Had Sengoku's battle plan failed?
Of course not. On the surface, every step of the Marines' strategy seemed to have been countered by the Sky Pirates, but in terms of actual losses, the Marines were the ones coming out ahead.
So far, the Marines had lost fewer than ten thousand soldiers in total, along with two warships. The Sky Pirates, on the other hand, had suffered devastating losses among the Germa Corps in that last round of bombardment. As far as the eye could see, Germa soldiers lay collapsed in wave after wave. They had lost at least a quarter of their fighting strength.
On top of that, the Sky Pirates' plan to wipe out those ten thousand Marines had fallen apart because of it.
This was the margin for error brought by powerful weapons, equipment, and sheer numbers.
And those were things the Sky Pirates simply did not have.
Now, Sengoku's second phase of the operation had only just begun.
...
"Fall back! Everyone, fall back!"
At the Marine officers' command, all the Marines began to retreat. They were not fleeing, but clearing the battlefield.
Because the battle that came next was not one ordinary Marines could take part in.
Even if they were called elites among the Marines, compared to those Vice Admirals, especially the three future Admirals, they were no different from ordinary people.
Meanwhile, the three giant Vice Admirals at the center of the battlefield looked at Tessis and Lacroix, momentarily unsure of what to do.
The Marines' specially made shells this time were truly powerful. Even giants, who were always known for their tough bodies, could not withstand that kind of attack.
After three shells, Tessis was covered in wounds and drenched in blood.
Fortunately, at some point, a small air door had appeared beside them. Countless golden fungi floated out from within and covered Tessis's wounds.
"That's great! It's Kurota's ability!"
Just then, a childlike voice sounded from inside.
"Sister Lina, I've stopped your mother's bleeding, but there are still shell fragments inside her body. They have to be removed before she'll be safe. Please bring her over as soon as possible."
As soon as the voice faded, the air door closed.
Lina was delighted and struggled to help her mother up. Seeing this, Lacroix came over to help.
"Let me help."
After saying that, he looked at the other three giant companions and said, "Kashio, Anders, Aite, the three of you should go back. You can put all the blame on me and Tessis. I believe that with Vice Admiral Tsuru and Saul there, nothing will happen to you..."
The three giants looked at one another, their eyes filled with reluctance, but in the end, they clenched their fists.
Just as Tessis had said, they had grown up in the Marines since childhood. It was truly difficult for them to leave the Marines and choose a new life.
Compared to the unfamiliar Sky Pirates, the Marines were their home.
"Then take care, you two. The next time we meet, we may be enemies!"
None of them had expected that the five of them, who had grown up together and supported each other since childhood, would suddenly part ways at this moment, and might even become enemies.
They all knew Lacroix had liked Tessis since they were young, but life in the Marines had forced both of them to suppress their feelings. Now, Lacroix had finally found his chance.
"You two have our blessing!"
With those words, the three giants turned to leave.
But the moment they turned around, the crimson magma that came into view made their entire bodies tremble.
It was Sakazuki.
No one knew when he had appeared there.
Scalding magma flowed over his body as he slowly walked toward them. He lifted his head slightly, looked at them with cold eyes, and said in a low voice, "Kashio, Anders, Aite. As Vice Admirals of the Marines, you actually allowed a Marine traitor to leave. Do you understand how much shame this brings upon the Marines?"
At that moment, the hearts of the three giants and Lacroix all tightened.
As giants, their natural strength made them fearless toward most humans. But a monster like Sakazuki was absolutely not one of them, especially when he was known throughout the Marines for his ruthless methods.
Lacroix, who had been about to leave with Tessis, immediately defended his friends.
"Sakazuki, this has nothing to do with the three of them. I was the one who decided to leave the Marines..."
"Is that so?"
Sakazuki slowly raised his head, fixing Lacroix with a gaze filled with killing intent.
"In that case, I'll deal with you first in Fleet Admiral Sengoku's place, you Marine traitor. As for the rest of you, wait for the military court's judgment!"
"Meigo!"
In an instant, under everyone's terrified gazes, magma erupted violently from Sakazuki's body like a volcano. His right fist turned into magma that seemed capable of swallowing everything and shot toward Lacroix and Tessis.
The three giant Vice Admirals knew full well how much Sakazuki hated evil, but none of them had expected him to strike a former comrade with such ruthless decisiveness.
"Wait... Sakazuki... stop!"
The three of them were too late to intervene. The blazing magma rushed straight in front of Lacroix with a fierce momentum that seemed ready to devour everything.
"Damn it!"
Lacroix knew all too well how terrifying the Magu Magu no Mi was. At that moment, all he could do was instinctively shield the wounded Tessis.
After all, even among Marine Vice Admirals, there were still gaps in strength.
They might be giants, born with tremendous power, but compared to true monsters, they were not on the same level at all.
Especially when facing Sakazuki, who was about to become an Admiral.
"Boom..."
But after the magma exploded, the expected pain and death never came. Instead, Lina's voice rang out.
"Uncle Lacroix, take Mother over there. I'll hold off this Marine!"
Lacroix turned back in shock and saw Lina holding both palms open in front of her chest. A huge transparent barrier had appeared before everyone, blocking the scorching magma.
At that moment, Sakazuki also frowned slightly as he looked at the female giant's barrier in front of him.
"A Devil Fruit ability? And you think you can stop me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, magma surged out violently. The massive magma fist swelled until it was as huge as a giant, as if it were about to swallow the entire barrier.
Lina had only obtained this Devil Fruit recently and had not yet mastered its ability. She immediately felt a terrifying force bearing down on her, and both the barrier and her body began to slide backward uncontrollably.
"So terrifying..."
The strength of a giant combined with the power of the Bari Bari no Mi was actually being overwhelmed by the human in front of her.
So this was what Yemu-sama meant by a monster among humans.
"I can't hold on much longer!"
Just then, three pitch-black slashes appeared from nowhere before everyone's eyes, striking Sakazuki as well.
"Crack..."
Under Sakazuki's slightly stunned gaze, his body was instantly cut into six pieces.
At the same time, a figure descended from the sky.
"Erik-sama!"