"Get back! You'll be set on fire!"
Vista shouted, swinging his swords and sending countless rose petals swirling through the air. "Dance of the Roses!"
The moment they touched Hancock's Flame Arrows, the petals themselves caught fire and burned away before they could reach her.
Only a few arrows got through, and they struck Jozu directly — instantly engulfing him in flames.
"Commander Jozu!"
"Jozu!"
Vista cried out in alarm as Jozu began screaming in agony. He seemed deaf to all sound, rolling frantically on the ground and even forgetting to activate his Diamond Fruit powers.
"Let the Holy Light punish your sins!" Hancock said coldly, full of disdain.
Marigold and Sandersonia, leading the rest of the Kuja, immediately waved their hands to press the advantage.
With one of their strongest fighters out of action, the Whitebeard Pirates fell into disarray.
"Die!"
Hancock had no intention of letting Jozu escape. She raised her foot, ready to drive her heel straight into his head — immobilized and unable to use his powers, he would be finished.
CLANG!
Sparks flew. Hancock's eyes narrowed sharply. Vista had crossed his blades beneath her foot, throwing his entire body between her and the burning Jozu to shield him.
"Commander Vista!"
Hearing his crew call out, Vista shouted back, "These flames cannot be put out with water, nor do they burn non‑living matter. For now, get Jozu onto the ship — there may still be a way to treat him!"
"Understood!"
Several crew members quickly moved to lift Jozu, who was writhing in a daze, while others formed a protective escort around them.
"Truly a crew forged through countless battles," Hancock said, the tip of her heel still pressed against Vista's swords. Though her words were praise, her tone remained icy and devoid of warmth.
Vista forced a grim smile, pushed back against her kick, and raised his blades. "Do not underestimate the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Commanders — reinforcements! Squard and the others have arrived!"
A shout rang out from the shore. Everyone turned to see four pirate ships of different designs speeding toward them.
At the front was a vessel bearing the flag of a spider‑skull — the Great Manta Ray Pirates, led by Squard.
Judging by their size, the combined force of the four ships numbered at least two thousand men, if not more.
Seeing this, Sandersonia — who was holding off the Sixth Division Commander — narrowed her eyes.
"If they reach land, we'll be in serious trouble."
She stepped back and called out to Mannoroth, who was fighting in the water. "Hey, Mannoroth — don't let them get ashore!"
Mannoroth had already spotted the four approaching ships led by Squard. But hearing Sandersonia's order only irritated him.
"Insolent woman! I only take orders from my Master, and I follow the hierarchy of rank. You are beneath me — you have no right to command me!"
Sandersonia nearly exploded with rage. Here we are facing a massive enemy, and he's still arguing about rank?
Meanwhile, Squard raised his great sword as the four vessels raced closer. Seeing Mannoroth's colossal form blocking their path, he roared, "Target that giant! Open fire!"
The command was given, and cannons lined the sides of all four ships turned toward Mannoroth.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Countless shells exploded against his body. Under the relentless barrage, the giant was slowly forced back.
After fighting non‑stop for a full day against nearly half of the Whitebeard fleet, Mannoroth was no longer at his peak strength. Against this new, heavy assault, he could only retreat.
"Damn it! If they land, it's all over — but we have no one left to stop them!" Sandersonia gritted her teeth.
Holding off the first half of the Whitebeard Pirates was already a stretch for the Kuja. Adding four more crews would leave them completely outmatched and overwhelmed.
Makugai — one of the four captains, recognizable by his twisted, lightning‑shaped mustache — shouted, "The giant blocking our path is retreating! Full speed ahead — prepare to make landfall!"
"ROARRR!!!"
His crew cheered in excitement.
BOOM!
At that exact moment, the main mast of Makugai's flagship was blown clean in half by a sudden cannonball from nowhere.
In the deafening explosion, the upper section of the mast crashed down onto the deck.
Amidst the screams of the crew, both sides — Whitebeard's men and the Kuja — stared in confusion.
Who fired that shot?
Several kilometers away, the Marine ships assigned to monitor the battle were equally baffled. Where did that come from?
They raised their spyglasses and traced the direction of the fire. Five more pirate vessels were now sailing toward the battlefield. The scouts examined their flags carefully.
The symbols looked familiar, but for a moment they could not place them. When Tsuru asked, they could only stammer uncertainly.
Fleet Admiral Kong took the spyglass himself. One glance was all it took for him to recognize them.
"It's them… I never expected them to show up now."
Tsuru lowered her glass, her expression turning grave.
Peachbeard leaned closer. "Vice Admiral Tsuru — who exactly are these intruders?"
Tsuru's face hardened. "Matthias the Iron Mask, Strugos the Swordsman, and Uldar the Iron Mask."
Even Kong could not immediately recall who they were — but Peachbeard's eyes widened instantly.
"Of all people… I didn't think they would intervene. From that first shot, it looks like they are opposing Whitebeard's side?"
Another female Marine, carrying a large katana over her shoulder, could no longer contain her curiosity. "Senior Peachbeard — just tell us who they are already!"
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Peachbeard's lips, just below the red mole on her cheek.
"Do you remember the Pirate Alliance War led by the Golden Lion and Grimm years ago?"
"Of course!" The others nodded. No one in the Navy could forget such a major event.
"During that conflict, the Golden Lion's massive fleet never fully committed to the final push. In the last phase, a large portion of them escaped using a space‑type Devil Fruit user under Grimm's command."
At this point, even the slowest‑minded among them understood.
Kong and Tsuru narrowed their eyes, watching the distant flashes of cannon fire.
"The remnants of the Golden Lion's fleet… I've heard they've been drifting around the New World, but I never imagined they would join this fight," Tsuru muttered, frowning.
This was the only development she had not predicted.
It was the kind of event no one could possibly plan for.
"What should we do, Chief Tsuru? Should we call for reinforcements too?" Peachbeard asked.
"Stay calm. Even with Matthias and the others arriving, at most they will only cancel out Squard's force." Tsuru remained composed.
"The true focus of this war is still Whitebeard and Grimm. As long as they remain unchanged, we hold our position and do nothing."
"Understood."
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