Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Ian gazed at the azure dragon coiled in the clouds outside the window, his smile widening.
He released Hancock, drew a golden den den mushi from his coat, and after dialing said directly, "Shamrock, is the teleportation array ready?"
"Young master, it can activate at any moment!"
Shamrock's respectful voice came through the den den mushi.
"Excellent."
Ian watched the chaotic battlefield below through the French windows, as casually as arranging dinner: "Have every member of the God's Knights on standby; when This Young Master gives the word, they'll be transported here immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
Ending the call, Ian turned back to Hancock.
The Empress had already straightened her dress, though a faint flush still lingered on her exquisite face.
"Young master, you truly intend to deploy the entire God's Knights?"
Worry flickered in Hancock's beautiful eyes: "If anything happens to the Holy Land—"
"The Holy Land has my mother; who would dare cause trouble?"
Ian cut her off, pinching her cheek: "Don't worry, This Young Master knows what he's doing."
Just as the words fell, a violent explosion sounded outside!
Both looked toward the window.
In the sky, Kaido blasted another massive Blast Breath—this time not at the execution platform but at the densely packed Marine positions in the plaza!
"Get out of the way!"
"Move, now!"
Marine soldiers fled in terror.
But the Blast Breath was too fast; in the blink of an eye it was about to land—
"Great Eruption!"
Akainu Sakazuki instantly appeared in front of the blast, his right arm transforming into a colossal magma fist that punched out fiercely!
Boom!
Magma and flame collided mid-air, producing a deafening roar!
The shockwave sent surrounding Marines flying, crashing in every direction.
"Sakazuki!"
Standing on the execution platform, Sengoku roared: "Forget Kaido—your opponent is Whitebeard!"
Before the words faded, Whitebeard swung Murakumogiri, surging quake force pouring out!
Sakazuki had to shift his focus and turn to meet the attack.
In the sky, Kaido laughed wildly: "Fuhahaha! Looks like you Marines are too busy to cope!"
His massive dragon body rolled among the clouds, unleashing draconic might!
Right then—
"Ice Time Capsule!"
Aokiji suddenly appeared beside Kaido, hands firing several ice arrows!
The arrows shot toward Kaido's scales at extreme speed!
Yet Kaido didn't even glance over; Armament Haki coated his scales, and the ice arrows shattered on impact.
"That all you've got?"
Kaido whipped his dragon tail at Aokiji!
Aokiji instantly elementalized, the tail passing through his body.
But the next second Kaido opened his jaws and fired another Blast Breath!
Aokiji's expression changed; he dodged in haste.
The blast struck the plaza's edge, blasting out a huge crater!
"Yata no Kagami!"
Kizaru turned into a streak of light high above, countless photon bullets raining down!
But Kaido merely shook his dragon body; Armament Haki covered him, and the bullets clattered against his scales without dislodging a single one.
"How troublesome."
Though Kizaru spoke of trouble, his face remained utterly expressionless.
In the plaza, the clash between Whitebeard and Sakazuki grew fiercer.
Every collision shook the earth!
"Pop!"
Marco, transformed into a phoenix mid-air, shouted anxiously, "Let me help you!"
"No need!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily: "A mere Admiral is nothing to me!"
Even so, the blood at the corner of his mouth became increasingly obvious.
On the execution platform, Sengoku's face was ashen.
With two Four Emperors appearing simultaneously, the Marines' forces were completely tied down!
Just then, a Marine Vice Admiral ran to the foot of the platform and shouted, "Fleet Admiral! The Gorosei report they're engaged with the Beasts Pirates and can't return for now!"
Sengoku's expression sank.
As expected, the Gorosei were held up!
"Damn it!"
He spun his head toward Marineford's headquarters building.
Saint Ian was still inside.
If the battle worsened further, would that crown prince blame them?
At that thought, Sengoku took a deep breath and lifted his den den mushi: "All officers Vice Admiral and above—hear this! At any cost, slay Whitebeard and Kaido!"
"Yes, sir!"
On the plaza, more than a dozen Vice Admirals struck at once!
But at that very moment—
A strange buzzing suddenly echoed across the sky!
Everyone instinctively looked up.
A gigantic array materialized in the center of the plaza!
It shone with brilliant golden light, a huge vortex at its center!
"What is that?!"
Marine soldiers recoiled in horror.
The next second, a figure stepped out of the vortex.
A man in white robes wearing a golden mask.
Then a second, a third, a fourth… nine figures in total emerged, lining up neatly on the plaza!
The aura each emitted was no weaker than a Marine Vice Admiral!
"That's—"
Sengoku's pupils shrank: "The God's Knights!"
Shamrock, leading them, removed his mask, revealing a face strikingly similar to Shanks's.
He knelt on one knee toward Marine HQ and said reverently, "The God's Knights, by the young master's order, arrive to support!"
At those words, all Marineford fell into a brief, deathly silence!
Sabaody Archipelago.
Before the screens, the crowd erupted!
"The God's Knights! It's the God's Knights!"
"My God! Even the God's Knights have been mobilized!"
"Now Whitebeard and Kaido are doomed for sure!"
Reporters snapped shutters frantically, flashes blazing nonstop!
Mock Town.
The citizens burst into earth-shaking cheers!
"Long live Saint Ian!"
"Long live the God's Knights!"
Everyone was so moved tears streamed down their faces!
Marineford, plaza.
Whitebeard frowned slightly at the suddenly appeared God's Knights.
Kaido laughed wildly: "Fuhahaha! Interesting—this is getting better and better!"
Shamrock slowly rose to his feet and looked up at Kaido in the sky.
"Kaido of the Beasts, your opponent is me."
The words had barely left his mouth before he drew the longsword at his waist and shot skyward like a phantom!
The other eight members of the God's Knights also sprang into action, scattering to engage the commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates!
In an instant, the tide of battle reversed!
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Ian watched the scene with satisfaction and nodded.
"About time."
He turned to Hancock: "Come, it's our turn to take the stage."
Hancock blinked: "Young master, you're going to fight in person?"
"Of course."
Ian grinned wickedly: "With a war this spectacular, how could This Young Master stay a mere spectator?"
"This Young Master will show the whole world what true power looks like!"