News that "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World had attacked a Marine Base spread across the globe almost at once.
Big News Morgans had seen to that.
Everyone guessed that, after lying low for a while following his escape from Impel Down, Byrnndi World was finally ready to take revenge on the Navy and the World Government.
He had moved fast. Barely more than a month had passed since news of Impel Down's fall broke.
No one had expected Byrnndi World to recover so quickly.
Even Golden Lion Shiki had reckoned World would need at least two or three years out of sight.
After all, many members of the Flying Pirates and pirates rescued from Impel Down knew just how bad World's condition had been.
Warned by Marine Headquarters, G-3 Branch had prepared for an attack by the World Pirates.
Every warship on patrol had returned to G-3 Branch.
Along the coast, dozens of marines scanned the sea through binoculars, searching for the World Pirates, who could appear at any moment.
Gunners stood behind every cannon atop the fortress's formidable walls.
Those defenses might be useless against a monster like Byrnndi World, but the marines could only prepare for battle as best they could.
To them, this was a war, even if the enemy was just one man.
They could not retreat in the face of a vicious pirate.
Vice Admiral Garp was already on his way. They only had to hold out until he arrived.
Then even "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World would be driven off, if not captured.
World had been away from the seas for too long. Many knew only his name and his exploits, and time could dull even a fearsome reputation.
More than they feared World, the marines trusted in Vice Admiral Garp's overwhelming strength.
Garp might never