"Begin the attack, Beckman!"
Red-Haired Shanks leapt up from the deck, jumping to the highest point in the sky.
His entire body vanished into the sun.
"All units, prepare. The pirates are about to launch their attack. Begin moving into defensive positions according to the plan."
The one responsible for operating this fortress was Borsalino's adjutant, a Vice Admiral named Guderian, who had followed Borsalino for many years.
It was precisely because of his competence that even when Borsalino did not want to manage things, no disorder would break out.
"Divine Departure!"
A furious roar suddenly came from the sky, and most of the Marines instinctively looked up, searching for the source of the voice.
Seeing this, Guderian shouted, "All personnel, defend according to the plan! Do not look around!"
After Guderian's reminder, most of the Marine soldiers lowered their heads and silently focused on the areas they had long since aimed at.
A sword beam wrapped in black-red lightning appeared from the sky, hidden within the brilliance of the sun.
Only when it came within five hundred meters of the fortress did it suddenly expand, as if it meant to cut the entire fortress in two.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Borsalino also leapt into the air. His hands formed a seal, preparing to face Red-Haired Shanks' first strike.
Countless light bullets rushed toward that magnificent sword beam.
Before the sword beam, they melted instantly like snow touching a red-hot iron bar.
But when there was enough snow, even a red-hot iron bar could be extinguished.
Just like now.
Under the endless impact of the light bullets, Shanks' sword beam could no longer advance even a single meter.
"Die, Borsalino!"
At some unknown point, Red-Haired Shanks had appeared before Borsalino.
The Gryphon in his hand was wrapped in both Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki as he prepared to severely wound Borsalino with one slash.
Shanks' idea was very good.
While Borsalino was dealing with Divine Departure, Shanks would use Observation Killing to attack Borsalino's real body.
If Borsalino retreated, then Divine Departure would strike the fortress.
As long as it opened a gap, the members of the Red Hair Pirates could rush into the fortress through it.
If Borsalino chose not to retreat, then Gryphon would heavily wound him.
An injured Admiral could not stop an uninjured Emperor pirate crew captain.
Shanks had already investigated the personnel composition of the fortress.
The strongest figures there were no more than Crocodile, the Desert King, and Borsalino's adjutant, Guderian.
Of those two, one would not participate, and the other would be stopped by Beckman.
That was the method Red-Hair had devised in a short period of time.
Unfortunately, things often did not proceed according to people's plans, because there were always unexpected accidents.
Just like now, for Red-Haired Shanks.
Clang!
The sound of metal colliding rang out.
Gryphon slammed heavily into a thick shield forged from steel alloy.
"Who?!"
Shanks suddenly withdrew with his blade.
He found this aura extremely familiar, but for a moment, he could not recall whom it belonged to.
As the shield slowly moved aside, the tall figure of Bullett appeared before Shanks.
"Bullett! You bastard! Why are you here?!"
Shanks roared in disbelief.
He had never imagined that the person who blocked his attack would be a former crewmate.
Bullett rolled his neck, then grinned savagely.
"Why can I not be here, Shanks?"
Shanks trembled from head to toe, because he was furious.
He could not understand why a former companion from the same ship would appear on the Marines' side.
And judging from Bullett's attire, his position within the Marines was likely not low.
Bullett waved a hand.
"It is exactly as you see. I became a Marine. A Marine Vice Admiral, no less."
Shanks suppressed the anger in his heart and pointed Gryphon straight at Bullett's head.
"Bullett, whether or not we were once companions, I am asking you to give me face now. Move aside. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
"Hmph."
Bullett spoke with extreme disdain.
"You really think you can act this arrogant just because you became an Emperor among pirates? Today, I will show you what it means to respect your seniors!"
With no common ground left between them, the two instantly clashed.
Black-red lightning erupted violently through the air.
Shanks was wrapped in deep crimson Conqueror's Haki, while Bullett's body was surrounded by blue-black demonic aura.
Their battle was so intense that even space seemed unable to endure it. In the areas where their exchanges were fiercest, cracks even appeared in the air.
Under their full-strength attacks, both of them quickly suffered injuries of varying degrees.
Several blade wounds appeared across Bullett's arms and chest, all caused by Shanks' Conqueror's coating.
Shanks was not doing well either.
His chest had been struck by Bullett's heavy fist, and he could faintly feel that several ribs had already cracked.
Seeing that their captain had already engaged the Marines, Beckman directly ordered the pirates to begin attacking the fortress.
Boom!
Both sides began an artillery battle across the waters before the fortress.
One cannonball after another tore fiery trails through the air like a storm.
Many shells even collided midair, triggering massive explosions.
Beckman bit down on his cigar and quietly led the officers of the Red Hair Pirates through the crowd, slowly approaching the fortress.
"Where are you going, Beckman?"
Countless particles of light rapidly gathered in the air, forming Borsalino's body.
At that moment, one of his fingers had already been raised, its tip glowing with dazzling white light.
"Laser Beam."
A laser instantly shot toward Beckman, who was hiding among the crowd.
Bang!
With a gunshot, Borsalino's head was blown apart once again.
At that moment, Beckman no longer hid himself.
He appeared before Borsalino in an instant, drew his pistol, pressed it against Borsalino's body, and fired several shots in succession.
The particles of light suddenly exploded, then reformed a body in the distance.
Borsalino patted his chest with lingering fear.
"What a monster strength. If I had been even a little slower, I might have been torn apart by you."
Beckman curled his lip.
He did not believe an old veteran Admiral could be killed so easily.
At that moment, Yasopp was rapidly shifting position and raising his rifle to aim at Borsalino.
He swore that if Borsalino showed even the slightest moment when he could not elementalize, his bullet would appear there.
Boom!
A deafening sound came from the sky, loud enough for both sides in the battle to hear clearly.
"Thunder Halberd!"
A trident carrying endless lightning descended from the sky at a speed like a thunderbolt.
Sensing danger, Yasopp rolled forward and narrowly avoided being pierced by the trident.
"To think you actually dodged that. Looks like your Observation Haki is also very advanced."
A lazy figure appeared beside the trident, casually grabbing it and pulling it out of the ground.