The fifth day of the new world war.
Marine Headquarters, New Marineford.
The Fleet Admiral's office.
Karol entered to report the battle situation:
"Fleet Admiral, regarding Charlotte Linlin."
"All fleets have arrived at their designated positions. Should we launch a full-scale assault to completely destroy the third defensive island chain?"
Sakazuki looked up and stretched his neck:
"Launch the attack."
"These guys have been causing trouble for long enough. It's time they've had their fill."
"Let's show them what we're made of."
Karol nodded and said:
"Yes."
"Sot is already on his way."
"He also said there's something he needs to apologize for."
Sakazuki looked at Karol:
"What is it?"
Karol smiled:
"He forcibly took away the residents who refused to evacuate."
"But it won't affect the demolition plan."
Sakazuki shook his head:
"It doesn't affect the overall situation."
"It's nothing."
"He can handle such matters himself, no need to report it."
Karol smiled:
"Understood."
------------
The New World, a floating fleet that had just crossed the Red Line.
Several massive islands hovered in the air, all barren and rocky.
Warships flew rapidly around them.
Sot relaxed after receiving Karol's transmission:
"No problem, Mr. Karol."
"We should arrive at the battlefield in about half a day."
After a brief check of the mission details, he hung up the call.
A smile flickered across Sot's face. Ain, standing beside him, also smiled:
"How was it?"
"Did Fleet Admiral Sakazuki blame you?"
Sot nodded:
"Mhm."
"The Fleet Admiral said it doesn't affect the overall situation and that I can handle such matters myself from now on."
Ain chuckled:
"That's good."
"So we'll be heading into battle next?"
Sot looked out at the distant sea, a surge of excitement rising within him:
"That's right."
"Those guys have been causing a ruckus for days."
"It's time to put an end to it."
"I'll drop you off at Lotta Island shortly. Replenish your supplies and wait for me."
Ain chuckled, her eyes curving like crescent moons:
"Okay."
The colossal islands weaved through the clouds, advancing deeper into the New World...
------------
The New World, an unnamed sea.
The fifth day of the great war.
The Red-Haired Pirates stood guard on their ships.
The Red Force was on the verge of sinking. Battles of Four Emperor caliber, even with a sturdy keel and hull, were difficult to withstand.
This was considering that most of the battlefield had been in the sky.
The continuous battles had caused wounds to repeatedly scab and then break open.
Red-Haired Shanks had a large hole in his abdomen, the blood around it long dried into a dark brown. His chest was slightly sunken, and his breathing was heavy but not disordered.
His right hand, holding his saber, still possessed strength as he kept his eyes fixed on the two figures above. The others, however, looked utterly exhausted.
The most severe cases were Yasopp and Beckman. Both had to constantly use Observation Haki to track Barrett, and after several days, their heads felt like they were about to explode from the pain.
Coupled with Yasopp's existing injury from his severed arm, they were struggling to hold on...
None of the others were unscathed; bones were broken here, flesh torn there, and blood soaked through their clothes.
In the sky.
Enel's gold had transformed into a long plank, temporarily allowing the two to sit there.
Barrett's body was covered in dense knife wounds, resembling a spiderweb. A horizontal gash ran across his abdomen, and he looked as if he had been soaked in blood.
Enel's expression was grim. He also had a few knife wounds, but they weren't serious. However, there were two large holes in his arm, inflicted by Beckman's shot when Shanks had him grappled...
Whether it was the pirate side or the Marine side, the battle in this area was the most draining and exhausting of the four battlefields...
The abilities of both sides were too troublesome.
Shanks's "Observation Killing" could only be seen by Enel's electromagnetic field; Barrett's Observation Haki couldn't even sense it, which was how he sustained those knife wounds.
And it was only because it was Barrett; anyone else would have died from those monstrous Observation Killing slashes...
Barrett's exponential speed had left the Red-Haired Pirates in agony, forced to defend in a tight formation. Anyone caught by Barrett's opportunity would not escape his exponential speed.
The gaping hole in Shanks's abdomen and Yasopp's arm were grim lessons...
The anger from days ago had long since dissipated, and the battle had left everyone weary. Yet, neither side chose to retreat due to matters of pride...
In the sky.
Enel sat on the golden plank, propping his chin with his hand, looking down:
"Hey—"
"Red-Hair! The one with the severed arm next to you looks like he's about to collapse!"
"Give me some face and get lost!!!"
On the Red Force below.
Yasopp shook his head and said to Shanks:
"I'm fine."
Shanks, hearing Yasopp's voice behind him, his gaze sharpened.
He knew Yasopp was pushing himself, but to retreat like this, no one would be satisfied. They hadn't suffered such a severe loss in years.
Even when they weren't as strong, after entering the New World and being chased by Kaido and Charlotte Linlin repeatedly, it hadn't reached this extent.
Shanks looked up at the sky, his voice low and filled with killing intent:
"Your face isn't worth much..."
He raised his saber, Griffon, its blade flashing with intertwined Conqueror's Haki lightning...
In the sky.
The two heard his words and snorted coldly.
Barrett stood up on the golden plank, entering his "demon essence" mode:
"Don't know what's good for you."
"Then stay here."
Enel's expression also turned serious:
"Who do you think you are..."
"Trash of the seas."
Lightning crackled around him, his entire being like an elemental embodiment, floating in the air.
He condensed a spear of lightning in his hand, aiming it downwards:
"Hm?"
Suddenly.
Enel sensed something, and the lightning spear in his hand slowly dissipated.
Electric sparks flashed in his hand, and threads of lightning connected to the temporarily resting golden plank. He grabbed Barrett and rocketed upwards, disappearing into the clouds.
On the Red Force below.
The Red-Haired Pirates looked confused. Lucky Roo slumped to the ground:
"Ahhh—"
"Finally, they're running away, those two."
He looked completely listless.
However, Red-Haired Shanks did not let his guard down, gazing at the sky:
"No."
Beckman nodded slightly, his expression grave.
Those two arrogant fellows wouldn't retreat so easily...
Until a moment later...
A massive black silhouette enveloped everyone, and the Red-Haired Pirates' eyes widened in alarm.
Lucky Roo's meat dropped from his hand:
"Whoa, whoa! Did Golden Lion revive?!"
"How is that possible!"
Shanks shouted:
"Everyone, prepare!"
"Concentrate our attacks on one point!!!"
In the sky....
A small black dot rapidly enlarged.
A colossal lion's head, formed by several islands, descended with a crash...