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"Unbeliveable!"
"All Marine orders to—"
"Intercept the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"All Marines in the square, surround and kill Ace! Never let him escape!"
Sengoku issued several commands in quick succession, all focused on executing the escaped Ace at any cost.
"Seven Warlords of the Sea, don't stand idly by! If you refuse to act again, your Shichibukai titles will be revoked immediately!"
Upon the final order, Mihawk, Doflamingo, Gecko Moria, and Bartholomew Kuma immediately took action, blocking the Whitebeard Pirates' path.
Boa Hancock's gaze was icy, remaining unmoved. Facing attacks from both Marines and pirates, she retaliated with petrification, unaffected by either side.
The Shichibukai's intervention only intensified the chaos.
Zheng!
An emerald-green slash swept out like a grim reaper's scythe, claiming the lives of pirates.
Under the black blade of the world's greatest swordsman, ordinary pirates were utterly defenseless.
"That guy…"
Flower Sword Vista took note of the scene, murmuring as he turned to rush toward Mihawk.
He couldn't allow Mihawk to continue the slaughter!
At the same time, there was a surge of determination among others to challenge the strongest swordsman.
Petals scattered, and two crisscrossing slashes erupted.
Mihawk swung his sword, and a green slash followed.
Clang!
Upon impact, the slashes dissipated.
Vista and Mihawk officially clashed.
The chaotic flashes of swords were blinding, and the burst of sharp sword energy caused surrounding Marines and pirates to groan in frustration.
Little Oars Jr.'s advance was finally halted, with Gecko Moria close behind.
For most, Little Oars Jr.'s massive size was a terrifying weapon.
However, Moria, a Shichibukai who once dared to challenge Kaido, still wielded impressive strength, despite his past defeat.
What's more, he had specifically studied Oars' body, identifying that his clumsy movements were a major flaw.
That colossal frame was practically a target!
A laser beam erupted from Bartholomew Kuma's mouth, resembling a weapon of war, ruthlessly bombarding the advancing pirates.
Once again, the Whitebeard Pirates found themselves obstructed.
…
…
Sabaody Archipelago.
Amid the faint sound of popping bubbles, everyone held their breath, staring in disbelief at the massive screen in the square.
After a long pause, someone spoke, voice trembling.
"What happened?"
"Ace… Ace escaped!!"
"This can't be! How could the Marines let Ace go so easily!? What are they doing?!"
"Quick! Big news!"
"Contact the main office to report it—Fire Fist Ace broke free from the seastone shackles and escaped!"
The reporters and photographers in the square were thrown into chaos.
Marine-affiliated families, who had sought refuge, looked on in shock, unable to comprehend such a dramatic twist.
Letting Ace escape like this?
If not for the Marines, how could Ace, a Devil Fruit user, have broken free of the seastone shackles?
In this turn of events, the battle was filled with even more twists and turns.
Could the Marines truly prevail against Whitebeard, who had yet to make a move?
These doubts weighed heavily on everyone's minds.
Marineford Square.
"I'm curious—how did you manage it?"
Akainu, reformed from scattered magma, asked coldly.
Beneath his stoic expression lay a fierce, unmasked killing intent.
If Ace escaped under the gaze of the world, the Marines would become a global laughingstock!
Especially after that humiliating scene.
What a disgrace for the Marines!
How did he pull it off?
Akainu still couldn't grasp the answer.
"Of course, Sengoku didn't have the heart to kill me, so he let me go on purpose. Otherwise? Or did you switch out my shackles with fakes yesterday?" Ace said coldly, toying with his flames, now visible for the first time.
He wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal his secret to Akainu.
If the Marines couldn't understand it, all the better; as long as the truth remained hidden, Ace himself would remain the ultimate mystery.
Akainu frowned, unamused by Ace's response.
"So what? Do you actually believe you can escape?"
His words were laced with threat.
At the same time, Akainu spotted a cluster of golden flames flickering on the magma out of the corner of his eye... he manipulated a mass of magma to extinguish it, then dismissed it from his mind.
It's only the Mera Mera no Mi; how could it possibly contend with his Magma-Magma Fruit?
Akainu scoffed inwardly.
Just as Akainu blocked Ace's path of retreat, a yellow flash appeared to Ace's left.
An icy aura sealed off his right.
The Marine Admirals had formed a triangular perimeter, locking Ace in place.
Now, Ace was truly cornered.
Facing all three Marine Admirals alone, the pressure was unimaginable.
Together, they might have the power to kill a Yonko, let alone a mere Vice-Commander.
Especially with the Magma-Magma Fruit, which had a full suppressive advantage over Ace's Mera Mera no Mi.
In this situation, no matter how it looked, Ace held no advantage.
Yet Ace showed no sign of fear; the smile on his lips didn't waver in the slightest, as if he were treating the three Admirals as nothing more than ordinary Marines.
"let me give you a little advice—it's not good to be too arrogant~"
Ace's nonchalant attitude made Kizaru frown as he issued a warning.
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