Shuā!
The figures of the two disappeared, reappearing in mid-air, precisely between the parted tips of the sword that cleaved the cliff.
Qiāng!
A clash of metal against metal echoed. Sakaski and Whitebeard, blades meeting, sent slashes of sword energy and the black-purple lightning of awakened Conqueror's Haki, frozen in mid-air as they plummeted downwards.
Behind them, the two black lava sword edges began to crack and crumble inch by inch, countless collapsing rocks raining down from above their heads.
The locked-in combatants stared intently at each other, their killing intent almost tangible.
Suddenly, Sakaski took a deep breath, his chest puffing out slightly, and exhaled forcefully.
Hū!!!
Compressed black smoke and volcanic ash shot out from Sakaski's mouth like an air bomb, explosively expanding.
From afar, high in the sky a thousand meters up, the solidified sword that cleaved the cliff seemed to form a giant black disc suspended in the air.
Within the endless grey mist and black smoke, lightning and sword energy crisscrossed, resembling a world-ending thundercloud.
The two figures within the smoke, unable to see, relied on their powerful Observation Haki to perceive each other's movements.
Whitebeard channeled his Devil Fruit ability with his left hand, sweeping it towards a certain point. The air exploded with waves of immense vibration rushing forward.
Sakaski stomped his foot, the air bursting, and his figure blurred as he dodged Whitebeard's shockwave.
The intense shockwave pierced through the smoke, creating a large opening, but it was instantly filled by the encroaching air, carrying the grey mist and dense smoke.
The exchange continued, with countless bolts of lightning and explosions erupting within this dark cloud.
-----------------------
From afar, Sengoku, transformed into a golden Buddha, leaped in mid-air. He frowned as he looked at the dark cloud above, noticing that Kuwyl's aura was growing weaker by the moment.
Suddenly, a Den Den Mushi's voice rang out. Sengoku reverted to his human form, cradling Kuwyl in one arm and reaching into his coat with the other to retrieve a Den Den Mushi.
As soon as he connected, the voice of Fleet Admiral Kong came through the Den Den Mushi:
"Sengoku, what's the situation on your end?"
"There's unusual activity in the New World from the Golden Lion."
"He's continuously gathering subordinates and heading towards G4 Branch."
Sengoku's frown deepened, and he spoke in a low voice:
"At G4 Branch, all soldiers except Kuwyl have been killed."
"Sakaski is still fighting Whitebeard."
"What about the government's Devil Fruit users from before?"
"Kuwyl's aura is getting weaker; he might not hold on much longer."
Fleet Admiral Kong, listening to Sengoku's report in his office, also frowned:
"Alright, I'll contact the government first."
"You two just hold on for a while."
There was a few seconds of silence from the Den Den Mushi before Kong asked:
"Sengoku?"
Sengoku's low voice came from the Den Den Mushi:
"I'm afraid it's not just the Golden Lion."
"I saw... Roger."
Kong was silent for a moment:
"The pirate's network of favors..."
"I understand."
"Hold on."
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, he dialed the government, asking for a special Devil Fruit user to come to headquarters. Simultaneously, he beckoned his adjutant to relay the orders.
A moment later.
Beeeep— Beeeep! Beeeep! Beeeep! Beeeep!
Urgent alarm sirens blared throughout Marine Headquarters, Marineford. Everyone on the island dropped what they were doing.
Residents all retreated into their homes to await instructions. All soldiers entered a state of readiness. Officers of Vice Admiral rank and above gathered towards the central fortress.
-------------
Zephyr's Home.
Zephyr, who had been listless for days, sprang to his feet the moment the alarm sounded. He glanced towards the Fleet Admiral's office, with no time for further thought.
Grabbing his coat emblazoned with the word "Justice," he threw it on and rushed out of his home.
-------------
Marine Academy.
Upon hearing the alarm, Morris immediately ordered the instructors to lead the cadets into a state of readiness. Then, he, along with several academy directors, rushed towards the Fleet Admiral's office.
Enel, within the academy, watched the tense atmosphere around him, his small hand gripping his golden staff tightening.
He vaguely felt that this situation was related to the urgently dispatched Admiral Sengoku and Sakaski.
"Uncle Sakaski..."
-------------
Headquarters Port.
Dozens of warships were docked. The moment the alarm sounded, personnel on board moved swiftly.
On Sakaski's warship, Carol, who was training the recruits, suddenly turned her head towards the Fleet Admiral's office. She then turned back and shouted:
"Everyone, enter combat readiness immediately."
"Check supplies and ammunition."
"Prepare for battle."
With that, she stomped her foot, her figure vanishing as she rushed towards the central fortress.
The crew on the ship immediately busied themselves, making all necessary preparations.
Looking down from high above, the moment the alarm sounded, the entire headquarters sprang into action.
Residents were running towards their homes, soldiers were converging on the port, while numerous figures were rushing in the opposite direction towards the central fortress.
-----------------------
Time returns to half a day prior.
The latter half of the Grand Line, New World, the Sgiri Sea.
Various islands, including Marine G4 Branch, were collectively designated as the Sgiri Sea on the charts.
On the edge of the Sgiri Sea, aboard the Thousand Sunny Go.
Roger leisurely drank from a bottle, draining it in one gulp:
"Hah, shook off that mad dog Garp, didn't we? Hahahahaha!"
Rayleigh stood by his side, a faint smile on his lips:
"Presumably."
Roger burst into laughter again. Suddenly, they both looked up at the sky. Roger said:
"Isn't that Whitebeard's kid?"
Rayleigh nodded:
"Indeed. But judging by his aura, he seems to be severely injured."
Roger laughed heartily:
"Let's call him down and ask, and we'll know."
With that, Conqueror's Haki surged out, directly bombarding Marco. Marco, already severely injured, plummeted straight down.
Rayleigh shook his head. Truly...
He then stomped his foot, his figure appearing in mid-air, catching the falling Marco. By now, Marco had fallen unconscious.
After a simple bandaging by the ship's doctor and some water, it was perhaps a bit rough. Marco woke up, choking and coughing as he swallowed water.
Marco, still coughing, looked around vigilantly:
"Cough cough... You guys... cough...."
Roger then pushed through the crowd surrounding Marco and entered:
"No need to rush, Whitebeard's son. It's me."
Marco's eyes widened in surprise and joy as he looked at Roger. Roger and Whitebeard were friends and had shared drinks, so his crew members all knew of him.
He got out of bed, bowed respectfully, and said:
"Mr. Roger, please help my father!"
"He's being surrounded by the Marines!!!"
Roger's eyes narrowed:
"Tell me."
After a long while, having heard the entire story, Roger gave the order to turn the ship around and head for G4 Branch.
He walked out of the cabin and stood at the bow of the Thousand Sunny Go.
Roger held a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
As soon as the Den Den Mushi connected, Shiki's boisterous laughter erupted from the other end:
"Jijijijiji, Roger!"
"Have you changed your mind? Do you want to be my right-hand man?"
Roger grinned:
"Hahahahahaha, impossible, Shiki."
"This time I'm calling about Whitebeard."
After a long while...
-----------------------
On a massive flying ship, "Golden Lion" Shiki hung up the Den Den Mushi and suddenly laughed:
"Jijijijiji, how amusing."
"Let this world be thrown into chaos!!!!!"
He waved his hand, summoning his subordinates, and issued a call to arms.
As the order was dispatched, dozens of pirate ships from various locations began converging on Shiki, truly living up to his name as the "Pirate Admiral."
Shiki, inside his cabin, paused and then took out a pink Den Den Mushi.
The moment it connected, a hearty female voice came through. Shiki spoke into the Den Den Mushi:
"Jijijijiji, Linlin?"
-----------------------
Big/
"That brat..."
Recalling the magma bomb from God Valley, he immediately summoned his subordinates and turned the ship towards the Sgiri Sea.
-----------------------
On the Thousand Sunny Go, as Roger hung up the call with Shiki.
Swish!
Boom!!!
A whistling sound was heard, and a cannonball exploded on the distant sea surface, sending up a waterspout dozens of meters high.
Roger's face fell:
"He's chasing us again, that mad dog."
He then turned and shouted to the navigator:
"Target: Marine G4 Branch! Accelerate!"
"Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"
-----------------------
On the warship behind them, Garp, who was pursuing Roger, saw his pirate ship suddenly turn left and was puzzled.
However, he didn't care. He ordered his subordinates to aim in that direction and pursue relentlessly. He grabbed two cannonballs, coated them in Armament Haki, and fired.
The Armament Haki-coated cannonballs shot out like meteors, following the Roger Pirates' ship.
"Roger!!"
"Die!!!"
-----------------------
Half a day later.
The Roger Pirates, upon arrival, did not see G4 Branch, but instead, a thousand-meter-high broken peak.
A circle of dark clouds hovered above the peak, with lightning and sword energy flashing and intersecting within it.
Roger sensed one of the auras within and grinned, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes:
"Magma kid."
Meanwhile, Sengoku, high in the air in the distance, held a Den Den Mushi, his brow deeply furrowed.
After a few seconds of silence, he said to Fleet Admiral Kong on the other end of the Den Den Mushi:
"I'm afraid it's not just the Golden Lion."
"I saw... Roger."
Fleet Admiral Kong on the other end was silent for a moment:
"The pirate's network of favors..."
"I understand."
"Hold on."
With that, he hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Suddenly, Sengoku sensed Garp's aura appearing behind the Roger Pirates. His furrowed brow relaxed slightly as he looked at Kuwyl.
He stomped his foot and rapidly charged towards Garp's warship.
-----------------------
Both Roger and Garp, who was in pursuit behind him, sensed Sengoku's presence.
On the Thousand Sunny Go, Roger chuckled. Sensing a weakening aura next to Sengoku, he drew his Supreme Grade sword, Ace.
Hiss—!
Instantly coated in Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki wrapped around the blade. Gripping the sword with both hands, he stomped forward, sending a black slash hundreds of meters long hurtling towards Sengoku in the air.
Garp, seeing this from the distance behind, grabbed a nearby chain and inserted it into a cannonball. Holding one end of the chain and the other end of the cannonball, he threw it.
Bang!
A sonic boom erupted as Garp, following the cannonball, shot out. Just as the sword energy was about to strike Sengoku, he arrived and blocked in front.
"Haaah!!!!!"
Garp roared, his right arm bulging with muscle. His right fist, covered in Armament Haki, smashed into the sword energy.
Zzz—! Zzz—! Zzz—!....
The intense Armament Haki clashed with the sword energy entwined with Conqueror's Haki, a constant crackling of electricity.
Crack!
Cracking sounds echoed. With Garp's continuous exertion, the sword energy shattered with a roar.
Garp stomped his foot, a sonic boom erupting. His figure flickered through the air as he charged towards Roger.
Sengoku, also accelerating at full speed, had reached Garp's ship. He handed Kuwyl over to the medics and charged out again, heading for the battlefield.
-----------------------
Extra Chapter --- Battle of Sgiri Sea
In the Marine Era 1490, the conflict between the Marines and pirates intensified, like a powder keg. It finally exploded with the clash between Whitebeard and Marine G4 Branch.
The lineup of both sides participating in the conflict was so magnificent that it was rarely seen in centuries.
The pirates' side included the man who would later be known as the Pirate King, Roger, the legendary pirate Golden Lion, and several Yonko.
The Marine side deployed the current Fleet Admiral Kong, as well as the two future Fleet Admirals Sengoku and Sakaski, and several future Marine Admirals.
— This was known as the "Battle of Sgiri Sea."