The sun blazed at noon.
Scorching sunlight baked the sea, and rising vapor distorted the air.
A maritime fortress forged from steel and justice lay quietly upon the waters of the Grand Line like a great beast.
A seagull was about to fly over the fortress, only to be startled by the heavy, murderous atmosphere below.
It let out a piercing cry and fled in panic in the opposite direction.
At the front of the fortress stood an enormous crescent-shaped harbor.
On the other side of the harbor stood the magnificent central fortress, surrounded by several enormous hills. Across its facade,
the word "Marines" swept in bold strokes, brimming with unquestionable authority.
This was Marineford, the Marines' ultimate stronghold, whose very name struck terror into pirates throughout the world.
Today, however, Marineford was nothing like its ordinarily peaceful self.
More than fifty enormous warships were packed into the broad waters surrounding the fortress.
Their dark cannon muzzles all faced outward, forming an insurmountable defensive line.
Inside Marineford, more than a hundred thousand elite Marines gathered from across the world held swords and guns, filling the entire crescent-shaped harbor to capacity.
From the outermost warships' gun batteries to the elite formations within, and then to the snipers and artillery on the fortress's high walls,
multiple defensive lines had turned this place into an absolute death trap.
Not even a fly could escape.
There was only one reason Marine Headquarters had deployed such a formidable force.
On the Execution Platform directly in front of Marine Headquarters,
a bare-chested, black-haired man with the Whitebeard Pirates' emblem on his back was held fast by Seastone shackles, unable to move.
Beside him stood Fleet Admiral "Sengoku the Buddha," the man with black-framed glasses and a seagull symbolizing Marine justice perched upon his white military cap.