Chapter 579: Appearance
At this moment on the battlefield, both the pirate and Marine forces had long since been fighting with bloodshot eyes.
At every moment, someone fell, either struck by a bullet, slashed by a blade, or caught in the aftermath of an attack from some powerful figure.
The scene was too brutal. Although the Edd War reef group was vast, with over a hundred thousand people gathered here to fight, and with individuals capable of destroying an entire island mixed in among them, one could imagine what kind of situation this was.
The war correspondents responsible for reporting on this battle only dared to hold their Video Den Den Mushi and film from a great distance, not daring to approach the battlefield, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Kuina gripped her sword, panting heavily as she looked at the fighting crowds around her. Her face was covered in dirt and bloodstains, and at her feet lay several pirates who had charged at her earlier, only to be cut down by her.
Koby and Helmeppo were also behind Kuina at this moment, the three of them fighting back-to-back, but in truth, most of the time it was Kuina protecting them.
Screams filled the air all around, blood splattered everywhere. Although Koby and Helmeppo could still fight, whenever they saw the carnage around them, they couldn't help but want to vomit, and their legs kept trembling.
There were many new recruits like them in the Marines who had never experienced the brutal slaughter of a battlefield. In terms of basic soldier combat, the Marines were indeed inferior to the pirates. However, several super-powerful figures on the Marine side had largely turned this disadvantage around.
Aside from Enel tying up Kizaru and Fujitora tying up Aokiji, on Akainu's side, Marco alone was no longer enough to handle him. Reluctantly, Diamond Jozu and Flower Sword Vista had to join forces with Marco, the three of them working together to deal with Akainu.
Moria had already been knocked down by Jinbe's punch. On a battlefield like this, Moria was at a significant disadvantage. His strength came entirely from his Devil Fruit power, and only when he had enough shadows could his true abilities shine.
Jinbe's powerful punch directly made Moria spit blood, temporarily incapacitating him, and then Jinbe went head-to-head with Vice Admiral Garp.
"Jinbe!!" Garp shouted while throwing punches. "Are you standing on the opposite side of the Marines too!?"
"Ever since I was thrown into Impel Down, I already was!" Jinbe pulled his fist back to his waist and struck out fiercely!
Boom! Garp's black iron fist clashed solidly with Jinbe's Three Thousand Tile Fist. A powerful burst of energy exploded, sending nearby pirates and Marines flying backward...
...
On the other side, Reiju, Robin, Nami, and Konenai—four girls—were also fighting Vice Admiral Tsuru. Reiju was responsible for mobile harassment, Konenai attacked head-on with her sword, Nami used her Weather Pole from behind to find attack opportunities, and Robin assisted with her Flower-Flower Fruit ability. If they had a healer, this little team would be a standard boss-fight party composition.
However, despite her advanced age, Vice Admiral Tsuru was indeed a boss-level figure. Near their position, one could see several pirates who had been turned into flat, folded clothes by Tsuru's Wash-Wash Fruit and laid out on the ground. These pirates weren't dead, but unable to move, they were trampled by people around them, screaming in pain...
Because of this, Konenai and the others didn't dare get too close to Vice Admiral Tsuru, attacking cautiously.
"Four little girls, quite clever..." Vice Admiral Tsuru commented.
...
There were pirates washed into clothes, and similarly, there were pirates turned into stone statues. Boa Hancock didn't want to fight the Whitebeard Pirates either, but her identity as a Warlord of the Sea meant that many pirates didn't understand her stance. They charged at her with roars, forcing Hancock to act even if she wanted to slack off.
One by one, the pirates who tried to attack her were turned into stone by her kicks. However, Hancock didn't distinguish between friend and foe, and some nearby Marine soldiers were also kicked by her...
...
Zoro was still dueling Hawk-Eye in swordsmanship, but Hawk-Eye's face was already showing impatience. While swinging his black blade Yoru to block Zoro's slashes, he said, "Is this all you've got? How disappointing!"
Zoro's face was filled with anger, but this anger wasn't directed at Hawk-Eye. It was anger at his own powerlessness. Even when he roared and put all his strength into slashing at Hawk-Eye, it was easily deflected. To him, it felt like a scrawny child foolishly challenging a strong man. The blow to his pride was too great...
...
Buggy and his crew wanted nothing to do with fighting in this chaotic battlefield. He had originally planned to sneak away with Alvida and the others. However, a Pacifista that Luffy and Franky had teamed up to send flying landed right in front of them. Getting up, the Pacifista spotted Buggy.
"Clown Buggy, one of the masterminds behind the Impel Down breakout! Attack!"
The Pacifista opened its mouth and fired a laser straight at Buggy and his crew. Boom! A ball of fire exploded, and the Buggy Pirates screamed in panic, scattering everywhere...
...
After taking a meteor from Fujitora, Doflamingo managed to cut it apart with his strings, but he no longer dared to say anything to Sugar. However, after jumping away, he spotted the target he was looking for.
With a leap, he charged straight at Law.
"Fufufufufu!" Doflamingo sneered. "Look who it is! Law, I thought you'd hide like a turtle forever. I never expected you to appear on this battlefield! What, found a new backer?"
Law shielded Walnut behind him and drew his nodachi, "Kikoku," his face dark as he said, "Doflamingo, I'm here to send you to hell!"
"Where do you get such confidence!?" Doflamingo laughed even louder.
But before he could finish laughing, a figure suddenly rushed out and slammed a shoulder into Doflamingo. Caught off guard, Doflamingo staggered from the immense force. Before he could steady himself, a pair of hands grabbed his ankles and lifted him upside down.
"Bastard, who are you!?" Doflamingo, hanging upside down, looked at the man before him and realized he seemed to be from the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
The one who attacked Doflamingo was Yard. He and Law had been protecting Walnut on the battlefield, usually keeping a low profile. But now, facing a powerful enemy like Doflamingo, he suddenly exploded!
His arm muscles bulged high, but strangely, these arms had segmented parts like insect limbs. On Yard's head, a pair of antennae appeared, and mandibles formed at his mouth!
Zoan-type Insect-Insect Fruit, Ant Form!
That's right, Yard had become a Devil Fruit user. His Devil Fruit had been brought to him by someone from the Revolutionary Army headquarters some time ago. It was said that Dragon himself had ordered it sent to him...
After grabbing Doflamingo, Yard let out a roar and began spinning in place with Doflamingo, swinging him around until he was flying. Then, with a sudden motion, he hurled Doflamingo in a direction!
Doflamingo was about to try to stop himself when, at that moment, a giant stone pillar swung over and slammed into him hard!
Thud! Doflamingo was sent flying like a home run!
The one who struck was Urouge...
The three of them combined their attacks, and even Doflamingo was almost knocked bloody!
"You... you!" Doflamingo's body stopped in midair, his smug grin finally gone, replaced by gritted teeth...
He swung his right hand behind him, and countless threads instantly appeared, twisting together in his palm.
Just as Doflamingo was about to unleash a Super-Impact Whip at Law and the others below, his ear twitched. He seemed to hear some strange sound.
Not just him, but Sengoku, Garp, Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, Jinbe, Crocodile, Ivankov, Marco, Vista—all of them heard this strange noise.
The sound was somewhat muffled, like the slow cracking of ice.
"No... not good!!!"
Sengoku was the first to react. He immediately crossed his arms in front of him and shouted, "All troops!! Brace for impact!"
The moment his words fell, a soft *pop* echoed again, followed by a fierce, violent shockwave!
Boom! The entire battlefield was hit like a level-12 hurricane. Countless pirates and Marines locked in combat were blown away, lifted off the ground, tumbling through the air.
The Marines screamed in confusion, not understanding what was happening. But the pirates, after a moment of shock, quickly realized what was going on. Even as they were blown away, they erupted in excited cheers.
Sengoku and the others dug their feet into the ground to steady themselves, raising their arms to shield their heads from the storm.
Doflamingo, already in midair, was the unluckiest of all. Not only did he feel the shockwave, but he also felt an immense force strike him directly in the abdomen.
"Gwaah!" Doflamingo spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying.
When the storm subsided, Sengoku and the others looked up toward the direction from which it came. There, at the rear of the battlefield, a tall figure was crouched, still holding the pose of a swinging punch.
"Whitebeard!!!"
Sengoku crushed a chunk of ice that had flown at him during the storm, gritting his teeth. "So the most important figure has finally appeared, hasn't he!?"
On the pirate side, upon seeing the tall figure, they erupted in earth-shaking cheers!
"Old Man! The Old Man is here!"
"Great!"
On the Marine side, and the people watching through the live broadcast, stared in shock at the tall figure, unable to stop trembling...
"That monster Whitebeard is out!"
"What's going on? Weren't they saying he was severely injured? Why is he appearing!?"
Under everyone's gaze, Whitebeard slowly withdrew his arm and said in a low voice, "Ian, is this enough?"
"Nice!" Ian, standing at Whitebeard's feet and looking much smaller, gave a thumbs-up. "But it would be even better if you could punch Doflamingo to death!"
Ace stood on the other side, holding his cowboy hat and laughing. "Too far away, how easy do you think that is?"
"Hmph, you brat!" Whitebeard snorted. "Ordering me to hit someone for you? You're the first!"
Ian chuckled and said nothing.
Whitebeard straightened up, grinning with a *gurarara* laugh, and sneered at Sengoku, who had transformed into a giant Buddha in the distance. "Don't worry, I'm just saying a little hello!"
"..." Sengoku had no reply.
After Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji, the fourth person to receive a "greeting" had now appeared...