On the screen, Lorne's throat-slitting gesture pierced the deathly silence in the Room of Authority like an invisible blade.
The sword-wielding Elder slammed his palm onto the table, sending spiderweb cracks across its hard surface.
"Enough!"
His voice barely contained his towering fury.
"Shut down all Surveillance Den Den Mushi! Immediately!"
"My lord, as for Morgans..."
The bald Elder interrupted his subordinate's report, his voice hoarse with fear. "Who can worry about Morgans now? Save Mary Geoise's dignity first!"
The long-haired Elder's gaze remained fixed on the blood-soaked figure on the screen. "He is no longer a Marine or a pirate. He has become a third power... a monster who dares to bare his fangs at the World Government."
"We must deploy the Official Knights, and 'that lord'..."
"It's too late." The cane-wielding Elder slowly shook his head, exhaustion filling his eyes. "Marineford is completely out of control. We have lost the opening move."
As the Five Elders descended into chaos, a black-hulled ship with a dragon-headed prow glided like a ghost through the thick fog outside Marineford's shattered Harbor.
Its sail bore a red skull crossed by three claw marks.
The Red Hair Pirates had arrived.
The man at their head wore a black cloak, with the sword Gryphon at his waist. His striking red hair fluttered amid the smoke of battle.
He was one of the Four Emperors, "Red-Haired" Shanks.
He stepped onto the broken ice, each stride carrying him over congealed pools of blood and scattered weapons.
Vice Captain Benn Beckman followed him, having forgotten even to light the cigar in his mouth. His brow knotted as he surveyed the scene.
"This... is Marineford?"
Yasopp held the brim of his hat. Before him lay mountains of corpses-Marines, pirates, and even knights in white uniforms. None had been