Joining the Battle

Chapter 197: Joining the Battle

"Fire! Destroy the Moby Dick!!!" 

It was an order shouted by an unknown Marine, and countless heavy cannons turned towards the frozen Moby Dick and opened fire!

Meanwhile, the pirates found their footing and began jumping off their ships, landing on the icy surface, charging towards Marineford. They were determined to rescue the son cherished by their captain and bring their family members back.

The fearless Marines grabbed their weapons and rushed toward their enemies!

They were here to uphold justice and fight against pirates!

The icy surface had become the battlefield, and among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, it was Hawk-Eye Dracule Mihawk who made the first move, not Rodney. He unsheathed his black sword, Yoru, and with his captivating hawk-like eyes fixed on Whitebeard, he wanted to see just how wide the gap was between himself and the world's strongest man.

Without uttering a word, Mihawk swung his beloved sword, unleashing a green slash.

It was an attack from the world's greatest swordsman, capable of cutting through anything. It left a long, smooth mark on the icy surface as it headed straight for Whitebeard on the Moby Dick!

Whitebeard remained still, and it was Whitebeard Pirates' Third Division Captain, "Diamond" Jozu, who stepped in to block the attack.

As a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user with the ability to turn his body into a diamond, Jozu possessed the world's strongest physical defense. He used his resilient body to intercept the attack just before the colossal sword energy struck.

With his sheer brute strength, he deflected the sword energy into the sky, where it exploded into a dazzling display of fireworks.

"By the way, Mr. Mihawk, does that move of yours have a name?" 

Rodney's focus was entirely elsewhere, not on Jozu intercepting Mihawk's attack.

Mihawk remained silent and didn't respond. As long as he didn't call out the name of his technique, he was merely using basic swordsmanship.

Mihawk's silence didn't bother Rodney. He simply chuckled. Diamond Jozu, a user of the Flash-Flash Fruit, had the power to transform his body into a solid diamond, making him a formidable opponent. His worth was quite high, and he was the true "Diamond Fifth."

The battle between the pirates and the Marines raged on. On the seats above, Borsalino stood up, his body turning into photons as he appeared in the sky, radiating a dazzling golden light that dazzled the eyes. He crossed his arms and formed a lotus sign with his fingers. "Comma Jewel of Eight Shaku," he chanted.

Countless energy bullets were aimed at Whitebeard and fired rapidly. Another figure, burning with blue flames, soared into the sky, intercepting the attack.

It was Marco the Phoenix!

Using his extraordinary regenerative abilities, Marco intercepted Borsalino's energy bullets with the edges of his feathers. Although his body suffered considerable damage, the wounds quickly healed within moments, thanks to the potent healing properties of the blue flames.

"Terrifying, isn't it, Whitebeard Pirates?" Borsalino smirked, floating in the sky and speaking with a crooked mouth.

"Your efforts seem to be paying off," Marco replied, flapping his wings as he flew in the sky.

"Don't deceive yourself," Borsalino chuckled. He was about to unleash another attack when suddenly, his ice clone burst into ice fragments. The real Kizaru, who had moved at the speed of light, appeared behind Marco and launched a devastating kick.

Marco's body, now partially transformed into a beast, was wrapped in Haki. He had wrapped Haki around his leg and arm, making them harder and more durable. He used his incredible leg strength to deflect the kick.

BOOM!

Several buildings collapsed from the force of the impact. Marco, who had taken the brunt of the attack, transformed into photons and reappeared at the edge of the bay, completely unscathed.

"Giants really know how to make a scene, don't they?" 

Rodney couldn't help but be amazed as he watched the Marine Vice Admirals in action. 

"Is this guy a human compass or something?"

However, Jozu's immense strength allowed him to lift the ice block, which was comparable in size to a small warship. With sheer brute force, he hurled it away!

Facing the colossal ice block, Rodney drew his sword, Aisu, and said, "It's time to get involved. Show Time! Hakoku Sovereignty!!"

A spiraling sword energy with incredible piercing power burst forth, easily piercing through the ice block and shattering it into dozens of smaller pieces. The residual momentum of the ice block continued to fly forward.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!" 

Rodney unleashed an intensely scorching pillar of fire from his mouth, melting and evaporating all the ice fragments, as if there had been no ice block at all.

"What is that... is that... Shichibukai Rodney? Did he just take action?"

"Wait a minute, I thought the Fire-Fire Fruit user was Ace?"

"Did he just use Hakoku, which is our giant clan's technique?"

The Vice Admirals, all of whom were giants, recognized their clan's signature attack and couldn't help but wonder why this human had access to it.

"Rodney, you're challenging me, huh?" Whitebeard's eyes glared fiercely at him, while Rodney continued to meet his gaze, saying, "That's right!"

"I see. You're a pirate hunter, aren't you?" 

Whitebeard laughed heartily, a hint of regret in his voice. 

"I had hoped you could become my son, but it seems that's not possible now. Rodney, if you're going to oppose me, be prepared for the consequences!"

Whitebeard did appreciate the young man before him, but he would not sacrifice his family for the sake of one person. In the end, they were not on the same path.

"Hahaha! If someone from the Whitebeard Pirates can kill me!" Rodney laughed confidently, displaying the arrogance and self-assuredness of youth.

"Dad! Rodney!!!" Ace shouted from the execution platform. 

"Rodney! Don't attack my dad and the others! Please!!!"

Rodney's abilities were indeed capable of causing significant casualties among the Whitebeard Pirates, and Ace didn't want to witness that.

"Hahaha! Ace, you're so naive! I'm a pirate hunter, after all! Isn't it only natural to kill pirates?" 

Rodney laughed heartily, not hesitating to say, "The Whitebeard Pirates will become vulnerable without Whitebeard. There won't be many who can shoulder the burden. A crew that relies solely on one person's strength is ultimately useless!"

A faction that depends entirely on one person's strength cannot thrive in the long run. When that pivotal figure is gone, it spells the downfall of the faction.

Whitebeard highly valued Ace because he had the potential to become a great captain. His character, strength, and attitude towards his family made him a perfect candidate to lead the Whitebeard Pirates in the future.

Although Marco was powerful, he hadn't reached the same level as Whitebeard, and his Devil Fruit ability was primarily supportive and healing-oriented. Achieving a clear advantage in battle was still quite challenging for him.

That's why Whitebeard wanted to groom Ace as his successor. His visit wasn't just about rescuing his son but also securing the future of the Whitebeard Pirates. Whitebeard's health was deteriorating, and there needed to be someone who could shoulder the responsibility.

Marco and Jozu, who had grown up under Whitebeard's care, would assist Ace in stabilizing the situation and rapidly strengthening the crew once Whitebeard was gone.

After all, Ace was Whitebeard's chosen son!

Rodney's words hit the mark, but not everyone understood his perspective. This enraged many people.

"You bastard! What are you saying?! Dad is really strong! He'll definitely save Ace! Don't underestimate the Whitebeard Pirates!"

"That's right! They're just Seven Warlords, nothing to be arrogant about! They're just lapdogs of the World Government!"

"You ignorant brat! Have the guts to fight me fair and square!"

...

Taunts and insults filled the air from all directions. However, Doflamingo chimed in, "Kukuku, Rodney, they're challenging you. Aren't you going to join the fray?"

"Of course, I'm joining in. I am a pirate hunter, after all!" 

Rodney raised his head and shouted to the Admiral above, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, can I get paid for the guys I take down?"

Sengoku's forehead displayed a prominent vein. 

"You brat! At a time like this, you're still thinking about money? No, this is a government operation! You all must follow orders! Get to work!"

"Tsk!"

Rodney clicked his tongue, then jumped down onto the ice surface, avoiding a cannonball shot in his direction.

"Since that's the case, I can only..." 

Rodney raised his head, revealing his crimson Mangekyou Sharingan, "I can only cause some chaos!"