The Marines desperately needed a chance to restore their credibility, and naturally, they would not let this one slip away. By now, Whitebeard's momentous final words no longer factored into their thinking. They had even set aside the deaths of all the Celestial Dragons living in Mary Geoise. Only one thought remained.
Counterattack. A frenzied counterattack. They had to kill every pirate who had come to the Paramount War. Perhaps they thought the pirates amounted to nothing without Whitebeard and Barn, but they had forgotten that two of their own strongest fighters had also fallen in pools of blood.
"Don't let them escape! Keep every last one of them in Mary Geoise!"
"All Marines! Open fire!"
At Sengoku's command from the square, the stunned Marines immediately raised their weapons. They had not forgotten why they had gathered here. Aiming at the fleeing pirates, they pulled their triggers wildly!
"Stop dawdling! Get aboard!"
"Have you forgotten the captain's final order?"
"Damn Marines!"
"Don't get dragged into a fight! Retreat now! Don't let Pops's sacrifice go to waste!"
Meanwhile, under the heavy bombardment from behind, the pirates cursed as they fled, firing back over their shoulders. Their eyes were still red. Whitebeard's death had hit them far too hard...
Elsewhere, Rayleigh had found Golden Lion, who was unconscious but still breathing, and slung him over his shoulder. He approached Barn, his eyes slightly red as he spoke.
"Barn, I'm leaving too. Golden Lion's a tough bastard. He isn't dead yet, so I'll take him back for treatment. Now that Whitebeard's gone too, the few of us old relics left from the last era should find a chance to have a drink."
Holding Hancock, Barn slowly nodded at Rayleigh's words. Looking at the bloodied, unconscious Golden Lion on Rayleigh's back, he gave an