Chapter 360: May the Holy Light Be with You
Whitebeard's slash and the impact of the falling meteor were halted by the ice barrier, but the ice itself was reaching its limit. Under the
Whitebeard's slash and the impact of the falling meteor were halted by the ice barrier, but the ice itself was reaching its limit. Under the relentless assault from the pirates, cracks began to spread.
"Fujitora, I'm leaving Marineford's defense to you. Additionally, assist in evacuating the soldiers!"
Sengoku issued the command. This had been Wright's arrangement from the beginning—Fujitora's abilities could provide significant protection against Whitebeard's seismic onslaught.
Shockwaves couldn't be nullified, but they could be drained of their power!
Gravity, unaffected by vibrations, could suppress vast amounts of matter at the point of impact. Even if the material was pulverized, as long as it consumed the energy of the shockwave, it would be enough!
"Understood!"
Fujitora nodded, drawing his blade as he stepped toward the damaged ice wall.
"Admiral Borsalino, I leave it to you!"
"Infernal Brigade!"
With a slow motion, he sheathed his cane sword. As the blade settled into its scabbard, an overwhelming gravitational force spread across the battlefield. The pirates near the ice surface suddenly felt an unbearable weight pressing down on them—many collapsed outright, unable to resist.
Kizaru raised his hand, his fingertips glowing with an intense radiance. Precision beams of light shot toward the interior of the ice wall, striking the pirates entangled with the Marines—the very ones the wall had momentarily shielded. Within moments, they were eliminated.
"All personnel! Evacuate the ice at once! Do not let the pirates reach the plaza!"
"Move quickly!"
The Marines, already primed for retreat, swiftly withdrew. Those left within the ice wall's confines were easily dispatched by Kizaru's pinpoint attacks.
Outside the wall, the pirates were utterly immobilized under Fujitora's overwhelming gravity, unable to pursue. They could only watch in frustration as the Marines successfully retreated.
"What exactly are you trying to do, Sengoku?"
Whitebeard swung his naginata, shattering the ice beneath him. With a mighty strike, he slashed toward Fujitora.
"You've crushed my sons under this pressure—I won't stand for it as their father!"
Boom!
A thick wall of ice suddenly erupted between Fujitora and Whitebeard, blocking the devastating slash.
"Aokiji…"
"Thank you, Admiral Kuzan. The operation here is complete."
A faint smile crossed Fujitora's face as the ice beneath his feet trembled. A massive chunk of ice lifted him high into the sky, swiftly carrying him away!
At the same moment, the activation of the encircling walls—delayed by the ice—was finally complete!
Layers of heavy steel plating sealed off Marineford's inner harbor, rising into towering walls lined with countless pitch-black cannon muzzles!
Although the fallen body of Little Oars Jr. had obstructed part of the structure, preventing full deployment, it was sufficient.
"Sakazuki! Now's the time!"
Sengoku's thunderous command made Whitebeard's expression darken.
"All units! Brace for impact!"
Red-hot magma gushed from Akainu's arms as he lifted both fists skyward, unleashing one of his most devastating large-scale attacks.
"Meteor Volcano!"
A torrential downpour of molten fists rained from the heavens, setting the frozen harbor ablaze in an inferno of lava!
Whitebeard might have been able to destroy a single meteor, but he couldn't fend off an entire fiery barrage!
Several ships of the Whitebeard Pirates were struck by the falling magma, erupting into massive explosions—including Whitebeard's very own flagship, the Moby Dick.
"The Moby Dick… our flagship for decades… just like that…"
Whitebeard closed his eyes momentarily.
I'm sorry…
Then, the "Strongest Man in the World" opened them again, his aura surging to its peak as he smashed away the incoming magma fists with sheer force!
"Gurararara… So you plan to melt the ice?"
With a mighty roar, Whitebeard reached out—not just grasping at the air, but as if seizing space itself!
"HRAH!"
With a violent heave, he overturned the entire expanse of melting ice and the sea beneath it!
A massive, still-intact portion of the ice was hurled upward like an overturned table, sweeping away the descending magma fists in one powerful motion!
"HAAH!"
With another deafening shout, Whitebeard unleashed a devastating shockwave—a fusion of his supreme blade technique and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—directly toward the execution platform!
But instead of striking its intended target, the attack veered toward Marineford's civilian town!
"I can't let you destroy the town, Whitebeard!"
Fujitora reappeared, manipulating an immense mass of seawater to intercept the shockwave!
Meanwhile, at the execution platform, the strike that had been diverted was repelled by none other than the Three Admirals!
"Ara ara… Now they have no foothold left."
"Hmph! If not for Whitebeard, half of these pirates would already be dead!"
"Oh~ how terrifying~ Whitebeard~"
The entire inner harbor of Marineford had been reduced to lava-covered ruins—except for the patch of ice still beneath Little Oars Jr.'s massive frame. Meanwhile, the encircling walls had fully extended their cannons, primed to fire!
Whitebeard clenched his fists and launched a powerful quake punch at the encircling wall.
BOOM!
The steel barrier trembled violently, though it only suffered minor deformation. However, many of the cannons were completely destroyed by the impact!
"Advance! Head for Oars' position and storm the plaza!"
With a sweep of his naginata, Whitebeard rallied his forces. The pirates roared as they leaped into the water, surging toward the opening created by Little Oars' fallen body!
Although their ships couldn't enter the inner bay—the Moby Dick had been destroyed—dozens of pirate vessels in the outer sea remained untouched!
"They have icebreaker ships!"
The pirate captains under Whitebeard were among the most notorious figures of the New World. Leading them was Whitey Bay, the Ice Witch, a veteran who had served Whitebeard since the crew's inception!
The ice layer separating the inner and outer seas wouldn't hold for long!
"You think this thing can withstand a few of my punches?!"
Whitebeard clenched his fists again, hammering the breached section of the encircling wall. The repeated quake impacts caused the structure to distort further, making Sengoku's expression grim.
"So this is Whitebeard at full power…"
"Fire! They're in the water—they can't dodge effectively!"
Just as the few remaining cannons began to fire, Sengoku's face twisted in shock.
"No… it can't be…"
BOOM!
From beneath the sea, a massive white whale-shaped warship surfaced—this time, a self-propelled paddle steamer!
Under the cover of the remaining pirate fleet, the ship, packed with Whitebeard's men, charged toward Little Oars Jr. at full speed!
"Damn it! They're too fast!"
"They're coming! Prepare to engage!"
"It's too late!"
Whitebeard let out a thunderous roar: "OARS!"
"ROOOOAR!"
Despite his grievous wounds, Little Oars Jr. suddenly snapped his eyes open, forcing himself upright. With all his might, he grabbed the rapidly approaching Moby Dick and hurled it straight into the gap in the encirclement wall!
"BOOM—!"
The massive ship wedged itself perfectly into the opening!
The Whitebeard Pirates had successfully breached the encirclement!
"Rescue the captains!"
"Take down Marineford!"
"Pops!"
Marco, Jozu, and Vista were overwhelmed with emotion, tears brimming in their eyes. Even though they had made it this far… the price had been far too steep.
On the Marine side, Sengoku and Garp clenched their jaws tightly. A Whitebeard in his prime was no joke. Even a casual strike from him was enough to leave countless Marines critically wounded!
"Whitebeard has entered the plaza!"
With a single ferocious slash, Whitebeard sent a wave of Marine officers flying, clearing his path!
He slammed his naginata into the ground, his voice booming like thunder:
"Brats! Save your brothers! Crush the Marines!"
"RAAHHH—!"
The battlefield was in chaos. Most of the Marines were either gravely wounded or barely standing. The number of those still fit for combat… was actually fewer than the pirates.
What was there to fear anymore?!
Just as the pirates, grinning wildly, surged forward for the kill—
A brilliant golden pillar of light suddenly descended from the sky, striking the plaza with overwhelming force!
A colossal, semi-transparent golden barrier erupted, sealing the pirates outside!
Within the radiant enclosure, no matter how severe their injuries had been, every Marine could hear the long-awaited voice:
"May the Holy Light be with you."
Golden threads of Holy Light cascaded down, enveloping the wounded Marines. As long as they were still breathing, they found their injuries vanishing within seconds—returning them to full strength!
And with Lightforged Crystals in place, death wasn't something so easily achieved!
The Marines' wounds healed. Their strength was restored.
Three luminous rings shimmered at their feet, their bodies bathed in an invigorating warmth. Their minds cleared. Fear vanished. It was as if they were clad in invisible armor.
"It's Admiral Wright!"
From above, a golden slash, vast enough to cleave the heavens, came crashing down!
Whitebeard let out a booming laugh, swinging his naginata to meet the strike head-on. The golden slash collided with his own attack, locked in a blinding struggle.
"So you finally show yourself, Wright, you brat!"
A voice, calm yet commanding, rang through the battlefield:
"Ah… kept you waiting, Whitebeard Pirates."
High above, the figure of Admiral Wright descended, his Justice coat billowing behind him. From his back, radiant golden wings extended, casting an awe-inspiring glow over both Marines and pirates alike.
"Had to deal with a few troublesome pests first… but it looks like I made it just in time."
He stretched out his hand, golden energy crackling at his fingertips.
"Now then... Round One is over.
"Round Two... begins now!"
The golden barrier and pillar of light vanished—
Revealing an unscathed, fully restored Marine force standing tall before the Whitebeard Pirates!
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