Seeing that more than ten Pacifistas had been destroyed, Sentomaru quickly realized that relying on their strength to stop the retreating pirates was no different from a mantis trying to block a carriage. Without hesitation, he ordered a retreat with the remaining units to avoid further losses. After all, each Pacifista cost 200 million Berries, comparable to a large warship.
"Rumble, rumble…"
Once the pirates withdrew, the Marines reclaid several coastal defense cannons that had survived the destruction. The massive 800mm guns roared, unleashing the Marines' pent-up fury.
Aether turned and looked toward Sengoku and the Marine forces in the distance. The battle had reached its end. Whitebeard had already t his final mont. It was ti to leave Marineford. If he delayed any longer, the Marines would shift their full attention to him, the man they now saw as the Pirate King, Roger.
A massive crack stretched across the battlefield, nearly a hundred ters wide, with rubble constantly falling from its edges. Despite the danger, Marines began preparing to cross through the narrowest sections.
Elsewhere, Marine forces rushed toward the auxiliary port. Whitebeard's final attack had devastated the nearby waters, destroying many warships. The Marines had no choice but to activate their reserve fleet stationed on the island's flank. Leading the effort was Admiral Aokiji.
Garp suddenly rose to his feet, his gaze locking onto Aether's retreating figure. As expected, the Marine Hero would not remain idle.
Sengoku stayed where he was. With Garp and Kizaru in motion, there was no need for him to act personally. As Fleet Admiral, his role was to command the battlefield unless absolutely necessary.
With no obstacles in their way, large numbers of Marines surged forward in pursuit. Garp led from the front, while the sky shimred with Kizaru's light.
Noticing that several Whitebeard Pirate ships had yet to depart, Aether spoke to Marco.
"Marco, go ahead. Get everyone ready to leave imdiately. I can't hold them off for long."
"I'll leave it to you, Aether."
Aether showed no concern for his own safety. Even in the worst-case scenario, he still had the Paw-Paw Fruit ability as a final escape option.
Drawing his blade, he pointed it directly at Garp. With no allies left in his way, his Conqueror's Haki erupted at full strength, sweeping across the battlefield like a violent storm.
In an instant, every Marine present was engulfed by the overwhelming pressure.
Even among the elite, the sheer force of Aether's Conqueror's Haki made breathing difficult. Marines below the rank of Vice Admiral collapsed one after another. So Vice Admirals who were already at their limits also lost consciousness.
The battlefield fell silent under the crushing force.
Suddenly, a beam of light shot forward from the Marine side. Kizaru had made his move.
"Roger, I can't let you leave so easily."
Aether was ready. His blade, Ace, had already gathered montum. He swung it without hesitation, sending a dark red slash forward. Before Kizaru could react, the attack blasted him backward into the Marine ranks, knocking aside several unlucky soldiers.
Even with his Logia ability, Kizaru appeared slightly disheveled this ti.
At the center of the battlefield, Sengoku continued issuing orders while coordinating aid for the wounded. Each incoming report worsened his expression, anger building despite his usual composure.
"Damn Roger, why did he have to appear now?"
Sengoku rarely allowed emotions to interfere with his judgnt, but this situation pushed him close to his limit. Without Aether's sudden intervention, the Marines would not be in such a frustrating position.
Among the remaining forces, two Admirals had suffered injuries of varying severity. Of the original eleven Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, only seven remained capable of fighting, all of them wounded to different degrees.
Casualties among lower-ranking Marines were even worse, with losses exceeding one-third.
Whitebeard's final rampage had dealt devastating damage. With nothing left to hold back, his Tremor-Tremor Fruit had shaken the battlefield repeatedly, each strike claiming countless lives.
Even if the Whitebeard Pirates had suffered heavier losses overall, the Marines had paid a price that shook their foundation.
The only group largely unaffected was the Seven Warlords of the Sea, who had fought on their own terms. Among them, only Gecko Moria had lost his combat capability, while Bartholow Kuma was temporarily out of control due to a chanical malfunction.
The others, Dracule Mihawk, Donquixote Doflamingo, and Boa Hancock, showed no significant injuries. As long as they avoided direct conflict with top-tier fighters, their safety was never truly threatened.
After regaining control of his emotions, Sengoku shouted toward Garp.
"Garp, don't let Roger escape. If we capture him here, this war will still be a victory for the Marines."
Garp's expression turned serious. Without personal attachnts clouding his judgnt, he understood the consequences. The reappearance of the Pirate King could shatter everything the Marines had built over the past decade.
"Roger, stop right there."
Aether ignored him completely. He was already close to the departing pirate ships.
At that mont, parts of the island began to collapse further. Seawater flooded into the low-lying areas, creating ideal conditions for escape.
As the chase continued, several Marines suddenly pointed toward the half-destroyed Marine Headquarters building.
"What is that thing?"
Everyone turned to look.
A massive shadow blocked out the sunlight. Behind the ruined structure stood a giant, several tis larger than Little Oars Jr., awkwardly trying to hide while peeking at the battlefield, completely unaware that his enormous body made hiding impossible.
Sengoku's pupils shrank as he spoke in a low voice.
"Sanjuan Wolf, the Colossal Battleship, a Level Six prisoner from Impel Down. If he's here, then that ans…"
"Zehahaha! Fleet Admiral Sengoku, it's been a while. I should thank you for taking care of Whitebeard for ."
With that familiar laugh, a group appeared beside Whitebeard's body.
In addition to the original mbers of the Blackbeard Pirates, several new figures stood among them. Escaped prisoners in ragged uniforms, alongside a man dressed in a black Impel Down officer's coat.
"Avalo Pizarro the Corrupt King, Catarina Devon the Crescent Moon Hunter, Vasco Shot the Heavy Drinker, Sanjuan Wolf the Colossal Battleship, Shiryu of the Rain, and Marshall D. Teach."
The sudden arrival of Blackbeard's crew shattered Sengoku's plans once again.
These criminals were monsters in their own right, many of them comparable to the Seven Warlords. Among them stood Shiryu of the Rain, the forr Head Jailer of Impel Down, once regarded as Magellan's equal.
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