That's right. Aside from the missing [Red Count] who went to seek a way to regain his youth, both Douglas Bullet and Byrnndi World had somehow found their way back.
"Do not misunderstand, brat."
"We simply happen to have a score to settle with the World Government."
Byrnndi World used Geppo, crossing the battlefield at high speed to land beside Naruto, speaking with defiant pride.
His flagship, the Groseade, was anchored at the battlefield's edge. The massive cannonball that had sent the sandworm flying had been fired from its deck.
"How regrettable."
The sandworm, Shepherd Ju Peter, rose again, rejoining Nusjuro. Its head, smashed by the cannonball moments before, was now fully restored.
"Having escaped from Impel Down, why not crawl away and enjoy the last scraps of your miserable life?"
"Why wade into this turmoil?"
"Have you truly grown tired of living?"
The other Elders gathered, forming a tall wall of monstrous forms before the execution platform.
Now, the focus of everyone present was no longer on Ace, the supposed 'main character'.
"Hmph. The World Government."
"The debt between us is not settled."
Seeing the leaders of the World Government before him, Byrnndi World felt decades of suppressed resentment and rage surge. If not for these people, he would not have been captured. His crew would not have had to wait thirty years!
This time, he would get revenge for himself, for his crew, for his old dreams.
Bullet had far less internal conflict. His goal was simple: to back up his ally. And to get some payback on the World Government that killed Roger… though he knew even without them, Roger did not have long.
Sasuke and Karin, in their human-beast hybrid forms, landed beside Naruto.
Feeling Naruto's gaze, Karin instinctively hunched her shoulders. Then, finding some unknown courage, she stiffened her neck, pretending not to see him.
Sasuke glanced at Karin, then at Naruto, and shook his head slightly.
"I tried to stop her. I could not."
Well, that was his explanation.
Five Elders versus five criminals.
Seeing this, Sengoku's first thought was not to join the fight, but to evacuate.
"All Marines! Get away from the execution platform!!"
Garp looked at his old friend, a flicker of conflict in his eyes, then suddenly sat down cross-legged.
"Ahhh, I am exhausted! My back hurts! It must be an injury."
He even put a hand on his back for effect, perhaps overdoing the act.
Seeing Garp like this again, Sengoku started to say something, then remembered how they had barely held together against Naruto's fists moments ago. He swallowed his words.
"Garp..."
"You-"
"Ah! I will go help evacuate the troops!"
"Hey! You lot! Get away from here! This place is about to become a real battlefield!"
With that, Garp leaped away, completely forgetting his 'injury' from seconds before.
Sengoku sighed, then looked at Ace on the platform, wondering if he should move the prisoner too.
Looking at the utter wreck of the public execution, he instinctively rubbed his temples.
'Forget it.'
Meanwhile, the three Emperors still battling on the frozen bay had different reactions.
Big Mom was getting hungry. She wanted to eat. The hunger made her attacks grow even more savage and wild.
Her ministers, well aware of what happens when their mother's [Food Frenzy] hits, immediately rushed back to the Queen Mama Chanter to prepare food. A rampaging Big Mom recognized no one. Indiscriminate destruction would be a problem.
This sudden berserk assault gave Kizaru a brief moment to catch his breath.
The lazy Admiral, a believer in minimal effort, was a far cry from his initial pristine state. His clothes were scorched and full of holes from lightning, and even his signature sunglasses had one lens shattered.
Compared to Kizaru, Aokiji was faring better. He and Kaido were still locked in their stalemate. Kaido could not seriously wound him, and he could not freeze Kaido solid.
In contrast, Akainu, blood still seeping from his wounds, was the most battered of the three. But that was no surprise. His opponent was Whitebeard, temporarily restored to his prime.
To be more precise, it was the man who once stood equal to Gol D. Roger!
It was only because he had switched to hit-and-run tactics. If he had kept trying to trade blows, Whitebeard's medicine might not have worn off before Akainu bled out.
"Grrr! Those five old bastards! Do not steal my fight!!"
Thanks to Jack's message, Kaido was highly anticipating a clash with Naruto. He had been waiting for this since Oden died twenty years ago. How could he let the Five Elders cut in line?
He was anxious, but Whitebeard was even more so. Ace was still chained with Seastone in the center of it all. A stray attack could finish him.
But Akainu's clingy, evasive style was incredibly annoying, making it hard to either fight or leave.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes. Another shockwave punch forced Akainu to dodge as magma. Then, he suddenly shifted targets, a vertical slash nearly cutting Kizaru in two.
Simultaneously, his tremor power split through the air, separating Kaido and Aokiji's battlefield.
Not just the three Admirals, but even Kaido and Big Mom looked at Whitebeard with confusion.
"Hey! Kaido! Linlin! Remember God Valley?"
Whitebeard suddenly shouted to them.
"Let us use that move!"
The two were stunned for a moment, then memories long buried stirred. Scenes from the battle of God Valley replayed in their minds.
"Wororororo!! Alright!!! Let us do it!"
"Mamamamama! Perfect! I am sick of the sight of these three!"
Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru exchanged glances, a sense of foreboding washing over them. They had not been at God Valley thirty-eight years ago. They did not know the 'code' the Emperors were using.
"Here it comes!"
As Whitebeard spoke, the three Emperors simultaneously erupted with terrifying Conqueror's Haki. They raised their weapons, Murakumogiri, Hassaikai, and Napoleon, holding them back, gathering power.
Akainu's eyes narrowed, 'This was bad.'
"Stop them! Do not let them-"
He did not need to finish. Aokiji and Kizaru were already reacting. So were Whitebeard's crewmates.
"Hey! Get out of the way!"
"Do not just stand there!"
Several Division Commanders pulled their comrades from the direct path of the three Emperors, even taking Marine cuts to do it. They did not know what 'that move' was, but they recognized the power-gathering stance all too well.
"Ice Glove!"
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
"Great Eruption: Hell Hound!"
The three Admirals charged forward. But among them, they could not muster a single user of Conqueror's Haki. They did not understand the terror of what was coming.
Whitebeard, Big Mom, even Kaido… their eyes held a trace of old memories.
As the Admirals closed in, the Emperors' preparation was complete.
Frightening Conqueror's Haki compressed onto their blades. Then, at the same moment, in the same direction, with the same rhythm, they struck.
"REALM OF CONQUERORS!!!" x3
It was a combined attack even greater than Supremacy Sea. Or rather, [Realm of Conquerors] was the complete version of [Supremacy Sea].
"Bad move! Evade!"
Aokiji reacted first, aborting his attack and diving to the side. Kizaru followed, his light-speed giving him a slight edge.
Only Akainu hesitated, a flash of stubborn refusal in his eyes, before deciding to retreat.
But the [Realm of Conquerors] was faster, wider, and more powerful than imagined.
Swept by this triple-Emperor, Conqueror's Haki-infused slash, any Devil Fruit user would be turned to dust.
Just a step too slow, the very edge of the attack grazed Akainu. Half of his torso... vanished. Instantly.
Elemental intangibility was useless. Conqueror's Haki suppressed it.
The devastating [Realm of Conquerors], having crushed Akainu, continued its unstoppable path. It slammed through Marineford's main building and the mountain behind it, leaving a massive, gaping hole.