103. Summit War! Official Opening!

"Hey, Captain Al!"

As Captain Al gazed upon the Basset Hound, its pristine white fur, black ears, and a detective hat perched on its head, he was taken aback.

Al stood frozen for a moment, witnessing the virtual world around him distort into a jumble of incomprehensible characters before crumbling into a heap of ashes.

"Damn, Du...Droopy???"

Al couldn't help but curse, feeling a surge of emotions stirring within him.

Ever since he experiences Droopy's ability in Arabasta, Al had been yearning to summon him.

The power to defy space and rules alike, even now, it lingered vividly in Al's memory.

"This Summit War will be something else!" Al exclaimed with a sigh, reminiscing about the moment when Droopy will be hailed as a god during the Summit War.

With just a simple rope, he could execute plate drifting, leaving the entire world in awe!

The imagery... truly remarkable.

After indulging in his fantasies, Al decided to introduce Droopy and the rest of the crew to each other.

Nami and the rest adore Droopy, constantly petting his head.

Tom and Spike are familiar faces to Droopy, and a few exchanges are inevitable when old friends reunite.

Muscles and Merlin had never encountered Droopy before.

Upon inquiring if Droopy enjoys working out and if he's familiar with magic tricks, a disagreement ensued once more.

The three Admirals of the Bikini Bottom observed Droopy, seemingly composed on the surface, yet pondering deep within if he has a penchant for jellyfish catching.

Upon spotting the laid-back Droopy, Squidward promptly grabbed him and scurried off to lounge and soak up some sun.

Observing Droopy seamlessly fitting into the group, Al grinned, eagerly anticipating the commencement of the Summit War.

Guiding the Black Pearl, they sped towards Marineford with remarkable velocity.

Due to their recent focus on training over the past couple of days, the Black Pearl's flying speed wasn't particularly swift.

Now, with only a day remaining before the onset of the Summit War, anticipation hung in the air.

With the opening of the Summit War looming, Al was determined not to miss out on one of the most renowned events in pirate history!

Boosting the speed of the Black Pearl, Al instructed Carina to deploy a protective barrier.

Meanwhile, Nami, the three Admirals, and Muscles engaged in their final consolidation training.

Despite their enhanced strength, it was crucial to solidify their skills and adapt to their current condition.

Training within Carina's barrier served the dual purpose of shielding the Black Pearl from any potential damage caused by their vigorous exercises.

Being in the air limited their training options, but it was better than nothing.

"Tom, where's Charlos ?" Al inquired, noticing Charlos' absence amidst Nami and the others' training.

Tom displayed the chicken legs he was munching on, licking his fingers before gesturing towards Charlos, who was drifting in the wind.

Al yawned, reassured that Charlos hadn't fallen overboard.

After observing Nami and the crew's practice for a while longer, Al got up and headed into the cabin.

Al hadn't slept for two days and nights straight, understanding that his rapid improvement in strength wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

With the impending battle approaching, Al recognized the necessity of taking a break to allow his body to reach its peak condition.

As Al prepared to depart, he was suddenly reminded of something Vivi had mentioned a few days prior.

"Devil fruit?"

Al turned to gaze intently at Vivi, who was fully immersed in training in the barrier, unable to suppress a sigh.

There's a notable distinction between having a Devil Fruit ability and not having one.

Indeed, not everyone can emulate the likes of Luffy, Garp, or the formidable Red Hair Pirates, who rely solely on their own strength to reach the pinnacle.

Since acquiring his Devil Fruit ability, Al has grown less averse to the idea of enhancing his strength through such means.

To him, the priority is improving his strength, regardless of the source.

Strength forms the bedrock of everything!

"It's a shame that even though I have a fruit in mind that would suit you perfectly, I can't just go out and buy a vacuum cleaner..."

The vacuum cleaner that was initially extracted disintegrated into powder and dispersed with the wind after being used for the Float-Float Fruit.

Obtaining the vacuum cleaner is solely reliant on luck through the lottery machine, with the odds being quite slim.

Whether one wins or not is entirely up to chance.

Regardless, Al has no plans to deactivate the automatic lottery draw; as long as it continues, there's still a chance.

"Perhaps... just maybe... it could be drawn~" Al mused with a light sigh.

Suddenly, as if struck by a revelation, Al froze in place, a figure materializing vividly in his mind.

Al slapped his thigh vigorously, a row of gleaming teeth on display, before striding over to Droopy's side.

Meeting Al's gaze, Droopy raised his head lazily and inquired, "Al, Captain, is there something you need?"

Without hesitation, Al retrieved a stack of photos from the system space.

After a brief search, Al selected Blackbeard's photo and presented it to Droopy, saying, "I'll sketch out a rough map of the world shortly. You're to head to a submarine prison known as Impel Down."

"If this guy doesn't leave Impel Down by tomorrow, apprehend him immediately.

"If he does leave, tail him closely. Hold off on shooting him; I've got different plans in mind."

After receiving the instructions, Droopy vanished without waiting for Al to finish drawing the map of the world seas.

"Uh... you won't get lost, will you?" Al muttered to himself, feeling at a loss for words. With a sigh, he retreated to his room to recuperate.

Meanwhile, Nami and the rest continued their training throughout the afternoon.

After dinner, they retired to their individual rooms to replenish their strength and gear up for the impending battle. They were all eagerly anticipating it!

In the dead of night, within the conference room of Marine Headquarters, Sengoku sat at the head of the table, his expression dark and somber.

For the Al Pirates, the incident involving the Celestial Dragons at the Sabaody Archipelago and the subsequent defeat of a Marine Admiral weighed heavily on his mind.

Sengoku had never faced such strong reprimand from the World Government before. A death warrant had been issued to Marine Headquarters—no matter what, those accursed pirates must be eliminated!

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, are those individuals truly planning to disrupt Marineford tomorrow?" queried a Marine Vice Admiral.

With unwavering conviction, Sengoku replied, "They will most certainly come!"

Sengoku's tone was chillingly resolute; after all, these individuals had dared to lay hands on Celestial Dragons—there seemed to be no limit to their audacity.

As Sengoku's words echoed through the meeting room, an icy chill settled over the atmosphere.

In that moment, both the Marine Vice Admirals and the Marine Three Admirals fell into silence.

After a prolonged pause, Sengoku let out a weary sigh and spoke slowly, "How has the mandatory summons of the Shichibukai been enforced?"

"In response to your inquiry, Fleet Admiral, all Shichibukai, with the exception of Jinbei, have arrived as of yesterday," reported the attendee. "They are currently under the supervision of Vice Admirals Momousagi and Chaton."

"Is that woman present? Has she arrived?" Sengoku inquired with a furrowed brow.

"She's indeed here, Marshal," came the response. "Pirate Empress Boa Hancock arrived at Marineford yesterday."

"Though the reason remains unknown, she has ultimately acquiesced to the compulsory summons," the report continued.

Upon hearing this news, the countenances of Sengoku and the other Marine leaders visibly brightened.

With the addition Five of the Shichibukai, along with two Candidate Admirals, and the existing force of 100,000 elite sailors, their prospects looked considerably more promising.

In addition to the three Marine Admirals stationed at Marineford, this represented the pinnacle of Marine Headquarters' strength—the most formidable lineup that could be assembled at present.

Nevertheless, Sengoku couldn't help but be surprised by the Shichibukai's decision to join the fray this time. 

Yet, he didn't dwell on it too much. As long as tomorrow's public execution could proceed without a hitch.

"Betting on the justice we uphold, I will not tolerate any interference with this public execution!" Sengoku declared firmly.

"Whether it's the Whitebeard Pirates or the Al Pirates!"

"If they dare to set foot in Marineford, I'll personally ensure they're all incarcerated in Impel Down!" Sengoku declared resolutely.

As Sengoku's words echoed through the room, every Marine Vice Admiral rose to their feet, chests puffed out with unwavering conviction. They held fast to the belief that they must uphold justice and execute their duty.

"For justice!" they proclaimed in unison.

"For Justice!"

With less than three hours remaining until the public execution, the tension in Marineford reached its peak.

On the crescent-shaped bay, numerous heavy artillery pieces stood ready, poised for action.

Lined up in perfect formation along the coast were 100,000 elite sailors, forming an imposing barrier around the entire Coast.

At the forefront of the Coast stood the five notorious figures who held the key to the impending conflict— the Shichibukai:

Tyrant-Bartholomew Kuma

Gecko Moria

Pirate Empress-Boa Hancock

Heavenly Yaksha-Donquixote Doflamingo

Strongest Swordsman in the World-Dracule Mihawk

Two Marine alternate Admirals, Momousagi and Chaton, flanked him, ready for the Whitebeard Pirates' arrival.

Behind them, eight giant Marine Vice Admirals stood at attention, armed and vigilant.

Beneath the execution platform stood Admiral Aokiji, known for his commitment to balance and justice.

Admiral Kizaru upholds the justice of stealing, lagging and sleight-of-hand!

Admiral Akainu, the staunch advocate of absolute justice.

With the arrival of Marine's top three combat powers, the morale of the elite Marines soared.

Beneath the execution platform, a figure with seastone handcuffs clamped around his wrists and ankles made his way forward, escorted by two executioners.

And following closely behind was none other than Marine Hero and the Strongest Marine, Vice Admiral Garp.

And then there was Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku, also known as "Sengoku the Buddha."

After a brief dispute with his friend, Sengoku strode purposefully towards the execution platform.

As Sengoku ascended the platform, a solemn hush fell over Marineford, the atmosphere becoming tense.

"Fetch the den den mushi!" Sengoku commanded, and sailors swiftly handed the device to him.

As Sengoku took hold of the den den mushi, his expression grave, he spoke in a tone laden with seriousness:

"First and foremost, there is something I must address."

After recounting a lengthy narrative about Ace's lineage, Sengoku delivered words that sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the world:

"One year and three months following the death of your father, the baby bearing the most sinister bloodline in the world was born."

"Your father is none other than Gol D. Roger, the legendary Pirate King!"

The revelation echoed through the Sabaody Archipelago, where the notorious supernovas of the era were gathered. On the large screens, they watched Sengoku's address with grave expressions.

Amidst Sengoku's proclamation, a sense of gravity hung heavy in the air.

As Sengoku's words faded into the air, the entire world erupted into chaos!

Simultaneously, people worldwide and the 100,000 elite sailors beneath the execution platform were left stunned.

Through the thick fog, over a dozen ships belonging to the Whitebeard Pirates gradually emerged, capturing everyone's focus.

Yet, amidst the commotion, unnoticed by most, a pirate ship hovered above Marineford.

"Captain Al, this is truly remarkable!"

"When do we make our move, Captain Al?" 

Observing the bustling crowd below, Nami and Carina exchanged sighs, curious about their next move.

Al chuckled and shook his head, indicating he had no plans to act just yet. After all, the key players of this conflict had yet to arrive.

As all eyes remained fixed on the approaching pirate ship, a sudden change in Sengoku's demeanor caught everyone's attention.

His expression shifted abruptly, a look of shock crossing his features.

"Could it be...?" Sengoku began, his voice trailing off as if pondering a startling possibility.

It seemed that something was about to unfold, possibly to confirm Sengoku's suspicion.

Amidst the tension, three immense ships emerged from beneath the sea's surface, surrounded by bubbles, at the heart of the bay.

"The Moby Dick is arriving!" cried out a voice, filled with fear and awe.

On the deck of the Moby Dick stood the legendary figure known as the world's strongest man—Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.

Supported by his fourteen captains, Whitebeard slowly came into view, capturing the attention of all present.

As Whitebeard approached the bow, preparing to address the gathering, a piercing cry suddenly echoed through the sky.

"Help me, you damned Marines, save me!!!"

The Empress and Doflamingo lifted their gazes skyward at the sound of the desperate plea.

Upon seeing the Celestial Dragons suspended in mid-air, Boa Hancock's eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's... Celestial Dragons!!" she exclaimed.

"The rumors are true... Someone has actually dared to capture Celestial Dragons!!!"

Surveying the unfolding spectacle, Doflamingo's lips curled into a sneer as he remarked, "At last, the brat who dared to snatch the Celestial Dragons has arrived!"

Amidst Charlos; cries and curses, more onlookers raised their heads to witness the scene.

Witnessing this, Sengoku and Akainu clenched their teeth, their fists and veins visibly bulging with frustration.

Meanwhile, Garp and the other two Admirals remained stoic, their expressions betraying little emotion.

In contrast, Whitebeard emitted a hearty laugh at the sight before him.

"Gurarara, what a reckless brat!"

On the Black Pearl, Al couldn't help but feel dumbfounded. Why did this individual have to stir up trouble and draw everyone's attention?

"Hyakuman Boruto (1,000,000 V )!"

In an instant, Nami transformed into a bolt of lightning, hovering in mid-air, and summoned a lightning bolt under the watchful eyes of the world, stunning Charlos into silence.

"It's quite noisy!" 

Just as Nami had finished dealing with Charlos and was preparing to head back to the ship, she was taken aback to see Ace on the execution platform.

"How did he end up here?" she muttered suspiciously, casting a wary glance at Ace before transforming into a bolt of lightning and zipping back to the room to investigate.

Moments later, Nami reappeared, clutching a hefty ledger, and transformed into lightning once more, streaking straight towards the execution platform.

"Repay the debt!! Take this!" she exclaimed as she hurled the ledger towards Ace.

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