Many present stood frozen in place.
The Marine admiral in charge of the second battlefield had yet to appear, and everyone was filled with doubt.
If not for their military discipline and duty-bound obedience, many might have already fled in panic at the sight of such a meager force.
And yet, the baffling reason for the delay… was that it wasn't time to clock in?
The massive floating platform—and the countless viewers watching the live broadcast—were utterly dumbfounded.
Even Doflamingo's expression stiffened. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.
He had experienced this bizarre "on-the-clock" behavior firsthand.
If it were anyone else, he might have doubted it.
But when it came to Luo Yu—he didn't dare question it.
"He's here!"
Someone shouted.
Everyone's nerves instantly tensed.
A massive warship surged through the waves in the distance.
Standing atop the deck was Luo Yu, gourd in hand, sipping his liquor.
His lazy demeanor made it seem like he was heading to a routine task—not a battle against a Yonko.
As this last-minute-arriving admiral finally appeared, everyone—civilians, Marines, prison guards, even Doflamingo—watched with bated breath, wondering what miracle he might bring.
But as they looked closer, they saw only two or three figures on the deck.
Not a single Marine soldier in sight.
So much for a miracle.
"Magellan… can we really win?"
Hannyabal was stunned, unable to hold back his question.
Magellan, standing beside him, had no answer.
Sengoku had only told him to wait.
He hadn't said what—or who—they were waiting for.
And now, Luo Yu's arrival, empty-handed and unbothered, felt like a cruel joke.
"Heh… same old guy. Always full of surprises," Ace muttered with a dry laugh, watching the broadcast from the execution platform at Marineford, his hands shackled in Seastone cuffs.
"Old man… are you really okay with him facing Kaido alone?"
"He once boarded the Moby Dick. If I hadn't been so hot-headed back then, maybe none of this would've happened."
Garp stood silently beside him, staring at the calm sea. He said nothing.
As someone who had watched Ace grow up, Garp's feelings were too complex to express.
Ace didn't blame him. He simply kept watching the sea and the live feed.
Then, Ace's pupils contracted in shock.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Kaido has arrived! He's leading 120 pirate ships toward Impel Down!"
"According to reports, over 120,000 pirates are participating—50,000 more than we estimated!"
A rear admiral burst in, unable to contain himself.
Everyone's hearts felt like they'd been crushed in a vice.
They had waited so long—not for Magellan's promised "9 a.m. miracle"…
But for the arrival of the Beasts Pirates' overwhelming force.
The contrast was staggering.
Was the second battlefield truly just a sacrificial distraction?
All eyes turned to the live feed.
On the horizon, dense black silhouettes grew larger.
Flags flapped violently in the wind.
As the banners of the Beasts Pirates came into view, led by a colossal flagship, nerves across the world stretched to the breaking point.
Kaido stood on the deck, gripping his massive kanabo, his expression dark and thunderous.
The sight of 120,000 pirates charging forward was like a mountain pressing down on everyone's chest.
On the floating platform, Marines and guards turned pale.
Compared to Marineford's grand display, their own meager force looked even more pitiful.
Even Hannyabal and Magellan clenched their fists.
When they were told Impel Down would be the second battlefield, they had imagined many possible scenarios.
But never this.
Even the admirals and generals at Marineford felt a chill.
Facing one Yonko was already nerve-wracking.
If Impel Down fell, Kaido would surely march on Marineford.
A two-Yonko assault would be catastrophic.
Many instinctively looked to Sengoku and Garp.
If not for their calm expressions, morale might have already collapsed.
"Hahaha! So this is the Navy's big surprise?"
Kaido laughed wildly from the bow of his ship, slamming his kanabo onto the deck.
"I thought you were preparing a feast for me. Turns out it's just scraps."
"You really are the Navy's discarded pawn. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent you here to die."
"This so-called war of two Emperors has stirred the whole sea. They brought out their finest for that old, decrepit Whitebeard…"
"But for me? Just this pathetic lot?"
"Is my name not worthy enough? Is this how you greet Kaido of the Beasts?"
"Flattening this place will be easy. But you've made my crew look like fools. So I'll kill everyone here first—then storm Marineford."
"And this is just the beginning. I'll tear down every last defense of Impel Down."
"Doffy—if not now, when?"
Kaido's voice thundered across the sea.
Broadcast live via Den Den Mushi, his words echoed around the world.
The pressure was suffocating.
What had already seemed like a hopeless defense now felt utterly doomed.