Just as the pirates thought Whitebeard's strike had succeeded, the Three Admirals guarding below the execution platform made their Move.
They simultaneously extended their arms, easily blocking Whitebeard's quake attack, and even found the leisure to bicker.
"It's all because the encircling wall couldn't be raised in time," Aokiji said lazily.
"Isn't it because of your ice?" Akainu shot him a glance.
"Oh~ Why don't you just go and melt it then, Sakazuki?" The old sarcastic Kizaru said slyly.
Taro's mouth twitched as he heard Sengoku command: "Redirect all power to the encircling wall! Use maximum output and raise it as quickly as possible!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!" The communication officer took the order and left.
Soon, the encircling wall, as massive as a city rampart, rose up. The barrier, cast from iron plates, reached fifty meters high, and countless heavy cannons were rolled out from the pre-designed firing ports.
At that moment, the massive body of Little Oars Jr., who had previously fallen in the plaza, jammed a section of the wall, leaving a gap in the entire perimeter.
"Meteor Volcano!"
Akainu's arms transformed into magma, launching hundreds of magma fists into the sky, which then rained down like meteors.
"Shoo, shoo, shoo!"
Following the whistling sounds, the magma shells crashed down. Explosions and flames instantly swept through the entire bay, and the pirates wailed as they scattered in all directions to evade the attack.
Seeing this Move again, Taro couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
His own knock-off version might have decent power, but the special effects were leagues apart—not even worth fifty cents.
Sigh, comparing yourself to others is just asking for frustration!
Sabaody Archipelago.
Sengoku ordered the signal of the visual den den mushi to be cut. Under the barrage of gunfire and Aokiji's freezing, the livestream of the 'Best Streamer of the Year'—Lord Buggy—was also shut down. The onlookers, left with nothing to watch, immediately erupted in an uproar.
"Why did the transmission stop? Put it back on!"
"Let us see!"
"It seems there's a problem with the visual den den mushi over there. There's nothing we can do!"
"Did the Marines really make a deal with Whitebeard?"
"..."
Amidst the public indignation, the 'Supernovas' among the pirates displayed varying reactions.
"Boring Marine tricks. The sideshow is over, tsk," Eustass Kid remarked dismissively.
'Big Eater' Jewelry Bonney lamented the fate of 'Tyrant' Kuma being modified, crying her eyes out while her crew tried to comfort her.
Trafalgar Law was leading his crew toward the pier, saying contemptuously as he walked, "Whitebeard betraying his comrades? How ridiculous!"
"We're setting sail, guys!"
Photo King, the reporter from the World Economic Journal, was searching for his two assistants but couldn't find them anywhere.
At the pier.
"Wan Luo, are we setting sail too?" the girl, Wan Shi, asked softly.
"Yes," Wan Luo replied firmly as he pulled up the small boat's anchor.
"Are we going to be pirates?"
"That's right. I'm going to be a pirate who can capture first-hand footage of all major events. What do you say, Wan Shi? Coming with me?"
The girl felt the boy's idea was a bit absurd, but she eventually nodded. "Alright, I'll go wherever you go!"
"Oh yeah! Then I declare the 'Image Pirates' officially formed!" Wan Luo waved his arms excitedly and grinned widely... Marineford.
By now, the bay had become a living hell. The powerful lava shells pierced through the thick ice, blasting countless massive holes into the surface.
The seawater was instantly boiled. Even Whitebeard's flagship, the Moby Dick, was hit and burst into flames. The heavy cannons on the encircling wall also opened fire one after another.
At the entrance of the bay, the lasers from twenty pacifists fired simultaneously, sealing off the path of retreat.
Whitebeard unleashed a Quake Fist, but it only managed to smash a large crater into the iron wall without destroying it.
The Whitebeard Pirates could only passively endure the bombardment, caught in a dilemma and pushed into a desperate situation!
"The encircling wall operation is largely successful. Now, proceed immediately with the execution of Portgas D. Ace!"
The Marines had gained a complete advantage, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku followed up with the order to execute Ace.
Garp clenched his teeth and closed his eyes in agony.
The sea breeze blew in gusts, and dark clouds seemed to be drifting in from the distance.
Just then, Little Oars Jr., who had been lying on the ground, moved. He actually managed to crawl back up with sheer tenacity!
"Fire!"
Although ordinary guns and cannons could hardly cause much damage to Little Oars Jr.'s body, the continuous fire was still too much for the mortally wounded giant to bear.
Then, the 'Best Actor' Kizaru stepped forward. Seeing this, Taro knew things were under control.
"Kowai ne~ You really are tenacious. It's fine, leave it to me!"
As Kizaru spoke, he raised his right hand and extended his index finger. A golden light began to gather at his fingertip.
"In a situation like this, the best way is to shoot him through the head!"
Charging, still charging, and still charging!
Taro watched the brilliant performance of this Senior from the acting world, his face twitching.
"Current Shoulder Throw!"
With a loud shout, a current suddenly surged from the seabed. The turbulent seawater instantly rose high into the air and then crashed down.
Seawater splashed everywhere, revealing Luffy inside, clutching a thick mast!
The veteran actor Kizaru showed a hint of surprise and took the opportunity to withdraw his still-charging finger.
Watching this, Taro felt like cheering and giving Old Man Kizaru a thumbs up; he was just too damn good!
"How scary, being so young!" Kizaru said, looking at Luffy. "But you can't possibly win against us!"
"Give Ace back to me!" Facing the Three Admirals, Luffy showed no fear and let out a roar.
He hurled the mast in his hands toward the Three Admirals with all his might and then leapt into the air.
"Gomu Gomu no Stamp Gatling!"
Countless shadows of feet kicked toward the Three Admirals.
[Gomu Gomu no Stamp Gatling learned successfully]
The decisive battle was about to begin, and Taro also felt a bit nervous.
Aokiji waved his hand, freezing the mast into a massive block of ice. Against the three Logia-type-type Admirals, the attacks of Luffy, who didn't know Armament Haki, were completely ineffective.
Luffy realized this as well. After landing, he immediately entered Second Gear and leapt up again, trying to bypass the Three Admirals.
"Speed is weight. Playing small tricks is useless!" Kizaru transformed into golden light and appeared beside Luffy, sending him flying with a Flash Kick.
Taro, who was firmly convinced Kizaru was an actor, understood the Oscar winner's intention at a glance.
Kizaru had acted before Akainu or Aokiji could, kicking Luffy out of the danger zone.
Sure enough, the Luffy who had been kicked away was not seriously harmed and quickly scrambled back up.
"Proceed with the execution immediately!" Sengoku ordered in a heavy voice.
Taro subconsciously shifted his seat, moving a bit further away from the two executioners.
The executioners raised their long blades high, swinging them toward Ace, who had already bowed his head and closed his eyes in anticipation of death.
Just as everyone thought Ace's head was about to roll, two Sand Blades suddenly appeared, severing the long blades in the executioners' hands.
Crocodile!
The wind grew even stronger!
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