"The three of them have already set out!"
When Elior left Paradise, Marine Headquarters received the news immediately.
Tsuru said, "They aren't headed for Marine! It seems they're going to attack the Red-Hair Pirates this time!"
Sengoku replied, "But this kind of battle is terrifying. The Red-Hair Pirates will face the combined power of three Yonko crews. We can already foresee that no one from the Red-Hair Pirates will survive! And what's even more alarming is that Elior, Kaido, and Big Mom have formed an alliance!"
"No matter how strong the Red-Hair Pirates are, they cannot compete with such overwhelming force!"
"We can't allow this alliance to continue growing. It's too dangerous — something like this should not exist in the world!"
Akainu and the others could clearly foresee the disaster awaiting the Red-Hair Pirates. In any other circumstance, the annihilation of Red-Hair's crew would have been a victory worthy of three days and three nights of celebration.
But not now.
Because once Shanks is destroyed, Marine will undoubtedly become the next target — and after that, the World Government itself.
In the entire New World, the only forces capable of matching the Elior Pirates were the Red-Hair Pirates and Marine Headquarters.
The Marines now faced a situation where they not only had to stop Elior's alliance, but ideally destroy both sides in the conflict. This would be the best-case scenario.
However, the higher-ups all knew things wouldn't be that simple.
Elior — this monstrously strong youth — possessed power beyond anything they had ever imagined.
"Move out!"
"Justice will prevail!"
With a wave of Akainu's hand, Marine mobilized.
Almost all the forces the Marines could gather were assembled.
Even the Shichibukai were present.
Of course, Hancock was not here — she would never join a war aimed at harming the man she loved.
There was no way she would participate.
In addition, Doflamingo was Elior's undercover agent.
Half an hour later, preparations were complete. Marine departed with a fleet of one hundred large warships.
The massive fleet thundered across the sea, causing even the Sea Kings to flee in terror.
At this moment, nearly all top-ranking combat forces were gathered.
Garp, Sengoku, Tsuru, and Zephyr were present, along with the three Admirals, the three Admiral Candidates, and dozens of Vice Admirals.
Such a lineup could sweep the entire New World. Any single Yonko crew — even Kaido's or Big Mom's — would be unable to withstand this kind of overwhelming force.
On this day, the three Yonko fleets departed — and Marine Headquarters set out in full strength.
The entire New World trembled.
Everyone understood that nothing in history compared to the scale of the war that was coming.
The world was about to enter its final chapter.
Even the first half of the Grand Line and the distant seas trembled in fear.
There was no doubt: a war beyond the Paramount War was about to erupt.
And what would the consequences be?
The end of the world?
Perhaps.
If those monsters clashed, the world itself might be destroyed.
On the main warship of the Marine fleet, all the Marine top brass gathered.
"In the Paramount War, Kuzan died in battle, and a CP0 master also fell. And this time…"
Tsuru looked at everyone, helpless and anxious.
As one of the older generation, she didn't want to see anything happen to the younger Marines. If the older generation died, so be it — they had lived their lives. But the new era belonged to the young Marines.
Yet she knew very well: in a war like this, against such monstrous enemies, casualties were unavoidable.
And not just ordinary Marines — Admirals would almost certainly fall, perhaps more than one.
The Paramount War was proof of that.
Back then, Akainu had nearly died, and Kuzan — who stepped in to save him — lost his life.
Not even Kizaru, usually carefree, could maintain his usual demeanor. His face remained serious throughout the voyage.
He wasn't sure he would survive this time.
This war was beyond the Paramount War.
This was a battle to the death between pirates and the entire Marine Headquarters.
"This atmosphere is unbearable," Ryokugyu muttered.
The tension was suffocating.
"Indeed," Black Viper agreed with a nod.
Fujitora added, "If justice cannot prevail, then the world will fall into darkness — not that there is much light left in this world."
Sengoku held Buwako in his arms, staring silently at the sea.
He had set out fully prepared to die, if necessary, to stop Elior's rampage.
Garp sat alone on the deck, the quietest among them.
Sengoku had prevented him from going to Paradise earlier.
But now, Garp had made up his mind. He would take revenge no matter the cost — even if it meant his life.
For Ace and Dragon.
As a Marine, it was wrong to seek revenge for a pirate and a revolutionary.
But as a grandfather and father… it was unavoidable.
And Elior was a heinous pirate.He had to die.
The senior Marines were in no mood for cheer during the voyage.
How could they feel anything but dread before a war like this?
Any one of them might die on the battlefield.
The ordinary Marines felt even worse.
At this moment, Mihawk stood at the bow of the Shichibukai warship, gazing into the distance.
He considered the red-haired man his only true friend. Naturally, he worried.
He knew exactly what kind of monstrous alliance Shanks was about to face.
"Shanks… don't you dare die," Mihawk muttered, a rare unease tightening his chest.