On the chaotic battlefield, gunpowder smoke mingled with blood, filling every breath everyone took.
Dawn sat calmly in his seat. Though he made no move, no one dared underestimate him.
No one knew where this man's limits lay, or whether he could still fight powerful opponents while maintaining the aura.
Even though he was currently sustaining an aura that enhanced one hundred thousand elite Marines, no one dared look down on him. Such an enhancement alone represented his strength.
But fortunately, they were not without reinforcements. The Straw Hat Kid's group had arrived at just the right time, giving Whitebeard's side a much-needed shot in the arm.
Whitebeard also acknowledged Luffy's spirit and had his sons cover Luffy as he went to rescue Ace.
Hawk Eyes Mihawk had also taken an interest in the Straw Hat Kid, dragging Clown Buggy into it as well. Fortunately, Buggy successfully withdrew from Mihawk's hands thanks to his "Conqueror's Haki luck."
Then the Pacifista army—replicas of Tyrant Kuma—was deployed, beating the pirates back step by step.
However, the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders were no pushovers either. Flower Sword Vista wielded twin blades and repeatedly destroyed several Pacifistas, relieving much of the pressure.
Until Hawk Eyes made his move and ultimately held Flower Sword Vista in check. Though they appeared to be fighting, they were actually sparring. Hawk Eyes was giving the Marines an explanation, while Whitebeard's side paid the price of one commander to restrain Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman.
Meanwhile, after killing Oars, Doflamingo maliciously used his Parasite String to control a Whitebeard Pirates officer and slaughter his subordinates.
As for Hancock and Enel, they were merely going through the motions.
Just as the situation reached a stalemate, Whitebeard was stabbed in the back by Squard, the "Great Maelstrom Spider," just as in