The Sabaody Archipelago was still as beautiful and dreamlike as it had been when Annie, Luffy, and the others first came here.
At that moment, the sea breeze blew countless colorful resin bubbles out through gaps in the grass. One by one, they floated into the air, hovering overhead or drifting slowly above the treetops.
But the people in Area 60 had no time to pay attention to the bubbles. They stared intently at the several screens broadcasting the battle at Marineford.
That was right. Most of the refugees who had been evacuated from Marineford to the Sabaody Archipelago were watching the war of the century, broadcast through the Den Den Mushi. Fortunately, after the great tsunami, only one of the screens had gone black. The other Den Den Mushi were still working, so they—and people all over the world—could still see the battle clearly.
"Th-this is..."
"Terrifying!"
"Is that the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Yeah!"
"Things are getting bad."
"Uh..."
"Bad doesn't begin to cover it. This looks like the end of the world. Those were a hundred thousand elite Marines, and now it looks like only a few thousand are left."
"..."
"This is bad. The brat hasn't even officially joined the battle, and the Marines are already struggling this much. Do they really still have a chance?"
"Hah!"
"At this rate, the Whitebeard commanders alone could beat the Marines without the brat even lifting a finger!"
"You!"
"That's nonsense!"
"Look, the Three Admirals are still there, and plenty of officers and Champions are hurrying over. They'll be fine!"
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"Fine, then!"
"Let's wait and see!"
"Enough."
"Stop arguing. No matter what happens, this world..."
"Is about to be finished!"
"!!"
"W-why?!"
"Why?"
"Heh-heh!"
"Nearly all of the hundred thousand elite Marines and their high-ranking