In an instant, even those who did not know about the Doa Doa no Mi understood why nothing could be seen on Golden Crow Island. It turned out the Sky Pirates had all been hiding inside this strange alternate space.
"But why? Is there some secret plan?"
While everyone was thinking, the sound of surging waves came from within the pitch-black alternate space.
Under everyone's gaze, something emerged from the enormous air door.
In a single instant, everyone was drawn to a golden radiance shining beneath the sunlight.
It was a pair of beautiful twin goddess statues, like angels, cast entirely from gold.
Immediately after that, the beautiful hull appeared under the sun, blending the blazing crimson that represented fire with the pale blue that represented thunder.
Then the sails came into view, bearing two flags side by side.
One was a white skull with flames and lightning crossing together.
The other was a three-legged firebird totem, its whole body burning with golden flames and trailing a rainbow-colored phoenix tail.
At that moment, even people who knew nothing about this sea engraved the appearance of those two flags deep in their hearts.
Because of that, they grew even more eager to see what would happen next.
But once the pirate ship fully appeared in everyone's view, the scene on the deck left everyone stunned.
Because standing on the deck of the Twin Goddesses was only one person, Fire Dragon Yemu.
...
Whether it was the Marines or the people watching this war, everyone froze when they saw this.
"What does Fire Dragon Yemu mean by this?"
"Does he want to face the Marines alone?"
On the Marine fleet's flagship, Sengoku frowned deeply as he watched this scene.
One man against the Marines. There was no need to even think about it. That was impossible.
Then he could be certain of one thing. Fire Dragon Yemu had to be hiding some huge scheme behind this move.
And that scheme was inside the enormous air door behind him.
"What exactly is it?"
For Sengoku, as Fleet Admiral, this feeling that nothing was under his control was the most unpleasant thing of all. But there was nothing he could do. Even CP's intelligence network had found it extremely difficult to infiltrate the Sky Pirates, let alone the Marines.
Just then, under everyone's gaze, Yemu, standing at the bow of the Twin Goddesses and looking at all the Marine soldiers, finally spoke.
"We meet again, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and everyone from the Marines."
They were clearly enemies, yet in that moment, Yemu's tone carried the feeling of an old friend catching up. Sengoku, however, immediately became tense.
Because Sengoku understood that when it came to words, Yemu was also extremely formidable. More than once, he had made the Marines and the World Government lose face. So Sengoku was unwilling to give Yemu any chance to use words to damage their morale.
He immediately picked up a Den Den Mushi, and his voice rang across the sea through the broadcast.
"Fire Dragon Yemu, I'll give you one final chance. Surrender now. You have no chance of winning this war. This world is not a place where a single pirate like you can act however you please!"
Unfortunately, Sengoku had truly guessed wrong this time. Yemu had no intention of provoking them with words.
To him now, the outcome of this war would say more than a thousand words.
So his reply was very simple.
"Is that so, Fleet Admiral Sengoku? How will we know without trying?"
...
Fighting from the dark against the exposed.
This was the specific strategy Yemu had set for the war against the Marines and the World Government.
Because even Yemu himself had to admit that compared with the Marines and the World Government, there was a huge gap in the strength he currently possessed.
The Marines and the World Government, who controlled the entire world at present, had a foundation that someone like Yemu, whose territory was only a small island and whose citizens numbered only in the tens of thousands, simply could not compare with.
Right now, he was more like a poor young man holding a few good cards.
He wanted to win a gamble against a wealthy man who also had several good cards.
Normally speaking, Yemu had no chance of winning this gamble. But fortunately,
first, the cards in his hand truly were good. They were no worse than the cards held by the Marines.
Second, with the help of the plot, his opponent's hand was at least almost face-up for now, while the vast majority of his own cards were unknown to the Marines.
And finally, those with nothing to lose did not fear those who had everything.
Compared with the Marines and the World Government, Yemu could better afford to lose.
First, to the vast majority of people in this world, it was only natural for him to lose. If he won this war, that would be the impossible outcome.
Second, even if he lost, the worst case was simply returning to being a pirate. With the Devil Fruit abilities he possessed, taking everyone and hiding somewhere to start over would not be difficult. On the contrary, because of today's war, his name would become famous once more, making it easier for him to succeed the next time.
Lastly, there was no need to feel any pain over consuming the Vinsmoke Family's Clone Soldiers. The Marines, on the other hand, had far higher demands for this war...
So, for Yemu, through the tactic of fighting from the dark against the exposed, this war was not without any chance of the weak defeating the strong.
What he was attacking was both strength and mentality.
And as long as he did not lose this war, then with the prestige and momentum from it, at the very least, he would be able to fully grasp the North Blue in his hands. At that point, the time for the true decisive battle would come.
So...
"Since Fleet Admiral Sengoku is unwilling to reminisce, allow me to present everyone in the Marines with a grand gift first, as the opening performance of this war."
Yemu's sudden change made every Marine startled.
And just as Yemu finished speaking, the Marines once again felt the area beneath their feet begin to shake.
"What is this?"
The few people who had once fought Golden Lion Shiki and clearly understood the power of Shiki's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi immediately realized something.
Looking at the sea, where waves had already begun to rise, Sengoku instantly roared out an order.
"Everyone, pay attention! Find something and hold on tight! The Fuwa Fuwa no Mi is different from other Devil Fruits. It has the power to control the sea!"
Cries of shock instantly came from among the Marines.
"What?"
"Control the sea? Can something like that really be done?"
Because of their field of vision, the people on the Marine warships could only feel the warships beneath their feet continuously rising into the sky.
Only those watching the broadcast on the TV Conches could clearly see what was actually happening.
"The entire sea... is... flying..."