(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks and appreciate all who support me)
(T/N: Enjoy!!)
<><><><><><>
A familiar face, a familiar smile, a familiar voice. At that moment, the unexpected visitor left Jinbe frozen in place, his eyes and face filled with disbelief and overwhelming joy.
"Brother Tiger?! You're still alive?!" Jinbe shouted in shock and excitement.
The man standing before him in Marineford was unmistakably Fisher Tiger. Now walking alongside Arashi, he had rightfully become a Marine Vice Admiral.
Among the latest batch of new Marines, Fisher Tiger was undoubtedly the most low-key, starkly contrasting the overwhelming fame he once held across the seas.
But that wasn't surprising. Since following Arashi, he had learned to conceal himself well to pursue his dreams and ideals.
"Jinbe," Fisher Tiger called, voice full of emotion. He stepped forward, stopping outside the cell, peering through the bars.
"I'm so glad... so glad you're alive!" Jinbe's eyes turned red with emotion, tears brimming in their corners.
Among the Sun Pirates, there wasn't a single person who didn't deeply respect Fisher Tiger.
In fact, on Fish-Man Island, his reputation once surpassed even that of King Neptune himself.
But after that fateful day, he vanished following an accident. "I've been alive this whole time," Tiger said quietly. "The day I was taken to Impel Down, I met Admiral Arashi."
"He's the man I've always admired... the one I've wanted to follow for the rest of my life."
"Admiral Arashi saved you?" Jinbe asked in a daze, then let out a long sigh.
"After you disappeared, Fish-Man Island fell into chaos. Humans frequently attacked our kind."
"In the end, it was Whitebeard who stepped up. He struck fear into the hearts of countless greedy, power-hungry pirates."
"Only then did Fish-Man Island gain a fleeting moment of peace." Whitebeard... he's the savior of Fish-Man Island!"
Fisher Tiger listened in silence. When Jinbe finished, he nodded with a smile. "I'm grateful for the Whitebeard Pirates' protection of Fish-Man Island, too."
"But," he said, shaking his head with a sigh, "he can't bring lasting peace to the island... that can only be done by Admiral Arashi."
Jinbe was stunned. From behind the cold iron bars, he saw the firm conviction in his former captain's eyes—the belief shining through.
"If there's anyone in this world who can truly change it... bring harmony to all races and give everyone the right to live in equality—"
"Then that person can only be him!" Fisher Tiger declared with deep emotion. "But Brother Tiger, he's going after Whitebeard!" Jinbe said in disbelief.
"Jinbe! Admiral Arashi represents the Marines, while Whitebeard is a pirate. To countless civilians and the many races of the world, it's Whitebeard who may be the real threat to peace!"
"Is the Marine's pursuit of pirates wrong?" Fisher Tiger said in a low, firm voice. That statement left Jinbe and Ace speechless in the cell beside him.
Their expressions darkened. It made sense, but that didn't make accepting it any easier.
"But the Marines—" Jinbe bit his lip, preparing to argue back. "I know what you're going to say!" Tiger interrupted with a smile.
"You're going to say that the Marines are just lapdogs of the World Government... committing countless atrocities and oppressing the innocent, right?" Jinbe nodded firmly.
"But perhaps there's something else you should understand," Fisher Tiger's gaze sharpened instantly.
"The Marines under Admiral Arashi are not the same as the ones you've known."
"They uphold true equality and justice, protecting most of the world's oppressed and vulnerable people, and the future of the Marines belongs to Admiral Arashi."
With a long sigh, Tiger smiled at the two sitting behind the bars. "You trust him that much, huh, Brother?" Jinbe murmured.
"He's given me every reason to, Jinbe. Anyway, let's not talk about this anymore. It's been so many years—let's catch up properly today!"
"Hahaha, yeah! Still... I never thought our reunion would be like this. I'm ashamed," Jinbe sighed.
"Don't be," Tiger said with a laugh. "When I reunited with Admiral Arashi, it was also in Impel Down. My situation was no different from yours!"
That comment piqued Jinbe and Ace's curiosity—they turned toward him in unison. "Curious, huh? Then let me tell you everything."
"Once you understand who Admiral Arashi truly is, you'll see why I believe he's the one who can change the world!" Tiger said with a hearty laugh.
The two sat quietly, ready to listen. "This story begins on the day a monster was rumored to have appeared in Impel Down..."
...
Time passed day by day. The atmosphere at Marineford had become heavier with each sunrise.
Though the skies were clear, it felt like a thick layer of clouds had settled over everyone's hearts, making breathing hard.
On the training grounds—
"The mood's getting worse and worse."
"Something bad is going on."
"And that guy... he hasn't shown up for more than ten days now."
Green-haired Zoro narrowed his eyes, keenly sensing the tension in the air.
His gaze drifted toward the tall figure standing silently nearby.
"That guy... ever since he came back last time, his aura has completely changed. It's like he's shut himself off—become even more distant."
Finally, Zoro couldn't take it anymore and spoke up. "Hey, Kuma—what the hell is going on?"
"You and that Moria guy—after you both returned from the Warlord meeting, you've been acting weird!"
At his words, Kuma slowly raised his head. He looked toward the figure bathed in the sunset, swinging his long blade repeatedly, sweating heavily.
It was Gecko Moria. Since the meeting, Moria had thrown himself into training like never before.
"And the Marines here... all have been acting like a war's about to break out. What the hell's going on?!"
Zoro shouted. He felt like he was going to explode from holding it in. To be fair, this was a great place to train and get stronger.
With Kuina's help, he had freedom, no restraints, and endless combat experience.
His mastery of that sword technique—Divine Departure—had accelerated mysteriously in the past few days.
If things continued like this, he might soon reach the initial stage of truly mastering it.
But the one thing that bothered him was this strange sense of urgency everyone seemed to carry—like a storm was coming, like the world was ending.
Whether it was Rob Lucci, Koby, or even Helmeppo. They were all training like madmen, completely relentless.
"A war... is indeed coming," Kuma said slowly, his voice low and heavy.
"What? You're kidding, right? This is Marineford—the pride of the Marines, the most secure fortress in the world!"
"What enemy could reach us here?!"
Zoro's eyes widened in shock, shouting in disbelief. "Not long ago, the Marine Headquarters captured Fire Fist Ace, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates," Kuma said.
"They've announced to the world that he will be publicly executed right here in Marineford, for all to see."
The weight of those words struck Zoro like thunder. His body trembled.
"What... Fire Fist Ace? Isn't that Luffy's brother?!"
"Yes," Kuma nodded. "I asked your crewmate Nami—Luffy does indeed have a brother named Ace."
"Damn it... They're going to execute Luffy's brother?!" Zoro couldn't believe what he heard. It felt like the world had suddenly been flipped upside down.
"But what does executing Fire Fist Ace do with war?" Kuma sighed deeply, realizing how unaware this swordsman was about the outside world.
This incident had already become a global storm, yet this guy was completely clueless.
"Fire Fist Ace is the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"His execution will provoke a massive response from the crew. Soon... Marineford will become the site of an unprecedented war."
"An unprecedented war?!" Zoro's face turned pale as cold sweat dripped down his cheeks.
"If Ace was executed, then what about Luffy? If he hears about it, he's bound to show up here!"
Zoro's expression shifted the next moment as a sudden realization hit him. His eyes locked onto the tall man in front of him.
"You slapped me here back then…so where did Luffy go? Where is he now?"
But Kuma remained silent for a long while before sighing and shaking his head. "I don't know."
You don't know?!" Zoro's eyes widened.
"I could only guide the general direction and choose locations suited for their growth based on their traits."
"But where exactly did they end up… I can't say for certain." Kuma's eyes showed a hint of helplessness. "You ending up at Marineford wasn't my intention."
Zoro's pupils shrank again, staring directly at him. "What did you say?"
"I don't know how it happened, but it's clear that Admiral Arashi influenced your fall into Marineford."
"In other words, he deliberately left you here!" Kuma said aloud.
Zoro froze, feeling numb all over.
"Admiral Arashi… is very interested in you," Kuma said softly.
Zoro's expression flickered.
"I believe you should seize this opportunity. If you can truly take him as your master, your ambition and dreams may draw you one step closer."
"You should know—his swordsmanship is also among the best in the world," Kuma added quietly.
"What? His swordsmanship is world-class, too?" Zoro asked in shock.
"Correct. He once faced Dracule Mihawk in a duel—purely a test of sword skills. In the end, the match ended in a draw."
"Only a handful of people know this—it was never made public." Kuma's tone turned solemn.
Zoro's face changed dramatically, but then a faint smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He lifted his eyes and looked ahead. "That's… some great news!"
Meanwhile, in Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office—
Tap tap tap tap tap!
Hurried footsteps echoed throughout the halls as Marine officers passed in and out with anxious, grave faces.
Sweat rolled off their cheeks, falling to the floor, but none noticed.
"Quick! Continue the reconnaissance! We must gather more accurate, detailed intel!"
Sengoku slammed his palm on the desk, leaving a shallow handprint on the solid wood.
His face had darkened to the extreme, his eyes heavier than ever. News from the New World had plunged Marine Headquarters into a state of tension ever since yesterday.
"The Whitebeard Pirates are fully mobilized! All sixteen divisions, forty-three pirate crews under his banner—every last one is on the move!"
"Also, unidentified individuals suspected to be allies and subordinate forces from past years are joining!"
"Their numbers are immense! The sheer scale of their fleet has taken over an entire stretch of ocean!"
"Their momentum is overwhelming and terrifying—our forces can barely observe from afar without getting close!"
"There are over ten scout fleets tasked with intelligence gathering! Our men are struggling to obtain anything more concrete!"
"Vice Admiral Keynes attempted a risky approach but failed—three Marine warships were lost!"
"Report! More ships continue to gather around the Whitebeard fleet's core force. They're coming in from every direction of the New World!"
"The fleet's size has now completely obscured the Moby Dick at its center—it's no longer visible at all!"
"Fleet Admiral! The numbers are outrageous! It's a grand, unprecedented sight!"
"Vice Admiral Keynes advises that we prepare for the worst—something huge is coming!" With each update, Sengoku's expression grew darker.
"Exact numbers!! I've said it repeatedly—get me the exact number of personnel!"
"If you can't, then give me an estimate of how many powerful individuals are among them!" Sengoku roared. "It's incredibly difficult!"
"Vice Admiral Keynes reports that what we're facing is an army of unprecedented scale—larger than any war we've ever heard of!"
"Based on his rough estimation…"
The Marine hesitated—vague numbers could mislead and influence the course of war, so they were rarely spoken lightly.
"Speak! Even a rough estimate is critical to us right now!" Sengoku shouted.
The officer straightened up, took a deep breath, and gave the number.
"Estimated total of Whitebeard's fleet personnel… may have already exceeded 100,000!"
In that instant, the entire Fleet Admiral's office fell silent. One hundred thousand!
That number alone was enough to shock anyone, let alone what it represented.
It meant tens of thousands of powerful elites from the New World, forming a hostile force ready to ignite a war.
"To think Whitebeard could gather a force of this magnitude…" Sengoku muttered.
His face darkened further compared to a moment ago. Then he waved his hand, his voice low and grim.
Continue intelligence gathering. Remember—do not let Whitebeard's fleet vanish from our sight!"
The Marine saluted. "Yes, sir!" Then turned quickly and ran out.
Huff…
Sengoku exhaled deeply, trying to calm the shock in his chest before turning to Arashi.
"Whitebeard's fleet is overwhelming in scale and power. What do you think?"
Arashi looked up with a faint smile. "It's not beyond my expectations."
"Based on everything he's done—whether intentionally or not—his territory, islands, and forces, gathering one hundred thousand elite fighters wasn't difficult."
"Only one question: did he want to gather that many?"
He paused, and a sharp glint appeared in Arashi's eyes. "But it seems he's decided. He's coming at us with everything he's got."
This already diverged from the original events—Whitebeard only brought ten thousand in the canon story. Now, that number has been surpassed many times over.
"Everything he's got, huh…" Sengoku murmured. "But that works for us."
"The Whitebeard Pirates are strong—but we Marines are no weaklings either!"
"He may have one hundred thousand troops—but Marine Headquarters has long surpassed that!"
Arashi's eyes gleamed. "I originally thought this war would be dull, over quickly. But now… It's taken a turn I didn't expect. It might even get my blood pumping." Sengoku clenched his fists silently, eyes unreadable.
Time passed. Three more days went by in a flash.
"Whitebeard's fleet has passed Beehive Island. His forces are nearly fully assembled—the scale is massive!"
"The number of ships alone would make anyone tremble if word got out!"
More messages arrived.
But unlike before, few held new intel, mostly just updates on their route.
"On Beehive Island, a pirate fleet of several thousand made contact with Whitebeard's crew."
"They claimed they wanted to join this unprecedented war and teach the Marines a lesson."
Everyone in the office frowned upon hearing this. Led by the Whitebeard Pirates, certain pirates had their bloodlust ignited and joined willingly.
This was not good news for the Marines. Such actions could cause a dangerous chain reaction.
Sengoku sat in silence, his chest tightening with unease. Arashi waited quietly, listening for the next report.
The Marines' presence in the New World was thin, so they couldn't do much in this situation.
Even if Vice Admiral Keynes and others tried to intervene, they'd barely dent Whitebeard's current force.
Soon, more news came in. "The Beehive Island fleet was rejected. Whitebeard himself sent a message—his fleet does not serve the ambitions or bloodlust of madmen!"
"Then, with a single punch, he wiped out the pirate fleet of several thousand."
"His actions were met with roaring approval from all 100,000 of his men."
"Whitebeard's fleet morale has reached its peak!"
That brief report left Sengoku both relieved and deeply concerned. Relieved because Whitebeard, as expected, had his pride.
He knew the Beehive fleet was trash and destroyed them without hesitation.
That alone likely stopped more pirates from joining.
But the concern was real, too. With such pride and determination, the morale of a one-hundred-thousand-man fleet was now unimaginably high.
And that kind of momentum… was heading straight for Marineford. For countless Marines, this news struck a deep chord. Morale might sound abstract, but in war, it's absolutely vital.
"Whitebeard... he's still a man worthy of respect," Arashi murmured.
Even on the verge of a massive battle, when every ounce of strength matters, he didn't hesitate to strike down those who acted with selfish ambition.
Though he's aged, his spirit and valor remain as powerful as ever. His decisive actions sent a surge of excitement through his fleet.
Their morale soared, their hearts burned with passion, and their loyalty deepened.
"Arashi, the morale of the Whitebeard Pirates has reached its peak!" Sengoku asked in a low voice, "Should we prepare for action?"
"No need," Arashi replied. "This time, they're the attackers, and we're the defenders."
"No matter how high their morale is or how fired up they are, as long as we firmly hold Marineford and stick to our original strategy, it will be enough. Our officers must hold every key point calmly and efficiently."
"Any unnecessary movement could trigger a negative effect." Arashi walked to the window, bracing his hands on the sill as he looked down at Marineford.
The execution day had not yet arrived, so the number of Marines below appeared limited. Still, powerful officers guarded every crucial post.
From his view, one could see Crocodile, Douglas Bullet, Stainless, and Dalmatian lined up on the main platform of the plaza's first defense point.
Smoker, Buggy, and Rosinante stood stationed on the opposite side.
Everyone was already in position. Despite the intelligence coming in from the New World, none looked rattled.
"You're right," Sengoku nodded. "Marineford is the strongest fortress in the world. We're the ones holding the line."
He smiled, exhaling a long breath. Then he joined Arashi by the window, bracing his hands as he looked out.
Though the number of defenders might not seem large initially, they were densely positioned and covered every critical point.
Most importantly, these weren't just any soldiers but seasoned elites. Their presence radiated confidence and power, no weaker than the forces of the Whitebeard Pirates.
As the two continued to watch over Marineford in silence, taking pride in the Marines' strength, a figure burst through the door in haste.
"Report!!" the soldier shouted. "Kaido of the Beasts has clashed with the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"A massive battle has broken out between them!"
The room froze. Both Arashi and Sengoku turned around sharply, shocked. Sengoku's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?"
If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 10 advanced Chapters for you guys.
patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:COI NOVEL TIER (PLEASE DONT SUBS THROUGH IOS PLATFORM)