Faced with this familiar display of Whitebeard's overwhelming power, the Marines didn't panic excessively. Instead, under the disciplined organization of their commanding officers, they maintained remarkable calm and order while avoiding unnecessary risks as much as possible.
The Admirals who had previously been positioned at the front lines of their respective assault teams had already retreated to the safety of their warships stationed further back in the formation.
Ace, who was floating above the center of Treasure Island, turned his head toward the Whitebeard Pirates fleet that was appearing on the southern horizon. He waved enthusiastically and shouted a greeting across the water to his adoptive family.
Simultaneously, the Marine fleets that had originally been scattered in four different directional approaches quickly consolidated into two overwhelmingly powerful strike forces, then began moving with firm determination directly toward Treasure Island's defensive perimeter.
For this unprecedented operation, the Marines had mobilized nearly sixty warships—a number that wasn't significantly different from their deployment during the legendary Battle of Marineford, and which far exceeded the specifications of even the most comprehensive Buster Call operations.
It was particularly noteworthy that every single Admiral in the Marine organization had been deployed for this mission, along with numerous Vice Admirals and other high-ranking officers. This represented undoubtedly the strongest military lineup the Marines had sent on any foreign operation in recent years.
Admiral Akainu's voice carried clearly across the water through amplified speakers: "Whitebeard! Are you really so impatient to come here and die?"
"Gurararara! You government dogs came charging into my territory with such dramatic fanfare," Whitebeard's booming response echoed back across the waves. "You're not just here for sightseeing, are you?"
Hearing Whitebeard's mocking reply, Akainu's eyes flashed with murderous intent, though he chose not to respond verbally.
Obviously, the Marines' massive deployment served multiple purposes beyond simply responding to the Treasure Island incident. They undoubtedly had the far-reaching strategic goal of using this opportunity to completely destroy the Whitebeard Pirates once and for all.
As the Marine forces approached the shoreline and began their landing operations, most of the desperate pirates who had already reached the island chose to avoid direct confrontation with the government forces. Instead, they continued their desperate charge toward Jerry and his companions in the island's center.
"Alright, time to meet our guests," Jerry announced, looking around at his assembled crew with a confident smile. "Let's just stick to our previous battle plan. Everyone be careful out there. Since they've divided their forces like this, I'm confident we can handle whatever they throw at us."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, he shifted his tone and added reassuringly, "Of course, if things really get too intense for anyone to handle, just jump into the ocean. I'll take care of everything else from there."
As he spoke, Jerry waved his hand casually and launched himself into the air alongside Cavendish, heading directly north toward Admirals Akainu, Fujitora, and Ryokugyu, who had already established their beachhead on the island.
Sensing the giant bird wreathed in blue flames that was speeding toward the island from the outer waters, Ace also soared into the sky, called out a battle cry, and flew toward the southern sector where Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru were making their approach.
The sudden dispersal of the Black Star Pirates caused many of the pirates who had been desperately trying to snatch the pointer to hesitate in obvious confusion.
Logically speaking, the legendary navigation device would naturally be carried on Jerry's person, but they were genuinely surprised to discover that if this assumption was correct, the holder of such a priceless treasure would actually take the initiative to challenge Admiral Akainu and his companions in direct combat.
Jerry was moving through the air at tremendous speed with a clearly defined tactical objective, and this unexpected maneuver caused many pirates to pause their assault momentarily.
After quickly weighing their options, most of the attackers decided to continue their advance toward Deuce and his group in the island's center, while some chose to flexibly adjust their strategies and search for new opportunities as the situation developed.
On the northern side of Treasure Island, Admirals Akainu, Fujitora, and Ryokugyu naturally sensed and observed Jerry and Cavendish approaching rapidly from above.
Akainu immediately gestured with his right hand and issued combat orders to the Marine officers and enlisted personnel behind him with cold professionalism: "Move out! Eliminate every single pirate and rebel on this island!"
The Marines responded to the command with crisp military precision and immediately launched their coordinated combat operations.
After all, their primary strategic objective had already been achieved—forcing the pirates on the surrounding waters to abandon their ships and become stranded on land. This tactical success meant the Marines could now systematically corner all the pirates on Treasure Island and eliminate these lawless criminals in one decisive sweep.
Just as the Marine forces quickly formed their battle formations and dispersed across the beach, leaving the shoreline relatively quiet, an irritatingly familiar voice cut through the air: "Admiral Akainu! It's been way too long! How's that missing arm treating you?"
"Don't worry about my condition," Akainu replied with an icy glare, his tone blunt and threatening. "Is this the place you've chosen for your own burial?"
After Jerry and Cavendish landed gracefully on the beach, Jerry grinned widely before turning his attention to the side and addressing Aramaki with obvious mockery: "Well, well! If it isn't the guy who calls himself 'Nature's Guardian!' You certainly ran away pretty quickly last time we met."
"Hmm?" Akainu glanced sideways and gave Aramaki a puzzled, questioning look.
Noticing Akainu's stern gaze, Aramaki quickly waved his hands and offered a hasty explanation: "Ha ha, Sakazuki-san, please don't misunderstand the situation! I was simply caught off guard during our previous encounter... Regardless, I will definitely take him down this time!"
Jerry chuckled with obvious amusement, then turned around and casually greeted Fujitora: "Hey there, blind uncle! So you really did end up joining the Marines?"
Hearing this surprisingly informal address, Akainu frowned slightly and ignored Aramaki's continued chattering in his ear, instead turning his attention toward Fujitora, who was raising his hand in polite acknowledgment.
"Ah, it's Jerry, isn't it?" Fujitora replied with genuine warmth in his voice. "I have indeed joined the Marine organization, so please be careful in our upcoming confrontation."
Hearing Fujitora's courteous warning, Jerry waved his hand dismissively and said with a confident smile, "No problem at all! Cavendish, you handle the gravity man. I'll take care of these two who are still sore about their previous defeats."
"Eh? Oh, right! Got it," Cavendish blinked in momentary surprise before taking several cautious steps forward, studying Fujitora with a completely serious expression.
"Such insufferable arrogance!" Akainu snarled.
Without any further warning, the Admiral suddenly leaped high into the air and swung his signature molten lava fist directly at Jerry with devastating force, clearly intending to end the fight immediately.
Seeing this aggressive opening move, Aramaki prepared to launch his own coordinated attack, but suddenly felt a powerful rush of air approaching rapidly from behind his position.
He hastily twisted his body sideways, attempting to dodge the incoming assault and then launch a counterattack, but the water dragon that was attacking from his blind spot suddenly changed direction just as it was about to pass by him.
A thunderous impact echoed across the beach as the massive water construct crashed into Aramaki and slammed him into the ground with tremendous force, causing the earth beneath to sink and crack extensively while sending up tremendous splashes of seawater and debris.
The moment the water dragon made contact with his body, Aramaki immediately realized something was terribly wrong, but he had already been struck and was unable to avoid the follow-up assault.
"Is this actual seawater?!" Aramaki exclaimed, feeling his body growing weak and sluggish. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the second "Jerry" who was flying toward him from the shoreline direction.
Before he could extract himself from the crater that was now filled with debilitating seawater, the Jerry duplicate was already following up with lightning speed.
"That's just the beginning!" the water clone declared.
In his open palm, there was a small sphere spinning with violent intensity, surrounded by what appeared to be extremely sharp water blades that made observers instinctively nervous.
Aramaki's heart clenched with dread as he intuitively understood that this attack was far more dangerous than it initially appeared.
However, having just struggled to his feet with his lower body still partially immersed in the weakening seawater, he was completely unable to avoid the clone's lightning-fast assault.
In desperation, he could only frantically activate his Devil Fruit abilities, controlling his body to grow countless protective root systems. Simultaneously, he raised both arms and stimulated his Armament Haki to its maximum potential, hoping to resist as much damage as possible from the incoming technique.
"Water Release: Rasengan Drill!"
In a brilliant flash, the spinning orb in the water clone's hand pressed heavily against Aramaki's hastily prepared defensive stance.
Within moments, the compact sphere expanded into an enormous water vortex tens of meters in diameter, spinning endlessly and trapping everything within its devastating range.
"Ahhhhh!" Aramaki's agonized screams echoed continuously from within the swirling water prison.
After the massive RasenDrill finally dissipated, Aramaki endured the excruciating pain wracking his entire body and desperately shot out a vine branch to pull himself to solid ground away from the seawater trap.
Breathing heavily, Aramaki glared at the water clone standing calmly on the surface of the remaining puddle, his expression filled with resentment and heightened wariness. He was absolutely determined not to fall into another seawater-filled crater.
What made the situation even more threatening was that Jerry's duplicate remained there, watching with obvious eagerness, as if preparing to launch another devastating attack at any moment.
From the very beginning of this engagement, Aramaki had suffered tremendous losses due to the unexpected assault from Jerry's water clone technique.
Even though this appeared to be nothing more than a sneak attack by a duplicate, Jerry didn't particularly care whether his tactics constituted honorable face-to-face combat or not. This wasn't some formal tournament bout, and he was simultaneously managing his battle against Admiral Akainu.
"No way! No way!" Jerry called out with obvious mockery while deflecting one of Akainu's molten attacks. "Don't tell me that this bragging windbag, this overgrown weed is seriously the Admiral that your organization entrusted with important responsibilities after your World Draft?"
Hearing Jerry's irritating taunts delivered in such a mocking tone, Akainu felt his patience reaching its absolute limit as the veins on his forehead began throbbing with barely contained fury.