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"This is... not what I expected."
Shin watched the great war unfold, a look of surprise on his face. He had assumed it would be an even match, or that the Marines would have the advantage.
But the situation now was different. Though the Whitebeard Pirates were outnumbered, they were the ones gaining the upper hand.
Marco had gone to help Whitebeard but was sent away by the man himself. Whitebeard was now fighting all three Admirals alone. And not only was he holding his own, but he was actually suppressing them. It was an incredible sight.
"Looks like Whitebeard in his prime is a real force of nature..." Shin couldn't help but say.
"I'm almost tempted to join in," Hancock remarked, watching the battle.
"If you want to, go ahead."
Shin didn't mind. He was content to watch, but if Hancock wanted to fight, he wouldn't stop her.
"I think I'll pass," Hancock said, shaking her head. "I'd rather stay here with you."
Momousagi's expression was complicated. She activated her Observation Haki, her focus entirely on her sister-figure, Tsuru.
Though they weren't blood relatives, Tsuru had always treated her better than a real sister. Momousagi had sworn to protect her, no matter what.
If Tsuru was in danger, she would act immediately. As for the other Marines... she was no longer one of them. After so long undercover, she had truly become a member of the Kuja Pirates and had no intention of returning.
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Hina watched the battle with a similar conflicted expression. She wanted to help the Marines, but one look at Shin, and she abandoned the thought.
"Hina is going to rest." She turned and went back to her cabin. Clearly, she couldn't bear to watch the Marines suffer while she stood by and did nothing.
"The pirates' advantage is only temporary. It's because they caught the Marines off guard. Once they recover, the Whitebeard Pirates will be the ones on the back foot," Olvia said, analyzing the battlefield.
With her Rumble-Rumble Fruit enhancing her Observation Haki, she had a clear overview of the entire situation.
"You're right. The Seven Warlords are just phoning it in. If they actually helped the Marines, the Whitebeard Pirates would be the ones losing ground," Shin nodded.
The Whitebeard Pirates' current advantage was entirely due to Whitebeard himself holding back the three Admirals single-handedly.
If they were free to act, the Whitebeard Pirates would suffer heavy losses.
The Admirals were all Logia users, and their greatest strength was their destructive power, especially over a wide area. Stronger pirates might be able to withstand their attacks, but the weaker ones would be wiped out.
But overall, the Marines had the advantage in numbers.
The Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals had now entered the fray—engaging the Whitebeard Pirates' commanders. Marco was being held back by two Vice Admirals, preventing him from doing anything else for the moment.
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"SAVE ACE!" Whitebeard shouted to his crew after knocking Kizaru back.
Their purpose in coming to Marineford wasn't to fight the Marines, but to save Ace. As long as they could do that, it would be their victory.
"Ace, we're coming for you!" A group of pirates charged towards the execution platform.
"THIS IS NO PLACE FOR YOU TO RUN RAMPANT!"
Sengoku roared, transforming into his Great Buddha Form.
A single shockwave sent the charging pirates flying, spitting up blood, their combat abilities gone. Some were even killed on the spot.
"Damn you, Sengoku!" Vista glared at Sengoku, his brothers having just been killed by the Fleet Admiral. He abandoned his fight with Doflamingo and charged towards Sengoku.
However, Vista was no match for him either.
Sengoku was old, even older than Whitebeard, but he showed no signs of slowing down. His strength hadn't diminished much.
Another shockwave, and Vista was severely injured.
"Vista, are you alright?"
Marco immediately abandoned his own fight and rushed to Vista's side, enveloping him in blue flames. Though the flames of regeneration had a weaker effect on others, they still helped speed up Vista's recovery.
"Jozu, you go save Ace! We'll hold them off!" Marco ordered.
Jozu had eaten the Diamond-Diamond Fruit, giving him incredible defense. He could withstand Sengoku's shockwave attacks.
"Garp, it's time for you to act..." Tsuru said to him. "The Five Elders are watching this battle."
Garp stood up with a sigh, then moved to block one of the Whitebeard Pirates' commanders.
He did nothing more.
With his strength, he could have fought the current Whitebeard and not been at a disadvantage, but he didn't. He just picked a commander and didn't even fight seriously.
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"Garp is deliberately holding back, isn't he?"
The Five Elders watched the battle through the Visual Den Den Mushi, their faces filled with anger.
"Hmph, it seems Garp wants to spend the rest of his life in Impel Down," Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro snorted.
"According to the reports, Shin Uzumaki is there as well. What are your thoughts?" Saint Jaygarcia Saturn asked the others.
"Since he hasn't acted yet, it means he doesn't want to. There's no need to anger him," Saint Shepherd Ju Peter said.
"Are we just going to wait for him to act? Even if he's not fighting now, when he does, it will be too late," Saint Marcus Mars said with a frown.
Shin Uzumaki, even just by being there, was a great threat.
"Send the order," Saint Topman Warcury said after a moment of thought, speaking to a CP agent. "Even if we can't wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates, we cannot let Ace escape. Ace must die."
Fire Fist Ace had to die. Not because he was the son of the Pirate King, but because this execution was for him. If he were allowed to live, this whole affair would become a joke.
To preserve their authority, Ace had to die. Even if they didn't kill Whitebeard, they had to kill Ace. If the Marines lost face, the pirates would only become more arrogant.
"If necessary, we may have to make a move ourselves..." Saint Jaygarcia Saturn Elder added.
Yes, if necessary, the Five Elders would not remain idle. This matter was gradually escalating beyond their control.
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