The pirates and marines watching the battle around them—whether ordinary soldiers, officers, or pirate captains—were all instantly sent flying by the powerful shockwave, crashing heavily to the ground.
The ice surface was blasted open by the impact, creating a massive crater from which seawater surged violently, instantly flooding the surrounding area.
After the exchange, neither of them paused for even a moment. Their figures flickered once more as they shot into the sky, continuing their clash high above.
On the surface, their battle seemed to create enormous commotion, but in reality, they were expending very little energy.
Both were Ivan's Wood Clones, deliberately channeling all their power into environmental destruction. Thus, even after fighting for so long, their stamina consumption was less than that of a single use of Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
The performance was indeed effective. In the mind of the main body, currently engaged with Akainu, the system's notification tones rang out incessantly.
Whether it was the Misaka Mikoto Template or the Uchiha Madara Template, their approval ratings were steadily climbing!
Below.
Everyone's gazes once again turned toward the severely injured Doflamingo, their faces filled with disdain.
Compared to Ivan and Uchiha Madara, Doflamingo's earlier exposition on Justice was utterly trash, far too shallow and superficial.
He lacked any genuine conviction of his own, no steadfast ideals. His so-called "the victor defines Justice" was merely an excuse he used to justify his own selfishness and wickedness.
Throughout his life, he had attached himself to the powerful, leeched off the World Government, and used his status as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea to tyrannize others. Never once had he truly fought for his own beliefs.
Such a man was utterly unworthy of discussing Justice, nor did he deserve such imposing presence.
In contrast, Ivan and Uchiha Madara, though their concepts of Justice were completely different—even diametrically opposed—both possessed their own firm convictions and ideals.
Men like these were the true powerhouses, worthy of awe and respect.
Just as everyone was lost in these reflections, a frantic shout suddenly rang out from high above, echoing across the entire battlefield:
"Aaaah, I'm here! Ace, I've come to save you!"
Instinctively, everyone looked up toward the sky.
They saw a dilapidated ship plummeting from the heavens, hurtling straight toward the ice surface of Marineford.
"Wh-what is that?!" a marine soldier cried out in shock. "A ship… how can it be falling from the sky?!"
All eyes were fixed intently on the falling vessel.
On that burning ship, a straw-hatted figure stood out prominently.
He wore a red vest, blue shorts, and a tattered straw hat on his head.
Standing at the ship's bow, arms spread wide, it was he who had just shouted.
"It's him!" someone recognized the straw-hatted figure. "Straw Hat Luffy! What's he doing here, falling from the sky?"
Though Straw Hat Luffy's reputation wasn't as resounding as Whitebeard's or the Three Admirals', he still had some notoriety on the seas.
But no one had expected him to make it to Marineford and participate in this war.
On the execution platform, Ace trembled all over upon hearing that familiar voice.
He jerked his head up, staring toward the sky.
When he saw the straw-hatted figure, tears instantly welled in his eyes, his voice trembling slightly as he shouted loudly:
"Luffy, why are you here? Go back, it's too dangerous!"
He knew Luffy's personality all too well—impulsive, reckless, yet incredibly determined. Once Luffy set his mind on something, he would give it his all.
But this was the Summit War, where countless top-tier fighters had gathered. Luffy's strength was insignificant here; staying would only mean certain death.
Yet Luffy showed no sign of retreat. He remained standing at the bow of the ship, his gaze fixed intently on Ace on the execution platform, shouting:
"Ace, wait for me! I will save you, no matter what!"
Before his words faded, the ship crashed heavily onto the ice.
Dust billowed, obscuring everyone's vision.
A figure burst out from the dust.
With unwavering determination, Luffy sprinted frantically toward the execution platform.
Marine soldiers snapped to attention, rushing toward Luffy to intercept him:
"Stop him! Don't let him get near the execution platform!"
But Luffy showed no fear. He swung his fists, striking hard at the Marines blocking his path.
Luffy raced across the battlefield, his mind resolute, focused on a single goal: reach the execution platform and save Ace.
However, despite his significant growth in strength during this time, he still seemed insignificant on this battlefield, where all the elites of the pirate world had gathered.
Merely breaking through the blockade of a few ordinary Marine officers and defeating a mediocre Marine Rear Admiral left Luffy panting heavily and covered in fresh wounds.
What made it even more difficult was that his earlier display had already drawn the attention of far more powerful enemies on the field.
Just after Luffy defeated a Marine Captain, a familiar figure rushed out from the crowd, blocking his path.
The newcomer wore a white Marine uniform, holding a Jitte with a tip made of Seastone, faint smoke swirling around him. It was none other than Commodore Smoker of Marine Headquarters.
Smoker had been pursuing Luffy all along, and even after Luffy joined Ivan's ranks, he never forgot about him.
Now, seeing Luffy appear here, Smoker immediately stepped forward to block him:
"Straw Hat, this is as far as you go. With me here, you have no chance of getting past!"
Luffy halted, gasping for breath as he wiped the sweat and blood from his face, declaring firmly:
"Get out of my way! I'm going to save Ace, and no one will stop me!"
"Save Ace?" Smoker sneered. "You can't even protect yourself, yet you want to save others? Today, I'll end you right here!"
With those words, Smoker's figure blurred as he charged toward Luffy in an instant.
He appeared behind Luffy in a flash, thrusting his Jitte with a sharp gust of wind straight at Luffy's back.
Luffy reacted swiftly, sidestepping to dodge the attack while swinging his fist hard toward Smoker's chest.
But now, after being enhanced by Ivan, Smoker's strength had skyrocketed.
After just a few exchanges, Smoker seized an opening. In a flash, he pressed the tip of his jitte precisely against Luffy's chest.
The Seastone tip instantly made contact with Luffy's body, immediately suppressing the power of his Gomu Gomu no Mi.
Luffy felt his entire body go weak, unable to muster any strength or put up any resistance.
"Ahhh, let me go, let me go!" Luffy roared.
He glared fiercely at Smoker, his eyes filled with frustration, but he could only remain pinned by the jitte against his chest, unable to move.