The Rocks Pirates Retreat! The Powerless Navy!

"Zephyr... Tsuru!"

In the distance, Sengoku and Garp felt their hearts tighten simultaneously.

Although they were locked in combat with formidable foes, their Observation Haki remained draped over the entire battlefield.

The moment they sensed Zephyr taking a heavy blow and Tsuru being struck down, a fury nearly burned through their chests.

Garp suppressed the rage threatening to erupt from his heart, forcing himself to remain calm.

Because the opponent before him was Rocks D. Zebek!

If he were to divide his attention to provide aid, even for a split-second opening, Rocks would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to launch a fierce assault.

At that point, not only would he fail to save Tsuru and Zephyr, but he himself could be severely wounded or even killed!

Sengoku was in the same predicament.

Whitebeard's Tremor Power seemed to have climbed even higher during their recent clash; every swing of his blade made space tremble, and every air-quake caused the entire sea to wail.

He was forced to give his all, as the slightest distraction would result in a grievous injury.

"Bastard!"

"Get back, Whitebeard Newgate!"

Sengoku roared, his golden Buddha form erupting with blinding radiance.

He pressed his palms together before his chest, then slowly pulled them apart.

Between his palms, a terrifying energy sphere over ten meters in diameter took shape.

He intended to use this strike to force Whitebeard back, even if only for an instant!

But Whitebeard was not one to be easily intimidated.

"Gurarara... Sengoku, where do you think you're going!"

Whitebeard laughed heroically, clenching his fists before his chest.

Translucent tremors coiled around his arms like a physical substance; his posture sank slightly, his muscles bulging to their limit, and then—

He swung them violently to both sides!

Crack!! Crack!!

The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was unleashed to its fullest at this moment!

White fissures in space spread through the air like lightning—not just one, but dozens, hundreds!

The cracks spread from both sides of Whitebeard simultaneously, like two invisible giant hands closing in from the left and right, intending to trap Sengoku completely.

"Damn it!" Sengoku cursed.

The air tremors on both sides had formed a perfect pincer, sealing off all his routes for evasion and rescue.

At this point, even with his heart set on his comrades, Sengoku could not break free.

He could only grit his teeth and push his Buddha form to its absolute limit.

His golden Buddha body expanded to a height of thirty meters, and he thrust his palms forward like two small mountains:

"Great Buddha Shockwave!"

A massive shockwave surged from his palms like a tsunami.

Sengoku's shockwave collided head-on with Whitebeard's tremor wave!

BOOM—!!!

The collision between the two caused the entire space to distort.

The shockwaves of the explosion pushed the seawater away, creating a temporary vacuum zone with a diameter of five hundred meters centered on the two men.

There was no seawater, no air, only pure, chaotic energy rampaging wildly.

"Vice Admiral Zephyr is injured and cannot provide support! Vice Admiral Garp and Vice Admiral Sengoku are also unable to break free!"

"Quick! Go save Vice Admiral Tsuru!"

Within the Marine ranks, several high-ranking officers finally reacted.

They simultaneously utilized Razor to dash forward, catching Tsuru's falling body steadily just as she was about to hit the sea.

"Quick... take Vice Admiral Tsuru to the infirmary!"

Garp and Sengoku, currently locked in fierce combat with Rocks and Whitebeard, felt a slight sense of relief as their Observation Haki confirmed that Tsuru had been caught safely.

"Jehahahaha... Captain, the Heavenly Tribute is secured! We can retreat!" Shiki laughed wildly from high above.

In the distance, the transport ship carrying the Heavenly Tribute had completely lifted off the sea, hovering three hundred meters in the air like a floating fortress.

"Look over there! The transport ship is floating in the sky!"

"It's Commander Shiki! The Heavenly Tribute has been seized!"

The pirates saw the floating treasure ship, stunned for a moment, before erupting into thunderous, deafening cheers.

"Hahaha... did we get it?"

Rocks, who had been suppressing Garp the entire time, let out a thunderous laugh. He feinted with his blade to force Garp back, then took a deep breath, his voice booming like a great bell across the entire battlefield:

"All hands, retreat--!!!"

Now that the Heavenly Tribute was in their possession, their strategic goal had been achieved; there was no need to remain entangled with the Navy.

Continuing the fight would only result in unnecessary casualties, and besides, it was unknown whether Navy reinforcements were already on their way.

To play it safe, withdrawal was the best course of action.

The mission to seize the Heavenly Tribute was complete.

Captain Rocks' voice seemed to possess a magical quality; the pirates ceased their actions the moment they heard the order.

The once frenzied offensive instantly turned into an orderly retreat.

As for the Navy, they could only watch helplessly as the pirates withdrew, their faces ashen.

It could only be said that the Navy high command had underestimated the strength of Rocks and Luo Tian.

If they had known this would happen, Kong would have defied the Celestial Dragons to mobilize the three current Admirals, taking this opportunity to wipe out the Rocks Pirates in one fell swoop.

After all, one of the duties of an Admiral was to protect the safety of the Celestial Dragons.

"Damn it..."

A Navy Rear Admiral gripped his sword hilt, his eyes bloodshot.

"Are we... are we just going to watch them leave?"

No one answered.

Because everyone knew that chasing after them was pointless.

The transport ship in the sky was ascending, soon to break through the cloud layer.

The fleet of the Rocks Pirates on the sea surface was gathering, preparing to retreat.

And on the Navy side...

All their high-end combat power was tied up, and for ordinary soldiers to give chase would simply be throwing their lives away.

On the other side, the roaring sounds from the clash between Whitebeard and Sengoku had also gradually subsided.

Whitebeard stood with his Murakumogiri held before him, his chest heaving slightly.

Even for him, the fierce battle with Sengoku had been quite draining.

Upon hearing Rocks' command, Whitebeard looked at the golden Buddha statue opposite him and laughed boisterously:

"Gurarara... Sengoku, it seems the outcome of this war is decided. Do you still want to continue?"

Sengoku's face was grim. He slowly retracted his Buddha form, not answering immediately, but instead looking up toward the high sky in the distance, then toward the sea.

The Rocks Pirates were retreating.

Finally, he looked at his own camp:

Zephyr stood on the deck, covered in blood and gasping for air; Tsuru had been sent to the infirmary, severely wounded and unconscious; Garp had been suppressed by Rocks the entire time; and the soldiers' faces were etched with exhaustion and humiliation...

Sengoku struggled violently in his heart.

Continue the fight?

It was meaningless.

The Heavenly Tribute was lost, and their overall strength was no match for the Rocks Pirates.

Even if they could fight to the death to take down a few Rocks Pirates officers, or even severely wound Whitebeard or Golden Lion.

The cost might be Zephyr's death, Garp's critical injury, and all the soldiers being buried along with them...

And doing so would not change the big picture.

The wrath of the Celestial Dragons would still descend, the accountability of the World Government would still arrive, and the reputation of the Navy would still plummet.

These words rolled in Sengoku's throat, but they felt like a branding iron, too hot to speak aloud.

But he had to say it.

There could be no more senseless sacrifices!

Sengoku spoke, his voice as dry as sandpaper rubbing together:

"Cease pursuit of the Rocks Pirates!"

This sentence struck the hearts of all the Navy personnel like a thousand-pound hammer.

Some young marines couldn't help but redden their eyes—not from fear, but from humiliation.

As members of the Navy, to watch the pirates steal the Heavenly Tribute and then swagger away...

This was more painful than dying in battle.