"Ace, River's fighting Grandpa Garp!"
Still trapped within the Marines' encirclement, Luffy stared at the battlefield where clouds of smoke kept billowing up and shouted to Ace.
"I see him, Luffy!"
Ace's eyes flickered, his expression grim.
This war had too many conflicts, too many problems. His mind was a complete mess.
His uncle had fought Pops, and now he was fighting Grandpa Garp. The complications emerging from this war were too tangled to put into words.
"What's happening over there isn't something you two can do anything about."
"Your main goal right now should be getting out of the Marines' encirclement."
"Fire Fist Ace, don't let Whitebeard and River's efforts go to waste."
Crocodile waved a hand, turning grains of sand into a long blade that drove back a group of charging Marines, and spoke in a low voice.
The purpose of this war was clear enough: to save Fire Fist Ace and destroy Marineford.
By fighting Whitebeard, switching sides before the eyes of the entire world, and unleashing an unprecedented war, River had made his presence impossible to ignore.
His most immediate aim, it could be said, was to give his future endeavors the greatest possible boost in influence.
No one wanted to follow an unknown organization. Whether pirates or the Revolutionary Army, they needed a certain level of fame and standing before people would flock to join them.
And to stand against the World Government-against this entire world-he needed more troops, stronger people, more territory, and greater wealth.
The Paramount War was only the beginning. Harder challenges still lay ahead.
"Damn it!"
"What will it take for this war to end?"
Ace roared through clenched teeth.
Ever since the fighting began, casualties among both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marines had been climbing at a frightening pace.