The sounds of killing all around them continued without pause.
The soldiers of the Germa Corps had been stripped of emotion and knew only how to follow orders in battle. They would not let outside factors affect how they fought.
But Marine soldiers were different.
What could damage morale more than this? The soldiers were still fighting with their lives on the line, yet their own general had suddenly turned around and started speaking ill of their side.
The war continued, and the Marines' miserable screams kept ringing out.
A Marine Captain standing at Lacroix's feet looked up at his direct superior in disbelief and questioned him.
"Hey, Vice Admiral Lacroix, what are you saying? We're in the middle of a battle! You're a Vice Admiral of the Marines!"
Lacroix looked down at the Marines around him, a trace of apology on his face.
"I'm sorry, Cote, but everything I said is true. Tessis, the other Giants, and I all lived in Elbaph when we were children. Because we were orphans, we were taken in by a nun named Carmel. We thought she was a benevolent nun, until she revealed her true face and sold us to the Marines and the World Government. Only then did we learn what she really was. She had always been working with the Marines and the World Government, abducting orphans of all kinds of races and selling them to the Marines and World Government for high prices. You can imagine what they did to us when we were children to keep us from resisting..."
Captain Cote's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what he was hearing.
But Tessis stopped Lacroix from continuing. Looking at her daughter, she clenched her teeth with a pained expression and said, "Enough, Lacroix. What use is there in saying these things now? Lina, you have every right to resent me. As a mother, I truly was unfit. But you have to believe that I love you."
"If that's the case, Mama, then leave the Marines and join Yemu-sama. Then we can be together, can't we? You should understand. Yemu-sama definitely didn't start this war to destroy the world. What he wants to destroy is only the wrong Celestial Dragons and World Government that exist in this world."
Although Lina was already over thirty years old, by the lifespan of Giants, she was still a child, and her words carried a childlike innocence.
The moment she said this, the expressions of the surrounding Marines changed, and they looked worriedly at their superior.
"I'm sorry. I can't do that!"
To Lina's disbelief, Tessis shook her head.
"Why?"
Lina could not understand why her mother would still serve such an ugly world order.
Under everyone's gaze, Tessis spoke words filled with helplessness.
"I'm sorry, Lina. Although, just as Lacroix said, after we were sold to the Marines by human traffickers when we were young, we went through things we don't want to remember, the Marines today have not treated us badly. Vice Admiral Tsuru and the others, in particular, have looked after us many times. And to us now, the Marines are already everything we have. We cannot do something that betrays trust and loyalty."
Hearing this, the Marines around them instantly became happy.
If these Giants betrayed them at a time like this, it would definitely be a major blow to the Marines.
But their happiness lasted only a few seconds before they saw Tessis lower her eyes and look toward the flagship not far away.
"I'm sorry, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. As a mother, I cannot raise my hand against my daughter. So, I request to withdraw from this war. Afterward, no matter what punishment there is, I am willing to accept it."
The moment these words came out, Sengoku and the others nearby all frowned deeply.
The expressions of the four Marine Giant Vice Admirals beside her also changed slightly.
Because they understood what this meant.
One had to know that both within the Marines and the World Government, there were people who greatly coveted the power of Giants.
In the past, under the protection of Vice Admiral Tsuru and Saul, those people had been unable to find an excuse. But now, Tessis was practically handing them one.
Lacroix grew anxious and tried to stop her, but Tessis held him back.
"I'm sorry, Lacroix. I know how you feel, but this is my matter alone. I don't want to drag all of you down."
After saying this, she looked toward Sengoku not far away and pleaded, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, please grant my request!"
At that moment, Sengoku's expression was dark.
To be honest, no matter the reason, when two armies were at war, for a general on one's own side to surrender first would, in the past, absolutely warrant immediate execution. But on one hand, Tessis's reason was flawless. On the other, if he refused and forced Tessis over to the opposing side, while also affecting the other Giants, that would be even more troublesome.
"Is this also part of your calculation, Fire Dragon Yemu?"
At that moment, looking at Yemu, who still calmly watched the war, Sengoku felt the unease in his heart grow deeper and deeper.
He could only glare at Tessis in anger, hoping she would change her mind.
"Are you serious, Tessis? As a Marine Vice Admiral, do you understand the consequences of doing this?"
"I'm sorry. No matter what the consequences are, I am willing to bear them!"
At the side, CP0's Hammond's eyes lit up instead.
"In that case..."
At that moment, Sengoku had no other choice.
But just as he was about to give the order, the roar of cannon fire suddenly rang out.
Realizing something, Sengoku's expression changed drastically.
"Damn it!"
Boom, boom, boom...
Beyond everyone's expectations, the Marines' bombardment appeared once again.
Every position where the Germa Corps stood came under dense bombardment.
And apart from them, there was Tessis, who had just chosen to withdraw from this war.
Three shells landed on her body.
Under everyone's incredulous gazes, violent explosions and flames appeared, engulfing Tessis.
Giant Vice Admiral Lacroix instantly flew into a rage, his eyes nearly splitting as he charged forward. Lina also rushed over in panic and fear.
"Tessis..."
"Mama..."
"What's going on?"
Everyone looked in confusion toward the direction from which the shells had flown.
They saw ten Marine warships. At some point, they had broken free from the massive glacier and spread out in a fan shape, surrounding the entire coast of Golden Crow Island as they began precise bombardment.
And standing at the front was none other than Marine Vice Admiral Sakazuki.
On the Marines' flagship, everyone watched this scene with ugly expressions.
But even Sengoku, at this moment, could say nothing about Sakazuki's order.
Because this was their strategy.
To prevent intelligence leaks and avoid having their plans detected by Enel's incredible Observation Haki,
Sengoku had, in this war, granted several leading Vice Admirals the authority to act as they saw fit.
On the warship where Sakazuki stood, the Vice Admiral behind him asked hesitantly, "Sakazuki, is this really all right?"
"Of course it is."
Sakazuki's cold voice rang out.
"Tessis has already betrayed the Marines and caused severe damage to the Marines' authority. She is now our enemy. Fleet Admiral Sengoku granted me the authority to act at my own discretion. Now listen to my order. Continue the attack!"