In the first half of the Grand Line, three pirate ships surged forward, one ahead and two in pursuit, racing toward the waters near Marineford.
Boom, boom, boom!
Amidst the roaring cannons, Benn Beckman puffed on his cigarette as he fired back at their pursuers. Taking down another pirate, he glanced at Shanks, who was unleashing waves of sword energy.
"Captain, how about you try using your Conqueror's Haki to scare them off?"
"Hahaha."
Shanks exhaled deeply, his sharp gaze fixed on the tall figures aboard the two pursuing ships. Dark red lightning began crackling along his sword, Gryphon. With a swing, a dark red shockwave tore through the sea and ripped through the sky, heading straight for the two pirate ships behind them.
"Run, run!"
Sheathing his sword, Shanks laughed loudly. "My Haki's not strong enough to handle two Emperors at once. Let's head to Marineford. Whitebeard's already fighting the navy there."
"Once we arrive, we can stop them from fighting, and I'll ask both Whitebeard and the navy for a favor. Then we'll team up with Whitebeard, making it two versus two. With the navy nearby, it'll balance out, and no one can afford to keep fighting."
Clapping Benn Beckman on the shoulder, Shanks slicked back his damp hair and lit a cigarette.
"See? Your captain has a solid plan, hahaha."
"Haha, I think the captain's had too much to drink," joked a casually dressed, blond gunman nearby. "But your plan is interesting, Captain. Let's get moving. They're catching up again."
"Huh?"
Glancing behind them, Shanks almost dropped his cigarette. In the distance, Charlotte Linlin raised her arms, summoning lightning that danced through the ominous clouds above her. The roiling clouds seemed alive, rapidly advancing toward the Red-Haired Pirates.
"Move faster, everyone!"
"If they catch up, it'll get messy!"
Unsheathing Gryphon again, Shanks charged to the front. Lightning crackled as he raised his blade, ready to hold the line. Behind him, his crew stood firm.
At Marineford, Whitebeard and Kizaru had returned to the repaired port, courtesy of Hiroshi's efforts. The sounds of battle filled the air as the Whitebeard Pirates launched relentless attacks on the navy.
Amidst the flashing lasers and sword strikes, Kizaru lazily blocked Cong Yunqie with a light blade.
Yawning, Kizaru glanced at the chaotic battlefield. "Why's Kaido taking so long? I'm getting bored."
Boom!
Dodging another attack, Whitebeard glanced toward the horizon. "They're close. I can sense the presence of that red-haired brat."
"Oh, I can feel it too," Kizaru smirked, looking toward the distant sky.
"How terrifying~ Two Emperors chasing another Emperor to Marineford. And look, prisoners from Impel Down are falling from the sky. Things are getting lively."
Boom, boom!
Amid the thunder, a pirate ship burst through the Gates of Justice, narrowly docking at the port. Shanks stepped to the bow, wiping sweat from his brow. Raising Gryphon high, his Conqueror's Haki surged, shaking the heavens.
"Everyone, please stop fighting for a moment and give me some face!"
Thud, thud.
Pirates collapsed one after another as Shanks' Haki spread. But he quickly noticed something was off. Among the fallen were only Whitebeard's allied crew members. Not a single marine was down.
Surveying the battlefield, Shanks spotted Mihawk, Hancock, and Kuma holding off the Whitebeard commanders. Meanwhile, Whitebeard himself was locked in a fierce battle with the Admirals, though neither side bore any injuries. However, the navy port was once again in shambles.
Shanks turned his gaze to Mihawk, who was cutting through attacks with precision. Despite his usual hawk-like sharpness, Mihawk's eyes now held a hint of pity.
Gulp.
Lowering Gryphon, Shanks forced a strained smile. "So, um… if we don't stop now, Kaido and Big Mom will be here soon. If we keep going, the world's balance will be thrown off."
Boom!
As Shanks finished, dark clouds spread across the once-blue sky. Lightning flashed, and two massive pirate ships sailed into Marineford's port.
Surrounded by serpentine bolts of lightning, Charlotte Linlin raised her arms. Her eyes locked onto the high platform, where Klee stood with Qiqi and Liyue, curiously watching her.
"Little one! Hand over that jerky to Mama!"
Beside her, Kaido chugged his drink, hefting his spiked club as he stared at Whitebeard.
"Old man, I'm here for you."
Above, screams echoed as a battered navy warship plummeted from the sky amidst thunder and smoke.
"Ahhhhhh!"
A loud cry preceded a figure leaping from the ship.
"Gum-Gum Balloon!"
A massive, flesh-colored balloon appeared mid-air, cushioning the falling ship and figures before bouncing them away.
"Ahhh~!"
As the balloon deflated, a figure wearing a straw hat emerged, propelling himself into the air with bursts of air.
Thud!
Luffy landed hard, only to be caught by someone nearby. Shaking his head, he groaned before looking up at the towering figures around him. His face lit up with joy.
"Ahaha! Shanks!"
"You're here too!"
Scrambling to his feet, Luffy turned toward the execution platform.
"Ace, I'm here to save you!"
"Luffy?!"
Ace, who had been reading a book handed to him by Garp, looked up at the familiar voice.
Below, Shanks stared at his brother waving excitedly. "That idiot. This place is the worst spot for him right now."
"No, this is perfect," Garp growled, standing up beside Ace. Cracking his knuckles, he twisted his neck with a sinister grin.
"This is the perfect chance to teach that brat a lesson. I'll make sure he becomes a proper navy soldier this time!"