hurtling backward.
The pirates scrambled to catch Jozu's massive frame, preventing him from being thrown into the sea.
Then, with an earth-shaking roar, Whitebeard himself stepped forward.
Clenching his fist, the legendary pirate unleashed the full might of his Quake-Quake Fruit.
"Boom!"
The air cracked and splintered, spiderweb fractures forming across the atmosphere as his punch sent shockwaves rippling outward.
"Crack!"
The vibrations expanded with devastating force, tearing through Ryokugyu's forest. The massive wooden palms collapsed instantly, their resilience no match for the overwhelming power of Whitebeard's quake. Even the regenerating trees crumbled like dry twigs under the shockwave.
Whitebeard's fearsome attack drew the attention of everyone on the battlefield. For a moment, all eyes were on him, his presence dominating the chaos of the war.
But in the midst of the battle, no one noticed the sea behind Marineford growing restless.
The waves, once calm, had begun to rise higher and higher, each one more powerful than the last. The waters churned violently, a telltale sign of an impending tsunami.