Chapter 148: Enjoy The Joy Of The Battlefield!

"Vice Admiral Garp!"

"Aokiji Admiral!"

Watching the den-den mushi live broadcast automatically split the screen, countless Marines burst into tears.

The hero of their Marine, the legendary marine, Vice Admiral Garp, who once forced the Pirate King Gol D. Roger into desperate situations several times, takes action!

Even if he is facing the once legendary pirate, the right hand of the Pirate King, 'Dark King' Rayleigh,

They are still confident that Vice Admiral Garp will win the final victory!

Garp, for countless Marines, is like a spiritual pillar.

To a certain extent, Garp symbolizes justice!

This is also related to the fact that the World Government, in order to dilute the impact of the great pirate era started by Roger, has pushed the reputation of the Garp hero to the highest peak.

After all, Garp is actually known as the Marine Hero because of the Valley of the Gods incident in Rocks Pirate Era.

The Valley of the Gods incident was linked to the hunt for the Celestial Dragons. And it was Garp and Roger who stopped the Rocks Pirates. Naturally, the World Government couldn't allow such information to spread among the seas. 

By completely covering up the events in the Valley of the Gods and instead vigorously promoting Garp's image, the government portrayed him as the Marine Hero who forced the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, into desperate situations multiple times. This served to elevate Garp's reputation while suppressing Roger's, as well as the pirate era Roger had initiated, all in the name of maintaining the so-called balance of the sea.

However, there were side effects to this narrative. Garp's heroic status became so inflated that it had far-reaching consequences. 

His son, Monkey D. Dragon, became the leader of the Revolutionary Army and was branded by the World Government as the "most dangerous criminal in the world." Then, there was Ace, Garp's adopted grandson, who rose to become the fifth emperor of the sea, shaking the very foundations of the ocean's order. 

Though the World Government distanced Garp's name from Dragon and Ace, they could never diminish Garp's legendary status. Garp's heroism had been promoted so heavily that his reputation became inseparable from Marine's ideal of justice.

As a result, if anything were to tarnish Garp's image, it would threaten the very notion of justice that Marine represents in this era, and in doing so, could shatter the balance of power on the seas. This is precisely why, when Garp takes action, it signals that Marine has activated its last line of defense.

As the terrifying battle unfolded on screen, showing Garp fighting 'Dark King' Rayleigh, the sky filled with violent black and purple lightning, shaking the world. Many powerful figures across the seas watched with grim expressions. 

The Naval Headquarters, launches an all-out war with the Entei Pirates, led by the fifth emperor, Portgas D. Ace. And Garp—Garp absolutely could not lose. In front of the world, this Marine hero could not be defeated. Countless Marines around the globe were pinning their hopes on this legendary figure.

Sengoku, fully aware of this, faced Ace, who stood across from him laughing, his Conqueror Haki brimming with power.

Transforming into his hybrid form, a giant golden Buddha, Sengoku's eyes blazed with golden light. 

Despite their haste, they had arrived too late—Akainu and Kizaru were already defeated. Kizaru had been captured, and Akainu gravely injured. In one fell swoop, the Marines had lost two of their key combat forces. 

The situation was dire.

Sengoku glanced at Garp, who was battling Rayleigh. Though Garp held a slight advantage, there was no quick victory in sight. Meanwhile, the blind middle-aged man was effortlessly suppressing Aokiji. His Haki, Devil Fruit ability, and swordsmanship were all top-tier.

Sengoku's expression grew even grimmer. Who was this blind man?

Aokiji, realizing the gravity of the situation, was fighting with all his might, using his Frozen Fruit powers, Armament Haki, and the ice gloves that were a legacy of Garp's Iron Fist. Yet, even in his strongest state, the blind man named Issho was overpowering him.

Perhaps it was because Aokiji had used too much of his strength earlier, expending immense energy to cool Akainu's tenfold-hotter Magma?

Meanwhile, the Sabaody Archipelago had turned into a fiery inferno due to Ace's powers. At this extreme temperature, even if Aokiji fully used his Frozen Fruit's capabilities, he couldn't restore the environment.

Ace had taken Logia Devil Fruit abilities to a level beyond any other user. In this abnormal environment, other Logia users could no longer transform into their respective natural elements. Ace's control over his Devil Fruit powers was now on an entirely different plane.

Damn it! Logia abilities can no longer stand up in front of this man! Sengoku gritted his teeth.

As the wielder of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan model—Buddha, Sengoku analyzed the most troubling aspect of Ace's ability: The Marine's top Logia users, the three Admirals, could no longer compete with him.

Even if Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu joined forces, they would stand no chance against the current Ace. In fact, Akainu's Magma Fruit had become a lesser power compared to Ace's. Akainu's abilities paled in comparison to Ace's, and Kizaru, who heavily relied on his Sparkling Fruit powers, had the weakest Haki mastery among the Admirals.

Ace's powers could suppress every other Logia user, turning the environment into a hellish landscape of Magma hotter than the earth's core. From this inferno, Ace drew strength, while other Logia users could not even transform.

Ace had completely nullified the powers of all other Logia users. From this moment on, no Logia user would ever be able to defeat him. Ace was no longer just the Emperor of Flames—he had become the "Supreme Emperor" among Logia users.

Sengoku, body glowing intensely with golden light, gritted his teeth in frustration as Ace's overwhelming power became clear.

"Buzz!!!"

An intensely bright golden light radiated into the sky.

Sengoku's body expanded rapidly, growing taller in an instant! He transformed into a golden Buddha statue, towering over ordinary giants, resembling a true Buddha.

With the full activation of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan model—Great Buddha Form—his beast form ability was unleashed!

"Hah!"

A shockwave, unique to the Buddha form, instantly enveloped Sengoku's right fist.

"Buzz!"

Violent purple-black lightning roared around Sengoku, and immediately, the airwave surrounding his fist crackled with energy.

"Buddha Fist!"

Sengoku roared, unleashing an Ultimate punch infused with Conqueror's Haki, amplified by his Buddha form abilities.

"Boom!"

Ace watched Sengoku's powerful punch, and his eyes narrowed as his own right fist shot forward.

"Boom!!!"

The atmosphere itself shook as a terrifying force exploded.

"As expected! Even with such extreme temperatures, you haven't yet mastered the perfect combination of Conqueror's Haki and flames that exceed natural limits. It seems you've only just begun to control this power!"

Sengoku observed Ace, who was attempting to merge his pure fire abilities with Conqueror's Haki, combining them with the full might of his flame form. Though impressed, Sengoku's eyes gleamed with wisdom.

Conqueror's Haki—Infusion—is one of the most formidable abilities on the seas, but it's notoriously difficult to master. To wrap such a violent force around a fist, a sword, or any physical object is an extraordinary feat, achieved by only a few.

That Ace could perfectly integrate his Conqueror's Haki with the powers of the Mera-Mera Fruit was astounding. This was why the Navy referred to him as the Emperor of Fire. However, Ace was now utilizing flames that surpassed the natural limits of the Mera-Mera Fruit's heat by more than tenfold.

Still, even Ace couldn't perfectly combine his Conqueror's Haki with these extreme flames when he had just developed this ability.

Sengoku's eyes flashed with insight.

Just moments ago, Ace had declared to the world that he would absorb Akainu's Magma Fruit ability as fuel for advancing his Mera-Mera powers—developing flames that surpassed even natural fire. This confirmed that Ace had only recently unlocked this terrifying power.

If given time, Sengoku knew that with Ace's exceptional talent, it would only be a matter of time before he could fully merge Conqueror's Haki with his newly heightened flames. 

But for now, the Marines needed only to win this battle.

And it wasn't over yet!

"Go! While Fleet Admiral Sengoku is holding back the Fire Emperor, capture the execution platform!"

A Naval Headquarters Vice Admiral, now deadly serious, pointed toward the distant execution platform and shouted orders.

"Yes, sir!"

Several Vice Admirals, including giant Marine officers, landed on Sabaody Archipelago's GR-1 zone. The Vice Admirals, coated in powerful Armament Haki, moved swiftly to resist the scorching heat now flooding the area.

This method would rapidly deplete their stamina, but speed was crucial for the Marines to secure victory.

Rear Admirals, also covered in Armament Haki, landed alongside them and rushed toward the execution platform, disregarding the toll on their bodies.

"Damn it!" 

Nami's group watched, their expressions darkening as they saw the powerful Marine forces, coated in Haki, charging toward the execution platform.

"Every power on the sea is balanced!

Even if you've obtained such overwhelming power, far beyond the limits of natural flames, the intense heat you've created affects more than just us! We, the Marines, aren't the only ones suffering from the scorching temperature!

Your Entei Pirates are feeling it too!

Even if you try to control the heat at the execution platform to shield your crew, a small amount of Haki is enough to isolate that effect there. But for us, as Marine Haki masters, we can withstand the searing zone you've created by passing through it with minimal Haki.

Moreover, the 'Cat Burglar' and 'Desert Princess,' who have awakened their Devil Fruit powers, are now trapped in the harsh environment you've made—just like Aokiji and the others. They can't fully unleash their Logia abilities to help with the attack, can they?

Logia powers are restricted here, and the same goes for the two Logia users in your crew!

Now, the real deciding factor is Haki!

Your Entei Pirates are indeed a strange pirate group. I don't know how you managed it, but even though their Haki isn't particularly strong, the Cat Burglar and Desert Princess have somehow awakened the top-tier abilities of the Thunder Fruit and Sand-Sand Fruit.

But I don't need to know how you pulled it off.

I just need to exploit this to complete the strategic takedown of your pirate group!

The sea is always fair, Portgas D. Ace!" Sengoku, transformed into a massive Buddha, said gravely.

"So, this is the wisdom of Sengoku the Strategist," Ace muttered, acknowledging Sengoku's tactical brilliance. 

No wonder, in that era, so many pirate groups were outsmarted by him. With the powers of the Great Buddha, Sengoku had gained the strength, wisdom, and spirit of the Buddha, combining a formidable mind with a body as powerful as a giant.

But even though Sengoku had used Ace's newly gained powers to trap him in a layout, Ace's confidence didn't waver.

"However, it's all in vain," Ace smiled.

"Don't think you can save yourself with Conqueror's Haki! I'll keep you at bay!" Sengoku unleashed a torrent of his own Conqueror's Haki.

"Did I ever say I planned to rescue myself?" Ace sneered as the Sun Prison Garb around him surged violently.

With a sweep of his right hand, he struck the ground with immense force.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, the terrifying flames disappeared into the earth.

"Crack! Crack! Boom!"

In the next moment, the ground shattered, and the entire space turned dark red, like the eerie underworld itself.

"Whoosh! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Under Sengoku's shocked gaze, countless charred figures began to rise from the broken earth, like ghosts returning from purgatory.

"The souls of those who fell by my hand..." Ace grinned, lifting his head.

"Come! Join me, and let's add more to your company!"

"Remnant Flame Style—Southern: Great Burial Ranks of the Ten Trillion Fire Dead!"