Holy Land Mary Geoise – Emergency Meeting of the Five Elders
Once again, the topic of this urgent meeting was Elior. Ever since Elior livestreamed the brutal execution of three Celestial Dragons, the Five Elders had held an emergency meeting. Then came the incident where Elior defeated Kaido just a few days ago. And now, on the day of the public execution, Impel Down had been breached.
Elior's name once again echoed within the halls of the Five Elders' chamber.
"Tch… Never thought Blackbeard would play us like fools. Well, he's dead now. Cheap death for someone like him."
"And that bastard Dragon… barging into Impel Down to save his own flesh and blood. And how the hell did Ivankov and those Revolutionaries manage to hide in that prison for so long? They really picked their moment."
"But what concerns us most… is Elior. Last time he broke in and took Bullet, the Demon Heir. Now he's freed two even more dangerous monsters."
"The Red Count… and the World Destroyer! Both of them were infamous legends from the old era. Back then, the Red Count fought Sengoku for ten days straight and won. If not for Garp ambushing him, he'd never have been captured. As for the World Destroyer, it took us orchestrating betrayal within his own crew to bring him down. Neither of them are people to be underestimated, even after rotting in prison for so long."
The pressure weighed heavy on the Five Elders.
"Elior's crew now numbers ten… We still don't know if those two will fully side with him, but what worries me is whether they'll show up at Marineford and interfere with the execution."
"Roger's bloodline must die. And Whitebeard… his life ends at Marineford as well. To ensure everything goes according to plan, we must prepare for any unexpected guests."
Not long after, Kong, entered the room alongside a man in a pristine white suit — the highest-ranking officer of CP0, a man whose strength rivals the Admirals. His name: Kaeya.
"Kong. Kaeya. I assume you both are fully briefed on the incident at Impel Down?"
"Yes, Five Elders."
"We are."
Nusjuro narrowed his eyes. "You two will mobilize as well. If those unwelcome pests show up… you are to crush them. Wound them severely. Ideally… kill them."
He glanced toward Kong.
"Especially you, Kong. The Red Count… he's your old rival, isn't he?"
Kong gritted his teeth.
"That bastard… still alive and kicking, huh? Good. If he dares show his face, he dies. This time, I won't lose."
Saturn tapped it against the floor, voice cold.
"And keep an eye on Garp. That fool raised Ace as his own. Who knows what he'll do when the moment comes… Harboring the blood of that criminal Roger for so long, hiding it from us…"
"To think… all the infants and pregnant women we slaughtered back then to purge Roger's bloodline… and still, this stain remains."
"This… this has humiliated the World Government."
"If Garp dares step out of line, forget his fame. Forget his past service. Treat him like any other traitor."
Sabaody Archipelago – War Broadcast Hub
No one could count how many had gathered on the Sabaody Archipelago. This was the place where the entire world would watch the war unfold. Journalists from every corner of the globe were crammed into every inch of space.
No one knew how this war would end.
For most… if the Marine lost… it would be no different from the end of the world.
But could the Marine truly win?
They were about to face the Whitebeard Pirates — the crew of the man said to hold the power to destroy the world itself. A man whose very name haunted the nightmares of children. A man whose snoring alone was said to cause seaquakes, whose punches could trigger tsunamis of apocalyptic scale.
Even the bravest pirates, those preparing to enter the New World, chose to delay their journeys, watching from Sabaody. After all, most of them were small-time pirates. And now… the man closest to the Pirate King's throne was about to clash with the full might of the Marine None of them dared imagine what that would look like.
Elsewhere, across the world, people were praying — to gods, to spirits, to anything they could — praying the Marine would prevail.
Because who knew… if the world would still exist tomorrow?
If the Marine lost… would this world fall into ruin?
Taverns, casinos, brothels — every establishment had shut down for the day.
War was coming. And nothing else mattered. No one even knew if tomorrow would come. Fear consumed everyone.
On the plaza opposite the massive screen in Sabaody, sitting high on a tree branch, was Rayleigh. His gaze was fixed on the blank screen. The broadcast hadn't started yet, but the square was already packed, shoulder to shoulder.
"Whitebeard… You know this is a death game, don't you?" Rayleigh sighed.
Back in the day, the Whitebeard Pirates and Roger Pirates had fought tooth and nail — only to become lifelong friends afterward. Memories of those days surged in Rayleigh's mind.
"Can't believe it… I'm actually feeling nervous" Kid muttered under his breath.
Beneath the tree, the remaining Supernovas — the ones Elior hadn't recruited — gathered. Aside from Bonney, who stood on the opposite side, the others were all here: Apoo, Kid, Drake, Killer, and Capone Bege.
Their plans to conquer the New World were temporarily on hold.
"The man of legends… Will he win?" Apoo asked.
"I hope he does" Apoo snorted. "No other reason. I just hate the damn Marine"
He subconsciously rubbed his side, still remembering the agony from that kick Kizaru had landed on him not long ago.
"Tch… Whitebeard…" Kid crossed his arms. "He should be someone I defeat myself one day."
Compared to the other Supernovas, Kid was clearly more ambitious. After all, he was a man with the qualifications of a king.
As the clock neared noon — high noon — at Marineford, the Admirals, along with the Shichibukai, finished their preparations and began to move.
The war was about to begin.