Before them appeared only seven people.
But the intangible pressure they exuded swept across the entire battlefield like a massive tidal wave, making even the air seem to solidify!
Especially when the black-haired figure guarded by the other six cast his gaze over.
Almost every Navy Officer felt a sense of breathlessness, as if their hearts skipped a beat.
Even the ten Peacekeepers temporarily ceased their attacks, subconsciously retreating a few steps back.
Previously.
Confronting the Whitebeard Pirates, the Navy Headquarters was absolutely confident of winning from top to bottom.
Even the most pessimistic and conservative merely thought it would take some effort, hard to quickly resolve in a short time.
But these extra seven people...
Everything's changed!
The situation, the outcome, everything's changed!
"It's suddenly eerily quiet."
Up in the sky, Marco, in his Phoenix form, chuckled, "Just by showing up, he scared tens of thousands of Navy, that man's deterrence is really exaggerated."
Just below him.
Moriah was kneeling awkwardly, his face swollen on both sides like a pig's head, clearly having been completely overwhelmed in the encounter just now.
—Even if not excelling in attack, Marco, after all, is the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, once hailed as the number one man below the Four Emperors before the rise of Endgame.
A Seven Warlords of the Sea who had lost his former ambition and even let his Haki waste away was naturally no match for him.
"Hey, hey, this is really bad now."
Moriah clutched his swollen cheek, having no time to deal with Marco, instead focusing on the distant figure, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
How could it be Endgame!
How could it be Shano!
The level of opponent is completely different now!!!
Why am I so unlucky, that I couldn't avoid this guy?
Although this is the first meeting, he had already heard about this fellow a year and a half ago...
Back then, the seas were alive with rumors that Paradise had a ruthless figure, slaughtering two of the Seven Warlords of the Sea convulsively upon entering the Grand Line!
Even Navy Grand Admiral Akainu himself couldn't bring him down after a fierce battle!
That made Moriah flee with his massive three-masted ship into the deepest part of the Devil's Triangle, not daring to even step out.
After all, the other four of the Seven Warlords of the Sea were in the New World, only he remained active in the first half!
—No matter how you look at it, this monster is coming for me!
It wasn't until later when he heard that guy had gone to the New World and even cut off one of Netherworld King Rayleigh's arms did he breathe a sigh of relief, feeling very fortunate to have survived.
But in the end, he still couldn't escape this calamity!
Moriah was filled with regret, wishing he could slap himself.
When he received the summoning order earlier, he was sure that the Navy was after Whitebeard, eager to witness that old man's end, so he rushed over.
Now look!
Nothing happened to Whitebeard, but my life might end here!
Just when Moriah was in shock and fear.
He suddenly noticed on either side and not far away, Hawkeye and Empress had entirely different reactions.
"Hmm?"
Hawkeye Mihawk raised his head, his sharp gaze bypassing the battlefield, locking onto that black-haired figure.
A pleasant surprise indeed.
"Has the day finally arrived..."
His deep voice carried a battle intent hard to describe.
It was as if fate toyed with him, passing by time and again, bringing great disappointment, but now, finally, he saw the real deal!
Bang!
Mihawk didn't hesitate anymore, stepping forward with big strides.
"Hey, Mihawk!" Vista raised his Dual Blades with dissatisfaction, "Where do you think you're going? Our duel isn't finished yet!"
"Get lost."
Mihawk coldly said without turning his head, casually unleashing a terrifying Sword Qi that sent Vista flying hundreds of meters away in an instant.
Huh?
Feeling this Sword Qi, which was completely different in intesity from before, Vista was dumbfounded, wasn't he just having a great time?
Turns out this guy wasn't even serious just now?
On the other side.
Hancock's cheeks flushed with an unhealthy red, like a ripe apple, her legs unconsciously rubbing against each other.
"Lord Shano... it's Lord Shano! What an honor for me, finally to see him again..."
She suddenly clutched her chest and stumbled a few steps, curling up like a boiled shrimp under her sisters' terrified gaze.
A circle of pink heart-shaped ripples spread uncontrollably, instantly petrifying a dozen unlucky Navy Soldiers around her before they even knew what happened.
"Sister!" Sanda Soniya hurriedly supported her, "Please pull yourself together! We're still on the battlefield!"
"Ugh, I can't help it, I...I'm not ok..."
Hancock panted painfully, her eyes misty, "Damn it, this reunion was too sudden! I couldn't present my best look, quick, go get my dress!"
"Who's going to bring that sort of thing to the battlefield!" The other sister Marigold shouted in despair.
Crazy!
Moriah cursed under his breath.
What is going on with these two freaks? On the other side is Shano! A terrifying man with a higher reputation than Rocks back in the day!
Not thinking of how to escape, but instead one is eager to confront him, while the other goes into a daze right on the spot!
I'm not sticking around!
Without a second thought, Moriah secretly activated his Fruit Ability.
The shadow beneath his feet suddenly seemed to come alive, quietly sneaking towards the back of the warship...
According to Moriah's plan, he would send his shadow far away, then when no one was paying attention to him, he would directly swap places with the shadow and escape.
But just at this moment, Shano's gaze swept over.
Moriah's body stiffened, feeling as though he had fallen into an ice cave, even his shadow dared not move.
However...
Shano's gaze merely glanced over him, without lingering in the slightest.
Or rather, he didn't even notice this onion-headed fatty, after surveying the entire battlefield and taking in the situation, he directly withdrew his gaze.
"Newgate."
Shano looked towards the distant giant wielding Murakumogiri, grinning:
"It seems we didn't arrive too late. By the looks of it, you haven't suffered much loss here?"
"Of course."
Whitebeard snorted, Murakumogiri slammed heavily into the ground:
"Didn't I tell you guys I don't need your help! It's just the Navy, the Whitebeard Pirates can handle them ourselves!"
Despite saying so.
But looking at Shano and the six imposing cadres behind him, and then glancing at his own side, the sons who were somewhat injured after the bitter battle, Whitebeard had to admit.
These guys indeed arrived in time!
Nevertheless, his pride wouldn't let him concede verbally.
"Yes, yes, we know you're formidable."
Shano waved his hand, unwilling to argue with the stubborn old man nearing the grave, turning his gaze to Akainu and Ryokugyu opposite.
"..."
Ryokugyu wanted to say a few formal words, but upon seeing this face, an aching sensation spread from the stump of his arm connected to his shoulder.
The Adam's apple rolled for a long time, but he ultimately dared not speak.
He could never forget that day in the Galaxy Sea Region.
Though at that time, he had battled with Issho for a day and night, depleting his status on all fronts, the opponent merely used one sword strike to sever his arm.
The overwhelming disparity in power left him uneasy to this day.
"Hey, this is bad... Sakazuki, senpai, what should we do now?"
Ryokugyu instinctively looked towards the nearby Akainu, only to find the veteran Grand Admiral he respected most also wearing a livid expression, looking extremely troubled.
His eyes were pinned on Shano, the raging anger within nearly solidifying.
"It's you again, Shano, you again!!"
Akainu gritted his teeth, "Now, Aramaki, do you still need to ask me what to do? Compared to Whitebeard, this guy is our biggest enemy! He's right in front of you, is there really a second choice?"
As a soldier, facing such an arch-enemy, there simply shouldn't be the word retreat in the dictionary!
"But..."
Ryokugyu hesitated, "Facing both at once, isn't our combat power a bit inadequate? Right, the Admiral Level force you mentioned that was promised from above, where is it?"
Still not a single shadow in sight!
How was he supposed to know!
Akainu's face remained dark, despite the higher-ups failing to anticipate the Whitebeard Pirates had left their base and were lying in ambush here.
But with the battle going on for some time now, shouldn't they...
"No need to worry, Aramaki, haven't I already arrived."
A cold, steady voice suddenly rang through the ether.
The next instant.
Boom!!!
The void in the center of the battlefield abruptly twisted, a massive purple-black Pentagram array materialized out of thin air, and the explosive purple-black lightning that shot through the sky tainted the entire scene with a sinister hue!
"This is... the Five Elders' Teleportation Array?!"
Ryokugyu was startled, then erupted with surprise, since joining the Navy, he had visited the Holy Land and met those big figures.
But this was the first time he witnessed the Five Elders descending to the mortal realm!
And next to him, Akainu's pupils contracted, he lifted his head with some disbelief.
The voice just now was extremely familiar.
Over the years, he had heard it countless times, yet none of the Five Elders were the source!
Could it be...
Buzz!
Amidst the violent trembling of the space, a colossal figure slowly stepped out from the spell array, astonishingly a nearly hundred-meter-tall Demon Buddha!
The golden paint peeling from its body, entwined with purple-black Karmic Fire, while purple-black Flame Clouds drifted behind.
The face that should exude compassion now twisted like a fiend, an additional six crimson demon eyes adorning the forehead, flowing with blood light as they repeatedly opened and closed.
In the silence, the Demon Buddha looked down indifferently and spoke:
"Sakazuki, as well as Shano, Newgate... It's been quite a while since last we met."