107. The War Breaks Out!

As Nami's voice faded, a fleeting smile vanished from the corner of Whitebeard's lips. His gaze fixed on Nami took on a peculiar intensity.

"3.1 Billion Berries?" exclaimed Marco, the shock evident in his voice.

He snatched the thick stack of bills from Nami's hand and rifled through them, and found them all filled.

As Marco scanned the astronomical figures printed on each bill, a chill ran down his spine. The sheer magnitude of the numbers was staggering.

"This is insanely steep," he muttered under his breath.

"Dad, these are really the signatures left behind by Ace..." Marco's voice trailed off as he read aloud, causing Whitebeard's expression to morph into something even more unsettling.

The captains of the various divisions aboard the Moby Dick, along with other crew members, stared in disbelief at Ace standing on the execution platform.

For a brief moment, the normally boisterous Whitebeard Pirates fell into an eerie silence.

On the opposite side, the Marines seemed to pick up on the tense atmosphere among the Whitebeard Pirates. Subconsciously, they tightened their grips on their weapons, anticipating a potential confrontation.

Yet, amidst the tension, many Marines remained fixated on the Bikini Bottom Admirals, positioned opposite the Marine Admiral, thanks to the words exchanged between Garp and Whitebeard.

The Marines found themselves grappling with deep thoughts about whether the Marine Admiral was responsible for the treatment of the sea beasts.

Despite their reluctance to accept it, the notion challenged their longstanding beliefs about the Marine Admiral.

If indeed such acts had been perpetrated against the sea creatures, what did it imply about the relationship between the Marine Admiral and those bizarre creatures?

"Starfish and octopus, I can somewhat understand."

"After all, they possess organs and are living beings."

"But what about that sponge?" 

Suddenly, a disembodied voice echoed, sending more than half of the Marines spiraling into strange thoughts.

"Barf~"

After a while, the sailors began to feel queasy.

"Hey, what's going on? Why the strong reaction?" 

"Barf~ I'm sorry, the imagery is just too intense and vivid, I can't handle it...barf~."

Meanwhile, on the execution platform, Sengoku's usually unwavering composure wavered slightly as he observed the scene before him.

There was a subtle shift in the way he regarded the Marine Admirals.

"Did those guys really do something?" 

Sensing Sengoku's unusual scrutiny, Akainu's discomfort grew.

They even toyed with the idea of confronting Sengoku on the execution platform.

'Why are you giving me that strange look?!'

'Do I seem like the type to do something so disgraceful?!'

Compared to Akainu, Aokiji's expression remained largely unchanged, his demeanor retaining its usual indifference.

But when Garp directed a question at him, Aokiji couldn't help but furrow his brow, casting a peculiar glance at Squidward.

"Yeah, this joke isn't amusing at all."

"Yeah, what's with that look you're giving me?" echoed Squidward, sharing Aokiji's tone.

Simultaneously, their voices rang out in the midst of the battlefield, plunging Marineford into an abrupt and eerie silence.

Despite Aokiji's outwardly stoic demeanor, a tempest raged within him.

Could it be possible for two individuals to be so alike, differing only in race?

As Aokiji contemplated this, the tension beside him reached a breaking point.

Akainu's clenched fists trembled, his forehead veins pulsating with anger. Glaring at the starfish before him, clad in an identical attire, he bellowed furiously:

"Enough with the jests! Who the hell are you?!"

The moment his enraged words reverberated through the air, an ominous force surged toward the starfish.

For a moment, Marines standing near Akainu felt as though they were being scrutinized by a predatory beast.

But in the next instant, Patrick, facing Akainu's attempt to dominate him with his aura, unleashed a formidable presence of his own. Anger laced his words as he retorted:

"You jerk, do you want to meet your end?!"

As Patrick's voice echoed across the battlefield, the six figures spoke in unison, each uttering three distinct sentences.

Yasakani no Magatama (Comma Jewel of Eight Shaku)

Inugami Guren (Dog Biting Crimson Lotus)

Ice Block: Partisan (Ice Mass: Two Thorn Pikes)

Above Marineford, a spectacle unfolded.

Two colossal dog heads, ablaze with searing flames, clashed in mid-air. The intense heat they emitted swiftly melted the towering ice wall formed by the collision of two ice birds, each hundreds of feet tall.

Yet, as the ice wall dissolved, water vapor filled the air. Under the control of Aokiji and Squidward, the vapor condensed into icy spears, colliding once more in the skies.

Amidst the flurry of icy projectiles, several gleaming golden beams streaked across the sky.

The clash of the three powers unleashed powerful shockwaves and left behind a menacing aftermath, rippling through the atmosphere.

With a devastating force, the clash swept away all Marines and pirates across the entire bay.

In a mere heartbeat, thousands of lives were extinguished in the fierce duel.

The environment of Marineford was left reeling, alternating between scorching heat and biting cold brought about by the extreme temperatures.

While the collision of golden light seemed less immediate than the searing heat and freezing cold, the scattered dots of golden light proved to be just as deadly. Upon contact, they pierced through skin with unforgiving precision.

One by one, the images of countless fallen bodies flashed across the large screen, painting a grim tableau of loss and devastation.

A deathly silence enveloped the entire world.

Hearts pounded furiously, and breaths came in rapid gasps.

It was as if the very essence of war's horror had descended upon them all.

With the initial clash between the Marine Admirals and Bikini Bottom Admirals, the dynamics of the battlefield underwent seismic shifts.

The world itself seemed to simmer with anticipation and dread.

Yet, amidst this chaos, the focal point remained fixed on the intricate relationship between the Marine Admirals and the Bikini Bottom Admirals.

Their attire, appearance, demeanor, speech, and the aura they exude—all of these aspects have sparked uncertainty about their relationship.

And now, with even their Devil Fruit abilities seemingly identical, questions arise: Could there truly be another fruit in the world with the same power?

A multitude of theories flooded the minds of countless individuals.

However, the prevailing notion among the public is genetic inheritance. Though unheard of before, the idea that Devil Fruit abilities could be passed down genetically gains traction.

But that theory only accounts for humans...

The target of the Marine Three Admiral isn't a human at all!

Who would even consider bestowing a Devil Fruit upon a sea beast?

Yet, amidst the perplexity surrounding the Marine Admirals, Kizaru stands out as the most confounding figure.

Starfish and octopuses, after all, aren't considered living organisms. And what about that sponge?

Could there possibly be a new, evolved type of sea creature?

For a moment, the entire world trembled with collective bewilderment.

Numerous experts in seabed biology and zoology emerged, all eager to explore the possibility of successful reproduction between humans and sea beasts.

However, the World Government swiftly intervened, blocking any attempts at such experiments, keeping the details shrouded in secrecy.

Yet, despite the lack of official information, the outcome of these clandestine experiments proved to be astonishing.

In the aftermath of the Summit War incident, a wave of "explorers" embarked on a journey to discover peculiar sea beasts and marine life, delving deeper into the mysteries of the ocean.

But these developments were still to come, as people's thoughts remained fixated on:

"Why are the Marine Admirals interested in the Sea Beast?" 

Onboard the Black Pearl, Al couldn't contain his laughter as he watched the confrontation between the Bikini Bottom Admirals and the Marine Admirals.

"This is exhilarating, isn't it?" he exclaimed.

[Acquire the Memory Film of Big Big Wolf]

However, Al's laughter was abruptly interrupted by a sudden beep.

He opened the system introduction:

[Big Big Wolf's Memory Film: Allows independent extraction and playback of the target's memories, durability: 1]

Upon reading about the prop, Al's attention turned to Charlos.

Without hesitation, he retrieved the memory film and handed it to Robin, instructing him to extract Charlos' memories.

After a brief explanation on how to use it, Al returned his focus to the battlefield below.

There, the Marine Admirals and Bikini Bottom Admirals engaged in their first round of tentative attacks.

Gradually, the battlefield quieted, dividing into three distinct areas.

Kizaru and SpongeBob clashed fiercely in mid-air, wielding the Ama no Murakumo (Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven) with precision.

Aokiji and Squidward battled fiercely on the ground, their Ice Saber gliding effortlessly as they exchanged blows.

Meanwhile, Akainu and Patrick, known for their fiery tempers, engaged in an intense duel.

Yet, what sent shivers down the spine was the uncanny similarity between the suspected "children" of the Marine and Admiral.

Not only did they possess identical abilities, but their fighting styles and strength were also mirror images of each other.

On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard made a solemn promise to repay the debt, his resolve unwavering amidst the chaos.

Nami returned to the Black Pearl with a smile on her face.

Observing the Marine and Admiral being momentarily distracted, Whitebeard sensed that the opportune moment to rescue Ace had arrived.

Without a moment's hesitation, Whitebeard set aside Murakumogiri in his hand.

With a grin, he outstretched his arms and delivered a powerful blow to their rear.

In an instant, the air cracked like a shattered mirror, emitting a sharp sound.

A violent tremor erupted from the depths beneath Marineford, plunging the Marines into a frenzy of panic.

Carina gazed down at the roiling sea beneath her feet, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"The entire sea seems to have been cleaved... What kind of ability is this?" she exclaimed.

In the heart of the battlefield, confronted by the colossal tsunami threatening to engulf Marineford, Aokiji swiftly halted his clash with Squidward. With a forceful leap into the air, he unleashed two icicles from his palm.

Ice Age!

As Aokiji's command echoed, the entire sea froze in an instant.

In the heat of the moment, Nami unleashed her fist, its impact reverberating as it struck the ground, illuminating the area with a dazzling electric light.

Observing the frozen sea, Al sneered, remarking, "The stage is set, it's time for us to join the fray."

On the execution platform

Sengoku's fists clenched as he gazed upon the chaotic battlefield below. With a cold glare fixed on Whitebeard, he spoke icily, "Have you finally decided to act, Whitebeard?"

"Summon the Shichibukai," he commanded sternly, "They must intervene immediately and halt the Whitebeard pirates at all costs!"

"The public execution is scheduled in half an hour!!!"

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