The sudden entry of the Gorosei into the battlefield immediately tipped the balance of power between the two sides.
In terms of numbers, the Gorosei and Kong amounted to only six people, but the combat power they possessed when gathered together could not be measured simply by their numbers.
The New Marines had more top-tier combatants than the World Government, but once battle truly began, it was still unknown which side would hold the advantage.
In a battle of this level, a powerhouse of Shimotsuki Koushirou's caliber could play only a very limited role. Not just him—even powerhouses like Abel and Kuma would likely have a very limited impact on the outcome.
Of course, while powerhouses like Abel and Kuma might not be able to turn the tide of battle, with their strength, holding back one or two members of the Gorosei would not be much of a problem.
But among the New Marines' powerhouses, only Issho and Mihawk were truly capable of fighting shoulder to shoulder with Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Only powerhouses of their level possessed the strength to threaten the lives of the Gorosei.
Starting Island, which floated above the sea, suddenly lost its lift and began plummeting rapidly toward the water below.
Issho withdrew his Devil Fruit ability from the island. Keeping such a massive island suspended in the air consumed an enormous amount of stamina. Now that he was facing the threat of the Gorosei and the others, he also needed to focus on the enemies before him.
"Gorosei, you survived by sheer luck. Why didn't you obediently stay in the Holy Land?"
"Why did you suddenly decide to set your sights on our New Marines? Wouldn't it have been better to maintain our tacit understanding as before and preserve that false peace with dignity?"
"As long