Chapter 46: Coating, Coating

Sengoku and the top leaders of the World Government had full confidence in Aokiji.

As an Admiral of Headquarters, Aokiji represented the pinnacle of military might and was a key asset for maintaining global order.

Each Admiral of Headquarters was a formidable force capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Four Emperors, even if only for a time.

They were peak S-level combatants, known for their extraordinary abilities.

Yet now, as Aokiji observed the rapidly approaching Gangplank fleet, he felt an unsettling sense of unease.

The cold eyes of Gangplank, even from a distance, evoked a long-forgotten sense of danger in Aokiji.

"It seems that even without the Big Mom Pirates' involvement,"

"The Gangplank Pirates have become a serious issue!"

Aokiji's normally relaxed demeanor shifted to one of gravity, and he spoke firmly into the phone before hanging up,

"Plank has successfully led his fleet into the Sabaody Archipelago!"

"The plan is progressing, but the real battle has just begun!"

With that, Aokiji ended the call.

The situation was now beyond mere plans and strategies.

Aokiji's warship, appearing unremarkable, trailed the Gangplank fleet closely.

As the Gangplank pirates landed on the Sabaody Archipelago, their arrival was met with urgent activity at Dock 36.

The once large fleet had dwindled to twenty-three ships and three thousand elite pirates after countless brutal skirmishes. 

Despite the reduced numbers, the crew worked feverishly to coat the ships—an essential step to venture into the New World.

"Faster, faster! We must finish coating all ships within half an hour!"

The urgency was palpable as officers and crew members urged the workers, hoping to avoid a confrontation with the Marines.

None of them wanted to face an Admiral of Headquarters head-on if they could avoid it.

Their hopes were high, but reality offered little mercy.

"Oh, how troublesome,"

"If only you could surrender,"

Aokiji's imposing figure emerged outside Dock 36, accompanied by a contingent of Marines advancing toward the dock.

"Admiral!"

The sight of Aokiji caused panic among some of Gangplank's crew.

"Admiral? So what?"

"We serve Master Gangplank, the Calamity of the Ocean,"

"Don't think that an Admiral can stop us!"

"Master Gangplank will become the Pirate King!"

Two of Gangplank's captains, each with bounties around 50 million, faced Aokiji with fierce resolve.

In the pirate world, loyalty and bravery often surpassed self-preservation.

Though they knew they wouldn't become Pirate Kings themselves, they believed in Gangplank's destiny.

They were prepared to follow him, even to death, with the belief that Gangplank would achieve greatness.

Aokiji, observing the bravery of these two pirates, sighed quietly.

In an instant, he moved with blinding speed. The two brave captains, caught off guard, were encased in ice before they could react.

Their heroic stand ended in a swift, icy silence, demonstrating the sheer power of an Admiral of Headquarters against even the most resolute of foes.

The fierce battle at Dock 36 escalated quickly as Aokiji's ice spread relentlessly toward the pirates and their ships.

The freezing air turned into a deadly wall of ice, threatening to engulf the entire dock and the pirates working frantically to coat the ships.

Many pirates who attempted to confront Aokiji were instantly frozen, becoming lifeless statues as the ice advanced.

The coating operations, crucial for the pirates to reach the New World, were in serious jeopardy. 

Just when it seemed the ice would completely overtake them, a blazing sword energy cut through the chilling cold.

Gangplank, wielding a scimitar ablaze with intense fire and a Hex pistol, stepped forward defiantly.

"My subordinates are truly grateful for your help,"

"But now, your enemy is me!"

Gangplank's appearance reinvigorated his crew. The once-disheartened pirates found new strength and cheered for their captain, believing in his power to lead them to victory.

Behind him, the formidable figures of the drunken Gragas and the enigmatic Blood Harbor Ghost Pike emerged, adding to the imposing presence of Gangplank's crew.

Aokiji, acknowledging Gangplank's prowess and the challenge ahead, sighed and addressed Gangplank with a mix of respect and resolve.

"With bounties of 850 million for you, 350 million for Gragas, and 150 million for Ghost Pike, this is truly troublesome."

"Are you not considering surrendering?"

Gangplank grinned defiantly.

"Want to give it a try?"

The two sides prepared for battle, Aokiji's calm demeanor shifting to a more focused intensity. He was determined to subdue Gangplank and his crew. 

"If you think you can, then go ahead!"

"Prepare the ships and hold off this guy,"

"Let's head to the New World together!"

Gangplank's order was clear. His remaining pirates, determined and battle-hardened, prepared for the fight of their lives. 

The battle began with Gangplank and Aokiji engaging directly, their confrontation causing massive disruptions around them. Their fight was intense, deliberately kept away from the shipyards and populated areas to prevent further casualties.

Outside Dock 36, Marine soldiers led by Vice Admiral Stirres and other elite forces began their assault on the remaining pirate fleet.

Meanwhile, Barrel faced off against Vice Admiral Huoshanshan, and Pike clashed with Vice Admiral Stierres, each battle teetering on a knife's edge.

The odds seemed grim, but the remaining pirates of Gangplank's fleet, forged in countless battles and loyal to their captain, were resolute.

They fought fiercely against the Marine forces, determined to complete the coating of their ships and survive the onslaught.

Amidst the chaos, one elderly boatman, secretly the legendary Pluton Rayleigh, observed the scene with a mix of admiration and hope.

Disguised as a simple shipwright, Rayleigh silently accelerated his work, hoping that Gangplank and his crew would make it through the perilous trials and reach the New World.

"What an outstanding pirate group,"

"I hope they can reach the New World smoothly!"

As the battle raged on, the future of Gangplank's crew and their journey to the New World hung in the balance, shaped by their resolve and the fierce conflict unfolding before them.

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