"Should I go over and check the situation, Marshal?"
Aokiji pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"You've just escorted a batch of prisoners over there, still at Impel Down, right? Even if you travel day and night, it would take three to four days—it's too far."
Sengoku shook his head slightly and looked at Tsuru, "Where's Borsalino?"
"Still at the 8th research facility." Tsuru mused, "Even if he rushes over alone, it'll take at least two days, probably too late."
"Sakazuki!"
Sengoku rubbed his forehead, unable to stop feeling a headache coming on.
From the formal engagement between both sides to now, about five to six hours have passed. He didn't think Sakazuki would lose to that Shano; both sides are likely still in a stalemate, struggling fiercely.
But... can the vice admirals from those branches, when combined, handle the remaining officers of the Endgame Pirates?
Probably can't hold out for long, could they?
By then, if Kuina and Jack, such monsters, can free up, they could encircle Akainu. With good luck, Sakazuki might still have a chance to escape.
With bad luck... Sakazuki would become the first Grand Admiral captured in decades!
By then, where would the Navy's dignity be?!
Sengoku exchanged a glance with Tsuru.
All three Great Admirals are not at headquarters and can't provide timely support, and Garp, that unreliable old guy, just happened to take leave to the East Sea a few days ago.
At this point, indeed...
"We can only seek help from that organization." Sengoku waved all the officers out before speaking with a stern face.
"Once again, we will be mocked and ridiculed by those lofty people, huh."
Tsuru sighed softly, "But there's no choice; we can't let Sakazuki get into danger... The consequences of losing a Grand Admiral are unbearable for the headquarters, and neither would the Holy Land sit idly by."
"Let me be the one to contact them."
Sengoku took a deep breath, picked up the Radio Snail, and dialed a number he'd never dared to disturb under normal circumstances...
...
Whoosh!
In the night sky, Kuina's body descended gracefully, landing at the bow of a warship.
Looking around, the G-1 Branch's fleet was severely damaged, becoming almost irreparable.
Some were desperately fleeing towards the distance, while a few were less fortunate, their masts cut down by Sword Qi, forcing the marines to abandon ship and swim in the sea, wishing they had more limbs to escape with.
Watching these fleeing marines, Kuina's gaze remained calm, with no intent to pursue.
Turning a blind eye to these low-threat soldiers was customary behavior of the Endgame Pirates.
But the leaders weren't given such courtesy.
She lowered her gaze, and on the deck before her lay the corpses of Vice Admirals Red King and Siteres.
These three Vice Admirals had initially held their ground against her but eventually succumbed as she found their flaws and defeated them one by one.
Among them, only the strongest Vice Admiral, Flying Squirrel, escaped with his life, relying on his exceptional Moonwalk, though she cut off his arm.
As for these two...
Kuina ignored the corpse of Red King, but she directly decapitated Siteres, placing his head into a cloth bag.
Then, stepping on Moonwalk, she leaped back to the Endgame amidst the sea.
...
On the Endgame, most crew members had returned.
In three directions, fleets from three branches of the Navy were all repelled by them.
At the G-14 branch, base commander Vice Admiral Dor was easily defeated by Jack and fled embarrassingly into the sea to save his life.
As for the G-5 branch...
That Vergo wasn't as fortunate, fighting Smoker for a long time, their strengths too closely matched, unable to determine a victor for the moment.
But at that critical moment, Nojiko and Ah Yin cleared the other warships and hurried over...
The result was predictable.
Vergo was besieged and severely injured, losing consciousness from excessive blood loss.
With his duel interfered by his comrades, Smoker was noticeably displeased, thinking given more time he could have settled the battle, clamoring for another fight with Vergo.
The situation was now entirely under control; this request could be fulfilled, so everyone happily spared Vergo's life, tied him up, and brought him aboard the Endgame, with Jack and Ah Yin watching over him.
In summary...
Out of these five Navy Vice Admirals, two died in battle, one was crippled with a severed arm, one fled into the sea, and another was kept as a sparring captive.
At present, only Shano and Akainu have yet to determine a victor.
Everyone stood at the railing, quietly watching the two clashing figures on the distant sea, with no intent to intervene.
"I'm puzzled."
Smoker couldn't help but murmur, "You know not to intervene in the captain's battle, but why not show me the same respect?"
How can you compare to the captain?
Everyone rolled their eyes.
"If you want to intervene, no one's stopping you." Kuina said faintly, "You and Sakazuki are old acquaintances, right? I'm sure he'd be very pleased to see you go."
"Uh..."
Smoker glanced at the intense scene in the distance, said nothing more, and silently lit two cigars.
He and Sakazuki weren't very acquainted.
But the other party surely wants to be more acquainted.
...
Boom!
Amidst a massive shockwave, the clouds were torn into countless fine streaks, and two figures plummeted onto the lava sea.
On the lava sea, Akainu slowly rose from the rubble, gasping heavily, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, his right arm hanging unnaturally—clearly fractured in the recent impact.