December 3. Clear skies!
This day was destined to be remembered!
At first light, ranks of elite Marines emerged from their quarters, took up their weapons, and headed for the plaza before the fortress. Along the way, they passed the last of their friends and family being evacuated by other soldiers. They had no words of comfort to offer. All they could do was turn their heads away.
If they could, every one of them wanted to survive. But...
Their opponent was the Whitebeard Pirates!
Their opponent was Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man, a figure who had stood at the pinnacle of the seas since before the Great Pirate Era!
Forget promises like "I'll go home and get married after this battle." As ordinary soldiers, they couldn't know who would live and who would die. They could only obey orders and fight for justice!
As the elite soldiers arrived one after another, the vast plaza, large enough to hold a hundred thousand people, quickly filled to capacity. Yet despite the crowd, hardly a sound could be heard.
Their faces were still as water. Like lambs awaiting dawn in the dark, the bewildered soldiers looked up at the old man in the great cloak.
One man had arrived before them all. He had sat quietly on the high platform since the night before.
That man was the supreme commander of Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Buddha Sengoku!
As though sensing the soldiers' gazes, Sengoku slowly opened his eyes.
At that moment, a ray of golden light pierced the clouds and fell across the vast plaza, making Sengoku on the high platform look like a god!
He took in every expression on the soldiers' faces—their fear, excitement, and anger. Sengoku wasted no words. He raised his fist high and roared.
"Justice will prevail!!!"