The sudden noise that reverberated throughout the entire battlefield caused a slight confusion. Many people stopped fighting and gathered together. This provided them with a brief moment of respite, but they did not let down their guard.
Sengoku's expression turned grim as he observed the changes on the battlefield. This pause might not be an issue for the Xuanwu Navy, but for their World Government forces, it was incredibly dangerous. It wasn't just about a drop in morale; it was about their psychological defenses crumbling.
"We have not lost."
"We can still fight."
"Benedict, you need to be arrogant."
"Your scheme to crush our morale will not succeed."
To be seen by more people and for his voice to reach the entire battlefield, Sengoku directly unleashed the power of his Devil Fruit and shouted at Benedict.
Indeed, Sengoku's intention had an effect. Many soldiers, whose psychological defenses had become increasingly fragile due to the massive casualties on the battlefield, were on the verge of giving up resistance when Benedict finished speaking. They were afraid. Their superiors had been almost exclusively targeted and had almost all perished. Those still alive were either exceptionally strong or incredibly lucky. Sengoku's appearance now offered these soldiers, whose morale was on the brink of collapse, a glimmer of hope.
But that was all it was. Sengoku's efforts at this moment seemed pale and powerless.
"Listen!"
"If you continue fighting, you will still die."
"Perhaps you can take some with you."
"But your deaths will be meaningless."
"Because for whom you fight, for whom you sacrifice your lives, for whom you protect, is not your family, nor the bullied common folk, nor the justice in your hearts, but the executioners who have slaughtered countless innocent civilians."
"We are all adults, use your brains. Are the orders you are carrying out truly correct?"
"Those are merely the methods of the rulers."
"They do not care about your lives or deaths."
"They care about their interests, their authority."
"Your fate, I fear, is not as important as a single gold coin in their hands."
...
Hearing Benedict's words, Sengoku trembled with rage. He unleashed a shockwave with a punch, shouting, "Shut up."
There was no need for Benedict to act. Kenshiro instantly appeared, shattered the shockwave with a punch, and simultaneously sent Sengoku flying back dozens of meters. Sengoku absorbed the blow, golden light flashing around him, nearly dispelling his state due to a lack of stamina. He forced himself to maintain his current form.
The disheveled Akainu, the slightly battered Borsalino with several scorched areas, Vice Admiral Tsuru and Momousagi who were injured in multiple places, Mihawk who was fighting evenly with Sakata Gintoki and bore three ferocious sword wounds on his chest, Green Bull with a severed arm, and the duo of Kaioh and Rosan, and so on. This was the high-level combat power they could muster, and every single one of them was wounded.
"Xuanwu Navy soldiers, assemble."
Benedict gave the order, and the various officers immediately complied and began to gather. The World Government forces, watching the withdrawing Xuanwu Navy soldiers, showed a mix of vigilance, excitement, and relief.
However, Sengoku, having thought of something, roared, "Do not let them retreat! Attack and hold them."
Yet, not many understood Sengoku's order, and only the officers, and not even all of them, did. The other soldiers hesitated at this moment. Garp naturally understood his old partner's intention, but at this moment, Garp acted, but not lethally. He didn't even speak. Because if he spoke, with his prestige in the military, people would naturally follow. But was it worth it?
The soldiers' hesitation filled Sengoku with disappointment and despair. In a moment of carelessness, he was sent flying again by Kenshiro's punch. In terms of speed, strength, and stamina, he was no match for Kenshiro now. He couldn't win.
The Xuanwu Navy warriors gathered, and the World Government forces also congregated.
"It's over!" Sengoku said despairingly, seeing this scene. The soldiers were unwilling to fight, and continuing to fight would not yield much effect. After all, the Xuanwu Navy had more high-level combat power. Their disruptive tactics would be immediately intercepted and blocked.
"Three minutes. Lay down your weapons, raise your hands, and surrender. Those who surrender will not be killed!" Benedict ignored the pathetic Sengoku and spoke again. "Otherwise, we will directly bomb the entire battlefield."
Those few words, echoing throughout the battlefield, became the last straw for many. Bombers circled in the air. The remaining operational warships turned their cannons towards the tens of thousands of World Government forces. The Xuanwu Navy soldiers, under the arrangement of their officers, were orderly boarding the warships. Since there was going to be a bombardment, they could no longer remain here. Boarding the warships was the best option.
*Clink!* The rifle was dropped onto the ground.
Watching the Xuanwu Navy withdraw, the bombers circling in the sky, and the warships' cannons aimed at them, a Marine stepped forward and shouted with some panic, "I surrender, I'm not fighting anymore."
"They're all dead, dead for the sake of protecting the 'damned Celestial Dragons.'" A nearby soldier, tears streaming down his face, dropped his rifle and walked out slowly, crying, "Old man, your son is unfilial."
"Surrender. The Celestial Dragons never cared about our lives. In their eyes, I'm worse than a beast." Another person despairingly dropped their sword, raised their hands, and said firmly.
There were many Marines cleaning up after the Celestial Dragons. Among them were those who sought favor, and those who were filled with rage towards the Celestial Dragons. However, what could they, with their lack of personal power and influence, do to resist? Even their superiors, majors, major generals, lieutenant generals, and even admirals, showed respect to the Celestial Dragons and cleaned up after them. How could they compare?
Now, in this special environment, soldiers who knew of the Celestial Dragons' evil deeds and the World Government's atrocities, following Benedict's words, surrendered in increasing numbers. With the exception of certain CP organization members who were almost brainwashed, all the soldiers belonging to the Navy forces surrendered.
The forces that had initially gathered were now divided into two groups. One group resolutely refused to surrender. The other group surrendered. Those who surrendered did not want to be too close to those who hadn't, for fear of being caught in any unforeseen incidents.
Seeing this scene, Sengoku felt his heart turn completely cold. How could they possibly fight now?