In theory, war isn't just about gathering all your troops and charging headfirst into the enemy.
But in the somewhat absurd world of One Piece... That's exactly how wars can be fought.
Or rather... That's how a final, all-in decisive battle can be waged.
The pinnacle of strategy boils down to a massive, chaotic clash.
After evacuating all civilians from the surrounding seas, the Angel Alliance's Allied Forces began their advance.
They converged on the massive Red Line from multiple directions.
Though the Celestial Dragons possessed vast strategic depth, being driven from Mary Geoise was tantamount to death for them.
Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the war would erupt on the Red Line beneath Mary Geoise.
Over two thousand Celestial Dragons, each possessing at least Vice Admiral-level combat prowess, were not only masters of both Observation and Armament Haki but also wielded immortality granted by Imu's Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Demon.
To sever this immortality, one needed either Conqueror's Haki Coating or advanced Armament Haki.
This was a feat only the world's strongest could achieve... And even the latter could only suppress the immortality.
Therefore, despite their overwhelming numerical advantage, most of the Angel Alliance forces were tasked with delaying the enemy and securing strategic positions.
Ultimately, the outcome would be decided by the final clash between Michael and Nefertari Lily.
However, this didn't mean the intensity of the main battlefield would diminish.
While the Angel Alliance boasted superior high-level combatants, their mid-tier forces were lacking in numbers.
Overall, they held no significant advantage. After all, Michael had never anticipated that Lily's Human-Human Fruit could achieve such a level of power.
But he didn't dwell on it for long...
...
The war erupted!
The moment the battle began, the entire Red Line transformed into a hellish battlefield, ablaze with fire and crisscrossed by a chaotic storm of diverse abilities.
Though the Angel Alliance launched multi-pronged attacks from various directions, the Celestial Dragons were far from blind.
The Five Elders were seasoned veterans of countless campaigns.
Even though they hadn't commanded large-scale military operations in decades, such matters were merely one of many skills honed over centuries of existence.
The Five Elders and Figarland Garling each led hundreds of Celestial Dragons—all at least Vice Admiral-level in strength—to repel the Angel Alliance's encircling forces.
"Bwahahaha! Saturn! You look a bit worse for wear!"
On the battlefield, an old man who moved like a cannonball tore through the chaos, stopping before Saturn, one of the Five Elders.
"Garp... I never imagined the Hero of the Marines would turn his blade against his former superior," Saturn said, his cloak sliding off his shoulders.
In an instant, Conqueror's Haki erupted from him. Garp didn't flinch. The clash of their supreme Conqueror's Haki split the sky.
But on this apocalyptic battlefield, such sky-rending feats had become commonplace.
"First, I've never used swords or blades," Garp growled, clenching his fist and revealing a savage grin.
"Second... what bullshit Hero of the Marines! I've endured that title for too long! The thought that this so-called 'heroism' came from defeating the Rocks Pirates with Roger and protecting you parasitic pigs makes me want to vomit more than ever!"
Garp spat... right onto Saturn's shoe.
"Is that so... Garp!" Saturn's eyes widened. "Then let your master help you lowly commoners face reality."
"Saturn, are we the ones who need to face reality?"
From another direction, a massive golden shockwave erupted onto the battlefield, obliterating the dozen Celestial Dragons surrounding Saturn and clearing the area.
Saturn froze, his expression complex.
He didn't need to turn around to know who had arrived.
"Sengoku... even you've made up your mind."
"Made up my mind? What nonsense are you spouting? You should have realized this back when the Angel Alliance—no, when the Neo Marines were established!" Sengoku strode to Garp's side, his aura reaching its peak.
"Come, Saturn. Words are useless now. Let's fight!"
"Sengoku, Garp... I will reduce you both to your true, pathetic forms."
"The last time someone forced us to team up was against Shiki the Golden Lion... Saturn, you don't think you're stronger than him, do you?"
"Blessed by Lady Imu... I am the strongest."
With that, Saturn transformed into his massive Ushi-Oni form, black smoke swirling around him as he lunged at the two men.
His eyes turned the same crimson red as Imu's.
...
"Gurararara! What a hideous form you've taken, Nusjuro!"
Whitebeard stood atop the Red Line, Murakumogiri in hand.
Even the most arrogant and foolish Celestial Dragons dared not approach him.
After all, this was... The World's Strongest Man!
"Hideous?" Nusjuro, now transformed into the skeletal horse Bakotsu, drew the Shodai Kitetsu.
"I see it as... Lady Imu's radiance shining upon me."
"Is that so? When I tear your bones apart and feed them to the dogs, let's see if you still have the guts to say that!" Whitebeard roared skyward.
Yet his eyes held no trace of contempt.
The Nusjuro standing before him now... was stronger than ever before
Just how immense was the power of Imu, the adopted daughter Michael had taken in over eight centuries ago?
"Hey, Newgate, what are you daydreaming about?" A purple-haired elder with clenched iron fists appeared beside Whitebeard.
"Now's not the time for heroics! Don't let your guard down! This isn't a duel... it's war."
"Zephyr, you're even more long-winded than Sengoku." Whitebeard curled his lip and fell silent, focusing his aura and concentration.
His aged yet still sharp eyes locked onto the skeletal creature before him.
Zephyr was right.
This wasn't a duel, it was war—a war that would determine the fate of the entire world. He had waited decades for this day.
He wouldn't let any advantage slip through his fingers.
"Come, Zephyr. This is our first and last time fighting side by side..."
"Let's send this old nag straight to hell." Zephyr nodded, his peerless Armament Haki enveloping his hands...
The "Black Arm" has reappeared.