The mechanical army relentlessly attacked Marineford, their sheer numbers staggering.
Each mechanical soldier gleamed with metallic light; these were top-of-the-line units, forged from advanced alloys, boasting incredibly durable bodies.
Most importantly, they were mass-producible.
This meant it took at least a hundred Marines to restrain a single mechanical soldier—restrain, not defeat. This was terrifying.
The Gorosei, initially complacently awaiting reports from within the palace, had emerged to better assess the situation.
From their vantage point, they watched the unfolding battle in Marineford with growing anxiety, sensing a vast conspiracy slowly revealing itself.
They couldn't grasp the full extent of it.
The battle was overwhelmingly one-sided.
Countless mechanical soldiers were continuously deployed, relentlessly assaulting Marineford with their immense power.
Among them were giant mechanical soldiers and actual giants, their agility used for swift strikes to disrupt the Marines' formations, creating space for the mechanical soldiers to operate without being bogged down.
"CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4… CP9, and CP0! Everyone in Marineford, fight! Defeat these invaders! Contact Kizaru and Admiral White Dove immediately!
If you can't reach them, keep trying!
Request reinforcements from nearby branches!"
Orders flew out.
The Marines, like a massive machine, sprang into action.
Then, a message arrived from Sabaody Archipelago.
"It's terrible, sir! We're under attack by the Dawn Birds!"
The Gorosei were shocked.
Marineford was already under relentless assault from Lira Kingdom, and their forces were stretched thin.
Now, Sabaody Archipelago was under attack by the Dawn Birds.
Were they coordinating their efforts?
The Gorosei immediately diverted forces to both locations, but they were no match for Ryuya's prepared assault.
In moments, Sabaody Archipelago fell under Dawn Birds' control.
Zero, however, didn't attack Marineford; the time wasn't right.
Zero, on Sabaody Archipelago, moved Lira Kindom's mechanical factory there. Sabaody's proximity to Marineford was key.
Paradise transferred all its Beli reserves to Ryuya.
Ryuya, through purchases and mining, began transporting vast quantities of materials to Sabaody, fueling the factory's production of mechanical soldiers to replenish those lost in the Marineford assault. He planned a war of attrition, waiting for Uranus to appear.
The supply of mechanical soldiers to Marineford continued relentlessly. Three days passed, and the Marines were exhausted, constantly pulled from brief rests to return to battle.
Without Ryuya's command, they were disorganized, especially with Sengoku absent.
After another three days, Kizaru arrived on the battlefield, but the mechanical soldiers only increased, relentlessly attacking.
Aokiji approached the Gorosei, who hadn't slept in six days.
"Gorosei, we need to capture the source—King Sterry. Otherwise, we can't defeat these mechanical soldiers!"
The Gorosei nodded.
"Understood. Hold Marineford. I'll contact White Dove again."
The Gorosei contacted Ryuya.
Before they could speak, Ryuya's voice, weak but resolute, responded, "I'm returning to Marineford now!"
The Gorosei nodded. "Understood. Capture King Sterry upon your return. You're more than capable."
"Leave it to me."
Ryuya hung up, enjoying fine wine and sea king roast with his companions. His return was a ruse; he only needed to exhaust the Marines.
This was his safest strategy—to force everyone to act, waiting for Uranus to reveal itself.
A week passed. The Marines were pushed to the brink, nearing Mary Geoise.
Ryuya hadn't arrived, and his Den Den Mushi remained unanswered.
They feared he'd met with disaster.
The Gorosei, standing at Mary Geoise's edge, teleported to the front lines, joining the battle.
The Marines' cheers were deafening as the Gorosei unleashed their overwhelming power, easily defeating the mechanical soldiers—their strength surpassing even the Admirals.
In moments, the Gorosei pushed the mechanical soldiers back to Marineford's edge, reclaiming their territory.
Ryuya, observing through an illusion, ordered the mechanical soldiers and giants to retreat.
The Gorosei sneered.
"You won't escape that easily! We'll capture you and King Sterry!"
They fought with renewed vigor, enjoying the cheers of the soldiers.
Then, a shadow fell over Marineford.
Everyone looked up.
The Dawn Birds' flagship, the Noah, appeared, along with a hundred Pluton-modified warships, their dark cannons aimed at Marineford.
A brilliant blue light gathered within the cannons, radiating immense destructive power.
The Gorosei's faces changed.
"That's Pluton?!"
They finally understood why the mechanical soldiers retreated—it was a prelude to a devastating bombardment.
"Retreat!"
A hundred Pluton-modified warships unleashed a barrage of energy blasts towards Marineford.
Each blast could destroy an island.
Suddenly, several masked CP0 agents—not under the Gorosei's command, but belonging to the Celestial Dragons—appeared. One used his Kiseki Kiseki no Mi (Miracle Miracle Fruit) to create a translucent crystal barrier over Marineford.
Another used a power-amplifying fruit to strengthen it, and another doubled its strength, creating a tenfold increase.
A final agent used a cyclical power-enhancing fruit, boosting the barrier twice more.
The barrier, reinforced with Armament Haki, looked incredibly strong.
Then, in the next instant…