While Charlotte Linlin and Zephyr clashed in the sky, she did not notice the strange plants that had begun appearing across the ground.
The Sweet Commanders, led by Katakuri, fixed their eyes on a strange, towering man.
From him, they sensed a threat that was no weaker than Charlotte Linlin herself.
Issho drew the sword from his cane and aimed it at Katakuri and the others.
"Though this old man is already advanced in years, I still possess some ability to stop you all."
"After receiving Fleet Admiral Raleigh's guidance, I have come to understand that there will never be any chance for peace between the Marines and pirates. Therefore, I will do everything in my power to kill you here."
Issho swung his blade.
Katakuri frowned as he watched Issho's movements. He did not understand what Issho was doing.
But very soon, the sky gave him the answer.
"Dodge! There is a meteor falling from the sky!"
Katakuri shouted.
His Observation Haki had already reached the point where he could foresee several seconds into the future.
In the future he saw, the meteor falling from the sky caused severe casualties among the Charlotte Family pirates.
"Mochi Pillar!"
Even though he had seen the future, Katakuri could still only warn a portion of the people.
As for the rest, their only chance to survive was for him to create a Mochi Pillar and support the meteor with it.
"Observation Haki that can see the future? What a troublesome ability."
Issho sighed softly.
Among his abilities, the most destructive was summoning meteors from outer space.
During free fall, those meteors gained terrifying speed.
When used against middle- and low-level pirates, this move was almost unstoppable.
However, there was still a delay between activation and impact.
Against a pirate like Katakuri, who was extremely skilled in Observation Haki, causing casualties would be very difficult.
"For the sake of Fleet Admiral Raleigh's plan, I can only deal with you first."
Although Issho could not see, the expression on his face became incomparably firm.
In the next instant, his body shot forward and appeared in front of Katakuri.
"Gravity Blade!"
The battle between Issho and Katakuri officially began.
...
In the New World, on the front line where the Red Hair Pirates and the Marines faced each other, Red-Haired Shanks stared grimly at the enormous fortress before him, a giant structure built from reinforced concrete.
Just moments ago, Shanks had used Sea Sever and heavily wounded Borsalino.
However, no one on this sea could stop Borsalino when he was determined to run away, not even Shanks with his Observation Killing.
After the image Den Den Mushi was destroyed, Borsalino had fled straight back to the Marine base without a second thought.
His mission had already been completed.
There was no need for him to fight Shanks any further.
After all, Raleigh had told him long ago that once Uta died, Shanks would definitely retaliate against the Marines like a madman.
And the Marine base in this sea region would be Shanks' first target for revenge.
At this moment, every pirate the Red Hair Pirates could summon had gathered aboard one large ship after another.
Some were responsible for logistics, while others were tasked with pulling out the strategic nails the Marines had driven into this sea.
Borsalino had bandages wrapped around parts of his body.
Standing atop the fortress wall, he looked down at Red-Haired Shanks, who stood on the bow deck below.
"Tch. As expected of the apprentice from Roger's ship. To think Red-Haired Shanks grew to this level in such a short time. How frightening."
Borsalino spoke in his usual tone.
"Hmph. He is still just a child who never grew up."
At some point, Bullett appeared on the wall as well.
His face was full of contempt as he looked down at Shanks below.
"Back when we were on the ship, Roger did like him, but I always felt he was too flighty in many ways. Someone like that will never reach the true end of strength."
Bullett twisted his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds.
As a former member of Roger's crew, Bullett had in fact been the true battle genius.
When he was young, he had already been able to fight Dark King Rayleigh to a draw.
If not for being locked away in Impel Down for too long in the original timeline, causing his strength to decline severely, he would have been more than capable of becoming one of the Four Emperors.
The current Bullett had not suffered the same fate as in the original story.
On the contrary, under Raleigh's training, his strength had only grown higher and higher.
If not for the fact that Admirals were subject to the World Government's control, Bullett's current strength would already be enough for him to be called an Admiral.
"Bullett, if Red-Haired Shanks attacks the Marine fortress, how about you handle Shanks while I deal with Beckman?"
Borsalino looked at Bullett with a sly smile.
Bullett was silent for a moment before saying faintly, "Fine, Admiral Borsalino. I came here to follow your orders."
In truth, Bullett understood very well.
Borsalino was Fleet Admiral Raleigh's older brother.
For something like this, Bullett was naturally the one who should do the dangerous work.
Besides, Bullett truly wanted to fight Red-Haired Shanks.
It had been far too long since they last met.
Back on the ship, Bullett had been far too strong, while Red-Haired Shanks was only an apprentice.
Naturally, there had been no chance for them to fight.
Now that Shanks had become one of the new Three Emperors, it was only right to settle the comparison.
Boom!
The sea was filled with the sounds of cannon fire.
One pirate ship after another, under the command of the great pirates beneath Shanks, began pulling out the Marine strongholds one by one.
The sounds of killing could be heard clearly even from more than ten nautical miles away.
"Open fire! Do not let these pirates land safely!"
Marine commanders on the islands roared.
Their mission was simple.
For three days, they could not allow the islands to be occupied by pirates.
The Marine soldiers had no resistance toward that order.
From the moment they received their mission, they already understood that this would most likely be a death sentence.
But they did not fear death. Instead, one after another, they had fought to sign up.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Relying on their artillery range advantage, the Marines opened fire on the pirates before the pirates could strike back.