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Hawkeye's black blade clashed with Flower Sword Vista's twin sabers, the sheer force of their collision unleashing a whirlwind that tore across the battlefield.
Sparks flew in every direction, smoke and dust filling the air.
After locking blades for a long moment, the two finally broke apart—only to leap right back at each other. Their weapons collided again and again, steel ringing out in a furious rhythm. In just seconds they had exchanged over ten blows, the intensity leaving the air vibrating.
Hawkeye's sharp eyes narrowed in surprise at Luffy charging through the chaos. To turn so many around him into allies, one after another… On this sea, that man carries the most terrifying power of all.
But Luffy didn't pause. He tore straight toward the execution platform.
Suddenly, Sengoku's voice thundered across the command center:
"Cut the transmission of the Den-Den Mushi immediately! This war was launched in the name of Absolute Justice, and it must end in our victory. No matter the means!"
His gaze was grim. "The carnage that's about to unfold would be too much for the average citizen to see. The world doesn't need to know what happens next. Hours from now, all they need to hear is this: the Navy won."
The moment his words fell, golden beams of light began to rain down across the battlefield, tearing through pirate ships one after another.
The pirates panicked."These aren't our men—navy soldiers are attacking from behind the ice!""They've got enough firepower to sink an entire fleet! What kind of monsters are these?"
Then they saw them.
One after another, massive figures stepped into view, each identical to Bartholomew Kuma.
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed. "So those are the Navy's so-called human weapons…"
And there were countless of them—stretching so far back, no one could see the end.
Ivankov's jaw dropped at the endless tide of robotic Kumas. This was all a trap from the start!
The pirates began piecing it together: first the Navy leaked Ace's "early execution" to throw them into a frenzy. Then, as the fighting dragged on, the Navy slowly retreated, luring every pirate deeper into the bay. Finally, they deployed the human weapons to seal off the entrance, snapping the jaws of the trap shut.
Sengoku barked into a Den-Den Mushi:"Stick to the plan! Cut down Whitebeard's forces! Start with the pirates outside the encirclement!"
The Pacifistas' eyes lit up at the command, golden beams flaring from their mouths. The blasts ripped through pirates too slow to dodge, their screams drowned by the roar of constant explosions.
With so many of the machines firing at once, each volley claimed more lives. The battlefield glittered with golden death.
The pirates were being slaughtered.
On the deck of his ship, Whitebeard slammed his massive bisento down, shaking the wood."Don't you dare back down! Push straight to the plaza!"
His booming voice rekindled their spirit. The pirates roared like madmen, charging headlong into the storm.
Marco was the first in, his blazing wings cutting through wave after wave of Marines."We've got no way out! Before we're surrounded, we have to save Ace!"
Under the command of Whitebeard's division captains, the crews threw themselves against the advancing Pacifistas.
Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Vista's duel raged on.
"To think I'd get the chance to cross blades with the world's greatest swordsman, here of all places," Vista laughed between strikes. "What a blessing!"
Hawkeye kept his black blade steady, his sharp gaze unblinking. "Show me, then. The skill of Whitebeard's finest swordsman."
Vista grinned. "Then watch closely—Rose Waltz!"
He leapt high, twin sabers sweeping arcs through the air. A storm of razor-sharp petals burst forth, filling the sky with deadly beauty.
Killing intent poured from every glimmering blade of wind.
Hawkeye raised Yoru, the black sword glowing with a fierce green aura. With one sweeping motion, he released a crescent of blade energy that ripped through the sky.
The clash lit up the heavens. Petals met crescent, exploding in a thunderous storm that made the air itself shudder.
Vista braced, his sabers flashing as he cut into the incoming strike. The collision warped the very space around them.
With a roar, he forced the energy skyward, scattering it into rippling waves of light. Landing lightly, Vista faced Hawkeye once more, smiling calmly.
"Now then," he said. "What flowers should I let bloom next?"
In Whitebeard's camp:
"Damn that Sengoku," Marco growled, teeth clenched. "Using Ace as bait to draw us in, just to wipe us out in one stroke!"
Whitebeard's deep voice rumbled back. "It only means we were careless enough to give him the chance. But do they really think the Whitebeard Pirates can be erased so easily?"
A roar of agreement swept the crew."That's right! We've still got Pops, and fourteen division commanders! Let's see if the Navy can really take us down!"
Ace, chained on the platform, clenched his fists in shame. "If only I hadn't been captured… I dragged the whole crew into this mess!"
Whitebeard's massive hand rested on his shoulder."Don't carry that burden alone, son. Leave everything to your old man."
In the world of shinobi:
Naruto slammed a fist into his palm. "This is justice? Using tricks like that? I'm rooting for Whitebeard—smash the Navy flat!"
Sasuke smirked faintly. "You're too naive, Naruto. Victory justifies the means."
Sakura frowned at him, worry etched across her face. "Sasuke…"
In the Digital World:
The Clown King swirled wine in his glass with a sinister chuckle. "The Navy and Whitebeard's pirates may be impressive, but my Dark Army is no less powerful. Don't you agree, Machinedramon?"
The machine dragon's voice droned like grinding metal. "A fine idea. Once the Chosen Children are destroyed, let's invade another world."
Dark laughter rolled from the depths of Dark Whirlpool Mountain, sending lesser Digimon fleeing in terror.
Back at Marineford, Luffy charged forward—only for a golden beam to streak across the battlefield, slamming into him and hurling him back.
He crashed into the arms of Jinbei, who had just crawled from the sea. Together, the two stared in shock at the figure emerging from the light.
A tall, slender man in a Marine coat.
"A Navy Admiral…" Luffy's voice cracked with frustration. "Damn it!"
Jinbei set him down gently. "Listen, Luffy. Admirals won't be easy to face. But you knew that already when you came here. Keep moving forward."
Several of Whitebeard's division commanders suddenly appeared at his side."Out of stamina already, Ace's little brother? Don't stop just because an Admiral's in the way. We'll fight together."
Luffy nodded fiercely, sprinting forward once more.
Kizaru raised an eyebrow at the charging group. "Well now… this could be troublesome."
"..."
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