Chapter 70
20th of April
Marineford
Gecko Moria exhaled slowly. He called back almost all his shadows, except a few strategic one - either for their position or for who they were implanted in. He stood in the shadows of his chamber, his lean, muscular frame blending seamlessly with the darkness that cloaked him. His pallid skin seemed to absorb the faint light, casting a ghostly aura around him. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the impending battle press down on his shoulders. With a final sigh, he activated his power, his body dissolving into the shadows that rippled and twisted around him.
In an instant, he reappeared in Marineford, the bustling heart of Marine power. The transition was seamless, the momentary disorientation vanishing as quickly as it had come.
Less than a second later, the air crackled as Kizaru arrived in a blinding flash of yellow light. The Admiral's usual lazy demeanor was a stark contrast to the direness of the situation, but Moria sensed a tautness beneath the surface.
"Hmm?" Kizaru drawled, his eyes half-lidded, his lips curling into a nonchalant smirk. "I didn't think you'd actually show up, Moria."
[Borsalino]
Class: Marine
Job: Admiral Kizaru, the Yellow Monkey
Fruit : Pika Pika no Mi
Dourikis: 22 172
Potential: SSS
Fate: S
Moria's eyes narrowed, catching the subtle tension in Kizaru's voice. "I gave my word, didn't I? This will be my last act as a Warlord."
Kizaru's gaze flickered, a nuance Moria did not miss. "They were just about to send me to 'find' you," Kizaru continued, his tone deceptively indifferent. "Concerns arose that you might have... changed your mind."
"I don't break my promises," Moria retorted, "Especially not ones made so publicly."
Kizaru snorted, the sound grating on Moria's nerves. "Public promises, huh? Seems like a lot of trouble for a pirate."
"A prince, actually. So, technically, your boss, Yellow Monkey," Moria smirked.
Without further exchange, Kizaru turned and walked away, his movements as leisurely as ever. Moria followed, his sharp eyes scanning the fortress around him. Marineford was alive with activity. The air thrummed with the raw energy of imminent conflict. Marines moved with purpose, their faces set with grim determination. Cannons were being hauled into place along the fortress walls, their cold metal muzzles jutting out like sentinels ready for battle. Soldiers double-checked ammunition stockpiles, their movements quick and efficient. Moria noted the presence of numerous Vice Admirals, each surrounded by their elite squads. The tension was almost tangible, pressing down on everyone within the fortress. These were men and women used to command, their expressions a blend of focus and readiness. The air rang with sharp commands and the clatter of weapons.
"Shift those cannons to the western wall!" an officer barked, his voice cutting through the noise.
Kizaru led Moria to an imposing door, pushing it open to reveal a meeting room. At the center, a Vice Admiral Moria did not recognize stood. Around the table were the Warlords. Dracule Mihawk's gaze flicked towards Moria, his eyes sharp and assessing. His fingers idly tapped the hilt of Yoru, as if weighing Moria's worth. Doflamingo's smile was a twisted, furious sneer, his posture radiating barely restrained hostility. The look in his eyes spoke of grudges and a thirst for vengeance.
Blackbeard's laughter boomed through the room. "Zehahahaha!" he roared, his massive form shaking with mirth. His eyes glittered with dark amusement as he watched Moria's arrival. Around Blackbeard, his crew stood - Moria recognized them, as he had asked Bege to research the strange Warlord who made the system bug. Jesus Burgess, the "Champion," was a towering figure of muscle, flexing absently as if ready to leap into action at any moment. Van Augur, "The Supersonic," leaned against a wall, his sniper rifle slung over his shoulder, his eyes distant and calculating. Laffitte, the "Demon Sheriff," moved with unnerving grace, his eyes constantly scanning the room. Doc Q, the "Death God," sat astride his morose steed, Stronger, both man and horse exuding a sickly aura.
Blackbeard's laughter continued to resonate through the chamber, a boisterous, mocking sound that grated on Moria's nerves. Furrowing his brow, Moria turned to the Vice Admiral standing at the center of the room.
"Why is Blackbeard's crew allowed here?" he asked, his voice a low, gravelly murmur that cut through the noise.
The Vice Admiral, a stern man with a grizzled beard and piercing eyes, shrugged nonchalantly. "He asked," the Marine responded, his tone indifferent. "And it's not like the one who captured Ace and betrayed Whitebeard would betray us during the war."
Blackbeard's laughter rose again, a cacophonous sound that filled the room. "Zehahahaha! See, 'Prince' Moria? Even the Marines know they need my strength! They need my crew!"
The Marine's expression tightened, clearly annoyed by Blackbeard's incessant laughter. "And without his crew or some form of protection, he wouldn't last the first few minutes. Every one of Whitebeard's men wants his head, so…yeah. His crew could come."
The words struck a chord, and although Blackbeard's laughter did not cease, a noticeable sheen of sweat began to form on his forehead.
The Marine officer cleared his throat, drawing the room's attention. "As you are all here, I will begin the briefing," he said, glancing at his watch. "The execution is scheduled for eight hours from now, at 6 PM. Currently, there is no significant movement from our surveillance, but we have lost contact with Cipher Pol agents monitoring from the skies the Moby Dick. Reports indicate that ships from Whitebeard's fleet are approximately three hours away, though we have no further updates."
A Marine Lieutenant entered, his expression grim. "Sir, the patrol ships sent to engage Whitebeard's forces have been sunk."
A darker mood settled over the room. Blackbeard's laughter rang out again, a harsh, jarring sound amidst the growing anxiety.
"Positions will be taken up within one and a half to two hours," the Vice Admiral continued, his tone more somber. "Vice-Admiral Garp and Fleet-Admiral Sengoku will remain close to FIrefist."
Moria's thoughts raced, piecing together the strategy. He guessed Garp and Sengoku would use their Haki to interfere with any attempts to inspect Ace using observational Haki, ensuring Bon Clay's disguise remained undiscovered.
Moria moved his massive frame to the window, his eyes scanning the fortress's surroundings. Fifty Marine ships were stationed around the island, their cannons jutting out like silent sentinels. Along the coastline, rows of artillery glinted in the daylight, ready for the impending assault. On the island itself, over fifty thousand men stood in disciplined formations, their armor gleaming, weapons at the ready. The sea of soldiers stretched from the fortified walls to the imposing execution platform.
It was not going to be a good moment.
20th of April
Marineford
Moria's fingers twitched with a violent itch. The Marines had the gall to put him, Doflamingo, Mihawk, and Blackbeard on the front lines. The Fuckers. How dare they treat him, a prince, with such blatant disrespect? His fury blazed hotter with each passing minute. The execution was set for three hours from now, and still, nothing had happened. He squinted at the horizon, seeing nothing but the oppressive calm of anticipation. His mind seethed with rage and restlessness.
"Shit," a voice suddenly crackled over the loudspeakers, shattering the silence.
Moria's head snapped up, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Attention all personnel," the voice of a Marine officer echoed, tinged with panic. "The Gates of Justice to Marineford have opened on their own, and we've lost contact with the power room."
Moria watched around him. Marines scrambled, their faces pale with fear. Sengoku's brow furrowed deeply, his eyes dark with concern as he processed the unexpected development. Beside him, Garp's usual jovial demeanor had vanished, replaced by a grim expression. The veteran Marine stared at the ground, the weight of the situation pressing heavily upon him.
Back in Marineford, the order to prepare for battle was given. Marines hurriedly armed themselves, their hands shaking as they tried to mask their terror. Sengoku stood on the platform, his eyes widening in shock as a fleet of pirate ships appeared on the horizon, led by notorious New World captains. The sight of them, rallying to support Ace, was a startling turn of events. The Marines held their fire, their eyes darting nervously across the waters, searching for Whitebeard himself.
"Prepare for combat!" Sengoku's voice thundered over the loudspeakers. "Pirate fleet incoming. All units, stand by for engagement!"
Garp stood beside him, his usually carefree expression now darkened with a somber intensity. He clenched his fists, the veins in his arms bulging as he fought to maintain his composure. The gravity of the situation was not lost on him. He could feel the fear radiating from the younger Marines, their courage faltering in the face of such an overwhelming threat.
As the pirate fleet drew closer, the tension became palpable, a heavy weight pressing down on the Marines. The sea itself seemed to hold its breath, an eerie stillness settling over the waters, the oppressive calm before the storm. Every eye was locked on the horizon, every muscle taut with the expectation of imminent battle. The anticipation was a tangible force, crackling in the air like static electricity.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered as the surface of the water exploded in a massive, billowing surge. Torrents of seawater cascaded down, sparkling in the harsh sunlight, as colossal ships broke through the depths. The mighty Moby Dick led the charge, its massive hull emerging from the depths like a leviathan of legend. Whitebeard had not approached from the front but had instead made a dramatic, almost theatrical entrance right in the heart of the bay. The sheer size and power of his ship dwarfed everything around it, an awe-inspiring sight that struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest Marines.
In its wake, three more ships burst from the water, their hulls glistening with the remnants of the sea. Each vessel carried a contingent of fourteen commanders, fierce and battle-hardened, their expressions set with grim determination. The water roiled and churned around them, the once-calm bay transformed into a chaotic maelstrom.
The dramatic entrance of Whitebeard and his commanders sent shockwaves of panic through the Marine ranks. Soldiers stared in disbelief, their faces pale with fear and awe. The oppressive calm had been replaced by a roaring tempest, the water itself seeming to rage in response to the impending battle.
Whitebeard climbed to the front of his ship, a towering figure no longer hooked up to his medical equipment, every inch of him exuding raw power. He looked directly at Sengoku, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "Sengoku!" he bellowed, his voice carrying across the bay. "I've come for my son".
Without warning, Whitebeard raised his massive fist and struck the air itself. A deafening crack resounded through Marineford, the very fabric of reality seeming to shatter under the force of his blow. The air split, jagged fissures spreading outwards as if the sky itself were breaking. The ground beneath the Marines' feet trembled violently, buildings swaying and cracking under the seismic assault.
A ripple of panic swept through the ranks of the Marines. Sengoku's eyes widened in horror as he felt the island itself begin to shake. "What's happening?" a young Marine shouted, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of destruction.
Garp's face darkened with grim understanding. "It's Whitebeard's seaquakes," he explained, his voice a low rumble. "The Gura Gura no Mi… his Devil Fruit power. He can create earthquakes, and those quakes are producing tsunamis heading straight for us."
Sengoku turned to his men, his expression a mask of urgent determination. "All units, brace yourselves! Military force alone won't stop him. Whitebeard has the power to destroy the world itself!"
The tidal waves loomed on the horizon, massive walls of water racing towards Marineford with relentless speed. The sheer size of them was terrifying, dark shadows cast over the trembling island. The world watched in stunned silence as the true might of Whitebeard was revealed, the full scope of his power laid bare.
As the waves closed in, the enormity of the threat became clear. Forty-seven pirate ships, led by Whitebeard, faced off against the Marine Headquarters and the Warlords of the Sea. The epic battle that was about to unfold would be unlike anything the world had ever seen. The Marines steeled themselves for the onslaught, their resolve hardening in the face of imminent disaster.
[Marco]
Class : Pirate
Job : Whitebeard's first mate
Fruit : Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix
Dourikis : 21 591
Potential : SSS
Fate : S
Moria gulped. He did not like standing between Whitebeard and the Marines.
[Edward Newgate]
Class : Pirate Emperor
Job : The Strongest Man in the World
Fruit : Gura Gura no Mi
Dourikis : 49 587
Potential : EX
Fate : SSS
(Sick Debuff, -30% to all stats)
He did not like it at all.
But, he thought, they would not like what was about to happen.