"I never expected there would be such a person among you Marines." Ace glanced at the charred remains and said, "Quite surprising."
Aokiji fell silent upon hearing this, then turned to look at the distant scorched corpse, his expression growing complex.
"What, you know him?"
"Something like that," Aokiji replied.
"Then why not go seek revenge against Akainu?" Ace raised an eyebrow.
Aokiji: "..."
Hearing Ace's words, Aokiji's face darkened instantly before he coldly stated, "Brat, this is war!"
As Aokiji's words faded, a laser shot from afar landed near the two, shattering a massive block of ice!
"Boom!!"
Glancing at the newly formed crater, Ace remarked, "Fair point."
Speaking like that in such a situation was no different from desertion.
So... being executed was deserved!
Then, Ace channeled his Devil Fruit power around his fist and shouted, "Then let's continue!"
"Fire Fist!"
A massive flaming fist shot toward Aokiji!
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!" Aokiji roared.
"Clang!"
"Boom!!"
The terrifying flames struck the ice bird, instantly erupting into a massive cloud of steam!
"It seems you intend to wipe us out completely." Marco glared intently at Borsalino.
"Isn't that normal~" Borsalino squinted his eyes. "After all... you're wicked pirates~"
"Then let's test that!" Marco roared. "Azure Flame Thrust!"
With that, Marco swiftly transformed into his phoenix form, infusing his talons with Armament Haki.
He then charged toward Borsalino at incredible speed!
"So scary~" Borsalino muttered.
He then raised his uninjured leg to meet the attack.
"Clang!"
"Boom!!"
The clash released a terrifying shockwave!
After glancing at the battlefield where the three Marine Admirals were engaged, Vice Admiral Onigumo roared, "Quick, don't let these pirates escape!"
"Right!!"
"Follow the Vice Admiral! Kill them!"
"Kill these pirates!"
"Damn Marines."
Vista watched the approaching Marines, gritted his teeth, and leaped off the ship.
"Captain Vista?"
"Hurry and free the ship from the ice!" Vista ordered. "We'll handle these Marines!"
With the three Marine Admirals tied up by their top fighters, the vice admirals would be left to the division commanders!
"Understood!!"
"Quick, no time to waste! Move!"
"Right!!"
After a quick glance at his comrades behind him, Vista fixed his eyes on Vice Admiral Onigumo and charged toward him without hesitation.
The next moment...
"Clang!!"
Their blades clashed, producing a crisp metallic ring!
"Flower Sword Vista, is it...?"
Onigumo stared at Vista blocking his path, his eyes erupting with intense killing intent.
"That's right, it's me!" Vista sneered at Onigumo. "I won't let you attack anyone else."
"Then let's see if you can stop me!"
As the words fell, Onigumo activated Life Return, transforming his hair into a small hand that ruthlessly thrust toward Vista!
"That won't work on me!" Vista roared, infusing himself with Haki to forcefully block Onigumo's attack!
Clang!
"Haki, huh..." Onigumo frowned.
It seemed eliminating this Great Sword Master wouldn't be easy.
In that case...
As if struck by an idea, Onigumo immediately retreated to create distance from Vista, then manipulated his hair to pick up several swords from the ground.
"Eight Sword..."
Whoosh~
Before Onigumo could finish speaking, he detected an overwhelmingly terrifying attack flying toward them from afar!
What is that?!
Watching the massive Flying Slash approaching across the sea, Onigumo's pupils contracted to pinpoints!!
Swoosh~
The Flying Slash moved at incredible speed, covering the distance in the blink of an eye before mercilessly striking the ice surface!
Thump!
Like cutting through tofu, it effortlessly carved an enormous fissure in the ice below!
The slash continued unabated, racing forward until it finally struck the plaza of Marine Headquarters!
Thump!
BOOM!!
With a single strike, it split the plaza open with a massive crack while also cleaving through the magma rock that Meiser had cooled with his Water Release Technique, causing it to crumble!
BOOM!!
"This... this is impossible?!"
Marines stared in horror at the split plaza and disintegrating magma rock.
Who could have launched such a terrifying slash?
"A Flying Slash?"
Ace frowned subconsciously after glancing at the split ice. "Who was that?"
Anyone capable of such an attack was definitely no ordinary fighter!
Aokiji seemed to notice something, his pupils contracting sharply.
Then he remarked, "Well now... quite the formidable character has arrived."
Watching the approaching pirate ship in the distance, Aokiji gradually furrowed his brow.
"It's the Red Hair Pirates!!" a Marine rear admiral screamed in terror.
"The Red Hair Pirates...?"
"Why would one of the Four Emperors from the New World appear here?"
Many Marines gazed fearfully at the massive pirate ship.
If the Red Hair Pirates joined forces with the Whitebeard Pirates now... they were doomed!
"Oh~"
"The Red Hair Pirates, huh." Borsalino, having transformed into light to distance himself from Marco, turned to look at the ship. "How... scary~"
After speaking, the man landed back on the ground and ceased his attacks.
"Why is he here?"
Marco looked at Shanks with confusion, unsure why this man had suddenly appeared at Marine Headquarters.
"Red Hair?"
Akainu, who had just exchanged a blow with Meiser, frowned as he glanced at the pirate ship on the sea and said, "He picked a terrible time to show up."
If this guy had come to support the Whitebeard Pirates, then the Marines would be in a very passive position.
At this thought, Akainu's expression turned grave. "So that's Red-Haired Shanks' pirate ship," Meiser remarked curiously while staring at the distant vessel. "Why are they here?"
Were they planning to seize the opportunity to destroy Marine Headquarters, or were they aiming to eliminate the Whitebeard Pirates?
After a moment of contemplation, Meiser thought to himself: 'Although I don't know what this guy's purpose is in coming here, it's best to wait and see for now.'
With this in mind, Meiser distanced himself from Akainu and ceased his attacks.
Just then, a figure shot over from the pirate ship, skimming across the ice at incredible speed before landing on the plaza of Marine Headquarters!
After sweeping his gaze over Meiser and Akainu standing nearby, Shanks slowly rested his hand on his sword hilt.
"Red Hair..."
Akainu stared intently at Shanks and demanded, "What are you doing here at Marine Headquarters?"
"I've come to end this war," Shanks replied calmly.
Hearing Shanks' words, Akainu immediately furrowed his brow.
End this war?
How dare this guy say something like that?
"That bastard!"
Garp glared furiously at Shanks. If it weren't for this man, how could his grandson have become a pirate?
The thought made veins bulge on Garp's forehead, and he desperately wanted to rush over and punch the man right then.
"Garp!"
"Yeah, I know."
Hearing Sengoku's words, Garp reluctantly unclenched his tightly balled fists and restrained himself from charging forward.
Sengoku breathed a sigh of relief before turning his attention to Shanks, his expression gradually growing serious.
"Zehahahaha!"
"I never expected this guy to show up here," Blackbeard laughed heartily. "How exciting!"
"Wihahahaha!"
"It looks like we'll be able to make a clean getaway, Captain!" Burgess roared with laughter.
With Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, present, the Marines definitely wouldn't dare to fight them to the death!
Wihahahaha!
"It seems Lady Luck still favors us~" Lafitte similarly laughed.
Although their plan had encountered problems at the final moment, preventing the captain from obtaining the Tremor-Tremor Fruit... as long as they remained alive, there would still be opportunities, right?
"Luck, huh."
Shiryu glanced at Shanks, then at Blackbeard who was laughing maniacally, before sinking into deep thought.
"Hey hey hey, am I seeing things?"
The reporters at Sabaody Archipelago showed expressions of shock upon noticing Red-Haired Shanks. "Is that Red-Haired Shanks?"
"Yes, it's definitely him..."
"Why would one of the Four Emperors - Red-Haired Shanks - appear at Marine Headquarters?" one reporter exclaimed in astonishment. "Could he be here to destroy Marineford?"
If he joined forces with the Whitebeard Pirates... the Marines would definitely be unable to protect this island!!
"I don't know, but this guy showing up here is definitely not good news." A nearby reporter swallowed nervously as he spoke.
He certainly didn't believe these guys came to help the Marines, after all... they were pirates!!
"Never thought we'd see another Four Emperor appear." Apoo said excitedly: "This is really thrilling!"
The question was whether this guy would be willing to join forces with the Whitebeard Pirates and the Blood-Eyed Ninja.
If they were willing to ally... they should be able to cripple the Marines!
"Four Emperor, huh."
Hawkins, who was staring at Shanks, subconsciously furrowed his brow.
"That's right, this guy is also one of the Four Emperors of the New World." Apoo said.
After speaking, he paused briefly before showing a regretful expression: "What a shame this guy didn't come earlier though. If he had teamed up with Whitebeard, they definitely could have crushed Marine Headquarters."
"Team up?" Hawkins shook his head: "The Four Emperors won't necessarily cooperate."
"Don't forget, they're enemies with each other too."
Apoo was momentarily stunned by this, then nodded: "You're right."
Thinking about it carefully, these Four Emperors were indeed in opposition to each other, after all... there was only one Pirate King position!!!
To sit on that throne, one must defeat all competitors!
Four Emperors... Pirate King...
As if thinking of something, Apoo's eyes began to gleam.
"This should be interesting." Capone Bege grinned.
It would be best if these two groups joined forces to attack Marine Headquarters - that way... they could sink Marine Headquarters entirely!
Thinking this, Capone Bege couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Captain, should we still go join the commotion?" Bepo asked.
"No need." Law shook his head.
He had originally planned to go to Marine Headquarters to retrieve Straw Hat and the Ninja, which would also help build good relations.
But now that Red Hair, one of the Four Emperors, had appeared, there was no need for him to wade into these troubled waters.
Hearing this, Bepo nodded while also sighing in relief.
To be honest, he really didn't want to join such a battlefield, since... there was a real chance of dying!
"Kishishishishi!"
"Never thought Red Hair would show up at Marine Headquarters too." Moria laughed loudly.
This war was getting more and more interesting!
Kishishishishi!
"One of the Four Emperors of the New World." Absalom subconsciously swallowed nervously: "What will happen with someone like that appearing at Marine Headquarters?"
"He might completely sink Marineford!" Moria said.
That way, the Marines wouldn't have the energy to pursue him, a former Royal Seven Warlord of the Sea. Thinking this, Moria grinned widely.
"Never expected this kid to show up at Marineford." Shakky said while staring at Shanks: "This really surprises me."
She had just received news about Shanks' great battle with Kaido, and now he was at Marine Headquarters...
How did this kid manage that?
"Indeed surprising." Rayleigh nodded: "But since this kid has appeared, then... Luffy and the others should be safe now."
Hearing this, Shakky was momentarily stunned before smiling: "You're right about that."
Little Straw Hat is the junior that Little Shanks has high hopes for, so... he will definitely ensure Luffy and the others leave alive!
"Could it be that this Red-Haired Shanks intends to inherit Whitebeard's legacy?" Perospero frowned as he spoke.
"That possibility cannot be ruled out," Mont-d'Or said.
Although that old fellow Whitebeard has died... the crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates are still quite formidable!
If they could bring this group under their command, it would significantly boost their own combat power!!
"Damn that Red Hair!" Oven exclaimed. "He's moving so quickly!"
If Red Hair were to rescue the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates now, a large number of people would surely be willing to follow him!
By that time... the influence of the Red Hair Pirates would grow even stronger!
At this thought, Oven's expression darkened.
"It seems Mother may not have the chance to recruit the Whitebeard Pirates' members," Smoothie sighed.
Perospero fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then his eyes turned cold as he declared, "Never mind that! Let's seize the Whitebeard Pirates' territory first!"
"This is also Mother's command!"
Just moments ago, their Mother had issued an order for them to seize the Whitebeard Pirates' territory!
The others grew silent briefly before their eyes immediately turned fierce.
"Understood!"
They might forgo the people, but they absolutely must secure the territory!
After all... that is Mother's command!
"Mother's command, huh..."
As if recalling something, Galette revealed a complicated expression.
Then, she looked at Meiser in the scene and murmured in her heart, 'Although I don't know what this Red Hair will do next...
Meiser, you must stay safe!'