"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
As the fierce battle raged in the plaza, out on the sea, the once-calm waters trembled as a colossal figure strode across the surface. Each step sent out thunderous tremors as it advanced toward Marineford Bay.
"It's Little Oars Jr.!"
"Yo! Oars is here!"
As the tremors rippled through the ground, the Whitebeard Pirates lifted their gaze toward the sea. And the instant they recognized the towering figure, their faces blazed with exhilaration and joy.
"Oars!"
On the execution platform, Ace raised his head, gazing at the massive figure in the distance, and shouted toward the bay with all his might.
"Ace is kind! I'll never let you die!"
Little Oars Jr. lifted his head toward the execution platform. In his eyes burned a resolute determination, as though he had already steeled himself for what was to come.
"Boom! Boom!"
As Oars Jr. began his charge, the Navy's giant unit, which had been standing by at the rear, suddenly sprang into action. Pushing past rank-and-file Marines and Whitebeard's men, they rushed straight toward the massive figure in the distance.
"Stopping him is our duty!"
The giants roared as they broke into a run. Their battlefield was set—the time for them to fight had come.
"Boom! Boom!"
Heavy cannon blasts rang out simultaneously from the naval warships beyond the bay. Braving the relentless barrage, Oars Jr. pressed forward until he reached one of the warships, then seized its mast and keel in his massive hands.
"What a troublesome monster he's brought with him…"
From atop the execution platform, Sengoku looked up at the mountain-sized Oars Jr., a rare flicker of astonishment crossing his face.
"Oars, stop! Your giant body makes you nothing but a target!"
Ace's frantic shouts echoed across the battlefield, yet they failed to slow Oars Jr.'s relentless advance.
"Ace! I'm coming right now!"
With a thunderous shout, Oars Jr. heaved the massive ship free from the ice that held it, hoisting it high overhead.
"This is bad—stop him!"
The Marine giants paled at the sight, hastening their charge until they stood directly before Oars Jr.
"Boom!"
With a deafening crash, the warship Oars Jr. smashed into the advancing giant unit, blasting it backward and sending it tumbling back into the bay.
"Boom!"
The warship's wreckage struck hard, tearing a massive gap in the Navy's once-impenetrable defenses.
"Oars have opened a path into the bay—charge!"
Roused by the breakthrough, the Whitebeard Pirates let out fierce war cries. Raising their weapons high, they surged forward alongside Oars Jr., pouring through the breach.
"Into the bay!"
A torrent of Whitebeard's men roared as they stormed Marineford's inner bay.
"Fall back! Tighten defenses inside the bay! We must not let them reach the plaza!"
As the pirates flooded in, the Navy was forced into a hasty retreat, their outer lines collapsing inward. Step by step, the Whitebeard Pirates pressed on, following close behind Oars Jr.'s towering figure as they advanced toward the plaza.
"That fool Oars… there's a difference between recklessness and true courage!"
Whitebeard muttered with a wry glance as Oars Jr. drew nearer.
"Pops, please don't stop me! I want to save him—I want to save Ace as soon as possible!"
Oars Jr.'s voice rumbled with determination, his stride unbroken, his face set with stubborn resolve.
"I know! You lot, back him up—cover Oars!"
The veins stood out on Whitebeard's forehead. Though he had clearly realized the danger, he made no move to stop Oars Jr. Perhaps this silent support was the father's way of standing by his son.
"Ohhh!"
At his order, the Whitebeard Pirates erupted in unified shouts, rallying their spirits.
"Slave Arrow!"
Just as the Navy prepared to meet the pirates at the plaza, Hancock, already returned to the square, brushed her fingers against her lips. A massive pink heart instantly bloomed before her.
"Slave Arrow!"
Grasping the glowing heart with her right hand, the Pirate Empress loosed a storm of countless arrow-shaped beams that rained down on the battlefield.
The pink arrows, fired from the giant heart before her, petrified everything they touched the moment they struck.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Countless Whitebeard Pirates turned to stone where they stood, frozen mid-charge.
"It's the Pirate Empress!"
Watching their comrades turned into stone statues, the pirates cast looks of fury and hatred toward the high platform where Hancock stood.
"Whoosh!"
Having unleashed her strike, Hancock leapt gracefully down from the platform, her leg lashing out at both pirates and Marines alike.
"Mero Mero Mellow Kick!"
Her elegant form danced across the battlefield, weaving between friend and foe alike. Everybody struck by her flawless leg—whether Marine or pirate—was instantly petrified and shattered to pieces.
"You bastard—you're even attacking Marines?!"
Marines glared furiously up at her. None of them had expected an ally of their side to strike them down as well.
"Though I agreed to fight Whitebeard, that does not make me your comrade. Men—whether enemy or ally—are all the same."
Hancock stood proudly atop the platform, her face full of haughty disdain. The Marines beneath her didn't even seem to register in her eyes.
"Is that so? Even me?"
As the standoff between Marines and Hancock grew tense, a figure wreathed in brilliant blue flames suddenly plummeted from the sky, landing by her side.
"Jiang Lin!"
The Pirate Empress's eyes widened slightly as she looked upon him—bloodied, yet wearing that familiar mischievous grin.
"'D'… Why is he here?!"
The Marines' faces twisted in shock at his sudden arrival. This was the man who had battled Admiral Akainu evenly. His appearance here could shift the tide in an instant.
"D! D! D!"
The Whitebeard Pirates erupted with renewed excitement. Weapons thrust high, they roared out the codename printed on Jiang Lin's wanted poster.
"D! You're Ace's friend—then you're my friend too!"
Even as he swung his blade against the vice admirals barring his way, Oars Jr. turned to Jiang Lin with a wide, trusting grin.
"Oars… and Kuma too."
Jiang Lin's eyes swept over Oars Jr., then shifted toward the Seven Warlords lurking in wait. The moment his gaze settled on Bartholomew Kuma, his expression darkened.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
A harsh metallic rhythm echoed as Kuma raised his hands. Compressing the air between his palms, he brought it together at his chest until it formed a transparent, paw-shaped bubble.
When the compression reached its limit, Kuma released it toward Oars Jr. with chilling calm.
"Ursus Shock."
His emotionless voice rang out as the tiny paw-print of compressed air floated toward Oars Jr.'s massive body under the eyes of all present.