The Largest War In History

"Marshal, if the situation turns against us, where should we retreat?" Kizaru asked, a curious expression on his face.

He was genuinely interested in the answer.

Finn smiled and replied, "We'll slip away to Fish-Man Island. I've already sent people to place the Hearthstone device there, hidden in the city. When the battle starts, if Marine soldiers are in danger, we'll teleport them there."

Everyone listened intently. Finn's idea was thoughtful.

After all, if the war broke out in Marineford and the wounded were sent back here, it would be pointless! But with the Hearthstone device at Fish-Man Island, Marine soldiers could escape without anyone noticing, minimizing casualties.

Retreating before the battle even began? This was almost unbelievable!

"Finn, are we really prepared to abandon Naval Headquarters?" Vice Admiral Crane asked, her voice serious. "Wouldn't that just become a joke among the pirates?"

Finn chuckled. "Crane, you're overthinking it! I didn't say we must retreat. If it's just the Pirate Alliance, we can handle them. But the real question is whether the World Government will intervene—though it's highly likely they will."

He paused, grinning. "If their forces are stronger than we anticipate, then we'll abandon Marineford."

"That..."

Everyone looked stunned.

"What's with the looks?" Finn raised an eyebrow, matching their expressions. "This place is called Naval Headquarters because it's where Marine is stationed. If we move to Fish-Man Island, then Fish-Man Island will be Naval Headquarters, and this place? It's just a patch of land."

His words landed with a heavy thud.

Bang!

Everyone's eyes widened in realization.

Kizaru's eyes lit up, and he quickly spoke up. "That's right! Even if we give up Marineford to the pirates, would they really dare to hold it?"

With a confident grin, Kizaru pointed a finger toward the sky. "Absolutely not!"

"Exactly!" Aokiji added. "And in this battle, as long as we Marine preserve our strength and eliminate as many pirates as possible, we will win!"

Aokiji's words struck a chord. "We've been thinking all wrong. We've been worrying about losing, but Finn's words are a revelation! The real key isn't if we win or lose—it's how we lose. If our losses are minimal, but the pirates suffer heavy casualties, what does it matter if we lose?"

Sengoku nodded thoughtfully. "True. But the most important thing is not to let the World Government take advantage of this. No matter how the battle progresses, if we find ourselves in a situation where the World Government is causing us serious trouble, we'll retreat immediately."

Crane Vice Admiral nodded again, impressed. She turned to Finn, giving him a thumbs up. "I didn't expect this from you, Finn. You really are on another level!"

Finn shrugged nonchalantly. "Now that you all understand my plan, let's wrap up the departmental reports and start training. This time, we'll aim to wipe out the Pirate Alliance!"

"Yes, Marshal!" everyone echoed in unison.

Time flew, and a month passed.

The Pirate Alliance, with its massive fleet, had arrived at Marineford.

As far as the eye could see across the sea, there were countless pirate ships, each proudly flying their own pirate flags.

Naturally, news agencies weren't going to miss this monumental event. Several news ships set sail, broadcasting live to the world.

"This is set to be the largest war in history!" one reporter exclaimed.

"Look at that sea! There must be hundreds of pirate ships!" another added.

"I hope Marine wins this one! If so many pirates are wiped out, our island will have peace for a long time."

"Trust Marshal Finn!" the crowd cheered.

People watching the broadcast across the world were gripped by the weight of this war. The outcome would reshape the world.

If Marine won, peace would be one step closer.

But if the pirates won, the world would likely be plunged into chaos.

As the broadcast spread, people stopped whatever they were doing and rushed to find a place to watch, eager to witness this epic clash.

"Pirate Alliance! Today, we fight for freedom!" Kaido stood at the bow of his ship, raising his arms and shouting.

"Fight for freedom!" The pirates roared in agreement.

Charlotte Linlin spoke next, her voice booming across the sea. "Listen well! Follow my lead! The Marines won't give us a way out, so today, we'll show them the price of opposing all pirates! We will destroy Marine!"

"Destroy Marine!" the pirates chanted in unison.

The pirates' reckless spirit was evident. With the battle ahead, they were ready to either win or die trying.

This mentality amplified their fighting power. It was a battle of life and death, and their desperation fueled them.

"The enemy's coming!" Sengoku warned.

Finn nodded, turning to his comrades. "Grandpa Sengoku, Grandma He, this battle will be yours to command. I'm not suited for this. I'll leave the fighting to those more skilled in battle."

With that, Finn leaped into the air, stepping lightly over the Marine soldiers and warships below. His figure was suspended before Crescent Harbor.

"Marshal!" the soldiers cheered, raising their arms in excitement.

Since Finn became the Marine Marshal, the morale of the soldiers had never been higher. Not only had their living conditions improved, but their survival rate had skyrocketed.

How could they not be loyal to a leader like Finn?

Finn looked down at the soldiers, his voice ringing out. "Soldiers! Before you stand the most notorious pirates in the world! Tell me, are the blades in your hands sharp?!"

"Sharp!" the soldiers shouted in unison.

"Can you cut off the heads of the pirates?!" Finn continued, his voice growing louder.

"Able!" the soldiers responded, their resolve unwavering.

While the pirates shouted chaotically in the distance, the Marines' chants were unified and powerful. Their voices thundered across the sea, shaking the hearts of the pirates.