What was truly astonishing was that after the war in North Blue, almost no one knew it had ever happened.
The reason was simple—and terrifying.
At the exact moment the war in North Blue began, another battle had erupted on the opposite side of the world. A battle so dangerous, so overwhelming, that the entire world's attention was drawn to it. Because of that, the tragedy in North Blue was swallowed by silence.
In the New World, one of the Four Emperors of the Sea—Kaido, the King of the Beasts—had grown bored.
And when Kaido became bored, the world bled.
He launched a direct attack on a Marine base. By the time the news reached Marineford, the base had already been reduced to ruins.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was furious.
Without hesitation, he ordered Akainu and Kizaru to deploy immediately, accompanied by four Vice Admirals, several Rear Admirals, and multiple Commanders, to stop Kaido at all costs.
But when Akainu and Kizaru arrived, it was already too late.
The Marine base was gone.
The soldiers were gone.
Only destruction remained.
Consumed by rage, Akainu and Kizaru attacked Kaido without delay—and thus, the war began.
At first, it seemed as though the Marines might prevail.
But then—
The sea itself seemed to turn against them.
Another Emperor entered the battlefield.
Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin, accompanied by her generals Katakuri and Cracker.
The war escalated beyond all expectations.
Akainu and Kizaru, who had been pushing Kaido back, suddenly found themselves overwhelmed. The balance of power shifted violently, and for the first time, defeat loomed over them.
When Sengoku received news that Big Mom had joined the battle, he was stunned.
There was no longer any choice.
He personally departed for the battlefield, bringing with him Aokiji, Monkey D. Garp, and additional Marine forces. Marineford's defense was entrusted to Tsuru, Gion, Tokikake, and the former Admiral Zephyr.
By the time reinforcements arrived, Akainu and Kizaru had already suffered heavy losses. The situation had worsened even further—King and Queen, Kaido's commanders, had joined the fight.
But the moment Sengoku, Aokiji, and Garp entered the battlefield, the scale of the war exploded.
The entire world began watching.
No one noticed that, far away, North Blue had been drowning in blood.
Earlier, Sengoku had contacted the World Government, demanding they dispatch the Shichibukai as support. The response was cold and unforgiving.
The Shichibukai, they said, were meant to deal with ordinary pirates.
The Yonko were the Marines' responsibility alone.
That answer ignited fury within every Marine present.
When Sengoku and the others finally unleashed their full strength, the battlefield descended into pure chaos. With reinforcements present, Akainu and Kizaru were finally able to catch their breath—especially Akainu, who had previously taken direct attacks from both Kaido and Big Mom.
Then a familiar, thunderous laugh echoed across the battlefield.
"HAHAHAHA! I'm here!"
Garp grinned wildly as he stepped forward.
"Kaido, you bastard! I've come for you!
Feel the power of my Fist of Love!"
With a single punch, Garp sent Kaido flying through the air.
Sengoku and Garp began relentlessly assaulting Kaido, beating him back again and again. Despite their severe injuries, Akainu and Kizaru rejoined the fight, launching devastating attacks against Big Mom.
Aokiji confronted the enemy commanders—Katakuri, Cracker, King, and Queen—holding them back alone.
Vice Admirals Momonga and Onigumo, though wounded, attempted to assist Aokiji, but he stopped them, ordering them to aid the other Marines instead.
The battle raged on.
Those who witnessed it could only describe fragments of terror:
Magma meteors raining from the sky.
Blinding golden beams tearing through the battlefield.
A colossal golden Buddha towering above the sea.
The shadow of a flying dragon twisting through the clouds.
Lightning splitting the heavens.
And endless waves of ice freezing the ocean itself.
It was a war beyond imagination.
A war that shook the entire world.