Suppressing his anger, Sengoku returned to Marineford.
He had already expected—
That after the Paramount War, the Five Elders would push for an attack on Sabaody.
But—
Not even giving him one or two days to recover—
Still exceeded his expectations.
Marineford was in ruins.
The harbor plaza—
Completely destroyed.
The headquarters building—
Split open by a massive crack.
But these losses…
Were nothing compared to the real cost.
The Marines.
Out of one hundred thousand soldiers—
More than half were wounded.
And twenty thousand—
Dead.
The air reeked of blood.
The cries of injured soldiers echoed everywhere.
Families clung to cold corpses—
Weeping in despair.
War—
Was a merciless meat grinder.
A cold executioner.
The weak—
Didn't even know how they died.
Sengoku clenched his fists tightly.
Faced with such devastation—
How could he possibly ask them—
To fight again?
"Those damn Five Elders… they don't treat Marine lives as lives at all!"
His eyes reddened with fury.
Even cursing them openly.
Behind him, Kong hurriedly covered his mouth.
"Have you lost your mind?! Saying that—even you won't escape punishment!"
Sengoku roared:
"What can they do? Take my life?! Fine!"
"Commander-in-Chief Kong—you were Fleet Admiral once too!"
"Don't you see what's happening here?!"
Kong fell silent.
He sighed deeply.
Of course he understood.
But understanding—
Changed nothing.
The Five Elders' orders—
Were absolute.
To defy them—
Was to betray the World Government.
And no one could bear that consequence.
Kong finally said:
"Sengoku… only send the uninjured troops."
"I'll make up the rest from other departments."
As Commander-in-Chief—
His authority exceeded Sengoku's.
He could mobilize additional forces.
After venting his anger—
Sengoku calmed down.
Burdened by "justice"—
He had no choice.
He thanked Kong—
Then began assembling the army.
20,000 uninjured Marines.
Top-tier forces:
Aokiji.
Kizaru.
Akainu—
Excluded.
Partly due to heavy injuries.
Partly—
Sengoku's own intentions.
He didn't want Akainu gaining more merit.
Otherwise—
Aokiji's chances of becoming Fleet Admiral would drop even further.
Kong gathered another 30,000 troops.
Total force:
50,000.
Even right after a war—
To assemble such an army in such a short time—
Only the World Government could do it.
Soon—
Under Sengoku and Kong's leadership—
The massive army marched toward Sabaody.
At the same time—
Kong contacted CP0, Momousagi, Chaton—
Ordering them to wait and coordinate.
The smoke of war—
Rose once more.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Luo Xing had already anticipated this.
He was prepared.
With Moria arriving—
Bringing the Thriller Bark and its undead army—
Combined with the Impel Down prisoners—
His forces reached around 10,000.
Though only one-fifth of the Marines—
These weren't ordinary soldiers.
They had consumed monster cells.
Each one—
Could fight ten.
Fearless.
Savage.
Relentless.
Still—
Luo Xing wasn't satisfied.
He wanted more power.
He summoned:
Shiryu.
Jinbe.
Avalo Pizarro.
Catarina Devon.
Vasco Shot.
Sanjuan Wolf.
Behind him stood:
Zoro.
Enel.
Moria.
Luo Xing glanced over them.
"The war with the World Government is about to begin."
"You're strong."
"But not strong enough."
"I have monster cells."
"Do you want them?"
Their eyes lit up instantly.
Monster cells—
More valuable than Devil Fruits.
Instant power boost.
Who would refuse?
Even Jinbe—
Did not hesitate.
Luo Xing nodded.
"There are high-level and low-level cells."
"The stronger ones grant greater power…"
"But also greater risk."
"You might die instantly."
He threw both Dragon-level and Demon-level cells onto the ground.
"Choose."
Pizarro and the others hesitated.
Power—
Was tempting.
But life—
Came first.
They chose Demon-level cells.
Soon—
Their bodies transformed.
Doubling in size.
Power surging.
"HAHAHA! This power—this is insane!"
Pizarro roared.
Among them—
Catarina Devon saw the greatest boost.
Her Mythical Zoan—Nine-Tailed Fox—
Enhanced even further.
Only Shiryu and Jinbe remained.
Shiryu picked up a Dragon-level cell.
"If you're afraid of death…"
"Then don't call yourself a pirate."
He swallowed it whole.
Instantly—
His body convulsed.
A suppressed scream escaped him.
Blood covered his body.
The others watched—
Almost hoping he'd die.
After all—
He had mocked them.
And tortured them in Impel Down.
But—
He endured.
Barely.
Then—
Jinbe stepped forward.
He picked up a Dragon-level cell.
"This war…"
"Won't be limited to Marineford or Sabaody."
"It will engulf the entire world."
"I've joined you."
"So I will fight for it."
"And for Fish-Man Island—"
"I must become stronger."
"Even if it costs my life."
Jinbe had joined for his homeland.
But now—
He had seen Luo Xing's power.
His presence.
His will.
Like Whitebeard.
And Luo Xing—
Had tried to save Ace.
Had stopped Blackbeard.
These debts—
Jinbe would repay.
His loyalty—
Was no longer just obligation.
It was becoming real.
Without hesitation—
Jinbe swallowed the Dragon-level monster cell.
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