Marine Headquarters, Marineford!
The towering execution platform had already been erected. On the open ground before the inner bay, a vast number of soldiers stood, a dense expanse numbering a hundred thousand.
Below the execution platform, the Three Admirals, symbols of the Marines' strongest might, sat on their chairs, gazing coldly into the distance.
In front of them were the Giant Marine Vice Admirals, their colossal forms like small mountains.
Further ahead of them were the renowned Seven Warlords of the Sea, five of whom were present.
In the distance, atop a building.
Lilith stood there, the sunlight perpetually bathing her, making her exude a sense of sanctity.
By the corner wall, Xia Zhifeng leaned against it, holding a greatsword, seemingly resting with his eyes closed.
Chi Jiuxiao and Huo Qingming, for reasons unknown, stood by the port of the inner bay, appearing ready to charge into the fray at the first opportunity.
Li Jiayi lounged lazily on the steps leading from the inner bay to the execution platform.
He had joined the Marines, and his beautiful assistant had joined the pirates; no matter how he looked at it, it was a win-win, perfect!
It was at this moment…
Someone suddenly shouted loudly.
"Report, the Gate of Justice has been opened!"
"There's a ship, a ship has appeared."
"It's the alliance of 43 pirate captains under the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Why were they able to pass through the Gate of Justice so easily? Why couldn't the Gate of Justice stop them?"
"Where is Whitebeard? Whitebeard is nowhere to be seen! Only the ships of the 43 pirate captains and the ships of the Whitebeard Pirates' squads. Whitebeard's Moby Dick is not in sight!"
Before Whitebeard had even appeared, a commotion arose within the Marine ranks.
After all, he was the pirate known as the world's strongest man.
Even though he was old and no longer at his peak, the name Whitebeard remained a nightmare for the Marines.
It was at this moment…
A large number of bubbles suddenly appeared on the surface of the inner bay.
On the execution platform, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's eyes suddenly opened, and he murmured, "They're coming directly from underwater?"
As soon as Sengoku finished speaking, a large hole appeared in the surface of the inner bay, and three ships suddenly rose from the seabed.
The leading ship resembled a giant whale. An old man, bare-chested, stood at the bow, holding a massive blade. His crescent-shaped mustache curled upwards.
Whitebeard!
Whitebeard raised his head and looked towards the execution platform ahead, meeting Sengoku's gaze.
"Old friend, it's been a long time."
The next moment, Whitebeard plunged his blade into the ground, then raised his fist and slammed it outwards to both sides.
Countless Marines watched, bewildered. Whitebeard's fists seemed to strike the air, having no effect. However, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's expression changed slightly.
"Withdraw!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku roared.
"That's the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit! The Sea Quake is coming!"
Almost the instant Fleet Admiral Sengoku's words fell, the sea outside Marineford began to rumble loudly. Immediately after, colossal waves rose from both sides.
These waves were incredibly terrifying, reaching two to three hundred meters high, forming a monstrous tsunami that was about to crash down upon Marineford.
Countless Marines were stunned.
What terrifying power was this?
If that tsunami were to fall, what would be the point of the hundred thousand Marine soldiers in the bay?
In an instant, these hundred thousand soldiers would be swept away by the currents.
As the tsunami loomed, the Marines fell into a state of panic. One of the Three Admirals suddenly stood up.
"Do we have to do such troublesome things right from the start!"
One of the Three Admirals of the Marines!
Aokiji!
*Crack, crack!*
The moment Aokiji stood up, the sound of freezing emanated from him. Vast amounts of frost appeared on his body, quickly covering him.
Logia-type Devil Fruit—the Ice-Ice Fruit!
The next instant, an ice pillar suddenly appeared beneath Aokiji's feet, propelling him into the air.
In mid-air, Aokiji reached out and pressed towards both sides. Large amounts of frost appeared, and then, the towering tsunami began to emit the sound of "crack, crack" as it froze, being rapidly encased in ice.
Even the frost spread downwards along the tsunami, and then, the seawater in the inner bay also began to freeze rapidly.
In an instant, the sea was frozen!
This provided the pirates with a "land" to advance upon, but their ships were also completely frozen by Aokiji, leaving them no room to retreat.
Whitebeard said nothing further, instead drawing his great blade and pointing forward.
"My men!" Whitebeard shouted loudly, "Charge!"
Following Whitebeard's command, the pirates on the ship descended onto the ice and began to charge towards the land within the inner bay.
At the same time…
The Chosen Ones officially received the notification for the Forbidden Zone mission.
"Whitebeard Pirates attack Marine Headquarters Marineford, triggering a large-scale Forbidden Zone—the Summit War."
"All Chosen Ones located in the异能大海贼 (Supernatural Seas Pirate) region may choose whether to participate. Participants will be sent into the Forbidden Zone within 60 seconds."
"Defeat Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku, reward: Gold-quality ability (Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Great Buddha Form) x1"
"Defeat Marine Admiral Aokiji, reward: Gold-quality ability (Ice-Ice Fruit) x1"
"Defeat Marine Admiral Kizaru, reward: Gold-quality ability (Glint-Glint Fruit) x1"
"Defeat Marine Admiral Akainu, reward: Gold-quality ability (Magma-Magma Fruit) x1"
"Defeat Warlord of the Sea Swordsman Mihawk, reward: Random Gold-quality item x1, Beginner Armament Haki x1, Beginner Observation Haki x1"
"Defeat Warlord of the Sea Gecko Moria, reward: Gold-quality ability (Shadow-Shadow Fruit) x1"
"Defeat Warlord of the Sea Donquixote Doflamingo, reward: Gold-quality ability (String-String Fruit) x1"
"Destroy twenty Pacifistas, reward: Random Gold-quality item x1"
"Defeat 100/200/300/400/500 Marines (including Marine-aligned Chosen Ones, each Marine-aligned Chosen One will be converted into a Marine soldier based on strength), you will receive a specified category of White/Green/Blue/Red/Gold-quality item x1 respectively. This reward can be split, with no reward cap."
"Successfully escort Fire Fist Ace away from Marineford, reward: Gold-quality ability (Flame-Flame Fruit) x1, Random Gold-quality item x1, Specified category Gold-quality item x1, Specified Gold-quality item x1."
"After this large-scale Forbidden Zone is activated, Chosen Ones within the Forbidden Zone who kill each other will receive a fixed minimum of 20% of their Divine Stone fragments, and a maximum of 100% of their Divine Stone fragments."
"Gentlemen, war has arrived. Please fight to your heart's content."