(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
(13 chapters of the new book are already released in p.atreon)
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Kizaru merely turned his head and looked away, showing no intention of stopping Marco from leaving.
"Don't get distracted! Your opponent is me!"
Sanji launched a flurry of kicks, creating powerful gusts of wind. Kizaru's eyes flashed as he casually condensed a golden longsword, blocking the attacks with ease.
"What a scary guy. It seems I need to take you more seriously."
Despite his words, his swordsmanship remained lax, as if he were conserving energy.
Sanji's relentless assault came in waves, the wind beneath his feet giving him an edge.
It seemed like he had the upper hand, but in reality, his speed was still far behind Kizaru's.
If the admiral truly wished, Sanji wouldn't be able to stop him from chasing Marco.
Fortunately, Kizaru found Sanji to be an amusing distraction and decided to entertain himself with the fight.
Meanwhile, the battle between Fujitora and Zoro was far more intense.
With the aid of his Devil Fruit, Fujitora's swordsmanship had reached the level of a true great swordsman.
Spinning at high speed, Zoro unleashed a flurry of slashes, forming a massive net of blades that crashed down.
Through his keen Observation Haki, Fujitora pinpointed the weakest point in the attack. A purple glow radiated from his blade.
Boom!
A powerful explosion shook the battlefield, sending shockwaves that knocked back several nearby Marines.
Clang!
As the smoke cleared, the two swordsmen stood firm.
Fujitora's cane-sword pressed down hard, while Zoro held his ground with both blades, arms trembling slightly from the sheer force.
"You've improved a lot," Fujitora said sincerely.
Zoro's strength had transformed since their encounter in Dressrosa.
He was no longer just strong—he was a monster.
Hearing the compliment, Zoro grinned.
"This time, we're not running away!"
It was his declaration to erase the shame of their past retreat.
****
"Marco! Ace's brother, go!"
Diamond Jozu, locked in battle with Aokiji, saw Luffy and Marco nearing the execution platform.
His frozen body trembled with excitement as he surged forward once more.
At this moment, everyone's focus shifted from their immediate opponents to the two figures approaching Ace.
"It has to succeed!"
The Whitebeard Pirates clenched their fists in hope.
"The felt admiral will stop them!"
The Marines placed their faith in their leader.
"They're coming!"
Sengoku's eyes sharpened. He glanced briefly at Garp, who remained still with his head lowered.
Marco spotted the two figures atop the execution platform—Sengoku and Garp.
His eyes flickered before he shouted to Luffy below:
"Hey! Ace's little brother! Leave Sengoku to me, you go save Ace!"
"Got it!" Luffy responded without hesitation. He kicked off the ground with force and soared toward the platform.
"Ace, I'm here to save you!"
"Don't even think about it!"
Sengoku roared.
His body expanded as a dazzling golden light burst forth, illuminating the battlefield like a divine beacon.
A devastating air cannon shot from Sengoku's palm, aimed directly at the charging Luffy.
At the last moment, Marco accelerated, throwing himself between them.
He took the full brunt of the attack.
Boom!
Marco was injured badly, as he was blasted away. Even with his Phoenix fruit's regeneration, the impact was too severe to heal instantly.
But that act was enough—Luffy had dodged the attack and was now inches away from Ace.
And then—
Garp moved.
Luffy's vision blurred.
Before he could react, a familiar iron fist loomed before him.
With wide, fearful eyes, Luffy could only watch as the fist came crashing down.
Boom!
Like Marco before him, Luffy was sent flying.
"Luffy! Marco!" Ace's voice trembled as he screamed.
Sengoku, who had feared the situation was spiraling out of control, was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected Garp to act at such a crucial moment—let alone strike his own grandson.
"Vice Admiral Garp! He made a move!"
"As expected of a Marine hero!"
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
The Marines erupted in cheers.
There were instances through history where one man could change the course of an entire war… and Garp was that man.
His presence alone shifted the battlefield.
****
"Agh! That hurts!"
Luffy tumbled across the ground, clutching his aching head.
Even after becoming so much stronger, his grandfather's punches still hurt like hell!
"SENGOKU! GARP!"
A thunderous roar shook Marineford.
Seeing Marco all bloody and flung aside, Whitebeard's fury erupted.
Boom!
With a mighty leap, Whitebeard finally left the Moby Dick, landing with a powerful thud on Marineford's pier.
A towering Vice Admiral abandoned his own fight and swung his massive sword—easily tens of meters long—down at Whitebeard like a falling mountain.
"Get out of my way!"
With a fierce glare, Whitebeard swung Murakumogiri, sending the Vice Admiral soaring through the air.
Without hesitation, he marched toward the execution platform.
"Garp, I leave this to you."
Sengoku's voice was firm.
Soldiers fought soldiers.
Generals fought generals.
Kings fought kings.
Now that Whitebeard had entered the fray, it was time for him to act.
Garp had already made his stance clear.
With no more hesitation, Sengoku shed his Marine cloak and leaped down from the platform.
"As long as I'm here, no one will pass," Garp murmured.
Watching the developments, Aokiji and Kizaru—who had been holding back—exchanged glances.
'Had they taken things too lightly?'
Aokiji's gaze turned serious for the first time as he faced Diamond Jozu once again.
A wave of icy air surged forward and enveloped him instantly.
The moment it touched Jozu, the Diamond man was encased in shimmering frost.
Diamonds and ice—two unbreakable forces—glittered beneath the sun.
With a single move, Aokiji neutralized an opponent who had held his ground until now.
Kizaru followed suit.
His previously lax swordplay transformed into a relentless assault.
The sudden shift in rhythm caught Sanji off guard.
A bright light flared from Kizaru's foot.
Sanji barely had time to react.
He instinctively raised his arms in defense.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted.
Like a cannonball, Sanji was blasted into the sea.
In an instant, the tides of battle had turned.