By now, the situation on the battlefield at Marineford had long since veered off its original course.
The Blackbeard Pirates had fled in panic with their dying captain. Whether Teach would survive was still unknown.
The Impel Down escapees led by Crocodile and Buggy the Clown had slipped away amid the chaos as soon as Whitebeard died in battle.
The remaining Whitebeard Pirates had also shielded the shattered Luffy and retreated at full speed without looking back.
In other words, the only ones still standing in Marineford's harbor, facing Marine Headquarters head-on...
Were the Red Hair Pirates, all alone!
They had lost every potential ally and buffer. Alone, they faced the entire main force of the Marines, freshly tempered by blood and fire, their fighting spirit rallied once more by Gern!
"Shanks."
At that moment, Benn Beckman silently stepped forward and leaned toward Shanks's ear, keeping his voice extremely low.
"We can't beat them."
Their opponents were the cream of Marine Headquarters, together with the monstrous "Calamity" fighters serving directly under Gern.
Numbers, top-tier fighters, home-field advantage, morale... they were at an absolute disadvantage in every respect.
If battle broke out, the Red Hair Pirates had only one possible fate... total annihilation.
Hearing Benn Beckman's painfully clearheaded assessment, Shanks clenched his teeth.
How could he fail to see that suffocating disparity in strength?
Especially with Garp standing across from them, freshly bereaved of his grandson and looking for somewhere to vent his grief!
There was no need to guess how this would go!
If he dared say "We'll fight you to the end" now, even so much as one syllable...
He would be dead the very next second. Guaranteed!
At that thought, a bead of cold sweat finally slid uncontrollably down Shanks's forehead.
His grip on Griffon tightened, loosened, then