The greatest war of this era — the Summit War — was changing by the second.
The arrival of reinforcements from the World Government sent fresh ripples through the battlefield.
The sudden appearance of Kong, the former Marine Marshal and now Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's Armed Forces, ignited a surge of morale among the Marines.
"That's the former Marine Marshal!"
"It's the Commander-in-Chief himself, Kong!"
"I didn't expect even the World Government to get involved…"
"We must really be valued this time!"
"No… The World Government probably came because of Chairman Sugisawa Yuuto and Fairy Tail!"
The captains of the Whitebeard Pirates — Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the others — all wore grim expressions.
The situation had just become even more unpredictable.
"I'm more curious about that moon-headed guy than about Kong," said Jinbei, squinting toward the horizon. "Dad, do you know who that is?"
Whitebeard's pale golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ah… of course I do," he muttered in a deep, weary tone.
"This is troublesome," said Sabo, his expression darkening.
"Compared to the old marshal, I'm more concerned about the man standing beside him," said Lindbergh, Commander of the Revolutionary Army's Southern Forces, his mechanical eyes glinting.
"The slash earlier — that was his doing."
The Northern Army's commander, Karasu, nodded grimly. "Agreed."
Sabo took a deep breath.
"The World Government came prepared this time. Besides those two old men in plain sight, I can feel several terrifying auras on that ship…"
A strange, almost ancient feeling pressed down on him — as if history itself was unfolding again.
"I didn't think not only Kong would come," said Rayleigh, his voice filled with rare astonishment, "but that man as well. It seems the World Government truly considers your Fairy Tail a major threat, Yuuto."
"Mr. Rayleigh," Nami asked, eyes wide, "do you know who that other person is? The one beside the former Marshal?"
"Yeah, who exactly is he?" added Yamato, leaning forward with curiosity, while Robin and several others listened intently.
It wasn't just the pirates who were confused — even among the Marines, whispers spread like wildfire.
On the warship carrying Kong stood the mysterious, moon-headed elder — and everyone wanted to know who he was.
After a long moment of stunned silence, one Marine finally stammered, his face pale.
"I-I know that man… He—he's…!"
More voices rose among the ranks of Marines who had once served in the Holy Land, Mariejois.
"He—he's the highest combat force of Mariejois!" one shouted, trembling.
"The Commander of the Holy Knights of the Holy Land—Saint Figaland Garin!!!"
The announcement hit like a thunderclap.
A roar of shock and disbelief swept across the battlefield like a tidal wave.
Every pair of eyes — Marine and pirate alike — locked onto the towering old man whose beard and hair curved together in a crescent shape.
"Nani?!"
"The Holy Knights?!"
"What kind of organization is that? I've never heard of it!"
"The highest fighting force in the Holy Land? Does such a thing even exist?"
"Figaland… that surname — isn't that one of the Celestial Dragon families?"
"Wait, did you hear that? He's Saint Figaland Garin! That means—"
"Only Celestial Dragons are allowed to bear the title 'Saint' in their names!"
"The leader of the Holy Knights… is actually a Celestial Dragon?!"
The entire battlefield erupted in disbelief.
"No way! That moon-headed geezer's a Celestial Dragon?!"
"All the Celestial Dragons I've seen are spoiled weaklings with runny noses!"
"How could someone like him come from them?!"
"I don't buy it! That's gotta be some kind of show-off act!"
Many of the Whitebeard Pirates shook their heads stubbornly, refusing to accept the idea that a Celestial Dragon could be this powerful.
Because if that were true, the battle ahead would be far more terrifying than they'd imagined.
But the world rarely bends to disbelief.
Reality doesn't change just because they don't want it to.
"Jihahahahaha!"
From above, Golden Lion Shiki's booming laughter rolled through the sky.
"I remember now! No wonder he looked familiar! So it's you — the Celestial Dragon who showed up at the God Valley Incident, thirty-six years ago!"