"We can't let the Marines get anywhere near the warships! Ace and his brother are still fighting Aokiji. We can't fall behind!"
More and more pirates leaped down from the warships and charged at the Marines who had crossed the fissure in the square to reach them.
Their apparent victory had whipped the Marines into an even greater frenzy. Though comrades kept falling around them, they still charged into the enemy ranks with weapons in hand, like machines that knew only slaughter.
Of course, not all the Marines were like that. Some, like Tashigi and Smoker, remained calm, watching the people fighting across the battlefield with cool eyes. Then there were those like Koby...
"Hey, Koby! What's wrong?"
Helmeppo, who had left the East Blue with Koby to join the Marines, shouted worriedly at him after he suddenly stopped in the middle of their charge.
Koby stood trembling in place, clutching his head with both hands. He panted heavily and cried out.
"Hah... hah... I don't know... it hurts so much!"
"Hurts?"
Helmeppo questioned him in confusion, but just then, Koby cried out in pain again...
"Aaagh!"
"The voices in my head... they're disappearing, one after another!"
"What?"
"Fire Fist Ace... Priest Jig... and all the pirates behind you, including your master. None of you will leave Mary Geoise alive today!"
Standing in the path the pirates' retreating warships and pirate ships would have to take, Aokiji spoke in a low voice. The only Marine admiral still capable of fighting had been driven into a genuine fury by Ace and Jig's joint assault.
The look he gave Ace and Jig was even colder than the icy breath spilling from his mouth.
At Aokiji's words, however, the corners of Ace's and Jig's mouths lifted into excited grins, and they shouted back