On the horizon, countless black dots appeared amid the rolling waves, flickering in and out of sight.
They were unmistakably a fleet of pirate ships flying skull flags. Judging by the emblems on those flags, they belonged to the Whitebeard Pirates, who had fought them not long before.
"It's the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"They're here too!"
"Retreat! Hurry, retreat! Follow Captain Kaido!"
In an instant, the Kaido Pirates erupted into chaos on the shattered ice.
The Whitebeard Pirates' sudden arrival completely crushed their will to keep fighting.
Everyone around the Ark Maxim was stunned. A tense, dangerous battle had ended just like that.
"Did Kaido run away?"
Cavendish asked blankly.
Although Kaido's vast fleet had suffered considerable losses in the battle, what remained was still an impressive sight.
Now, however, they were fleeing in utter panic, their original formation reduced to a complete mess.
"It looks that way."
Reiju put away her weapon and sighed.
She found it utterly unbelievable that the renowned Kaido Pirates, led by one of the Four Emperors, had been driven back at sea by their single ship with barely a dozen people aboard.
At that moment, she also felt grateful that the Vinsmoke Family had made the right choice not long ago.
The facts had proven that River's subordinates were all astonishingly powerful. In particular, the addition of a former Marine Admiral had made this force even more terrifying.
Whoooosh!
The sea breeze swept over them, stirring the loose strands of hair across her forehead. Ichiji, Yonji, and the others had all returned, their eyes filled with the same wonder.
The figure standing on the ice had etched himself into their memories forever.
Admiration for the strong was ingrained in human nature.
And River's strength had reached a point where Yonji and the others revered him