Chapter 202

Tens of thousands of cannon muzzles were set up on the city walls; those batteries, each over ten meters across, would capsize any ordinary pirate ship within a ten-meter radius even if a shot missed.

All those cannon muzzles were aimed straight at the outer Crescent Bay — the only port for landing on Marineford. Soon the Whitebeard Pirates would appear here, and getting through without paying in blood would be impossible.

Crescent Bay connected to a giant central plaza.

At the center, a Roger-style execution platform had been erected. Ace, wearing seastone shackles, knelt upon it; standing guard beside him were the Marine hero Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

Below the execution platform,

the three Admirals — Huang Yuan, Seeing Kuzan, and another — sat in a row, legs crossed, perched on giant thrones.

Below them were the four Warlords of the Sea; the newly appointed Blackbeard was nowhere to be found.

They didn't enjoy the same fine treatment as the Admirals — they all had to stand.

Beyond them, arrayed in square formations, were massive ranks of Marines. They would serve as the underling pirates intercepting Whitebeard's grand fleet — the cannon-fodder masses of this Summit War.

Tsuru stepped up onto the execution platform and said, "... The main force of Whitebeard's grand fleet is twenty-five nautical miles out; they should reach Crescent Bay port by the announced broadcast time."

"I see... are you certain the Straw Hat Pirates have already left Sabaody Archipelago?" Sengoku asked.

"According to the intelligence, yes," Tsuru nodded.

This let Sengoku breathe a sigh of relief.

Good!

If the Straw Hat Pirates insisted on coming to rescue Ace, then both grandsons would be present — and Garp really might not take anyone's side.

But now...

only one grandson was here, and he was an adopted one at that — should be no problem... right?

Sengoku wasn't sure either, so he had to keep an eye on Garp.

He gazed toward the direction of Whitebeard's grand fleet from the intelligence reports. He didn't spot any ships, but he did see a great mass of dark clouds drifting toward Marineford from another direction.

"Hm? Is a heavy storm coming?" Sengoku's brows knit together.

He didn't know if it was because of the weather, or something else.

"After all, we're on the Grand Line — the weather is unpredictable. It seems today's heavens stand with Whitebeard," Tsuru said, frowning as well.

A storm would obscure vision, lowering the gunners' accuracy on the walls.

In effect,

more pirates would slip through Crescent Bay's deadly bombardment.

"Consider this storm heaven's farewell gift to Whitebeard!" Sengoku said in a low voice. "Relay the order to the artillery line — upon receiving the command, carry out alternating, orderly saturation bombardment. Don't worry about wasting ammunition!"

"Yes!"

Tsuru stepped down from the execution platform to deliver the order.

Sengoku kept watching the approaching mass of dark clouds, as if in a daze.

Suddenly he spoke: "I don't ask you to do anything, but I hope you remember who you are — don't do anything!"

This was a warning to Garp.

"Jingle jingle—"

It was Ace raising his head, squinting against the harsh sun at Garp's back — that back which had once given him the warmth of family, never feeling as alien as it did today.

Garp didn't answer right away.

The execution platform fell into dead silence.

Until the dark clouds covered the blazing sun, and the shade enveloped the execution platform.

Only then did Garp grit his teeth and say: "Damned Sengoku! You think who I am? I am the Marine hero Garp!"

That sentence declared his stance, and at the same time pronounced Ace's death sentence.

But he didn't shout or rage — he just weakly lowered his head.

Compared to his death...

the one truly suffering would be Garp, the one who survived!

Yet it was precisely this quiet, untroubled attitude that cut Garp even deeper; he clenched his jaw, forcibly suppressing the urge to turn his head.

He was afraid that one glance at Ace would make him unable to resist saving him!

"They're here!"

Sengoku gazed out beyond Crescent Bay — ships appeared in clusters, advancing toward Marineford in an unbroken line.

This put every Marine on maximum alert. At last, they were coming!

The Whitebeard Pirates of the Four Emperors?

After today, they'd become history!

But...

Just as the artillery array on the walls was poised to fire, an abrupt turn of events left everyone dumbfounded!

Sengoku even roared: "A blunder! It's actually..."

Boom Boom Boom—

Another update around twelve o'clock.

73. Whitebeard at His Peak! A Chain Stratagem! Grandfather vs. Grandson Showdown!

As Whitebeard's grand fleet drew near Marineford, the gunners on the walls couldn't help but hold their breath.

They're here, they're here!

The brutal war was about to begin!

Just as they focused, waiting for the signal to fire...

the three seated Admirals suddenly shifted expression, looking toward the nearly undefended port inside Crescent Bay.

Could it be that...

"Splash splash—"

Three enormous shadows leapt out from beneath the sea, the bubble membranes shattering in midair, and Whitebeard's flagship "Moby Dick," along with two other ships, crashed down into Crescent Moon Bay.

The two smaller ships were packed to the brim with people,

standing upon them were the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, as well as every member of the Straw Hat Pirates except Franky, Luffy, and Sima Di!

"Da da da—"

"Da da da—"

Two sets of footsteps rang out from aboard the Moby Dick. The spirited Whitebeard, wielding Murakumogiri, stepped up onto the prow, with the utterly unremarkable Sima Di following behind, his gaze bright and fixed upon Marineford.

Ah!

The Summit War!

It has finally arrived!

【Ding! Congratulations on signing in at the famous scene "The Marine Admirals Take Their Seats!" You have received the sign-in reward *The Powerless Rage of Yang De Hen*!】

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*The Powerless Rage of Yang De Hen*: This ability will cause the target to be consumed by rage, suddenly losing all reason and acting irrationally!;

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Isn't this just a "Mindless Aura"?

A flying start!

This makes one even more expectant.

But Sengoku could not help but widen his eyes!

Something's off!

This lineup is off!

How could the Straw Hat Pirates be here?

And also......

This Whitebeard is off too!!!

"Gurara ra ra— Sengoku, it's been decades, you've gotten old!"

That's right!

Whitebeard's current state......

Is way too damn healthy!

Where on earth does it have a single thing to do with the intel saying he's "dying on his deathbed"?

"Impossible! You shouldn't be...... It must be a smokescreen, it can't be!" Sengoku said, shaking his head.