Marine flagship.
Aokiji's tall frame leaned slightly forward, brow furrowed as he quietly requested instructions from the Fleet Admiral beside him. "Sengoku-san, Charlotte Linlin and Kai have engaged. Should we intervene?"
The situation changed rapidly—letting a full-strength Pirate Emperor act freely could have unpredictable consequences.
"Don't rush; let her play around."
Sengoku crossed his arms, standing at the bow with an unexpectedly calm expression. "We'll stay put. Whatever choice Charlotte Linlin makes isn't bad for the Marines."
Unless Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and Shanks suddenly set aside their grudges to unite against the Marines.
But that was nearly impossible. If Kaido and the others could unite, the Marines couldn't even stay in the Grand Line.
At the coastline.
Kai was directly facing Charlotte Linlin's blade.
"Dragon Claw!"
Kai roared, his sharp dragon claws boldly meeting Napoleon.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang across the battlefield. The terrifying force from the curved blade instantly aggravated wounds in Kai's body that'd barely been suppressed and closed.
Severe pain came from deep within his organs as dark red blood immediately flowed from his mouth again.
Kai couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Though Kuma had ejected all his pain and fatigue, the heavy injuries accumulated from three days of fierce battle couldn't be simply healed. Moreover, his current opponent was arguably the most terrifyingly gifted monster on these seas—Charlotte Linlin!
A natural monster who could defeat giants at age five and single-handedly destroy giant villages.
The situation was truly dire.
Charlotte Linlin, having clashed directly with Kai, was equally secretly shocked. That bastard Kai was so strong—only slightly weaker than herself.
This discovery didn't make her retreat; instead, it made the greedy gleam in her eyes even brighter. If she could marry Kai, their children would definitely surpass that bastard Rocks in talent.
Thinking this, Charlotte Linlin's already intense greed and possessiveness surged wildly again, her attacks becoming even more violent and swift.
As long as the vital organs remained intact, Kai losing arms or legs didn't matter! She could just take him back and nurse him!
"Brat, just obediently become my husband! Mama Mama!"
Charlotte Linlin roared, her aura continuously rising as pitch-black and red lightning sparked from her body.
"I said no, you old hag!"
Kai was also enraged, his eyes blazing with fury as an equally domineering aura shot skyward! Who didn't have Conqueror's Haki?!
BOOM!
Two top-tier Conqueror's Haki clashed together. The earth began buckling under the pressure, the ground trembling and cracking as countless rocks floated weightlessly.
Terrifying invisible impact spread outward from their battle center.
Like being harvested by invisible scythes, surrounding pirates fell in waves with rolled-back eyes and foaming mouths, instantly losing consciousness!
Even the distant Marine fleet on the sea suffered violent impact. On deck, weaker Marine soldiers collapsed like cut wheat, falling unconscious in droves!
"His Conqueror's Haki has improved."
Garp, who'd maintained a carefree expression, showed a trace of gravity. Just from this Conqueror's Haki's quality and intensity, he—who once confidently could defeat Kai through desperate fighting—now had no assurance at all.
Sengoku stared intently at Kai's young face, his eyes full of unprecedented wariness. "The Beast Pirates have gained a remarkable young man."
This level of Conqueror's Haki?
Feeling that mountain-like mental pressure, Katakuri gripped his trident tighter, his hair standing on end. They couldn't wait any longer—such an enemy absolutely couldn't be allowed to grow!
He had to be eliminated here! This was the best, possibly final opportunity!
Killing intent decided.
Katakuri hesitated no more, raising his trident to silently prepare a fatal strike against Kai.
Just then, his eyes flashed violently red. His future sight Observation Haki issued an extreme danger warning!
Not good!
Seeing glimpses of a terrible future, Katakuri's right foot slammed the ground. The ground beneath him suddenly writhed violently, instantly transforming into white, sticky mochi that surged upward at amazing speed.
"Mochi Wall!"
An incredibly thick wall gleaming with pitch-black Armament Haki instantly rose from the ground, barely blocking Charlotte Linlin's side.
The next second.
"Thunder Bagua!"
The lightning-wrapped iron rod tore through the air, crashing down on the mochi wall with mountain-splitting, sea-cleaving force.
THUMP!
A thunder-like boom exploded. The mochi wall, countless times harder than steel, barely lasted seconds before shattering under absolute power.
"Wororororo, Linlin, let me be your opponent!"
Kaido shouldered his kanabo, laughing loudly.
Using this precious breathing space, Kai nimbly retreated, quickly escaping Charlotte Linlin's direct attack range.
Looking at Kaido blocking his path, Kai felt somewhat moved. Even wounded and exhausted, he'd still fight two Emperors simultaneously?
Kaido-sensei, you really... I'm crying.
Due to Charlotte Linlin's sudden interference, Shanks on the other side finally got precious breathing room. He was rapidly regrouping Red Hair Pirates remnants, his expression grave as he clearly planned his next moves.
Meanwhile, Queen, Jack, and others reached Kai's side.
Momentarily, the battlefield became a delicate three-way standoff.
But Kai's gaze never forgot the biggest uncertainty factor—the Marines.
"Now, attack! Execute Plan B—target: Beast Pirates!"
On the Marine flagship, Sengoku, who'd observed the entire battlefield like a stone Buddha, decisively ordered.
Red Hair couldn't be touched; Charlotte family remained in perfect condition—the Beast Pirates, having just endured a fierce battle, were currently the most vulnerable and appropriate target.
"Yes!"
Marines saluted and accepted orders.
The prepared Marine fleet immediately changed formation. Side cannon ports opened simultaneously as heavy cannons gleamed with cold metallic light, precisely aiming at various pirate ships on the sea.
Simultaneously, Aokiji leaped from the ship's side.
The moment his toes lightly touched the sea surface—
"Ice Age!"
Bone-chilling cold capable of freezing everything exploded outward from his landing point, frantically spreading across surrounding vast waters!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Originally surging seawater was completely frozen in an instant, transforming into a massive ice field. Pirate ships immediately lost all mobility, becoming sitting ducks fixed on the ice!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Marine fleet showed no hesitation, immediately seizing this rare opportunity to open fire. Cannons roared.
Cannonballs fell like violent storms on those temporarily immobilized pirate ships. Despite desperate interception by pirates left guarding ships, under Marine concentrated firepower, ship losses inevitably continued mounting.
Sengoku, Aokiji, and Garp stepped onto the battlefield.
At this point, in this level of melee, ordinary soldiers' numbers had lost meaning.
"Marines are attacking directly?!"
The Marines' decisive strike completely surprised most pirates. They'd thought Marines would continue playing the fisherman role as before, not expecting such unhesitating intervention.
"Marines target only Beast Pirates!"
Upon landing, Sengoku immediately announced loudly, clearly stating their position.
Tch, this situation was extremely bad.
Kai quickly surveyed his surroundings, silently cursing. Everywhere were people eyeing the Beast Pirates hungrily.
Time to prepare for escape.
Fortunately, the Beast Pirates had plenty of fliers. If they really wanted to flee, the Red Hair Pirates and Marines couldn't catch up—only Charlotte Linlin had aerial combat capability.
However, before that, could he and Kaido, working together, manage to completely eliminate the wounded Red Hair at any cost?
Just as Kai's eyes flashed viciously, weighing whether to risk everything—
On the distant horizon, a massive fleet revealed its towering silhouette. The lead ship had an incredibly unique design, like a giant white whale.
Whitebeard had arrived.
"That's—Moby Dick?!"
"Whitebeard Pirates!"
Exclamations rang from various battlefield locations.
Whitebeard Edward Newgate, hailed as the world's strongest man. His arrival made even Sengoku, Garp, and Aokiji—who'd just stepped onto the frontlines preparing to act—pause involuntarily with extremely grave expressions.
At Moby Dick's bow, the over-six-meter-tall, giant-like Whitebeard slowly rose from his unique massive chair. He walked steadily to the ship's front, gazing at the distant frozen bay and chaotic battlefield.
Without unnecessary words, his massive right fist clenched, right arm muscles bulging.
Hum—
A semi-transparent, violently vibrating white sphere of light suddenly appeared on his fist, the surrounding space beginning to distort and wail from its presence!
"Seaquake!"
Whitebeard's right fist struck forward through the air.
Crack!
The atmosphere seemed to truly shatter like glass under his punch. Visible cracks instantly spread.
An invisible shockwave, starting from his fist, frantically spread and impacted forward along the atmosphere and sea surface. Seawater before Moby Dick seemed stirred by an invisible giant hand, surging forward violently.
Mountain-sized tsunamis were conjured from nothing, carrying world-destroying momentum as they crashed toward Chagos Island's coast.
Under the shockwave's influence, the massive ice field seemed to experience the most violent earthquake, releasing unbearable explosive sounds as countless bottomless cracks appeared before thunderously collapsing and shattering.
Massive waves carried countless ice fragments, wave after wave violently pounding the coastline.
"This fast?" Sengoku's expression was grave.
"Such ridiculously overwhelming power—a casual strike creates this scene?"
Even Kai couldn't help gasping. Worthy of the man with world-destroying power.
Under countless gazes, Whitebeard's fleet slowly approached Chagos Island's coast.
'Gurararara, all four Emperor crews gathered—even the Marineford War didn't have this scale.'
Kai marveled internally.
"Whitebeard, are you also here to join the fun?"
Kaido looked up, showing no fear of possible encirclement but growing more excited instead.
"I came to end this war."
Whitebeard's heroic voice rang out.
He then shifted his gaze, Murakumogiri heavily striking the deck as he pointed directly at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, unceremoniously declaring:
"New World wars aren't for you Marines to interfere with! Get out of the New World!"
"Get out of the New World!"
"Get out of the New World!"
Aboard Moby Dick, all pirates frantically waved weapons, hoarsely echoing their Pops.
"If you don't plan to leave, then I'll be your opponent!"
Whitebeard's massive frame leaned slightly forward, blade pointing at the three Marines as a violent aura poured forth substantially, making his Marine Admiral-style cloak flutter dramatically.
Kai's eyes brightened—the situation had completely reversed.
He'd originally thought Whitebeard was Red Hair's reinforcement, since Roger and Whitebeard could be called good friends. Indeed, pirates still sided with pirates.
"Ara ara—this is really quite troublesome."
Aokiji exaggeratedly scratched his fluffy curls, his tone full of helpless distress.
Whitebeard's forceful intervention meant their original encirclement plan against the Beast Pirates was now completely ruined.
"Sengoku-san, what now?" Aokiji quietly inquired.
What could Sengoku do?
The current situation wouldn't allow continued aggression. Otherwise, three-way pirate encirclement of Marines wouldn't be impossible.
This was why Marine forces couldn't truly penetrate deep into New World territory. These lawless great pirates fought each other to the death, but once Marines representing World Government order tried intervening, they might temporarily shelve disputes and unite against outsiders.
Marines had minimal chances for fisherman profits, usually only playing restrained observer roles. Today seemed no exception.
"Retreat!"
Sengoku practically squeezed these words through gritted teeth.
Fortunately, this expedition's minimum objective was achieved. The war between the Beast Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates had greatly consumed both sides' effective forces, with countless elite pirates perishing here.
Moreover, after this battle, these two powerful crews had formed a blood feud—future relationship repair or alliance possibilities were nearly zero.
For Marines and the World Government, this was hardly bad news. This trip was break-even at worst, definitely not a loss.
With Sengoku's withdrawal, Chagos Island completely became the pirates' battlefield.
Next, Whitebeard said indisputably to Kaido, "That's enough. If you want to continue fighting, I'll accompany you to the end!"
Kaido snorted coldly. "Are you making decisions for me? Who do you think I am!"
Just when he could annihilate the Red Hair Pirates, you appear with a casual word, expecting me to stop?!
Hiss~
Kai gasped. Kaido-sensei, could you assess the current situation before making threats?
If only Charlotte family were added, they might manage with effort and sacrifice to completely eliminate the Red Hair Pirates. But adding the Whitebeard Pirates too?
Even immediate alliance with Charlotte family would be futile.
Distant Shanks also had no intention of continuing war, responding to Whitebeard's proposal with silence.
Ben Beckman's severed arm, Brujoah Pirates' annihilation, and the remaining three affiliated crews suffering massive casualties. This time, his crew suffered grievous losses, truly hurt to the bone.
"Kaido-san, this war should end."
Then Kai spoke timely. "There's no need to continue."
"Hmph."
Kaido remained silent briefly before returning to human form.
He was ultimately a cunning leader, not a single-minded brute. Continuing war meant unknown numbers of currently surviving officers and subordinates would return alive to Wano.
With Kaido's concession, this war was officially declared over.