Chapter 88: Desperate Struggle, The Navy's Final Counterattack

"Are you still going to stop me?" Lin Yan demanded, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

Kizaru and Aokiji remained silent, not responding to Lin Yan's challenge. But an unexpected voice rang out at that moment.

"Stop? Of course, we will!" It was Sengoku, who had just stood up despite his severe injuries.

Though he was heavily wounded and Garp had proven unreliable at critical moments, Sengoku, as the Fleet Admiral, could not afford to retreat. "Today, you will not leave Marineford!" he declared resolutely.

Emerging from the chaos, Akainu, reconstructed from magma, stepped forward. Though Lin Yan's slash had split him in two, it hadn't damaged his core. Kamui's attack had twisted Akainu's arm badly, leaving him with just one functioning arm, but he stood firm beside Sengoku.

"Lin, today you have defeated three of our naval officers, securing your title as the fifth Emperor of the Sea!" Sengoku said, locking eyes with Lin Yan. "But after such a long battle, you must be reaching your limit."

Lin Yan did not respond. Sengoku was right; he was nearing his limit.

"In that case, let's end this war once and for all!" Sengoku shouted.

The navy had yet another card to play. Sengoku pulled out a Den Den Mushi and shouted into it, "Begin!"

The Whitebeard Pirates felt a wave of impending doom. They quickly turned to see what was happening behind them, including Whitebeard himself.

On the distant horizon, a massive fleet of 500 warships was approaching Marineford, dwarfing the Buster Call in scale.

"War... warships..."

"How is this possible?"

"Why are there still navy warships behind us?"

"I knew the navy was hiding something; these warships are their ultimate trump card!"

"There must be at least four or five hundred ships!"

"Our rear is undefended!"

Panic spread among the Whitebeard Pirates. The Buster Call had already been terrifying before, a formidable strength of the navy. Even Bullet, had fallen to it.

Now, this massive fleet's firepower far surpassed the Buster Call. Each warship carried thousands of marines, totaling fifty thousand. They had remained hidden throughout the war, awaiting the perfect moment to strike.

Sengoku had shown immense patience, revealing this final trump card only when Ace was saved. He had no other choice. Annihilating the Whitebeard Pirates would secure victory for the navy.

Simultaneously, while the fleet pressured them from the rear, Marineford's walls began to rise, extending the range of their artillery. All the navy soldiers adjusted their cannons, targeting the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Fire!" Sengoku ordered.

Instantly, the cannons from the walls and the warships unleashed a barrage of firepower, engulfing the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Quick, stop the bombardment!" Marco, Jozu, Vista, and other commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates quickly moved to the rear, using their abilities to shield their comrades. On the front lines of Marineford, Fujitora activated his Gravity Field, causing the cannonballs to drop onto the ice in front of the bay. Meanwhile, Green Bull summoned a massive wooden wall with his powers to block the artillery.

Despite their efforts, the sheer volume of cannon fire meant some projectiles still got through, striking the Whitebeard Pirates and their allied ships. The explosions destroyed ships and killed many crew members.

Witnessing the destruction, Luffy was stunned, recalling how his grandfather Garp once threw cannonballs with similar power. Sengoku then commanded the Seven Warlords of the Sea to join the fight, threatening to replace them if they remained passive. Although they were reluctant, the Warlords knew the benefits of their status and complied.

Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, and the Vice Admirals also launched their assault. The Whitebeard Pirates were now facing attacks from both the front and the rear.

"Even with the prisoners' help, our forces are still outmatched!" Lin Yan sighed as he observed the situation. He had anticipated the navy's ambush but had not expected them to deploy a fleet of 500 warships. The navy's strength, accumulated over 800 years, was formidable. Even during the war at Marineford, they still had forces stationed worldwide, showcasing their unmatched power.

People often said the navy couldn't defeat two Yonko crews working together, but this was a misconception. The navy usually retained their strength, avoiding unnecessary conflict with the emperors. If they truly mobilized all their forces, they could field a million troops. Even all the Yonko combined would struggle against such a force, and any victory would be pyrrhic. The navy could quickly replenish its ranks, while the Yonko would find it nearly impossible to recover from such losses.

As Lin Yan reflected on the navy's overwhelming power, he realized it was time to retreat. Ace had been rescued; continuing the fight was pointless.