Countless fragments of shattered islands plummeted.
Mary Geoise inevitably fell into ruin.
The many powerful fighters could not protect everyone, and casualties were naturally heavy.
Shiki's expression was grave. Even without the Marines' support, the World Government still had a terrifying number of top combatants.
They outnumbered those of the Flying Pirates several times over.
In wars fought at the highest level, it was often the top combatants who decided the outcome.
The Flying Pirates had suffered considerable losses in the Golden Sea War, particularly among the high-end combatants, where the fighting had been fiercest.
Many Flying Pirates officers had died on the battlefield.
Against the World Government, the Flying Pirates' own advantage in high-end combatants was negligible.
The disparity was plain to see.
If the Flying Pirates wanted to win, they had to eliminate more of the World Government's top combatants.
Shiki knew he could not give the World Government more time to react.
All along, Shiki and Reinhardt had been planning how to win this war.
They would most likely have only one chance to use the Ancient Weapon, Pluton.
The World Government would not stand by and let the Flying Pirates use it a second time.
This was a trump card they could not play too late. They had to strike before the war broke out, when the World Government's top combatants were most concentrated, and deal it a devastating blow.
If all the World Government's forces were caught in Pluton's bombardment, it could kill at least a few top combatants.
The rest of its forces would undoubtedly suffer grievous damage.
Then the World Government's numerical advantage in combat strength would vanish.
That was the ideal scenario.
Besides that, the Flying Pirates also had one Magnetic Storm Bomb and two dyna stones. For this decisive battle, Byrnndi