A little earlier in time,
aboard the Revolutionary Army fleet.
Countless people rushed back and forth in busy motion, while intelligence officers worked frantically on multiple fronts.
They had seized the opportunity and were heading toward Marine Headquarters.
But their target was not Marineford.
It was the stretch of red land behind Marineford itself.
The Holy Land, Mary Geoise!!!
Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army, was reading the latest intelligence report.
And the moment he saw it, cold sweat instantly broke out across his face.
"The Paramount War... it's actually this brutal?!"
The information in his hand had been secretly passed back by Ivankov and the others. They had ways to bypass the Marines' signal jamming.
"This is bad..."
The Army Commanders all wore grim expressions.
"It's not just Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates. Even Emperor Kaido, the legendary pirate Golden Lion, the Lone Red, the Demon Heir... and even that man himself have personally joined the war!!!"
"The fact that Marineford is still standing at all is already a miracle!!!"
Holding her rifle, Ginny stared at the report with worry all over her face.
"Kuma should be fine, right? Mr. Ozz is watching over him, after all."
"Don't worry. With Kuma's strength and Devil Fruit ability, he won't be in danger."
The other commanders tried to reassure Ginny.
"Honestly, there isn't a single worry-free one between that father and daughter. I heard Bonney went looking for Ozz a few days ago too, and now no one knows where she is."
"I'm so worried."
Ginny puffed up her cheeks and rested her chin on her hand, sighing over and over.
At that moment, a bright voice came from outside the meeting room.
"It's pretty rare to see Sister Ginny like this."
The doors swung open, and a blond young man in black noble-style clothing, long boots, and a hat walked in.
"Mr. Dragon, I'm late."
Hearing the voice, Dragon finally looked up.
"Oh, Sabo. You haven't seen this report yet, have you? Something major has happened."
"Right. The mission I was on before was way out in a remote part of the sea."
Sabo nodded and took the report, immediately beginning to analyze it.
After all, he was the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff at such a young age. Aside from his strong Haki and hand-to-hand combat foundation, his sharp mind was equally essential, much like Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Marines' great strategist.
"Golden Lion Shiki? He probably brought all those islands over and fused them around Marineford. That's the only way a battle with this many top-tier fighters could even fit."
"As things stand, the pirates' main objective is still rescuing the pirate known as Fire Fist Ace..."
"Ace..."
The moment that name left his mouth, Sabo froze.
Then tears began pouring down his face in huge drops.
That reaction shocked all the Revolutionary Army officers in the room.
"Sabo?!"
"What's wrong, Sabo?!"
"N... nothing..."
"I just... remembered everything!!!"
"Ace and Luffy... they're my brothers!!!"
"Mr. Dragon, I have to go save them!!!"
At the mention of his son's name, Dragon paused and met Sabo's unwavering gaze.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Very well..."
"I authorize you to represent the Revolutionary Army and support Ivankov's side, to prevent the Marines from reinforcing Mary Geoise if it comes to that."
"But you must come back alive, Sabo!!!"
The moment those words fell, Sabo nodded at once and rushed out, slamming the door behind him.
Dragon let out a sigh, but the moment he turned back, several extremely sharp stares were already fixed on him.
"..."
You people really are impossible.
In the end, Sabo, Ginny, and the giant Morley were assigned to secretly infiltrate from the islands outside Marineford, the same islands Shiki had brought over and Ozz had placed around the battlefield.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
No one expected that, at such a hopeless moment, someone would burst out from underground and save Ace and Luffy.
"That's...???"
"He came out of the ground. That ability feels so familiar!!!"
"And that outfit... don't tell me it's...?!"
The two brothers, still stunned after being saved so abruptly, looked at the blond young man who had emerged from below.
The instant they heard that familiar tone, their eyes bulged wide and snot almost started running down their faces.
As if they could hardly believe it was real, they both called out the same name in trembling voices.
"Sa... Sabo?!"
After a few tumbles, all three of them ended up covered in dirt.
But neither Ace nor Luffy cared about that, or even about their own pain. They grabbed Sabo's clothes as if trying to make absolutely sure.
And the clearer they saw him, the more tears gathered in their eyes until it all burst out like a flood. Their mouths hung wide open as tears and snot streamed down their faces.
"You're alive!!!"
"Sabo!!!"
The two of them were so overwhelmed they clung to him and cried openly. Sabo smiled too, tears gathering in his own eyes.
"Yeah, Ace, Luffy... I'm back."
Everyone watching was dumbstruck.
"The Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, Sabo!!!"
"How many huge figures are going to show up in this war?!"
Sakazuki's punch had missed, and now, beneath the brim of his cap, his fierce eyes locked onto the three brothers.
"What an unexpected development..."
"Sabo of the Revolutionary Army. What dangerous, vicious brothers."
"You all have to stay here and die today!!!"
Without another word, he raised his fist of boiling magma, determined to wipe them all out at once.
But in that instant, the ground suddenly began to tremble, then rolled upward and buried most of his body beneath it.
"There's a giant too!!!"
"That's Morley, one of the Revolutionary Army's commanders!!!"
The giant man in a dress burst up from the earth, fork in hand, steam rising all over his body.
"The ground's too hot!!!"
"Sabo-boy, hurry and run! This won't hold Akainu for long!!!"
At that moment, Jinbe stepped forward as well.
"Ace, Luffy, and you, their other brother, go now!!! The Marines' main targets are the three of you!!!"
Jinbe and Morley stood behind them, forming a wall.
"Ace, go!!!"
Ace never listened to anyone.
But Sabo was different.
The moment Sabo spoke, Ace clenched his teeth and glanced one last time at the scorched, melting ground in the distance. Then, finally, he ran together with Luffy and Sabo.
The Whitebeard Pirates followed after the three of them.
Sabo carried Luffy on his back, with Ace running alongside him.
Just like when they were kids.
"What a touching scene. Don't you think?"
Ozz folded his arms, a faint smile on his lips.
"Yes. Pure feelings really are beautiful."
Redfield nodded. That was exactly the sort of thing he appreciated most.
With his hands in his pockets, Ozz walked forward through the battlefield, watching the shells and flames fly everywhere. There was a light, unreadable cheerfulness in his expression.
"Well then... now that the main prize has escaped, this grand performance should be about over..."
Then, with a light snap of his fingers, a Den Den Mushi suddenly appeared in his hand.
"Just kidding."
Followed immediately by the line going dead and him grinning? No. The story was not ending that easily.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"