Magma churned over Akainu's right fist, visibly gathering into the shape of a dog's head.
At that moment, an eerie atmosphere settled over the entire battlefield.
"What... does he mean?"
"Ace did it to save us?"
"He sacrificed his freedom to give us a chance to survive? What does that mean?"
"He made a deal with Xia Le? What exactly has he been doing behind our backs?"
"Ace didn't betray us?"
Sakazuki's string of revelations left the pirates bewildered.
The reversal had come too quickly and was too unbelievable. They no longer even knew whom to trust.
"Ace!!!"
The shout tore through the sky above Marineford.
Luffy watched the scene unfold as he sprinted madly forward.
Garp clenched his fists as well, even throwing off Tsuru, who had been desperately holding him back, and running forward.
Akainu's magma fist was about to fall, and the consequences could not have been clearer.
"Save Ace!!"
Marco roared.
The wings on his back beat, and he instantly soared into the air.
But clearly, none of those rushing toward the center of the battlefield could make it in time.
Suddenly.
"Humm!!"
A savage, domineering aura radiated outward. Black and red spread at tremendous speed, blotting out the entire sky above Marineford in an instant.
That terrifying presence made everyone tremble with fear. For a moment, they even felt as though their bodies and minds had been torn apart, leaving them unable to move an inch.
"Admiral Xia Le!!!"
Buggy shouted.
Everyone abruptly turned to look, and their expressions changed drastically.
Xia Le, who had been unable to move just a second earlier, his body riddled with holes, had somehow appeared behind Sakazuki.
His blood-red eyes held a chilling, icy ferocity, like a demon from hell.
His right fist clenched abruptly, and black-red lightning flashed