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The Marines' repeated surprise attacks on Whitebeard had completely enraged Marco and the other division commanders.
They knew full well that in this war, the outcome of their father's final battle would decide the fate of the entire battlefield.
Every time he made a move, it cost him precious stamina, which could prove fatal in the climactic confrontation that was surely coming.
Donquixote Rosinante, who had crashed into the wall and left a massive crater, shook his dazed head and pulled himself free from the rubble.
"Whew, I really can't let my guard down even for a second," he muttered, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Fuhuhuhuhu…" On the opposite side of Whitebeard, Doflamingo suddenly let out a low laugh.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of performance you all put on in this war."
"But," he added, stepping back with a cryptic smirk, "I'm not betting on your victory."
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes at the retreating figure. For a mere Warlord to wield such mastery over Conqueror's Haki infusion was alarming.
"Marco!" he shouted, snapping his head around. "Break through the enemy's first line with everything you've got!"
"Aye!" Marco bellowed in return. The battlefield grew fiercer in an instant. Countless pirates charged toward the plaza gates, roaring as they went.
Little Oars Jr. led the way, absorbing the brunt of the enemy attacks. No matter how badly he was wounded, he refused to fall back.
On another front, Enel easily led the Pacifista models, blasting through groups of pirates.
Rosinante, Smoker, and Kuina had each found worthy opponents and were locked in heated battles.
Near Bartholomew Kuma, Zoro stood tense, observing the battlefield. "This place is crawling with monsters…" His voice trembled slightly with nervousness.
Compared to all the adventures and fights the Straw Hats had faced, this battlefield was entirely different—massive, chaotic, and swarming with terrifying power.
Powerful warriors were falling every second. "This level of war is still beyond your reach," Kuma said in a low voice, easily swatting aside an attacker.
"You've only just begun to scratch the surface, Roronoa Zoro." Zoro clenched his teeth.
"I need to find Luffy—fast. But I haven't seen any sign of him yet." Every second here was dangerously lethal.
Without Kuma beside him, he knew he'd probably already be dead. "I haven't seen your captain either," Kuma said, shaking his head.
"Is that so…" Zoro sighed, then furrowed his brows again. Behind Little Oars Jr., Whitebeard stood holding his naginata, face grim.
For the moment, he made no move. With Marco and the others joining the fight, the pirates' advance had gained momentum.
Little Oars was now only thirty meters from the plaza. They were just one final push away from breaking the line.
But Whitebeard and the others couldn't intervene directly—not yet. If they did, that man would step in, and that was something Whitebeard desperately wanted to avoid.
The showdown had to wait until they were at Ace's side—until saving him was within reach.
Scanning the battlefield, Whitebeard noticed Red-Haired Shanks standing nearby. Beckman, Yasopp, and Lucky Roux were already fighting.
As expected of the Red-Haired Pirates—a crew of elites with extraordinary individual strength—the pressure on Whitebeard's side eased significantly.
"Just a bit more, and that gate will fall!" Shanks called out. "We need to seize the opportunity!"
Whitebeard nodded. "We'll have to rely on our boys now."
But Shanks frowned. "They're not enough. You've caught Arashi's eye. That means Sengoku and Garp won't move easily from the execution platform."
"Which means I'm still free to act." Whitebeard's eyes flickered as he turned to look at him.
"I'm going to help Little Oars Jr. and break that damn gate wide open!" Shanks said with a grin, tightening his grip on his sabre.
"Then you'd better be extremely careful," Whitebeard warned. "They'll throw everything they have at you to stop that from happening."
Shanks laughed. "Aren't you behind me, too? When the time comes, don't hesitate!"
Whitebeard chuckled. "You think I'm the type to hesitate?" In the blink of an eye, Shanks vanished from sight.
His terrifying speed made him look like a blur skating across the ice. One moment, he was gone.
Next, he was already in the thick of the crowd. A gust of wind swept past the combatants, who looked up in confusion.
"Red-Hair!"
"It's Red-Hair!"
"What's he doing?!" came the startled shouts.
Shanks rocketed forward, appearing behind Little Oars Jr. A slight smirk curved his lips as he bent his knees and launched upward.
He landed atop Oars' massive shoulder in the blink of an eye. "That gate… has stood in our way long enough!"
Shanks' expression turned serious as he raised his sabre. When it reached its peak, he swung it down hard.
Black and red lightning burst out, a radiant arc of energy tore through the air, and the sky lit up.
His face flashed between light and shadow as overwhelming Conqueror's Haki surged outward.
On the gate, the Marines preparing to load a cannon instantly collapsed under the pressure.
All around, pirates stared in awe, their faces lit with excitement. Rosinante, Smoker, and the others stiffened.
On the execution platform, Sengoku clenched his fists. "Red-Haired Shanks… the most dominant man in the world!"
In the audience stands, Arashi narrowed his eyes, locking onto Shanks. That sword technique… it felt both familiar and unfamiliar at once.
"Divine Departure." All eyes were on him as Shanks whispered and slashed down.
"Buzz!" The air in front of him warped. A radiant, razor-sharp slash shot forth like a divine judgment, aimed straight at the massive gate.
"Hm… Shanks," Mihawk murmured, sheathing his blade as he watched. A nostalgic smile crept across his face.
"It's been a long time since I saw that."
The brilliant light exploded across the sky, swelling the slash and blotting out everything ahead of Shanks in a sea of black and red.
Everyone—from Marines to pirates—stared in shock at the sky-splitting slash.
"This is the power of an Emperor!" someone screamed, trembling with awe and terror. Zoro's pupils shrank beside Kuma.
"That…!" His vision of a blade striking down on Thriller Bark flashed. This move wasn't the same, but it gave off the same crushing aura.
"Buzz!" The air trembled. As Shanks' sword fell, the sky seemed to turn black and red, smothered in Conqueror's Haki.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice rang out. "I won't let you take another step!!"
Shanks looked up, surprised, then confused. A figure leapt high into the air, slamming a clenched fist into the space before him.
Crack! A sound like shattering glass echoed across the battlefield. Whitebeard's eyes widened to slits.
"That…?! No way! That's Father's power! Why is it on him?!"
Shock, disbelief, confusion, and fear erupted all around. Every member of the Whitebeard Pirates—captains and crew alike—stood frozen in utter disbelief.
Because with that one punch, space itself shattered. Cracks like tree branches split the air.
It was unmistakable—the same power Whitebeard wielded to destroy the very fabric of reality.
The shockwave dispersed Shanks' slash mid-air. The gate trembled, and the Marines stationed atop it flinched as wind pressure swept over them.
The figure who had shattered space landed at the top of the gate, white Marine cape billowing in the wind.
When the Marines looked up and recognised him, they shouted with wild excitement.
"Vice Admiral Buggy!!!" The man standing tall atop the gate, arms crossed, face icy and domineering, was unmistakably Buggy.
"I've waited a long time for this moment, Shanks!" he shouted, eyes blazing with fury.
He could never forget the moment Shanks had coldly abandoned him to escape.
Shanks, for his part, was utterly stunned. He stared dumbfounded. "Buggy…?!"
"Didn't expect this, did you?" Buggy bellowed. Years have passed. You became a world-famous Emperor. But—I'm not going to lose to you!"
"Today, with me standing here… neither you nor Whitebeard is getting through!"
Buggy inhaled deeply, his madness growing with every word. His face twisted, swollen with emotion.
"Emperors?! Don't make me laugh! Stand at attention! Neither of you is crossing this line!"
His booming words echoed across Marineford, filled with the power and presence of a true warrior.
Countless Marines in the plaza stared at him with awe, respect, and unrestrained admiration.
A man who stood against both Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard, a man who crushed a Yonko's attack effortlessly—how many in this world could claim such strength?
Some moments in a person's life shine brighter than all others. For Buggy, this moment—without a doubt—was his most colourful.
He had blocked an attack from a renowned Emperor with his strength, and under the eyes of the world, spoke words full of disdain, declaring he didn't fear a Yonko.
With the whole world watching the live broadcast, countless people were left stunned.
Standing atop the first gate of Marineford, the man bathed in the blinding sun looked like the strongest figure on the world's peak, radiating overwhelming brilliance.
"Buggy!!"
"Vice Admiral Buggy!!"
Countless voices erupted, calling out his name with excitement and awe. People worship the strong and follow the strong.
At that very moment, Buggy was undoubtedly the strong one in their eyes.
"So many elites in the Marines, and this Vice Admiral, previously unknown—possesses such terrifying strength!"
"He even dares to mock an Emperor to his face! The whole world will remember his name—Buggy!"
"He's too powerful! That punch that shattered the sky was just like Whitebeard himself!"
People cried out in disbelief, their faces filled with shock and wonder. Their admiration for the Marines only grew deeper.
The battle at Marineford hadn't been going for long, yet even within just the first line of defence, multiple jaw-dropping figures had already appeared.
Rosinante, who blocked Whitebeard's punch, Fisher Tiger, who stopped his enraged blow, and Vice Admirals like Smoker and Kuina.
Now, there was Buggy, standing against the red-haired Emperor head-on.
After this war, no matter the outcome, these people would forever be etched into history.
Their brave and powerful images would become the most awe-inspiring sights, commanding respect and admiration.
"Buggy." Shanks' face grew serious as he stared at the man before him. In his eyes, old memories flickered—scenes from the past resurfaced.
Eventually, they condensed into a single sigh. Since Roger's execution, after parting ways in Loguetown, the two had never met again.
Naturally, Shanks knew nothing of Buggy's fate. More than twenty years had passed—he had become an Emperor atop the seas.
Yet Buggy... didn't seem far off either. That punch that shattered the air had truly caught Shanks off guard.
"Heh...Fine by me." Shanks let out a light chuckle, raising his rapier and pointing it forward.
"You and I have both found our paths to reunite on this chaotic battlefield... perhaps it's fate."
"Then—" His expression suddenly turned cold. His blade gleamed with a chilling light.
"Ssshhkk!" Black and red lightning crackled around the sword as a terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki surged outward.
"Are you certain you want to stand before this gate... and block my path forward?"
The cold tone and Shanks' now icy expression emitted crushing pressure. Countless Marines felt their hearts pounding, sweat dripping from their foreheads, as tension filled the air.
Angering an Emperor was never good—such things led to catastrophic consequences.
"Shanks! You think that look will scare me?!"
Buggy sneered coldly. He bent his knees slightly, his thick arms flexing as he clenched his fists. "If you want a fight, I'll give you one! I'm not afraid of you!"
His thunderous shout echoed across the battlefield, perfectly displaying his overwhelming presence.
"Vice Admiral Buggy!!" The Marines' eyes lit up with awe. Their admiration for Buggy at that moment was beyond words.
Atop the execution platform, Sengoku breathed a breath of relief as he looked at Buggy in his moment of glory, smiling slightly.
"Arashi has gathered a team of elites..." Whether it was Rosinante or Smoker, they were both extraordinary.
They dared to fight against the Emperors and had the strength to go toe-to-toe with them. With such a combination, their futures were boundless.
His gaze shifted down to where Arashi still sat calmly in his chair.
"To stay seated even when two Emperors make their move...Without overwhelming confidence, that would be impossible."
"Even I'm starting to wonder what kind of trump cards you're hiding...Arashi..." Sengoku muttered.
He had to admit—when Shanks had struck just now, even he had felt a tremor in his heart.
But the next moment, his relaxed expression abruptly changed, his pupils constricting.
"Buzz!"
The sky over Marineford trembled.
"Crackkk!"
Fine, lightning-like cracks ripped across the air, shooting toward the plaza gates with ruthless speed and power.
Vast, overwhelming, unstoppable. To everyone watching, it looked like lightning had split the sky.
The entire battlefield quaked. The ice cracked open as a devastating slash thundered toward the gate.
Just a second earlier, Buggy's expression was calm, but it instantly shifted to terror. His body, reacting on pure instinct, dove to the side.
"BOOM!"
In the next instant, the gate exploded. Cracks spread wildly across it, and a massive slash split it in two, creating an enormous gap.
Countless Marines stood frozen, stunned as if struck by lightning.
"The plaza gate... was sliced open?!" A Marine exclaimed in disbelief, his body trembling.
There was no mistaking what this meant. The pirates were about to break through the first line of defence. The Marines' fortress had been breached.
"What are you all standing around for?" A deep, rumbling, aged voice echoed out. Whitebeard withdrew his naginata and stepped forward.
"Charge in. Save Ace." His calm yet commanding voice swept the battlefield, and the pirates finally returned to reality.
"It's Pops!!"
"Pops broke open the gate!"
"Quick, charge in! Save Ace!"
"The first line's broken—we can see hope!"
"Go!!!"
In a flash, morale surged. The pirates charged forward in unison. Little Oars Jr. roared toward the sky and rammed into the wall with his massive body.
"BOOM!!!"
The deafening sound tore through everyone's ears. With another blast, the gate's opening widened. Thrilled pirates flooded through.
"As expected of Whitebeard..." Shanks, holding his rapier, let out a soft laugh.
He looked at the ruined gate and exhaled deeply.
Suddenly, a figure burst from the rubble and charged at him incredibly fast.
Shanks' eyes narrowed, lifting his blade to defend—
"BOOM!"
The massive impact sent his cape billowing behind him. "Buggy..." Shanks muttered, voice low.
Feeling the terrifying power in Buggy's fist, he was genuinely shocked.
The force—capable of shattering everything—was overwhelming.
"Shanks! Your opponent is me!" Buggy growled.
If he hadn't reacted in time earlier, he would've been cut down by Whitebeard's slash. The broken gate infuriated him—he had just been humiliated.
"No. You're not my opponent." Shanks shook his head.
Sparks crackled from his sword, but his eyes fixed the figure slowly rising from the throne atop the high platform.
"At the very least, not today."
"Slash! Slash! Slash!"
Razor-sharp sword strikes instantly sliced through Buggy. Caught off guard, his Observation Haki couldn't react in time.
His body split apart into pieces, but his fists remained clenched as he swung a powerful punch toward the ground.
"Fall to pieces—WORLD!!"
"CRACK!!"
As the shockwaves spread, space itself fractured inch by inch. The ice shattered beneath them, and invisible ripples spread outward.
As they hit the surrounding pirates, their faces changed drastically. Cracks appeared on their bodies before they shattered like glass.
"Such a terrifying power..."
Shanks' face grew grim as he used his rapier to block the attack.
His Armament Haki, trained to its peak, could withstand the blow, but it might be a death sentence for others.
He had to admit—this childhood friend had now mastered one of the most destructive powers in the world.
"Shanks!! Twenty years of hatred between us... It ends today!!" Buggy roared.
His shattered body reformed as he lunged forward, fist ready. Shanks looked serious, but also a bit troubled.
"So this is the Bara Bara no Mi you ate back then?"
Buggy smirked. "Because of you, I couldn't swim or find treasure back then."
"But surprise! I awakened the fruit's true power!"
"And gained the strength to shatter the world!" Shanks' eyes narrowed.
To awaken the Bara Bara no Mi... he couldn't deny the man's potential. He knew he might not be able to overcome him so easily.
Suddenly, cries erupted from the front lines.
"BZZZZZZZ!"
A dense buzzing echoed across the battlefield. Countless pirates charging forward abruptly stopped, looking up in horror.
"Wait! What is that?! A sandstorm?!"
Half the sky suddenly turned yellow. A massive wall of sand engulfed everything in sight, sweeping toward them. In mere moments, the vanguard had been swallowed whole.
"You didn't think...Breaking the first line meant you'd won this war, did you?"
"Whitebeard!!"
A cold voice rang out. Within the storm, the sand formed a massive face.
"Crocodile!! It's Crocodile!!"
Pirates screamed in shock. When the storm passed, what was left behind took everyone's breath away.
Dozens of dry corpses stood frozen in place. Whitebeard's eyes narrowed, staring at the figure standing atop the ruins, sand swirling around him.
"You never learn your lesson, do you...Crocodile!"
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