"Damn it! Old man Garp, look over there!" Michael tugged at Garp sleeve. "What the hell is that thing coming our way?"
"Is it some weird weather phenomenon from the Grand Line?"
"Why does it feel like... it's heading straight for Marineford?"
Garp brow furrowed instantly. Following Michael gaze, he unleashed his Observation Haki.
The moment his Observation Haki made contact with that ominous shadow, his face darkened.
"Damn it! It's that bastard Shiki! Even after Roger turned himself in, what the hell is this crazy lion up to now?!" Garp gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
He turned to Michael and barked "You go inform Sengoku! I'll hold off Shiki!"
Without hesitation, Michael spread his angelic wings and shot toward Marineford headquarters building.
"Michael... you really need to get stronger, and fast. The monsters of the sea are only going to multiply..."
Muttering to himself, Garp steeled his resolve and roared at the Marine officers and soldiers in the training grounds.
"ENEMY ATTACK! EVERYONE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY! AND WARN ANYONE YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY!"
Then he spun around and dashed toward the coastline.
That bastard Shiki was actually planning to assault Marineford directly!
This island wasn't just the Marine headquarters—it housed countless officers and soldiers, as well as the families of Marines living in Marineford!
If Shiki succeeded, the casualties would be unimaginable!
But even at his peak, Garp couldn't guarantee he could defeat Shiki without casualties and destruction.
After all, a one-on-one duel was one thing.
But waging war and slaughter? That was something else entirely.
The former only concerned individual life and death, but the latter involved countless lives.
So... Garp had sent Michael to alert Sengoku, intending to combine their strength and stop Shiki at the outermost coastal defenses.
***
Marine Headquarters, Sengoku Office.
Sengoku, just starting his day, had barely picked up his pen and signed off on three routine Marine documents when—
CRASH!
The window behind him shattered inward as someone burst through it.
That someone was Michael!
Tucking his wings slightly, Michael stood up and shouted at Sengoku.
"OLD MAN! Stop burying your head in those damn papers!"
"Shiki's here! He's already closing in on Marineford outer defenses!"
Sengoku, who had been hunched over his desk scribbling away, snapped his head up at Michael words.
"Shiki? Are you sure?"
"It was Garp who confirmed it!" Michael face was frantic, his tone a far cry from his usual laziness.
"Garp already heading for the outer defenses! You need to move, now!"
"With that damn Devil Fruit ability of his, even if Garp can beat him, he won't be able to stop Shiki from wrecking Marineford!"
Without a second thought, Sengoku stood up decisively.
"Michael, relay my orders to all officers at headquarters immediately! Garp and I will handle Shiki—everyone else is to evacuate as fast as possible and protect the civilians!"
Without waiting for Michael nod, he leaped straight out the window, heading directly toward the coastline.
At this moment, Sengoku face was filled with fury.
"That madman Shiki... Has he lost his mind over Roger execution, throwing his life away?"
***
"Attention, everyone!"
"By order of Admiral Sengoku!"
"All personnel are to stay clear of Marineford outer defensive perimeter!"
"Gather all available forces and evacuate civilians to safe zones immediately!"
"Shiki The Golden Lion is attacking! I repeat—Shiki The Golden Lion is attacking!"
Michael spread his wings and flew at top speed to every corner of the headquarters, ensuring the Marines swiftly carried out their orders.
His iconic white wings were actually quite famous within Marineford—though not necessarily for good reasons.
He was often labeled things like "the biggest nepotism hire in Marine HQ."
But everyone knew...
Before being transferred to Vice Admiral Gion command, Michael had served as Admiral Sengoku messenger.
No matter how much of a "nepo hire" he was, he wouldn't recklessly relay false orders during an emergency.
So in this critical moment, no one questioned him—they simply acted on his instructions.
As Michael rushed out of the headquarters building, he spotted Stella running toward him.
Her golden hair was disheveled and her emerald-green eyes brimmed with panic.
As a Logia-type user of the Cloud-Cloud Fruit, she could already sense the terrifying waves of malice emanating from the massive storm clouds in the distance.
"Michael, what's happening? Those storm clouds... they feel horrifying."
"Don't just stand there! You heard the orders—evacuate to safety now! Shiki is attacking!"
At the mention of Shiki, Stella emerald eyes widened sharply.
Shiki The Golden Lion was undeniably powerful, though not quite the strongest.
But as the captain of the Flying Pirates, infamous for pillaging, slaughtering and every imaginable atrocity, his cruelty was legendary—enough to make children tremble at his name.
Without hesitation, she nodded at Michael and immediately turned to leave.
Stella knew her limits—right now, she'd only be dead weight.
But she could still contribute.
As she retreated to safety, she activated her Logia powers, transforming into rolling clouds to carry the elderly, weak and injured who couldn't move fast enough.
Watching Stella leave, Michael turned back toward the chaos.
"Damn it, how could I forget? A week before Roger execution, Shiki launched a solo assault on Marineford..."
He was torn.
Even at his peak, Shiki stood no chance against both Garp and Sengoku.
But... Neither Garp nor Sengoku could fully stop Shiki and the devastating power of his Float-Float Fruit.
This battle would become one of Marineford greatest defeat in history.
Countless Marines and civilians would die and at least half of Marineford would be reduced to ruins.
It was this very battle that elevated the Float-Float Fruit to the same catastrophic level as the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—a force of nature.
But Michael had just resolved to rebel against the World Government.
How could he stand by and let his future stronghold be destroyed?
But Kizaru was away on a mission and Aokiji was at Sabaody Archipelago.
Akainu, Kizaru and Aokiji—all three will returned to headquarters in few days.
Even if they notified Kizaru now, it would be too late for him to arrive in time.
Thinking this, Michael took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Then he soared into the air.
Evacuating the entire Marineford population into the town would be an overwhelming task.
No one noticed—high in the sky, a pair of pure white wings cut through the skies.
Flying in the opposite direction.