Paramount War 23

Shalltear bristled at Marco's words.

But while she snapped back at Marco, her attacks on Aokiji and the other two did not let up in the slightest.

With no regard for magic consumption, just a few seconds were enough to put Aokiji and the others in an even more perilous situation.

On the execution platform.

Watching the state of the battlefield, Sengoku immediately grew anxious.

He picked up a Den Den Mushi and roared, "Why hasn't the Encircling Wall risen yet?!"

"Reporting to the Fleet Admiral, the ice may be too thick. We're a little short on power."

In the engine room, a Marine answered with sweat beading on his forehead.

Sengoku's brows twisted as he roared, "Then use all available power!"

Without waiting for a reply, he hung up the Den Den Mushi. After some deliberation, he ordered Bartholomew Kuma to support Aokiji, then ordered Ace's execution to begin ahead of schedule.

The purpose of ordering Ace's execution was to draw Whitebeard's attention and give the endangered Aokiji a chance to catch his breath.

But even though Aokiji was in dire straits and could collapse at any moment, Sengoku still did not want to abandon the Encircling Walls Plan.

Not only because activating the Encircling Walls Plan offered hope of wiping out the Whitebeard Pirates, but more importantly, because it could drastically reduce Marine casualties—and that number would be at least ten thousand!

Therefore, Akainu, the key executor of the plan, could not go. Garp, who might hold back, could not go. And as the overall commander of this Marine operation, Sengoku himself should not act unless the situation became utterly unavoidable.

He had never imagined there would come a day when the Marines lacked combat power at their own headquarters. If not for Kuma, who had been scientifically