Marineford Bay was absolute chaos. Cracked ice, scattered bodies, and war cries painted an apocalyptic scene, dominated by the towering shadow of Whitebeard's corpse, frozen in an eternal stance of defiance.
Mihawk, his blade Yoru plunged into the ice before him, had just repelled another of Akainu's assaults. His golden gaze remained impassive despite the storm of magma raging around him. But a few dozen meters away, another scene was unfolding—equally critical to the fate of this war.
The remaining Shichibukai—save for Mihawk—had regrouped. Doflamingo, his pink feather coat fluttering in the wind, wore a mocking grin, though his eyes betrayed a growing irritation. Gecko Moria, his massive shadow wavering in the gusts, muttered under his breath, visibly uneasy. Kuma stood still as a statue, gloved hands crossed in front of him, stoic as ever. Boa Hancock, meanwhile, was no longer there—she'd slipped away amid the chaos, heading toward Luffy and Ace.
Two figures approached. Aokiji advanced with cold determination, each breath forming a puff of vapor in the frigid air. Beside him, Kizaru's sunglasses reflected the flashes of combat around them.
Doflamingo was the first to react, raising his hands in a theatrical flourish. "Heh, heh, heh… Hold on a second there!" he called out, his sharp voice laced with biting sarcasm. "It's not fair to judge us because of that hawk bastard, you know? That guy's been doing whatever he pleases from the start. Why should we pay for his little games?"
Aokiji stopped dead, his icy blue stare locking onto Doflamingo. A heavy silence fell, broken only by the crunch of ice beneath his feet. Then, in a voice as cold as the storms he could summon, he replied, "If you want to prove you're not dead weight, then help us. Actively, this time. Show that the Shichibukai still have some use to the Marines."
A shrill laugh burst from Doflamingo's throat, echoing through the tension-charged air. "Oh, I love this! The Marines begging pirates to save their asses. What delicious irony!" He turned to his companions, a predatory grin splitting his face. "What do you say, friends? Shall we play the good little dogs for once?"
Gecko Moria grumbled, his eyes narrowing. "Kishishi… I don't like it, but if it gets me out of this mess, I'm in." He crossed his arms, his shadow writhing behind him like a coiled snake ready to strike.
Kuma, true to his usual silence, tilted his head slightly—a wordless agreement. His mechanical eyes showed no emotion, but his imposing presence spoke volumes.
Kizaru, watching the exchange with almost comical detachment, let out a theatrical sigh. "Ahhh… And here I was hoping to avoid breaking a sweat today. What a hassle." He adjusted his sunglasses, a lazy smile tugging at his lips. "But if Kuzan insists…"
Aokiji ignored the quip and fixed his gaze on the Shichibukai. "Here's the plan. I'll take you three and handle Whitebeard's pirates and Teach. Kizaru, you deal with the rest—the stragglers, the runners, anything still moving." His voice was a command, final and unyielding.
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Orders now, huh? Fine, Admiral. I'll have some fun with these clowns." His fingers twitched, and invisible strings began to dance in the air, ready to ensnare their prey.
Kizaru, already shimmering into particles of light, muttered, "As long as I don't have to run, I'm good." Then he vanished in a blinding flash, leaving Aokiji and the Shichibukai to their task.
Meanwhile, far from the admirals' watchful eyes, Boa Hancock glided through the debris and bodies, her cloak trailing behind her like a serpentine shadow. She'd spotted Luffy and Ace earlier, struggling to escape amid the chaos. Her heart had tightened at the sight of Luffy, exhausted. Without hesitation, she'd decided to help them—consequences to her Shichibukai status be damned.
She found them near a pile of shattered ice, surrounded by Marines trying to close in. Luffy, panting, threw clumsy punches, while Ace, his flames flickering weakly, fended off their attackers with erratic bursts of fire.
"Luffy! Ace!" Hancock called, her clear voice cutting through the clamor. She stepped forward, eyes blazing with fierce resolve. With a graceful motion, she unleashed the power of the Mero Mero no Mi. "Mero Mero Mellow!"
A pink heart shot from her hands, enveloping the Marines in a wave of instant infatuation. In a blink, they froze, turned to stone statues, their weapons clattering to the ground.
Ace, startled, turned to her. "Boa Hancock? What are you doing here?"
"Getting you out," she replied, her gaze settling on Luffy. Her cheeks warmed, but she quickly composed herself. "Follow me."
Luffy, despite his exhaustion, flashed her a wide grin. "You're amazing, Hancock! Thanks!"
She looked away, flustered but pleased. "No time to waste. Let's go."
Ace nodded, seizing the chance. "Alright. Thanks, Hancock. We owe you big time."
Together, they carved a path toward the coast, Hancock leading with deadly grace, petrifying anyone who dared approach. Behind them, Marineford continued to burn.
At the same time, in the heart of the bay, Teach surveyed the chaos. Surrounded by his crew, he faced the retreating Whitebeard pirates. Marco, his blue flames flickering, led his comrades with broken but unyielding authority. Joz, Vista, and the other captains formed an offensive line, determined to reclaim their father's body.
Teach threw his arms wide, a guttural laugh shaking his massive frame. "Zehahaha! Look at this! We're in deep shit, huh?" He jabbed a finger toward the horizon, where Aokiji and the Shichibukai approached, their menacing silhouettes stark against the smoke. "Why not join me? Together, we could crush these Marine dogs and take what's ours!"
Marco fixed him with a look of icy contempt. "Never, Teach. You betrayed Father. You betrayed everything we stood for. You're as much our enemy as they are."
The captains behind him nodded, their faces etched with pain and fatigue. Their loyalty to Whitebeard was absolute—they'd rather die than stoop to ally with his killer.
Teach shrugged, his grin unwavering. "Zehahaha! Suit yourselves. But you're done for, you know that, right?"
TO BE CONTINUED...
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