In the past, when Issho used his ability, the purple aura he released was never especially noticeable.
But today, the moment he made his move, that purple glow became blindingly intense.
Dense violet light spread outward from beneath his feet at astonishing speed, instantly enveloping the entirety of Aquino Island. In the next moment, the massive tsunamis roaring in from all directions slammed head-on into that purple aura.
For an instant, the scene seemed to freeze.
The raging waves were suspended in midair, as if bound by an invisible force, utterly unable to crash down.
Aboard the Moby Dick, Newgate frowned slightly as he watched, murmuring in surprise.
"This is…"
"Oyaji, it's the Zushi Zushi no Mi," Marco explained immediately. "The ability of the G-5 base commander, Fujitora Issho. He can manipulate gravity."
On the other side, Issho's expression remained completely relaxed, as if holding back the overwhelming tsunami required no effort at all.
He raised one hand, palm facing the suspended waves, and lightly pressed downward.
The tsunami hanging in the air seemed to be crushed by an immense force and was instantly forced back beneath the surface of the sea. Such an impact should have caused a tremendous disturbance, yet under Issho's gravitational suppression, not even a splash was stirred.
At the same moment, Ortoren reopened the broadcast Den Den Mushi and barked a single word.
"Victory!"
That word served as the Marines' agreed-upon signal to begin the battle. Sakazuki immediately issued an order through the internal Den Den Mushi channel.
"Coastal defense zone, full free fire!"
The coastal bastions and gun emplacements erupted at once, tongues of flame bursting forth as thick smoke billowed upward. Deafening cannon fire swept across the battlefield.
A dense barrage of artillery rained down toward the Whitebeard Pirates' grand fleet.
Without waiting for Newgate to speak, Marco shouted loudly.
"Return fire! Wipe out the fortress batteries!"
"Oyaji!" Jozu, captain of the Third Division, shouted as he looked toward Newgate.
Newgate didn't turn his head, but his gaze was firm as he nodded.
"Go. Take down the Marines and bring our people back."
"No problem, Oyaji!" Jozu roared in reply. He swung his arm and shouted, "Third Division! Form the first assault line! Charge with me! Crush those Marine bastards and smash their formation!"
At the same time, Newgate raised his fist and smashed it into the air once more. The dense artillery barrage approaching the fleet detonated midair before it could land, exploding into clouds of smoke that instead became a screen blocking the Marines' line of sight.
Then the Third Division surged forward. Led by Jozu, the men were all towering and powerfully built, wielding massive axes, warhammers, and enormous shields. Roughly a thousand strong, they formed an arrowhead formation and charged straight through the smoke toward the Marine lines.
Close behind them, the Fifth Division also entered the battlefield. Its captain, Flower Sword Vista, led his men forward. Most of the Fifth Division were swordsmen and swordmasters, long accustomed to fighting in tandem with Jozu's assault unit. One attacked, one defended, the two divisions advancing together in perfect coordination.
As the Whitebeard Pirates launched their charge, the Marine frontline responded at once. Holding an internal Den Den Mushi, Momonga roared his orders.
"Cancer unit, Stainless unit, countercharge! All other units, second formation, engage and crush these pirates who don't know their place!"
The moment the order was given, the Marines of the Cancer and Stainless formations raised their riot shields. At the same time, Marines in the rear opened fire, muskets and short cannons blasting through the gaps between the shields.
Then, from the rear formation where Yamakaji was stationed, the field artillery began to rise. Just as Jozu's assault force collided with the Cancer and Stainless lines, Yamakaji's position erupted with a synchronized roar of cannon fire. The shells tore into the follow-up assault units that had yet to reach the Marine defenses, blasting them into chaos.
"Izumi!!!" Vista shouted after cleaving through two Marine elites holding riot shields.
"Coming!" Captain Izumi of the Sixteenth Division answered as he arrived with his men at the rear.
In the next instant, members of the Sixteenth Division hoisted shoulder-mounted cannons and unleashed a rapid barrage, firing in arcing trajectories toward the Marine front lines.
Artillery thundered from both sides. Explosions rocked the battlefield as smoke filled the air. The frontline forces quickly became completely entangled, the two sides merging into one chaotic mass as they clashed at close quarters, fighting shoulder to shoulder in brutal combat.
However, it was clear that the Marines held a noticeable advantage. In head-on combat, coordinated tactics, and the lethality and advancement of their weapons, the Marines were undeniably superior.
The Whitebeard Pirates quickly realized this disadvantage. Almost at once, the division commanders split up and launched separate assaults, swiftly cutting down many of the Marines' elite officers, including commanders, commodores, and rear admirals.
"Break through their line! Follow me!" Jozu took a cannon blast straight to the face without suffering so much as a scratch. He didn't even look in the direction the shot came from, instead shouting to his companions behind him.
He planted his feet, gathered his strength, and let out a low shout.
"Brilliant Punk!"
The moment the words left his mouth, his massive body burst forward with speed comparable to a cannonball. He slammed deep into the Marine formation in one breath, leaving spurting blood and flying limbs everywhere he passed.
"Hold them back! Our firepower is superior! The longer we hold them here, the more damage the rear artillery under Yamakaji will deal!" Stainless roared, swinging his command blade and cutting down a pirate. Blood splashed across his face as he shouted with a ferocious expression.
That roar immediately drew Jozu's attention, revealing the location of the formation's commander. Without hesitation, Jozu partially transformed his body into diamond and charged straight at Stainless.
Stainless naturally saw him coming. He knew his own strength might not be enough to stop Jozu, but on the battlefield, when enemies met head-on, courage decided the outcome.
As a Marine Vice Admiral personally chosen by Ortoren to be stationed in the New World, Stainless did not lack the resolve to fight to the death.
He bellowed to bolster his courage, swung his blade once more to decapitate the pirate in front of him, then stepped over the corpse and rushed forward to meet Jozu.
But at that moment, a terrifying crushing force suddenly erupted.
With a sharp crack, more than a dozen pirates were instantly blown apart where they stood, pulverized into fragments as mangled flesh scattered like fireworks.
Immediately after, Slekemind charged past Stainless, laughing loudly as he did.
"Stainless-san, I may not be much help when it comes to commanding troops, but blocking these trash pirates and keeping you safe? That's no problem at all!"
Stainless paused for a brief moment. To be honest, he had never trusted the Shichibukai very much. Still, seeing Slekemind charge into the fray like this stirred a trace of gratitude in him.
His impression of the man rose slightly.
The next instant, Slekemind began tearing through the smaller pirates, one punch at a time. His fighting style was brutally ruthless. Any pirate struck by him was instantly shattered into powder, scattered across the ground.
Moments later, Slekemind collided head-on with Jozu.
With a deafening impact, Jozu was sent flying by a single punch. The crushing force detonated across his body, but Jozu was simply too tough. After tumbling twice across the ground and crashing through several Marines and pirates, he sprang back to his feet without a single injury, roaring as he charged straight back at Slekemind.
As the two clashed, the shockwaves and violent energy released by their blows quickly cleared an area dozens of meters wide around them. Marines and pirates lacking sufficient strength were completely unable to approach their battle zone.
Suddenly, amid the chaos near the Cancer formation, rose petals began appearing out of nowhere. Drifting down into the ranks, each petal carried an edge as sharp as a blade. The moment they touched a Marine, blossoms of blood burst forth.
But just then, a fierce slash tore through the formation, skimming past several Marines by the narrowest margin without harming them, before plunging straight into the pirates' charging ranks.
The attack was immediately blocked.
The one who intercepted it was none other than Flower Sword Vista.
At the same time, within the Cancer formation, Mihawk stood holding the black blade Yoru, a glint of interest flickering in his eyes.
"Come to think of it, I've never crossed blades with the famous Flower Sword."
That earlier slash that broke through the formation had naturally been Mihawk's doing.
Vista was also one of the world's foremost great swordsmen, possessing tremendous strength. When Mihawk had climbed his way to the title of the world's greatest swordsman, he never had the chance to fight Vista.
Later, after Mihawk declared himself the strongest and waited for challengers from all sides, Vista never sought him out either.
This battle marked their first encounter.
After shattering Mihawk's slash with a single stroke, Vista raised an eyebrow slightly.
"So this is the world's greatest swordsman. You really are strong."
Amid the chaos of battle, their gazes met, each locking onto the other. In the next instant, the two great swordsmen moved at the same time, razor-sharp slashes roaring forth as if they were about to cleave the sky itself.