G1

When Nicholas and his crew arrived in the area where G1 Branch was located, most of the enemy warships had already sailed out of the harbor and formed a formation in the front sea area.

Looking at the countless warships and the vigilant navy personnel on board, Nicholas couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

These navy soldiers, knowing that Whitebeard and his crew were coming, still dared to sail out and form a formation, indicating their determination.

Whether it was Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit or Nicholas's Thunder-Thunder Fruit, they were both absolute kings of melee combat.

For instance, Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit had been completely restrained during the Summit War.

Ace's capture and the intervention of several subordinate captains and crew members who tried to rescue Ace couldn't make him use his full power freely.

Even if Whitebeard had been more ruthless and disregarded Ace's life, he could have single-handedly destroyed Marineford during the Summit War, apart from top-tier Navy forces like Sengoku, Kizaru, and other top-tier forces, and all the 100,000 elite Navy soldiers gathered at Marineford would have perished.

But there were no ifs and buts. Warlord Garp, who was determined to dominate the sea and uphold justice, had Whitebeard's character under control.

Especially after knowing that Ace was Roger's son and Whitebeard's recognized "son," Garp was confident that even if Whitebeard knew Marineford was a trap, he would still come.

"All hands, attention! The top executives of the Rocks Pirates, Whitebeard Edward Newgate and Albert Nicholas, have appeared!"

"Level one battle alert; all ships prepare for combat!"

As the piercing alarm sounded on the ships, personnel in various parts of the Navy vessels began to quickly get busy.

"Gunners, get ready!"

"Communications with other ships are normal!"

"Wind speed at level three, southeast wind!"

"The power room is functioning normally!"

"Come on, Whitebeard Pirates!"

Seeing the immense whale-shaped pirate ship appear in the distance, all the navy personnel were serious.

Although the enemy's ships were significantly fewer than their own, and to some extent, the number of enemy ships was less than one-fiftieth of their own, the two figures standing at the forefront of the whale-shaped pirate flagship were like two mountains pressing on the hearts of all the navy personnel.

Even as the two sides drew closer, many of the navy men holding guns had begun to sweat, and the gunners' spirits were highly tense. They even had beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads but dared not wipe them, only tightly pursing their lips.

When they received the news that Whitebeard and Nicholas were going to attack G1 Branch and ordered all ships to set sail, they knew that after this war, they might never return, and their families might only receive a letter, unable even to find their bodies.

But even in the face of fear, none of them would choose to retreat.

Because they knew they joined the Navy to protect their families and those they grew up with—the kind neighbor girl, the uncle who carried them on his shoulders when they were kids, or the village elder who scolded them for swimming in the sea when they were little.

They all had something worth protecting, and for the sake of preserving these beauties from destruction, even if they knew they might die, they wouldn't retreat.

In addition to these navy men with their own beliefs, there was another part of the Navy who, faced with the appearance of the pirate fleet, showed no fear or nervousness at all.

In their eyes, there was only the burning flame of hatred.

To a large extent, the continuous influx of navy personnel owed not only to the relatively good benefits but also to these plague-like pirates of the sea.

Every time a village or town was plundered by pirates, it contributed many reserve personnel to the Navy.

These people, who had either lost their loved ones or had their wives, sisters, or daughters defiled, knew very well that they could not avenge themselves with their own strength. The only way they could seek revenge was by joining the Navy and using its power to eradicate the pirates.

"Moby Dick has appeared."

"Thirty different pirate crews' ships have appeared behind it, currently verifying their identities!"

"Everyone, be careful and prepare for battle."

"The enemy has stopped!"

"What!?"

Upon hearing this news, all the senior Navy officers were a bit dumbfounded.

"What are these guys planning!?"

"Darn it, now we're on the defensive."

"No matter what the enemy plans, everyone, prepare for battle!"

As Vice-Admiral Zephyr, the highest-ranking officer at G1 Branch, saw the Whitebeard and Nicholas pirate ships in the distance, his face turned a bit ugly.

Because according to the battle deployment made earlier, he was supposed to lead the Navy support battlefield assembled at G1 Branch, which was now blocked by Whitebeard. They certainly couldn't leave now.