And that was undoubtedly something Whitebeard did not want to face. Even if a decisive battle was inevitable, it should come only after he reached Ace and had a chance to save him.
He swept his gaze around and spotted Red-Haired standing nearby.
Benn Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the others had all joined the battle. The Red Hair Pirates truly were an elite crew of exceptionally powerful individuals. They relieved much of the pressure on Whitebeard's side, holding off many formidable opponents.
"With just one more push, we can break through that gate ahead!"
"We need to find an opening!"
Red-Haired's voice reached him.
Whitebeard nodded. "We'll have to rely on my boys."
"We can't leave it all to them!"
Red-Haired spoke gravely.
"Xia Le has his eye on you. And we can be sure Sengoku and Garp won't move recklessly and leave the Execution Platform!"
"So on our side, I'm still free to act!"
At those words, Whitebeard's eyes shifted slightly as he looked at him.
"I'm going to give Little Oars Jr. a hand and completely destroy this first defensive line blocking our way!"
Shanks smiled, tightening his right hand around the hilt of his Cane Sword.
"Then you'd better be extremely careful!"
"Because they'll use everything they have to stop you from doing it!"
Whitebeard said gravely.
Shanks laughed. "But I've still got you behind me, haven't I?"
"When you see an opening, don't hesitate!"
Hearing those two sentences, Whitebeard laughed as well. "I'm not the sort of man who hesitates!"
Shanks vanished almost instantly.
His terrifying speed made him seem to teleport across the ice, plunging into the crowd in the blink of an eye.
The fighters on both sides felt only a gust of wind sweep past them before they looked up in bewilderment.