Along the path from Ace's position to the execution platform, numerous elite Marine soldiers collapsed unconsciously, unable to withstand the overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki.
But at this critical moment, not a single pirate or Revolutionary soldier had set foot on the direct route leading to the execution platform.
This was because nearly everyone present was focusing their complete attention on the heart-wrenching execution scene unfolding above, and the atmosphere had become unbearably tense and solemn.
Sengoku stood on the platform with a stern expression, ready to counter any possible enemy assault at a moment's notice.
Akainu also remained calmly positioned on the platform directly below the execution stage, his sharp eyes constantly scanning several key figures in the enemy ranks while a barely perceptible sneer played at the corner of his mouth.
Garp stood some distance away from the execution platform, his fists clenched tight, teeth grinding together, veins bulging across his forehead as complex emotions flashed through his eyes.
He seemed to be enduring a tremendous internal struggle, with contradictions and conflicting loyalties tearing at his heart.
In the distance, Dragon—still locked in fierce combat with Aokiji—gritted his teeth as he tried desperately to break free from the Admiral's relentless engagement.
On the other hand, while Aokiji's movements remained swift and precise, there was a hint of uncertainty flickering in the depths of his eyes.
"Luffy! Robin! Special Attack: Firebird Star!"
Usopp stood at the gap in the iron wall, screaming desperately as he launched a blazing projectile from his slingshot.
However, before his attack could reach the execution platform, it was easily intercepted and neutralized by Marines positioned along the way.
Just as Cavendish was about to transform into lightning and streak toward the sky, Gion suddenly appeared and blocked his path with her blade.
If he hadn't reacted quickly and stopped in time, he would have been cut down before Luffy could even be saved.
In the Revolutionary Army ranks, Karasu whispered something in his characteristically quiet voice, then leaped up and began transforming into a murder of crows, intending to fly forward for the rescue.
But the moment he moved, the squinting Vice Admiral Tokikake appeared and intercepted his advance.
Every other pirate and Revolutionary Army member who had reached the plaza earlier and possessed the means to attempt a rescue found themselves closely monitored by Marine officers.
Marco and the other division commanders who had just rushed onto the plaza watched helplessly as the Marines on the execution platform raised their swords once again. They shouted anxiously, but there was nothing they could do from their position.
Whitebeard decisively drew back his fist, preparing to crack the very air itself and send devastating shockwaves surging outward.
When he noticed Akainu taking a defensive stance, he clenched both hands toward the sky, ready to unleash his full power and shake the entire island to prevent the impending execution.
Just as Whitebeard was about to exert his tremendous strength, his movements suddenly stopped.
Then he straightened up again, smiled slightly, and began walking forward with calm confidence.
All of this happened within mere seconds, and people throughout the battlefield reacted in vastly different ways.
On the execution platform, among the four Marines who had been moving in perfect unison and preparing to cut down Luffy and Robin with synchronized strikes, the young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes standing to Robin's left suddenly reversed his blade and struck down the opposing Marine with a single decisive blow.
Then, with a strange battle cry, he spun around and attempted to kick the Marine standing to Luffy's right—only to discover that soldier had also been cut down by the Marine with a distinctive scar on his left eye.
But the thick-browed young man didn't hesitate. Without pause, he threw a punch at the only remaining Marine—the scarred-face soldier with his cap pulled low.
The scarred Marine calmly blocked the attack with his sword and said quickly, "Stop fighting! We're on the same side!"
"Oh? One of ours?" The thick-browed young man was momentarily stunned, then quickly caught on. "Then let's save them!"
With that declaration, the two men grabbed Robin and Luffy respectively and attempted to flee behind the execution platform.
At this moment, both the people present at Marineford and those watching from around the world suddenly realized that someone had been bold enough to disguise themselves as Marines, infiltrate the execution site, and successfully place two operatives simultaneously. It was absolutely incredible.
"Who are those two soldiers?! They're so brave!"
Although the crowd couldn't see the men's faces clearly, pirates and Revolutionary Army members couldn't help but cheer loudly.
"There are traitors?!"
"This can't be real..."
In the Marine ranks, countless soldiers and officers looked grim as they exclaimed in disbelief.
During these brief few seconds, the intense fighting and dramatic reversal on and around the execution platform was broadcast live to the entire world by Kotatsu, who was flying high overhead and capturing everything from an aerial perspective.
Regardless of which side they supported, people around the globe watching the live broadcast felt the incredible intensity and emotional ups and downs of the battle, and were even more shocked by the scene unfolding on the execution platform.
Although the two infiltrators moved with impressive speed, Sengoku—who had been momentarily distracted by the actions of the enemies below—quickly snapped back to attention.
"Don't even think about escaping!" Sengoku roared with blazing eyes.
This incident was happening right under his nose. If he allowed the enemy to succeed so easily, the Marines would lose all credibility.
Sengoku's body suddenly swelled dramatically as he transformed into a massive golden Buddha. Looking down from his towering height, he brought his enormous fist crashing downward.
"No way! Boss Jerry! Help me!" The thick-browed young man shielded Robin behind him, raised both arms to block the attack, and cried out desperately for assistance.
This thick-browed, large-eyed young man was Skull, who had been willing to remove his mask to implement their rescue plan.
Skull had infiltrated the Marines well in advance. Since virtually no one had ever seen his true face and there were so many Marine personnel that it was impossible for everyone to know each other, he had easily gained the opportunity to reach the execution platform through his outstanding intelligence-gathering capabilities and various covert methods.
"Is that really Skull?" Ace confirmed after hearing Skull's panicked call. Even he had never seen Skull's actual appearance.
At the same time, Jerry—who had been fighting Kizaru in mid-air—suddenly exerted tremendous force and kicked the Admiral backward with devastating impact.
Jerry moved with blinding speed, leaving behind only a slowly fading afterimage.
"Oh my, this young man is quite something..." Kizaru flew dozens of meters through the air, feeling the slight numbness in his arm from blocking that kick gradually fade away. He sighed thoughtfully, then transformed into countless photons to give chase.
"Luffy, hang in there for a bit longer. I'll definitely get you out of here safely."
The man with the prominent scar on his eye was Sabo, Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army and Luffy and Ace's sworn brother. He had lost his memory due to an attack by a Celestial Dragon and had been separated from them for many years.
"Oh, okay! Who are you, anyway? But thanks for saving me... Look out!" Luffy obviously didn't immediately recognize the supposedly deceased Sabo from his memories. When he saw Sengoku's giant fist descending, he blurted out a warning.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there's no need to get so worked up, is there?"
Just as Skull was about to fight back desperately and Sabo was preparing to counterattack head-on, they saw a figure wielding a fishing rod appear out of thin air before their eyes.
Jerry raised his left hand high, firmly grasping the enormous fist of Sengoku's Buddha transformation.
A muffled impact resonated as everyone felt the execution platform beneath their feet shaking violently from Jerry planting his feet and absorbing Sengoku's devastating attack.
"Return to sender!" Jerry didn't pause for even a moment. His body remained steady as a mountain as he suddenly whipped his fishing rod rapidly upward behind him.
In a flash, Kizaru could no longer control his momentum. His figure materialized directly in front of Jerry's fishing rod and was struck by the weapon, sent flying backward like a cannonball.
"Impossible!" Sengoku snarled, his Buddha form radiating golden light as he struggled against Jerry's grip. "How can you block my power so casually?!"
Jerry grinned up at the towering Fleet Admiral. "Come on now, Fleet Admiral! A good host should always be polite to his guests. Is this really how you welcome the newest Warlord to your little party?"
The dramatic rescue was now in full swing, with Jerry's sudden intervention buying precious time for Skull and Sabo to complete their mission while the entire world watched in amazement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to over 50 chapters, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~