The battlefield was a chaotic storm of clashing forces.
The division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, alongside dozens of renowned captains from the New World, had carved open a path through the overwhelming ranks of the Marines, relying solely on their formidable individual strength.
However, with the Vice Admirals and other core Marine forces joining the fray, the rampage of these pirate elites was momentarily restrained.
Both sides fought with everything they had.
The arrival of the Vice Admirals alleviated much of the pressure on the Marine ranks, but figures of commander-level strength continued to reap through the battlefield like grim reapers, tearing bloody swaths through the densely packed Marines in mere seconds.
Despite the overwhelming numbers favoring the Marines, the chaos of battle made it seem as though more of their own were falling.
And on a battlefield of this scale, falling meant death.
"We have to stifle their momentum."
Gion—better known by her alias Momousagi—watched the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders wreak havoc with cold eyes.
She knew that the key to curbing their efficiency in battle was to eliminate the commanders as quickly as possible.
Only by taking down these high-level threats could their numerical advantage be fully utilized.
"Follow me!"
Harnessing the power of the Aroma-Aroma Fruit, Momousagi gathered an elite strike force around her.
With a swift swing of her blade, she sent a crimson slash soaring toward the enemy lines. Without waiting to see the effect, she led her group of Marines, who were now filled with frenzied determination, charging toward the nearest division commander.
"Oi, that's reckless."
Not far away, Tokikake—better known by his alias Chaton—narrowed his eyes at Momousagi's bold advance.
In the midst of such chaotic warfare, there was no way to stop her with words.
"Cover her."
Making a swift decision, Chaton rallied nearby elite soldiers into a wedge formation, shielding Momousagi's squad on both flanks.
"Kill that woman Marine!"
The Whitebeard Pirates quickly identified Momousagi's ability to enhance her allies and marked her as a priority target.
For that brief moment, both sides shared the same understanding—eliminate the key figures as swiftly as possible.
Onboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard watched these developments unfold.
"Marco, Jozu, you're up. Don't fixate on breaking through just yet—there are some tough ones waiting at the front of the plaza."
Whitebeard's piercing gaze shifted toward the shoreline, where several of the Seven Warlords of the Sea remained idle observers. His tone was grave as he commanded:
"There's still plenty of time. Focus on easing the pressure on our flanks first."
"Got it. I'm on it."
"Yoi, understood, Pops."
Marco transformed into his phoenix form and soared into the battlefield, while Jozu, after a quick patch-up of his wounds, charged in the other direction.
Their task was to clear out the lurking Marine forces positioned along both sides of the bay.
Whitebeard silently watched them go.
Even though he hadn't personally entered the battlefield yet, he needed no bodyguards.
"Taking out the leader first?"
That strategy didn't apply to Whitebeard.
...
On the Execution Platform.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku observed the battlefield intently.
His sharp gaze locked onto Marco and Jozu leading forces toward the Marine lines at the bay's flanks. His expression darkened.
"Cunning old fox."
Sengoku muttered to himself, cursing Whitebeard under his breath.
"But… you won't break through so easily."
Shifting his focus, he looked toward Admiral Akainu, who stood resolute beneath the execution platform, and Admiral Fujitora, stationed not far away.
The true weapons of destruction weren't just the Pacifistas.
In terms of sheer firepower, Akainu and Fujitora far outclassed them.
The battlefield was an ever-changing storm.
A single moment of inattention could mean missing a critical opportunity.
Just as the main forces of both sides clashed relentlessly, one decisive action shattered the balance of war.
"Oooohhh!!!"
The towering figure of Little Oars Jr., standing at a colossal 38 meters tall, hefted a massive Marine battleship into the air with his bare hands.
"That's insane…"
"I've never had to look up at someone like this before!"
The Giant Vice Admirals stared in shock.
Even if six or seven of them combined their strength, they couldn't lift a battleship that high.
Yet, this monstrous warrior had done so effortlessly.
"Stopping that monster is our duty!"
Despite their astonishment, the Vice Admirals charged toward Little Oars Jr. without hesitation.
"Out of my way!"
With a thunderous bellow, Oars Jr. hurled the massive battleship toward the Marine forces in the plaza.
"!!!"
"Don't just stand there—move!"
Panic erupted among the Marines as they watched the massive warship hurtling through the air, threatening to crush them beneath its weight.
"BOOM!!!"
The ship crashed down with devastating force, sending tremors rippling through the frozen battlefield.
Countless Marines were caught in the impact. Those who failed to react in time were instantly crushed into unrecognizable remains beneath the ship's weight.
The momentum of the crash sent the battleship skidding violently across the ice, leaving a trail of blood and shattered bodies in its wake.
Despite their desperate attempts to evade, many Marines were still caught in its deadly path, their bodies broken beyond recognition.
Finally, the ship came to a halt just before the bay's shoreline—right where the Seven Warlords of the Sea stood.
A path of carnage, soaked in blood and littered with fragmented remains, had been brutally carved through the heart of the Marine formation.
It was a grotesque and undeniable display of the horrors of war.
The war correspondents, responsible for broadcasting the battle, quickly adjusted the angles of their visual Den Den Mushi, ensuring that the gruesome sight did not appear on the screens of viewers around the world.
...
Standing atop the bay, the Seven Warlords of the Sea gazed upon the scene with impassive expressions.
The grotesque spectacle before them stirred no emotion.
"Fufufu… Quite literally 'cutting' a bloody path forward. How entertaining…"
Donquixote Doflamingo chuckled, his interest piqued as he watched the gaping wound in the Marine formation.
That monstrous warrior—taller than even the giants—had single-handedly shifted the momentum of the battle.
"They're making their move."
Maude remained calm.
They had taken their positions here, with the choice to either go on the offensive or hold the defensive line.
That was why the other Warlords of the Sea standing beside him had been content to stay put under the pretense of defending the line, simply watching the battle unfold.
However, now that Whitebeard's forces had reached this point, they could no longer stand by idly with a valid excuse.
Once they joined the fight, the pressure on Whitebeard's forces trying to break through the plaza would increase dramatically.
Whether that was good or bad—
Even with Maude's keen eye, he couldn't say for certain.
But…
His gaze swept past Little Oars Jr., locking onto Whitebeard in the distance.
The most crucial player in this battle had yet to make his move.
On the battlefield.
After carving a bloody path through the enemy ranks with a warship, Little Oars Jr. charged ahead without regard for his allies' positions, single-mindedly rushing toward the plaza.
"Ace! I'm coming to you!"
His resolute voice cut through the chaos of battle, carried by the wind to Ace's ears.
On the execution platform.
"Oars…"
Watching Little Oars Jr. charge toward the plaza with reckless abandon, Ace's eyes trembled violently.
He could already foresee the danger Oars was heading into, and he shouted anxiously, "Oars, stop! Don't come any closer! You'll be a sitting target!!!"
Sengoku cast a brief glance at Ace's distressed expression before shifting his gaze back to the advancing Little Oars Jr.
"To think someone like that would follow him…"
It was unclear whether he was referring to the soon-to-be-executed Ace or the motionless Whitebeard watching from afar.
Ace's desperate plea did nothing to deter Oars, who only wished to reach the execution platform a moment sooner.
And, just as Ace had feared, Little Oars Jr.—charging alone into the heart of the battlefield—immediately became an easy target.
The Marines, enraged by the trail of carnage he had left behind, unleashed a relentless barrage of bullets and cannon fire, pouring their fury into him.
Gunfire and explosions filled the air.
The ferocious onslaught struck Little Oars Jr. head-on, erupting in a series of blasts that momentarily slowed his advance.
Just as he found himself in a perilous predicament, Whitebeard's forces, having received his prior orders to provide cover, rushed in at full speed.
"Oars has opened a path! Follow him!"
The pirates surged forward, charging down the blood-soaked trail Oars had carved, clashing with the Marines in fierce combat.
Their timely arrival significantly alleviated the pressure on him.
Aboard the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard watched Little Oars Jr. from afar, his gaze heavy with concern.
Even though Oars had managed to cut a path through the battlefield, without the preemptive cover order, he would likely have already been buried under Marine fire.
"Oars… There's a fine line between bravery and throwing your life away."
Whitebeard silently observed his companion.
Everyone wanted to save Ace—they just had different ways of showing it.
Because of that—
Even reckless actions deserved understanding and support.
Under the protection of his allies, Little Oars Jr. fought his way through the Marine forces, finally reaching the edge of the bay.
He looked up at the execution platform.
The distance between him and Ace felt like it had shrunk to just a single step.
"Ace!"
Oars' spirit surged with determination.
Ursus Shock.
Just as he rejoiced—
Bartholomew Kuma, stripped of his consciousness, made his move.
A shockwave, shaped like a massive paw, expanded outward, engulfing the colossal form of Little Oars Jr.
A tremendous force crashed down on him from all directions.
Boom—!
The ice beneath him, as well as the nearby walls of the bay, shattered in an instant under the impact.
At the very heart of the blast, Little Oars Jr. coughed up blood, his eyes rolling back as he slowly fell to his knees.
"The Tyrant… has made his move!"
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