On the icy plains at dawn, the battle continues.
As dawn broke in the east, the first rays of sunlight shone from below the horizon onto the ice field.
The white ice surface was tinged with a pale gold, and the water vapor refracted a thin halo under the sunlight.
No one stopped to appreciate it.
Garp punched Linlin away, and Linlin's Napoleon slashed back, leaving a white mark on Garp's arm.
The two of them took a few steps back at the same time, caught their breath, and then charged forward again.
Zephyr's right arm hung limply at his side, completely unable to be raised.
But his left hand was still barely gathering Armament Haki, and he would occasionally throw a punch to help Garp block attacks from the side.
Akainu's Magma Fist was much thinner than before the battle, but it still managed to create a large crater when it hit the ice.
Aokiji's ice spikes weren't as dense as before, but there were still quite a few of them, enough to distract the pirates.
Kizaru did not attempt another surprise attack.
He stayed obediently within the formation, occasionally firing a few beams, specifically targeting the weakest points in the pirates' positions.
His beam was still ridiculously fast. Although Roy could predict it with his Observation Haki, he had to expend mental energy to block it each time.
Both sides were exhausted.
But no one stopped.
Garp stared at the distant sky, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
He could sense it.
The aura was getting closer and closer.
Bullet.
The man who became many times stronger on Hachinosu than he was on Roger's ship.
And then there's Dracule Mihawk, Crocodile, Kuma... almost all of the core members of Hachinosu were mobilized.
"How much longer can we hold out?" Zephyr asked in a low voice.
Garp did not answer.
His expression said it all.
If reinforcements from Hachinosu arrive, given the current state of the five Navy personnel, they'd be lucky to escape unscathed, let alone destroy Pluton.
The moment this thought popped into Garp's head—
A clap of thunder echoed in the distance.
This was not ordinary thunder. Ordinary thunder comes from the sky and has a deep, heavy sound.
The thunder roared from the clouds, carrying a metallic quality, like someone striking a giant bronze bell in the sky.
And the thunder continued.
Rumble rumble rumble--
It didn't just start once, but kept ringing, like Thundercloud rolling in the sky.
Garp's expression changed abruptly.
That wasn't lightning from nature.
It's the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Tesoro.
The next instant, a golden spaceship burst forth from the clouds.
Ark Maxim.
The golden hull gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight, and the dark gold patterns on it reflected a brilliant light in the morning glow.
The dragon head statue on the bow emerges from the clouds, its mouth wide open, as if silently roaring at the battlefield.
The ship swooped down from the clouds, leaving a long golden trail in the sky.
Seven figures lined up on the deck.
Bullet stood at the front, his short, purplish-gray hair standing on end in the fierce winds high above.
Black and white tiger stripes were faintly emerging on his skin, and explosive power was already gathering within him, ready to be unleashed.
The power of the White Tiger Fruit surged through his veins, just waiting to be unleashed.
Hawk Eyes stood to his right, with Black Blade Yoru slung behind his back, the brim of his white fur hat fluttering slightly in the wind.
Those hawk-like golden eyes were scanning the battlefield below, searching for prey.
Crocodile stood next to Hawkeye, a cigar dangling from his Hawk Eyes.
The power of the Sand-Sand Fruit flowed around him, and his right hand had transformed into a sand blade, with a thin layer of Armament Haki wrapped around it.
Kuma stood silently behind Crocodile, air cannons already gathering in his paws.
His expression remained calm as always, but beneath that calm lay a terrifying power that could erupt at any moment.
Kyros held the sword in one hand, the blade gleaming coldly in the morning light.
His posture was relaxed, but any experienced soldier could tell that this relaxation itself was a form of combat readiness.
Moria stood next to Kyros, a signature smile on his lips.
His shadow had already stretched long on the deck beneath his feet, ready to transform into a swarm of bats and fly out to attack at any moment.
Lucci stood at the very back, arms crossed, the muscles beneath his leopard-print skin bulging slightly.
Although his human-beast form was not fully revealed, Flame Clouds were already faintly visible around him.
Seven auras erupted simultaneously.
The entire ice field trembled, making a creaking sound, and cracks spread from the shore all the way to the edge of the battlefield.
Everyone in the battle felt it.
The oppressive aura descending from the sky caused everyone's Observation Haki to frantically activate.
Garp's fist paused for a moment.
Zephyr raised his head.
The Three Admirals simultaneously stopped what they were doing.
The Golden Lion looked up at the golden spaceship, its expression shifting from surprise to complexity.
Linlin tightened her grip on Napoleon's hand, and Prometheus's flames suddenly flared up.
Kaido his head back and laughed loudly, "Hehehehe! It's finally here!"
Bullet jumped off the bow of the ship.
His landing was anything but elegant—he just crashed down.
His feet touched the ice, and the ice exploded outwards from him, sending shards of ice flying hundreds of meters away.
The cracks spread wildly outwards from the point of impact, with the furthest cracks reaching the other side of the battlefield.
As the smoke and ice shards dissipated, Bullet emerged from the haze.
Its entire body was covered in black and white tiger stripes, and its size was more than twice its usual size. Fangs peeked out from the corners of its mouth, and its amber vertical pupils were filled with a savage fighting spirit.
White Tiger Fruit - Awakening Form.
Bullet slammed his hand down, shattering a large patch of ice beside him; shards of ice flew everywhere, and the sound exploded.
"Who dares to steal my Pluton!"
The sound echoed several times over the ice field, making everyone's eardrums buzz.
The other people from Hachinosu also jumped off the Ark Zhenyin and landed on the ice.
Hawk Eyes drew his Black Blade Yoru; the sound of the blade leaving its sheath was crisp and long.
Golden eyes swept across the battlefield, finally locking onto Aokiji.
Aokiji felt that gaze and his body tensed up involuntarily.
Crocodile's right hand transformed into a sand blade, while wisps of smoke curled from the cigar dangling from his lips.
He walked up to Hawk Eyes without looking at anyone, but the oppressive aura made the surrounding air feel sweltering.
The Kuma landed silently, its paw-mounted air cannon already fully charged with energy.
His gaze swept across the battlefield, finally settling on Akainu.
Akainu sensed that gaze, and his magma-transformed arm suddenly throbbed.
Kyros, sword in one hand, moved swiftly like the wind, landing at the edge of the battlefield.
Instead of rushing forward, he was looking for the best entry point.
Moria's shadow bats flew out from his shadow and scattered across the ice field.
His laughter was sharp and eerie.
"Hehehehe--It's been a long time since we've had such a lively battle!"
Lucci transformed into his beast form, his muscles bulging beneath his leopard-print skin, and Flame Clouds swirling around him.
His Five Finger Armband were already gathering power, and the starting stance for the Six Powers was already in place.
Seven people.
Seven top-tier combatants at their peak.
Meanwhile, the five marines on the other side had been fighting for a day and a night, and their stamina was mostly exhausted. Zephyr had even lost an arm.
The balance of power has been completely reversed.