The Marines Arrive

Whole Cake Island, the outer seas.

The residents who escaped from the land of Whole Cake Island were filled with lingering fear after witnessing the scene on Whole Cake Island.

"What's wrong with this world? The Four Emperors Four Emperors are constantly clashing with each other. What a terrible Great Pirate Era! What a hateful Pirate King!"

"Sigh, we're lucky to have escaped with our lives. Who knows what the Big Mom Pirates will do to us after this battle is over!"

The people on deck chatted in hushed tones, and the occasional whispers cast a shadow over them.

In this environment where pirates reign supreme and the World Government and the Celestial Dragons work together to oppress people, no one knows where their future lies.

Meanwhile, the lookout at the lead ship turned his binoculars, but his gaze fell on the horizon.

"That is..."

In the blink of an eye, sails came into view, white seagulls, and menacing cannons gleamed in the sunlight with a rugged charm that sent chills down one's spine.

"White seagulls, the navy, it's the navy! The navy has appeared on the territory of Whole Cake Island!"

In an instant, the loud shouts of the lookouts made the innocent residents, who were already trying to escape the battlefield, feel even more desperate as despair drew ever closer.

"No way?! Navy warships? Why are Navy warships in the New World? Do these Navy ships want to start a war with the Whole Cake Island?!"

"Quickly, quickly, lower Big Mom's pirate flag! If you don't, we'll become targets of the Navy!"

"It's... too late..."

The lookout stood frozen in place, while the distant warships simultaneously turned their cannons toward their location.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

One after another, jet-black shells streaked across elegant arcs, plunging the inhabitants of Whole Cake Island aboard the ship into unprecedented panic.

"Why? Why are you attacking us? We're just defenseless civilians!"

"Wasn't the navy established to protect civilians? Aren't the capes on your backs symbolizing justice? Why are you attacking us!"

"Damn you navy, I'll fight you to the death!!!"

Just as they were about to fight to the death, the pirates who had infiltrated the escape ship froze in place, because behind those naval warships, more and more naval fleets were emerging like a flood bursting its banks.

"Ten, twenty... just how many naval warships are there?!"

"Buster Call! This is definitely Buster Call! Which bastard launched this Buster Call? Does this guy want to plunge the world into chaos?!"

In the blink of an eye, a dense rain of black raindrops fell from the sky, blasting more than a dozen refugee boats to pieces.

Upon witnessing the scene in the distance, Kuzan frowned and couldn't help but ask.

"Hey, Sakazuki, you've gone too far. There are innocent civilians on those ships. At least leave them a way to survive."

"They are not citizens of the World Government member states; they are trash under the rule of pirates. Trash does not deserve human rights."

"Moreover, this is during the Buster Call period. The Five Elders have repeatedly emphasized that no changes are allowed in this matter. If you have any objections, go and raise them with the Five Elders!"

Kuzan was speechless after hearing those words. Sakazuki was indeed a Mag-Mag Fruit Ability User; they were simply not compatible.

On a distant warship, a burly man with a full head of purple hair and a sullen face had a lot of dissatisfaction between his brows.

"Sakazuki's actions went too far. They are just a group of innocent civilians. There is no need for such a large-scale bombardment. We only need to capture the pirates inside."

"That's true. Even if they aren't citizens of countries that are members of the World Government, they are still innocent people."

At that moment, many naval officers and soldiers looked at the purple-haired strong man with longing eyes, for his reputation was widely known in the navy.

The "Never-Killing" Admiral, Black Arm Zephyr, has never killed a single pirate since becoming a Marine, and is renowned throughout the seas for his authority and benevolence.

"No, Sakazuki's approach is not wrong. The other party is an extremely difficult opponent. If these people are left to their own devices, it is hard to guarantee that he will not take the opportunity to infiltrate them."

To the surprise of Zephyr and Lady Tsuru, Sengoku actually expressed his support for Sakazuki's actions.

"Uchiha Huayue, this name makes you, a Tactician General, so wary. Is it really that troublesome?"

Crane was somewhat curious. He became famous throughout the world after the battle of God Valley. He was not interested in wealth, fame, or power, yet he was designated by the Five Elders as the world's number one dangerous element.

If he can create such a huge influence all by himself, what if he forms a pirate crew? Wouldn't he be able to shake the entire world?

"Don't underestimate him. Whether it's his strength, intelligence, or the shadows and unknowns shrouding him, he is a formidable opponent. You'll never know how many unknowns are hidden in his shadow."

"Just as people fear the dark, are they truly afraid of the dark itself? No, they fear the unknown hidden within the darkness, and the fear hidden within the unknown..."

"What we need to do now is simply to completely force him out of his fear of the unknown and reveal his true colors."

Having said that, Sengoku stood up and looked around.

One hundred naval warships sailed in a grand procession, with Marine Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, and other skilled warriors gathered together. Numerous Sea Beast Weapon lurking in the deep sea silently followed behind the warships, driving away any Sea King that approached them.

Non-Killing Admiral Zephyr, Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha, and the soon-to-arrive Hero of the Marines Garp, along with nearly 200,000 Marines.

Without a doubt, this was a battle that would gamble the future of the Navy. Even though the battle came out of nowhere, Sengoku had no choice but to obey the orders of the Five Elders.

Although he had a sliver of doubt about this matter, since the other party was a pirate, the Navy, as the representative of justice, had no choice but to eliminate dangerous elements who might bring harm to the world.

"Which of the Seven Warlords of the Sea have arrived?"

"The situation is urgent. Only the Lizard King Hanafza is lingering near the New World, seemingly collecting Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit. Crocodile, Gecko Moria, and other Shichibukai who are far away in the seas are difficult to contact."

The lieutenant general's adjutant whispered the information gathered from various departments, but Sengoku's expression changed drastically as he looked intently at the people being attacked by Sakazuki.

"This... has it already been discovered? Uchiha Huayue!"

As soon as he finished speaking, colorful Utakata slowly rose from the deep sea. The residents of the Whole Cake Island, who had been bombarded by the navy, looked around in bewilderment, marveling at this dreamlike scene.

"The navy actually attacked innocent civilians; thinking about it carefully, it's not such a big deal..."

"So, gentlemen of the Navy, what urgent business do you have with me? If not, please make way."