The Marines Rekindle Their Resolve

"That man is a threat to the future. He may have no powerful background, but he has already set himself against the World Government. His very existence is evil. And the man beside him is the biological son of Revolutionary Dragon."

"He has ties to both the Pirate King's son and Revolutionary's son, and he carries the will of D. If we let him leave... what will he do to the world?"

Seeing the Marines' morale falter, Sengoku invoked Luffy's background, along with Jiang Lin's ties to Ace and Luffy, to reignite their fighting spirit.

"We cannot let them live! Kill them with everything you've got!"

Marine Soldiers surged out of the Bay against the flow, charging toward Jiang Lin and the others. Their numbers swelled until they surrounded Jiang Lin, Luffy, and the members of the Whitebeard Pirates like a vast sea.

"Trap them there. Don't waste any more time on a mere rookie."

Sengoku gripped his Den Den Mushi and gave the order. He had no intention of wasting more time. He would concentrate his superior numbers and wipe Jiang Lin's group out in one stroke.

"Charge!"

"Charge!"

Both sides roared and clashed head-on across the Ice Sheet in a massive battle.

Marine Vice Admirals led the Marines, while Jiang Lin led the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Take care of the others. Leave Jiang Lin to us."

More than a dozen Marine Vice Admirals, their Justice capes streaming behind them, charged at Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin had already begun to reach the strength of an Admiral. Even attacking together, the Vice Admirals had no confidence they could beat him.

But when Justice had to be upheld, not one of them hesitated.

"Move aside! You're... no match for me!"

Jiang Lin roared. White Light rippled from both his hands, shattering a broad stretch of Ice Sheet around him. Marines and pirates alike plunged into the sea.

"Whoa... I can't move!"

Luffy had rushed too far ahead. When Jiang Lin broke the Ice Sheet, he lost his footing and fell straight into the water.

"So that's your plan!"

Jiang Lin flashed forward and hauled Luffy and the fallen pirates out of the water, then immediately switched Devil Fruit Cards.

Sand-Sand Fruit (Hormone-Hormone Fruit enhancement) loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds.

After unloading the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Jiang Lin loaded the Sand-Sand Fruit.

"Sables of Okama Country!"

A sandstorm infused with Female Hormones appeared on the battlefield. The Marine Soldiers recoiled in terror, retreating several steps.

Plenty of them had seen Jiang Lin use it before. Almost every Marine Soldier caught in that sandstorm had turned into a woman.

"Hee-haw! Jiang Lin, I can't believe you thought of such a brilliant way to use that power. I'm amazed... not! Hahaha!"

Watching Jiang Lin from afar, Ivankov turned purple with envy. But when he turned around, he wore an expression of complete indifference.

"Fall back! Whatever you do, don't get caught in that sandstorm."

Vice Admiral Momonga waved a hand, hurriedly ordering the soldiers around him to keep their distance from Jiang Lin.

But Jiang Lin's sandstorm was fast. It soon caught dozens of unlucky stragglers.

"Oh! War is just the worst!"

Gentle feminine voices rang out. The Marines had lost dozens of fighters and gained dozens of graceful young women.

"If you don't move, I'll turn you into women too!"

Jiang Lin held a small, swirling sandstorm in one hand and glared at the Marine Vice Admirals before him.

"Urgh..."

The Marine Vice Admirals bore a heavy responsibility. Their duty would not allow them to retreat, but none of them wanted to become women.

As chaos swept the battlefield, Ace watched from the Execution Platform as Jiang Lin, the Whitebeard Pirates, and Luffy fought desperately. Guilt and self-reproach filled his face.

"Luffy, why did you come? Why did any of you come? This is my failure! You don't have to get hurt because of me! Stop! Why would you do this for someone like me... You're all idiots. Jiang Lin, Luffy, and Pops too..."

Ace buried his face between his knees. His expression had twisted beyond any recognizable emotion.

"What is it?"

After Ace's brief breakdown, Garp looked at him in surprise as he suddenly raised his head.

"I... can accept whatever future comes. If someone reaches out a hand to me, I'll take it. If a blade comes to punish me, I'll accept that too. I won't lose my head again! I'm sorry I dragged everyone into this!"

Ace looked ahead, his voice firm. The confusion and self-reproach had vanished from his eyes, replaced by the calm of someone who had come to terms with life and death.

"All units, fight independently and fall back slowly!"

Outside the Bay, more and more pirates arrived to reinforce the battle. Under mounting pressure from Jiang Lin, the Marine Soldiers began a slow retreat.

As the pirates pushed forward, every member of the Shichibukai officially entered the fight.

"Kuma! What happened to you all these years?"

In one corner of the battlefield, Ivankov stood before Bartholomew Kuma and demanded an answer. Kuma gave him none. Instead, he attacked without a trace of emotion.

"Kuma, Doflamingo. Are you going to stand in my way too?"

Red Sand filled the air around Jiang Lin. Pink Female Hormones swirled with it around his body, casting a captivating glow.

"Heh heh... I'd love to fight you. But first... you'll have to survive this monster. Hahaha!"

Doflamingo laughed arrogantly, as though he had never considered Jiang Lin worth his attention.

"Kuma?"

Jiang Lin turned toward Bartholomew Kuma's expressionless face. He knew Kuma's consciousness was completely gone. All that remained was a killing machine that obeyed orders.

"Beep! Beep! Beep!... Whoosh!"

Dazzling yellow light gathered in Bartholomew Kuma's mouth. When it reached its peak, he opened his mouth and fired straight at Jiang Lin.

"Whoosh!"

Jiang Lin became a streak of Yellow Lightning and vanished. A violent explosion erupted where he had stood, followed by a dazzling red hemisphere of devastating force.

"Heh. Interesting! Luffy, you all go on. I'll deal with him!"

Jiang Lin emerged from the light with a cold smile. He wanted to send Kuma straight back to the Revolutionary Army Headquarters.

But Jiang Lin had no idea where it was. For now, all he could do was defeat Kuma and find another chance to send him away.

Paw-Paw Fruit loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds.

As the system's voice rang out, Jiang Lin stepped past the others and walked alone to face Bartholomew Kuma.