Chapter 118: Threat

The battlefield upon which the fate of the world hung—Marineford, headquarters of the Navy.

The threads encircling the island were a steel barrier crushing the hopes of those who wished to escape this hell.

“What the hell is this fence!?”

“It’s insanely tough…!!”

“We’ve lost all communication with the outside!!”

Neither pirates nor marines could escape this battlefield. No help would come from beyond.
The only solution was violence.

“Fufufufufufu…!! So, what now!? Navy!! Whitebeard Pirates!! Impel Down escapees!! And even the Celestial Dragons!!! Can you stop this storm!?”

Laughing mockingly, the one who triggered the “Birdcage” and sealed everyone inside, Donquixote Doflamingo, called them out by name.

A storm of violence was about to erupt. If it couldn’t be stopped, the world’s order would collapse.

The two great powers that had ruled these seas—the Navy Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates—would be annihilated, and the world would be swallowed by chaos.

That very collapse was Doflamingo’s desire. And so, he couldn’t stop laughing.

“You bastard…!!”

“! Fufufufu… What’s wrong? You don’t like seeing Whitebeard in danger, Crocodile? I thought you came to take his head?”

“…That half-dead old man can wait—but I sure as hell don’t want to see the look on your smug faces first!!!”

Former Warlord Crocodile, who had escaped from Impel Down, launched a sand blade at Doflamingo. Doflamingo dodged it easily and grinned as he asked his taunt.

But unlike Doflamingo’s composed smirk, Crocodile’s expression was grim—clearly annoyed. He glared with killing intent, determined to take Doflamingo down first.

“Fufufu!! If you’ve got time to aim at me, I suggest you use it to escape… A Logia user like you might be able to slip out of the Birdcage… Keep wasting time and you’re not gonna like what happens next!! Fufufufufu!!”

“Then I’ll take you out first… and then I’ll think about it!!”

Their clash ignited—Crocodile’s claw and Doflamingo’s razor-sharp threads collided.

If Doflamingo, who was maintaining the Birdcage, could be knocked unconscious or killed, the trap would be lifted. Even without knowing the exact mechanism, any experienced fighter could deduce that much.

“Captain!! We’re trapped in here too!! What do we do!?”

“Zehaha… Yeah. This ain’t good… But the chance will come!! Let’s lay low for now and watch the monsters fight it out… Zehahahaha…!!”

Only those with overwhelming power could hope to escape this battlefield.

“Captain Buggy!! You got out so easily…!!?”

“But what are you planning to do out there…?”

“He must have a plan!!”

“Gya—gyahahahaha!! Damn right I do! You lot keep fighting strong!! I, the great Buggy, shall now begin preparations for a spectacular strategy to turn this mess on its head!!!”

“Woooooh!!! That’s our living legend!!”

“Not even this situation shakes him!!”

“Alright! Until Captain Buggy’s plan is ready, we’ll defend this bay with our lives!!”

“YEEAAHHHH!!!”

“Y-Yeah, do that!! (Phew… That was close. I managed to talk my way out of it. Still, this place is a death trap… I need to find a way to escape now…!!)”

And for everyone else, the only option left… was to fight.

Using every ounce of strength they had—to take what they wanted.

—But the weak… could only die.

“Haa… Haa…”

“Ugh…”

“Smoker-san!! Hina-san!!”

In the heart of the deadly melee, many battles had already been settled. And strewn across the plaza were mostly the bodies of fallen marines.

So, the sight of two wounded marines collapsing, covered in slash wounds, wasn’t all that unusual.

Even if those two were “White Chase Smoker” and “Black Cage Hina”—promising future stars of the Navy—it made little difference. To the elite officers of the Beast Pirates, it was no harder than cutting down any other marine.

“Came charging in all bold… and this is all you’ve got?”

“...You’re one of the Tobiroppo…!! Who’s-Who of the Beast Pirates…!!”

Tashigi glared at the man who had cut down her two superiors.

The “Tobiroppo” were second only to the Lead Performers in Kaido’s crew. And Who’s-Who, along with Sasaki, stood at the top among them.

Smoker and Hina had tried to intercept the Beast Pirates entering the plaza, only to be instantly struck down by Who’s-Who.

“You thought just eating a Logia fruit was enough to beat me?”

“…!!”

What that meant was clear—a massive gap in strength.

Both Hina and Smoker were Devil Fruit users. Smoker, in particular, had eaten the Moku Moku no Mi and was a smoke-human. Logia-class fruits were considered among the strongest types.

At first glance, Logia users seemed untouchable. And throughout the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, they were practically invincible.

But not in the New World.

Here, where Haki users were common, even Logia users couldn’t avoid injury.

Those who relied too heavily on their fruit—those who overestimated their invincibility—would meet an early grave.
That truth was about to be proven now.

“What are their ranks?”

“‘White Chase’ Smoker and ‘Black Cage’ Hina. Rear Admiral and Captain, respectively.”

“I’ve heard the names. Hah, so one of them’s technically a general. Still, they’re pathetic.”

“There are still a dozen or so Vice Admirals left in the plaza. A few Whitebeard Division Commanders are still alive. And some unusual figures believed to be Impel Down escapees. How should we proceed?”

“Go for the Commanders or the escapees. Taking down more Vice Admirals won’t mean much at this point.”

“Yes, sir!!”

“...!! You people… What do you think justice even means to you!!!?”

“! Don’t, Tashigi…!!”

Tashigi, overhearing Who’s-Who and his men, was overcome with rage and drew her sword. Even as the wounded Smoker called out to stop her, she charged forward, refusing to back down.

“YAAAAHHHH!!!”

“Huh? What’s this brat?”

“Gah!!”

“T-Tashigi…!!”

Just like Smoker, Hina had collapsed to the ground. In a raspy voice, she called out in worry for Tashigi.

Tashigi tried to slash at Who’s-Who, but before her blade could reach him, he grabbed her by the neck and hoisted her into the air, a pained expression twisting her face.

It wasn’t even a fight. The overwhelming difference in power decided everything. Tashigi's sword slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground. Smoker and Hina, watching helplessly, thought this might be the end for them too. They desperately searched for a way to get back on their feet—but before they could act, Who’s-Who’s eyes caught sight of the fallen sword.

“Hm? That sword... is it a quality blade?”

“Heh, just a moment... Ah, yes, as expected of you, Master Who’s-Who. That’s the fine-grade blade Shigure.”

“Not bad. Alright, take it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“...!! That’s... my... ngh!!?”

“Shut up. A brat like you—a weak woman—doesn’t deserve a sword like this. Hey, what about her?”

“Yes. Uh... apologies. She doesn’t appear in any of our data. Most likely just an officer... or lower.”

“A grunt, huh. In that case, she’ll make for mer-ch-an-dise.”

“Aa—gh...!!”

Still choking, Tashigi groaned in pain as she saw Who’s-Who’s subordinate pick up her beloved blade, Shigure. Then Who’s-Who muttered something ominous. Even through her suffering, Tashigi didn’t miss it. Gasping for air, she turned a questioning look toward him, asking silently what he meant by merchandise.

“Shall I tell you, as thanks for the sword?”

Surprisingly, Who’s-Who flashed a grin and leaned in to whisper to her.

“In this war, we plan to slaughter every Marine... though I guess some of you might survive by chance. Those ones—we’re turning into slaves.”

“!!?”

Tashigi’s face went pale. Seeing that, Who’s-Who’s grin twisted into something crueler—sick with sadism.

“Especially small fry like you, officers and under—they’re no threat even if we keep them alive. Breaking their spirit’s not hard either. So we’ll reduce ‘em below the level of human and make ‘em useful to us...!!”

“...!!”

“Damn you... don’t screw with us...!!”

Lying on the ground near his feet, Smoker spat out the words with venom. He couldn’t move. Who’s-Who’s subordinate had taken his seastone-tipped jitte and was pressing it against him, robbing him of all strength. Powerless and at their mercy, Smoker could only glare, and Who’s-Who mocked him.

“You’ve got some nerve talking, after turning a blind eye to the Celestial Dragons’ slave trade. So what’s the problem? A Marine who was practically a slave to the Celestials... does it matter who their next master is? Hey.”

“Yes, sir.”

Who’s-Who handed Tashigi over to his men and turned to leave. This was a battlefield—there were still enemies to kill, glory to seize. He couldn’t afford to linger too long.

But before he left, he turned back and said to Tashigi:

“Someone like you’s got no business fighting. I’ll do you a favor and line up a new job for you. Something more fitting... for a woman like you...!!”

“...!!”

“Just to make sure you never get the idea of resisting again—watch this. The look on your superior’s face as he dies.”

“...!!?”

Then, with no hesitation, Who’s-Who plunged a blade into the bodies of Smoker and Hina.

Tashigi saw it. The moment her two closest superiors—died.

“MMM—!! MMMMHH!!”

“Take the girl and the sword. I’ll go find the next prey.”

“Yes, sir! Best of luck!”

Even as tears streamed down her face and a gag muffled her cries, Tashigi kicked and struggled, but could do nothing.

Who’s-Who and his men, after killing the people most important to her, tied her up with the cold efficiency of people doing nothing more than routine work.

“Remember this. In this world, it doesn’t matter if you’re a woman or a kid—the strong are the ones who win...!!!”

That was the brutal, unrelenting creed of the Beasts Pirates: a pure and absolute meritocracy. The weak had no rights—not even the right to choose between life or death.

And on this battlefield, countless scenes like this were playing out—each one a grim vision of the world to come.

---

The Navy Headquarters and the government-aligned Warlords of the Sea were at a disadvantage—and in a dire predicament.

The one hundred thousand Marines had seen their numbers drop drastically, now reduced to less than half. As for the Warlords, once a major force, one was missing, one had withdrawn, one had died, and two had defected—leaving only two remaining.

One of them, the world’s greatest swordsman, “Hawk-Eye” Mihawk, remained active, cutting down the charging pirates one after another with a faint smile.

The other, however—Bartholomew Kuma, known as the “Tyrant”—was just about to reach the end of his role.

“!!”

His massive, specially mechanized body—once so sturdy—was kicked away by a pair of slim, pale legs and sent rolling across the ground.

It was a one-sided performance.

“What’s going on!!?”

“Kuma!! Why aren’t you attacking!?”

“Don’t tell me… Kuma betrayed us too…!?”

“Impossible!! The ‘Tyrant’ Kuma has no consciousness!! He’s just a cyborg now!! A human weapon who fights pirates without a will of his own!!”

The Marines watching couldn’t believe it. Something inexplicable was happening before their eyes, but no one could determine the cause.

From the right flank, the Beasts Pirates had launched an attack into the plaza—and the one who was supposed to counter them, Kuma, couldn’t hold a candle to the woman before him.

“Fufufu… How anticlimactic♡”

“!!”

Worse still, he wasn’t even fighting back—just being beaten down one-sidedly.

His opponent was the Beasts Pirates’ All-Star, “Calamity Joker.” A figure shrouded in mystery, yet infamous for her power—never one to be underestimated.

But this wasn’t even a battle. Kuma wasn’t retaliating at all.

And so, battered and broken, Kuma stood unmoving before Joker. Watching him, Joker smiled.

“Almost makes me feel guilty, like I’m bullying you… Still, I suppose I should give credit where it’s due. As expected of Vegapunk. Using Kuma’s body as a base—it’s remarkably durable.”

“…………”

Kuma said nothing, simply standing silently before Joker. He neither attacked, defended, nor dodged—a behavior so unnatural it seemed like he was malfunctioning. The Marines, fighting nearby, began voicing their frustration.

“What the hell’s wrong with him!?”

“Don’t tell me… he’s actually broken!?”

“……!! What are you doing, Kuma!? Attack the enemy in front of you!!”

But Kuma didn’t respond. The necessary conditions had not been met.

Still silent, Kuma was mocked by Joker, who touched her lips with her fingers, as if suppressing laughter. As though it was all too hilarious—she sneered at the mindless weapon before her.

“Obediently following assigned orders and doing nothing else… like a slave♡”

“…………”

“Fufu… If you were still your old self, I’d say you hit the mark. Sure, it’s convenient when there’s no resistance, but bullying someone who doesn’t react isn’t very fun.”

His machine body was already falling apart, ready to shut down at any moment. Made from special alloy, it could not endure countless blows from one of the Four Emperors’ top officers.

One or two more hits—he would go down. That was Joker’s conclusion. And so, she decided to offer a hint behind this bizarre phenomenon.

“The human weapon ‘Pacifista.’ A modified human built upon Kuma’s body, loaded with various weapons. Among them, you were the most advanced—equipped with the powers of the Paw-Paw Fruit. Programmed to obey Dr. Vegapunk, your creator, the government’s science division, the fleet admiral, the admirals, high-ranking officials, even the Celestial Dragons… You’ve had the faces of pirates and dangerous criminals all over the world input into your system, allowing you to accurately distinguish enemies from allies and strike them accordingly. Fufu… A truly excellent machine.”

Indeed, there had never been a weapon more perfect—or more convenient—for the government.

Especially since it was built from Kuma himself, a Warlord whose formidable strength could be deployed without fear of betrayal. On the battlefield, there was nothing more reliable. No risk of friendly fire, either.

But the very excellence of that design—and the erasure of Kuma’s consciousness—would be their undoing.

“No matter what disguise, no matter how the ability hides me… a machine’s eyes cannot be deceived.”

As she spoke, Joker felt a burden lift from her shoulders.

After all, until now, she’d been extra cautious of those mechanical eyes.

No matter how much she manipulated human perception, machines couldn’t be fooled.

Machines had no awareness. The ability that cloaked Joker’s identity had no effect on them. This was a well-known fact—and Joker’s top concern in her role as a spy.

That was why, when Kuma still retained his human consciousness, she had never once approached him.

“But now… I’m finally free of that burden.”

Fortunately for her, Kuma had relinquished his humanity and fully become a government puppet.

His motives remained unclear, but the outcome was certain: Joker was not being attacked due to the mechanical recognition systems within Kuma.

No defenses. No evasions. Just silently enduring, like a slave awaiting orders from his master.

“But don’t worry♡ You’re still useful. I’ll just shut you down for now—I won’t destroy you completely…!!”

From the moment this match-up was arranged, Kuma’s fate was sealed.

Joker vanished. Or at least, she appeared to.

Using a motion akin to the Rokushiki technique "Soru," she burst forward with explosive leg power, silently closing the distance between them.

Her strike wasn’t aimed at destroying external components, but at delivering an internal shock—one of the secret techniques of Rokushiki, customized into Joker’s own finishing move.

“I’ll hold back just enough not to break you…!!”

“!!? That stance—!!!”

A Vice Admiral caught a glimpse of the technique’s pose and gasped in shock.

“Beast King Gun!!!”

“!!!”

A massive shock exploded inside Kuma’s body.

Even held back, the blow had more than enough power to kill a human. It was enough to completely shut down the “Kuma” weapon.

──And at nearly the same moment, another battle reached its conclusion.

“Yaaay, yaaay♡ I won~~~!! Peeee-tan, praise me, praise meee~~~♡”

“Not a damn chance!! ──Alright, things are wrapped up over here too. Get everything loaded!!”

“Yes, sir!!”

“PRAISE MEEEEE!!!”

“Guh…!! You bastards… Getting your hands on a Pacifista… What the hell… are you planning… to do……”

A shattered battleaxe and its wielder lay on the ground, blood gushing from his forehead, his bones broken. Scattered around were numerous human weapons.

Standing over them were the Beasts Pirates’ Flying Six siblings—Ulti and Page One—issuing orders to their subordinates to load the Pacifistas onto their ship.

Sensing this, Joker gave orders to recover Kuma and spoke aloud:

“To create peace in the world… we must start a war. Blood must be spilled. Fufufu… From now on, we’ll be the ones to put these tools to proper use. Just like the name you were given—‘Pacifista.’ These weapons will fuel the wars that sweep across the globe…!!!”

“WAAAAHHH!!! LADY JOKERRRRR!!!”

──The government’s human weapon “Pacifista,” including Bartholomew Kuma, fell into the hands of the Beasts Pirates.

And beyond the plaza, the pirate alliance had seized control of almost every other area of the battlefield. Allied forces began converging on the central square.

“Koby!! This is hopeless—we’ve got to run for it!! We’ll die if we stay here!!!”

“H-Helmeppo, you get away…!! I’ll… I’ll try to buy some time…!!”

“My, my… Naughty little boys. You shouldn’t be playing on such a dangerous battlefield. You’ll get yourselves killed♡”

As the promising young Marines faltered and attempted to flee, the Beasts Pirates’ Flying Six unit, led by Black Maria, infiltrated even the streets of Marineford.

There were few capable of stopping the pirate alliance’s elite officers, and the battlefield was suffering heavy losses.

“If you don’t knock it off, I’m seriously gonna lose it, Komurasaki…!!”

“I should be the one angry!! You and your brother (sister) always do whatever you want…!!”

In the plaza, swords clashed as Musashi and Komurasaki traded blows, steel ringing over and over.

Musashi had the edge, but their skill gap wasn’t that wide—and Komurasaki’s toughness was already legendary within the Beasts Pirates. With no decisive strike landed, their duel showed no signs of ending.

“Danzenmaru!!!”

"……!!"

"! That technique... it's Izo, isn't it!?"

But just then, a Haki-infused bullet flew toward Komurasaki, forcing her to defend herself.

Upon seeing the technique, Musashi immediately realized—it was the work of Izo, the 16th division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. And that meant the main forces of the Whitebeard Pirates were starting to break through the battlefield.

"Musashi!! You go on ahead!! I'll handle things here!!"

"! ...Got it!! I'm counting on you!!"

"……!!"

And so, Musashi turned to push forward, to do what only she could—but Komurasaki wasn’t the only one aiming to capture her.

"It's Lady Musashi!! Go!! Capture her!!"

"Lady Musashi~~!! Catching her is just as big a deal as killing the enemy!!"

"Gwahaha!! Be a good girl and surrender~~~!!!"

"……!! Babanuuki, Poker, and Holdem...!!"

Standing in her way were the Shinuchi of the Beasts Pirates, faces Musashi recognized. Though inferior to the Tobi Roppo, each one of them was strong enough to be a pain to deal with individually. On top of that, their orders rallied the Gifters to swarm in as well.

Taking them down wasn’t impossible—but there was no time for that. Musashi thought of leaping into the sky when—

"──Get down, Musashi!!"

"!!?"

From behind her, rifle and pistol shots rang out, and blades and blunt weapons struck at the Gifters, wounding them just enough to stop their movements.

When the newcomers appeared, it wasn't just Musashi who reacted—even Ace, bound at the execution platform, showed a change in expression.

"You guys too...!!!"

"……!! You fools came all the way here...! I won’t mourn you if you die!!!"

To those two voices, each of the arrivals responded one by one.

"Yeah, we know."

"We're well aware guys like us aren’t walking out of here alive...!!"

"We’re used to Ace-san dragging us into reckless messes, but... we've never seen a battlefield like this before."

"Damn right. Captain Ace, what kind of battlefield makes even pirate freaks piss themselves?"

"Yeah, you idiot. You really are...!!"

"Grururu... nyaan!"

"But still... Ace. I—we—we’d give our lives for you!!! Ever since you invited us under your flag... we’ve all been ready to die for you!!!"

They were the ones who stood beside Ace and Musashi—the rest of Ace’s crew.

Twenty men and one beast, bonded with Ace long before he joined the Whitebeard Pirates. Outlaws who had nowhere else to go, who rallied under Ace’s own flag.

"We will never let you die!!! Ace!! We’re getting you out of here!!!"

『OOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!』

"Deuce...!! All of you...!!!"

The former Spade Pirates crew—Deuce, Kotatsu, Iska, Skull, Miharl… Ace’s oldest and closest companions—had come together to rescue him.

──But elsewhere on the battlefield, another confrontation, rooted in a very different connection, was beginning.

"Komurasaki, was it... why are you holding that sword!!?"

"…………"

Izo, having stepped in to face Komurasaki in Musashi’s place, pointed his gun at her with a fury that was anything but normal.

This wasn’t something Izo could overlook. That’s why he chose to confront her—to confirm the truth.

But Komurasaki remained silent for a time, then responded with a calm utterly at odds with Izo’s rage.

"...That has nothing to do with you."

"It does concern me!! That blade at your hip is without a doubt the famed grade sword Enma!!! And the one in your hand is Gaika Musou!!! Both of them... they’re my—"

"My?"

"Kh...!! The treasured blades of those dear to me!!!"

Komurasaki caught his stumble and threw the unfinished word back at him, forcing him to say what he had hesitated to.

But the full truth, that original relationship, was something Izo could not say. A samurai serves no second master. And now, the one he serves is Whitebeard.

So he voiced it in the only way he could. Even if, in his heart, he held that former master just as dear.

And that’s why he couldn’t ignore it. Why this pirate before him had those treasured swords.

"...Of those dear to you, huh?"

"Yeah, that's right!! Depending on the circumstances—"

"—Were these dear people of yours the sort... to hand their beloved blades to some stranger... worse, to someone like us, vile pirates?"

"...!! That’s...!!"

Komurasaki cut in, returning his accusation with a question of her own.

Again, Izo faltered. Of course they weren’t. Those people would never have handed their treasured swords to a high-ranking member of the infamous Beasts Pirates. A samurai would never part with their blade so lightly.

And yet, those swords were now at her side.

"Don’t tell me...!!"

"──The fact that these blades are on my hip... doesn’t that answer your question?"

"...!!"

The worst possibility formed in his mind.

He’d feared it. Thought it couldn’t be.

But given Musashi’s true identity... deep down, he’d known it might be possible. And yet, he’d wanted to believe it couldn’t be true.

But now, this woman hiding her face—these people—

"Lord Oden, and Kawamatsu...!!"

"…Yes, they’ve long since died. What of it?"

"Kh...!! You...!!!"

Izo pulled the trigger, aiming at Komurasaki. She sensed his rage, dodged the bullet, and as sweat beaded on the shaken Izo’s face, she cut into him with words sharper than any blade.

"What’s got you so angry? This doesn’t concern you, remember?"

"Shut up...!! Haa... haa... You... you did this to Lord Oden and the others...!!"

"…Are you seriously saying it's important?"

"Of course it is!!!"

Izo declared it with such force that anyone could see his feelings were genuine.

But even then, Komurasaki sneered. She scoffed at Izo’s words, mocking the man pointing his killing intent at her—

"—Then why did you abandon them?"

"!?!"

—She unleashed such overwhelming bloodlust that even Izo was momentarily overpowered.

"You say they were important. That you were given everything. That they were comrades, even benefactors. And yet, you threw them away… and chose someone else instead, didn’t you?"

"Wh… What are you talking about!?"

"You’re wondering how I know? You seem shaken by that—but I won’t be answering. After all… you’re an outsider."

Izo stared at this enemy who had suddenly changed, thinking—
Who the hell is this woman?

There was something terrifying about her presence. As if he were staring down a real demon. It was Haki, yes—but not just any kind. The emotions poured into it were so intense he couldn’t even tell what they were anymore.

He sensed anger and bloodlust… but also something else, something deeper that he couldn’t place.

"You said the owner of this blade was important to you… but perhaps it wasn’t as deep a bond as you believed. Maybe it was just a shallow sentiment."

"! What proof do you have—!?"

"I don’t need proof. If something could be abandoned, then it was never truly precious to begin with, was it?"

"You're wrong!! I never abandoned them!!"

"That’s just what you think. But in reality, you did abandon them. And now, after all this time, you’re suddenly clinging to them again? How pathetic."

Komurasaki denied everything Izo had said—every word, every feeling. And it wasn’t just verbal dismissal.

There was something far more personal behind her fury. Something deep-rooted. It wasn’t just anger—it meant something.

"And on top of that, in the new place you chose, you're throwing yourself into this foolish war. How noble of you."

"What…!?"

"Foolish doesn’t even begin to cover it. You’re charging into a battle you can’t win. A battle where death is the only outcome. Even if you do manage to save that 'Fire Fist Ace,' if you die in the process, all you’ll leave him is grief."

"…!!"

"But the opposite is true too… If he dies, then you will mourn. You’re not strong enough to protect both. Choosing one means losing the other. No matter what you do, someone suffers. Someone ends up in pain. So then—"

Komurasaki slowly sheathed her blade, Sotogamusou, and reached for another.

Once hailed as the strongest samurai in Wano—he who alone scarred the world's strongest creature—his blade was said to cut all the way to the depths of hell.

"With this cursed sword, Enma…!!! I will bring closure to your tragic fate myself…!!!"

"……!!!"

—Enma, one of the 21 Great Grade swords. A blade of legend, wielded by the mightiest of samurai. Izo, knowing its nature, was stunned to see Komurasaki handle it.

"You can… wield that sword…!?"

"Yes. Not perfectly, but with how riled up I am now… it’ll last long enough to kill you…!!!"

"…!!"

She's coming…!!

Sensing Komurasaki’s intent to attack, Izo immediately moved to evade.
Blocking was not an option. He likely couldn’t block it.

"Kappa Style…!!"

—And his decision proved correct.

"Kinugawa!!!"

"!!!?"

The slash—same move Musashi had used earlier—was now far sharper, far more devastating. It tore across the plaza.

And in the blink of an eye, it reached the defensive barrier, slicing through even the Whitebeard Pirates’ flagship, the Moby Dick, along the way. That sword technique—an overwhelming finisher—sent ripples through the battlefield.

"Hoh…"

"That was Komurasaki, wasn’t it?"

"That damn brat… she actually drew Enma."

Swordsmen like Mihawk, King, and Who’s-Who reacted from across the plaza. Especially those from the Beasts Pirates—they knew Komurasaki was stronger when she drew that blade. It meant she could actually deliver results.

One of them, someone who could be called Komurasaki’s mentor, sensed her emotion through Observation Haki and smiled fondly.

"Nice, nice! Komurasaki-chan’s really getting fired up now~♡"

"—Miss Nue. Reports say the eastern flank has been nearly wiped out."

"Yeees~♡ Thanks, Jack~!! Then let’s go clean up those Marines we cornered in the plaza, every last one of them! I’ll leave finishing off that half-dead old hag to you~!!!"

"Yes, ma’am!!"

"Fufufu~♪ Looks like Borsalino’s running outta steam too, huh~? As fun and strong as he is… maybe it’s time to put him down~?"

"Huff… huff… You really don’t hold back, huh~~…"

—All across the battlefield, Marines were dying. Even Vice Admirals, and now Admirals, were facing defeat.

From the original force of 100,000… the Marines’ numbers had already dropped below 40,000.

---

“Straw Hat Luffy” and “Golden Lion Shiki.”

A rookie from the East Blue versus a legendary pirate from before the Great Pirate Era. From beginning to end, the fight was one-sided, favoring the latter.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong, Straw Hat? That all you've got?"

"Haa… haa… Not yet…!! Gear Second…!!"

Floating in the air, Shiki looked down at Luffy on the ground and taunted him. Luffy had already been slammed into the dirt numerous times and looked like he was about to collapse.

"Gomu Gomu no…!! JET Pistol!!"

Yet even so, Luffy refused to give up. Pushing beyond his physical limits, he kept fighting the legendary pirate.

By accelerating his blood flow and enhancing his physical prowess, Luffy’s techniques became far more powerful. The speed of Gear Second was difficult to follow even for Marine HQ officers, and could overwhelm even CP9 agents who had mastered the Six Powers—barring a few exceptions.

"Jiha ha… You’ve gotten a little faster… but still too slow."

"!!?"

But even here—where others had failed again and again—Shiki remained unfazed.

"Zanpa!!!"

"Tch…!!"

With a swing of his foot—once wielding a blade with the skill of a first-rate swordsman—Shiki unleashed a slicing attack. It wasn't even comparable to a standard Rankyaku. Luffy instinctively leapt to the side, and it was the right call. A deep crack split the ground where he had just been standing.

"Haa… that was close…!!"

"Jiha ha!! Not bad—pretty sharp instincts for someone your age. But let's see if you can dodge the next one."

"……!!"

Shiki flicked his palm, activating the same ability that kept him afloat: the power of the Float-Float Fruit.

"!! What the hell!?"

"It's the Golden Lion!!"

"Shit!! Get back, everyone!!"

The plaza's ground around Luffy rose up, taking the shape of a lion and encircling them. Marines, pirates, and prisoners alike recognized the danger and scrambled to get away, but Shiki, unconcerned with collateral damage to friend or foe, unleashed a massive technique.

"Shi Shi Odoshi!! Earth Entangle!!!"

"!!!"

The lion-shaped terrain, hardened by the Float-Float power, swallowed up marines, pirates, and finally, Luffy himself.

"Guagh… damn it… gotta do something…!!"

"Straw Hat Boy!! Jinbei, help me!!"

"Yeah!! Right away—"

"Tch… That bastard Golden Lion… trying to drag us in too…!!"

"!!?"

Watching Luffy being engulfed by the shifting ground, powerless to escape, Ivankov and Jinbei sprang into action.

But their path was blocked—by the Beasts Pirates.

And not just anyone. It was someone Jinbei recognized—one of the famed Tobi Roppo, even if they’d never met directly.

"The Tobi Roppo… Sasaki!!"

"Yo, Jinbei…!! Been a while, huh? I didn’t get your head last time… but I’m here to collect now…!!!"

"Tch… Always with the interruptions…!!"

Sasaki of the Tobi Roppo. An opponent Jinbei had once encountered nearly a decade ago, back when he was still part of the Sun Pirates. Now, faced with this sudden reappearance, Jinbei had no choice but to halt. Ivankov, trailing just behind, was also forced to a stop.

"Kwa kwa!! Look who it is!! It’s Ivankov of the Revolutionary Army!!"

"What’re you doing here, freak!? Ain’t the World Government your target!? We already broke 'em down for ya!! Ka ka ka!!"

"You all should’ve sided with Kaido-sama. Even the Revolutionary Army would’ve been welcomed if you were strong enough♡"

"Shut your filthy mouth!! Ngh… Straw Hat Boy!!"

Before they knew it, the square was packed with the Beasts Pirates’ Headliners, Gifters, and animal-type Zoan users. Not even Jinbei or Ivankov could easily break through such a force.

"Jiha ha ha ha!! I’m gonna beat the hell out of you for a while…!! If you’ve got a grudge, blame your brother!!!"

"Ugh… dammit… I can’t break out…!!"

Luffy was trapped inside the terrain, sealed away by Shiki’s power.

It looked like torture was about to begin—to force Ace to give in. But someone unexpected put a stop to it.

"Perfume Femur!!!"

"!!!"

"What the…!? That’s… the Pirate Empress!?"

With a single kick, she shattered the pillar of earth restraining Luffy, setting him free. The one who had betrayed the government and joined the Pirate Alliance—one of the Seven Warlords, Boa Hancock.

"Guh…!! Huff… huff… Thank you…!! Hancock!!"

"…The hell? I thought you were on our side. Why’re you getting in my way?"

"……!! Silence…!! It’s true I betrayed the government… but I never swore allegiance to you!! I owe you no explanation for my actions!!!"

"…Hmph. Fair enough… but if you're going to get in my way, I’ve got no problem killing you right here!!"

"…!!"

"You…!"

Shiki was clearly enraged by Hancock, who insisted she wasn’t under his command and had chosen to save Luffy on her own. His killing intent turned toward her.

Naturally, the others had noticed Hancock’s open defiance of Shiki.

"Kaido-sama!! The Empress is interfering with Shiki!!"

"…Leave her. We’ll deal with her later. Focus on finishing off the Navy and Whitebeard’s crew first!!!"

"Yes!!"

"Ma-ma-ma~ ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Finally, their numbers are thinning out, huh!? The Navy…!!"

At the center of Oris Plaza, directly in front of the execution platform, the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, "Kaido of the Beasts," and the Captain of the Big Mom Pirates, Charlotte Linlin, were locked in a battle so overwhelming it barely seemed of this world—facing off against the Navy’s main force and the Whitebeard Pirates' elite.

"I won’t let you tarnish the justice and order of this world…!! Not while I still draw breath…!!!"

"Hah… hah… Evil must be eradicated!!!"

"Stay back, my sons…!!!"

Vice Admiral and Navy hero "Garp the Fist" stood alongside Admiral "Akainu," and the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate—all three giants gathered in one place, fighting side by side.

"WRAAAAHHH!!!"

"!!"

Whitebeard imbued his bisento with the power of the Quake-Quake Fruit and swung it with full force. The resulting shockwave shook the battlefield, blasting back the forces of both the Beasts and Big Mom Pirates—and even rattling their two emperors.

"Whitebeard…!! You were a fine man… but you’re half-dead now, aren’t you!? Time I put you out of your misery!!!"

"You think trash like you can take me down…!!!"

"You said it!! Then let’s see you take this!!!"

Big Mom moved. Leaping over Whitebeard’s shockwave, she imbued her sword Napoleon with Prometheus’ flame and raised it high.

"Emperor Blade Cognac… Hahaba Slash!!!"

"Tch…!! Guh…!! RAAAAHHH!!!"

Whitebeard barely managed to block it, but the result was a massive explosion of force and destruction that scattered in all directions.

The thunderous sound and shockwaves pierced the sky—anyone, no matter where they stood on the battlefield, could see it. And yet, it didn’t harm the Whitebeard Pirates. That was only because Whitebeard himself was shielding them.

But he couldn’t spare much more attention to protect others. Even if he could hold one monster back, others remained.

"Big Mom…!! You’re showing your back…!!!"

『Mama!! An admiral’s coming from behind!!』

Akainu—real name Sakazuki—was targeting Big Mom from behind. Her homie Zeus screamed out a warning.

But the sneak attack wouldn’t land. They couldn’t afford to focus solely on Big Mom either.

"You think you can ignore me, Akainu…!? I’m sick of your face… your end is here!!!"

"!!"

Kaido, drenched in blood but radiating with Haki and murderous intent, lunged at Sakazuki. The admiral’s face went pale. He was near his limit. If he took that blow unguarded, he wouldn't be getting back up.

He raised a magma-cloaked fist, trying to brace himself—but he didn’t know if he could withstand it. And then—

"—Match me!! Sakazuki!!"

"!"

Garp was there. The hero of the Navy shouted as he moved in, and together, their Haki-infused fists met Kaido’s kanabo head-on.

"Thunder Bagua!!!"

"!!!"

Kaido’s deadly signature attack crashed into their fists—and stopped. Once again, the battlefield exploded with destruction and a deafening roar.

"Kaido-san’s Thunder Bagua was stopped!!?"

"No way!?"

Even the Beasts Pirates couldn’t believe it. They knew only one man who could stand up to Thunder Bagua like that.

But it wouldn’t last. The clash barely held. Kaido glared down at the two men with feral eyes.

"Garp…!! Isn’t it time you bowed out…? I’ll settle all my old debts right here…!!!"

"…!!"

Garp realized it was bad. In the next instant, Kaido’s bulging muscles surged with power.

"WRAAAAHHHH!!!"

"!!!"

"Vice Admiral Garp!! Admiral Sakazuki!!"

With a roar, Kaido unleashed even greater force, blasting Garp and Sakazuki away. They crashed into the wall near the execution platform, destroying it completely.

Ten years ago, twenty years ago… thirty-six years ago, even—maybe things would’ve been different. But now, in terms of raw physical power, there was no one in the Navy or the world who could match Kaido. He proved that as he rampaged across the battlefield.

"Whitebeard…!!! Sorry to butt in, but you’re as good as dead too!!! Consider this a mercy… I’ll finish you off myself!!!"

"Tch…!!"

Kaido turned away from the Navy and toward Whitebeard, aiming his kanabo at the old man still locked in battle with Big Mom. Even Whitebeard flinched—he felt it. The end was near. Is this… as far as I go…?

Even among the Four Emperors, an aging beast couldn’t hold back two others at once.

"Look out, Pops!!"

"Muhaha!! Hey now, where do you think you’re going!? Let’s enjoy this execution together!!"

"Might be a bit uncouth… but if we can crush them here, we will."

"Give it up!! We’ll send every last one of you to the afterlife!!"

"……!!"

The commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, including Jozu, were blocked by the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates—Queen among them—and the Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates, like Smoothie and Cracker.

It was over. No one was left to guard Whitebeard’s back.

“—Die!!! Whitebeard!!!”

“Oyajiiiiiiii!!!”

Kaido’s kanabo swung toward Whitebeard’s exposed back. The voices of the Whitebeard Pirates trembled with helpless rage.

—But then, it happened.

“…! Kaido!! Behind you!!”

“! —!!?”

From a distance, the Beasts Pirates’ Vice Governor, the “Demonic Beast Nue,” sensed something and shouted Kaido’s name. Kaido, recognizing her sibling’s voice, moved to stop his strike—but he was too late.

“Kaido-san!!”

“Aaah… Guess I didn’t quite make it in time… Well, I doubt that did much to you, but I wasn’t expecting to get interrupted there…!!”

One of the Beasts Pirates called out in shock as Kaido was struck and sent flying. Nue, the one who had warned him, wasn’t worried. She simply shrugged, mildly exasperated by the surprise attack. Then she turned and glared at the assailant with a thin smile.

“Eh…!! Why…!!?”

“What’s the meaning of this…!?”

The Whitebeard Pirates—and even the Marines—were stunned by who had done it.

Why had he done that? No one could make sense of it in that moment.

But everyone recognized the man instantly. His form had transformed, now equal in size to Kaido himself. A legendary Marine who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Garp—the man who had once commanded the entire Navy.

“Fleet Admiral Sengoku… protected Whitebeard’s back……!!?”

“Ehhhhhhhhh!!?”

“Sengoku…!!”

Fleet Admiral Sengoku—“Buddha Sengoku.” Everyone was shocked at his move. Some were so stunned their eyes practically popped out of their heads.

“…………”

In the midst of it all, Sengoku remained silent. Like the Buddha his title invoked, his face was stern, unreadable.

“Hey…!! The execution platform is unguarded…!!”

“Isn’t this our chance…!?”

“…!! Fleet Admiral Sengoku!! What about guarding the platform…!?”

Then came the second shock.

He had left the platform unprotected—leaving “Fire Fist Ace,” the condemned man meant to be executed publicly, completely exposed. When asked what would become of the platform’s defenses—

“…Unnecessary.”

“Huh…?”

“All forces… focus only on the threat in front of us!!!”

—That was his command.

A simple order for a fleet admiral—to engage the pirates head-on.

But Sengoku’s actions spoke louder: he had no intention of attacking Whitebeard’s exposed back. Instead, he showed his willingness to fight Kaido and Big Mom.

“No way…”

“That can’t be…”

No one could quite grasp the meaning behind those few words and actions. Many Marines were left confused. As a fleet admiral, his behavior was unthinkable—creating doubt among his troops, fear among civilians.

But—he had to do it.

As the man leading the Navy, Sengoku could not give that order outright.

So instead, he conveyed his true intent through unspoken signals and subtle action.

—Don’t fight the “evil” before you… fight the threat.

“…I see.”

“…!!”

“Well… given the situation, there’s no helping it, huh…!!”

“Yeah… guess we don’t have a choice…”

The first to understand was Garp. Then followed the three admirals.

Gradually, Sengoku’s silent intent began to spread among the Marines.

Many accepted it with bitter resolve. They were Marines—joining hands was not so simple.

But no one voiced objection. And it was another’s words that ultimately pushed them forward.

“—Oi, bastards!!!”

“!”

Not only the Marines had caught on.

One of the legendary pirates of Sengoku’s generation—who had fought countless battles across the sea—had also understood. And unlike Sengoku, he shouted it aloud.

“Secure Ace’s escape route first!!! Take out the ones tightening the net!!!”

“Oyaji…!!”

“That order…!!”

The Whitebeard Pirates wavered, all realizing the same thing. That command—it was practically telling them not to attack the Marines.

“…‘Phoenix’ Marco… you're going along with this?”

“…Yeah. If it’s the Captain’s order, then of course. You guys feel the same, right?”

“Yeah… if it’s from the Fleet Admiral, guess there’s no choice… We’ve gotta deal with the… threat in front of us first…!!”

“! Don’t tell me you guys…!!”

“…! Looks like we really are doing that…”

First Division Commander Marco and Marine Admiral Aokiji—two warriors who had been struggling against the overwhelming enemy force—said it almost like an excuse, then turned to face their “true” opponents. King narrowed his eyes. Katakuri used Observation Haki to peek into the future… and didn’t like what he saw.

Seconds later, they charged at the shared “threat.”

To somehow claw their way through this despair—to survive and see another tomorrow—

『UOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!』

“!!? You’ve gotta be kidding…!!”

“The Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates—they’re clearly… they’ve stopped fighting each other…!!”

“Now this is interesting… Ahaha♡ I wasn’t expecting that at all! Things just got real fun!!”

Among the Beasts Pirates, Big Mom Pirates, and Golden Lion Pirates, a ripple of unease spread. Nue, watching with amusement, made no effort to hide her glee.

“The Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy… have joined forces~~~~~!!!”

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!”

—Pirates and Marines. Two forces that were never meant to unite.

And yet, in the face of a shared threat—a danger to the entire world—they had formed an unprecedented alliance.