"Just as I thought—Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander is no idiot after all."
In the seas near Jaya Island.
Kuzan listened to the reports delivered by several Vice Admirals who had been salvaged from the sea, unable to stop himself from sighing with emotion.
Without hesitation, he immediately ordered someone to connect a Den Den Mushi call to the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters.
However…
Amid a stretch of busy tones, the Den Den Mushi seemed as though it had fallen asleep, offering no response whatsoever.
"That's strange."
A puzzled look appeared on Kuzan's face.
At this hour, Fleet Admiral Sengoku should have been in his office, waiting for mission reports from himself and Kizaru.
So then…
"Did something happen over at Marineford?"
Kuzan frowned, sensing that things were beginning to slip beyond his expectations.
…
…
At the same time.
The Grand Line, waters near Marine Headquarters—Marineford.
Whitebeard stood at the prow of the Moby Dick. The enormous Supreme Grade Meito · Murakumogiri in his hands looked no different from an ordinary firewood stick as he casually swung it, carving sharp arcs of cold light through the air.
In an instant!
A vast torrent of Conqueror's Haki burst forth from his body, surging like roaring waves and sweeping across the skies above Marineford.
At that very moment, an equally overwhelming Conqueror's Haki erupted from the heart of Marineford, colliding head-on with Whitebeard's.
For a time, the skies above Marine Headquarters resembled a violent thunderstorm. Deafening booms echoed nonstop as countless streaks of black lightning crackled and danced through the heavens.
The next second, all that power collided in a single earth-shaking blast—then vanished without a trace.
As if the exchange had merely been a greeting.
Whitebeard's bold laughter rang across the sky.
"Gurarararara~!"
"Sengoku! Garp! You two bastards really haven't aged a day!!!"
"Gurarararara…"
He raised his massive naginata and took a heavy step forward.
Bang!
The butt of the weapon slammed into the deck, sending out a deep, resounding hum.
Upon Marineford's towering defensive wall—
The pillars of the Navy, Sengoku and Garp, stood resolutely atop the platform, even higher than Akainu, who had also remained behind.
Both men wore solemn expressions as they gazed at the approaching Whitebeard Pirates fleet.
"That damned monster actually dares to attack Marine Headquarters!" Sengoku snarled through clenched teeth, a faint golden radiance shimmering around his body.
Beside him, Garp burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Doesn't that just prove how accurate your prediction was~?"
"And really, it's a good thing you recalled Akainu from the New World. Otherwise, things would've been truly dangerous!"
"As for these old bones of mine… who knows if they'll still move."
"Enough nonsense!" Sengoku barked. "This is no time for jokes, Garp!"
"The Navy has killed quite a few of Whitebeard's men lately."
"Don't let that smile fool you. His hatred for the Navy has already been compressed to its absolute limit!"
"What comes next… is total eruption!"
"Relax!" Garp swung his arm through the air a few times, his grin unchanged, as if he didn't take the coming battle seriously at all.
Unlike the original Summit War timeline, this conflict did not involve his own family—so this time, Garp would fight without restraint.
And so, as the Moby Dick steadily closed in on Marineford's harbor…
A war destined to shock the entire world officially began!
That day, people across the Sabaody Archipelago felt tremors rising up from the earth itself.
Yet still immersed in the shock of the Celestial Dragons' deaths, they dismissed it as nothing more than an illusion born from their own unrest.
…
…
Elsewhere.
Sky Island—Upper Yard.
Despite being tens of thousands of meters above the sea, a torrential rainstorm now blanketed the land, rain hammering down without pause.
Within the downpour, Vice Admiral Momonga and Vice Admiral Doberman stood soaked to the bone. Arcs of electricity crackled across their bodies, stiffening their movements and making even simple actions difficult.
"As expected of Marine Headquarters' elite Vice Admirals."
"To still refuse to fall in this state… sending the other four away really was the right choice."
Standing opposite them, Red, transformed into Zapdos's half-beast form, revealed a sharp, avian smile with his beak as he praised them.
After confirming that Chopper and Robin's battlefield was stable, Red immediately returned to face Momonga and Doberman, preventing them from interfering with Nami and Usopp's fight due to his prolonged absence.
As soon as they saw Red again, the two Vice Admirals—just as he anticipated—charged at him in fury, blades raised.
There was a reason Momonga and Doberman were entrusted with critical missions time and again.
Both disciples of Zephyr, their combat strength and battlefield experience far exceeded that of ordinary Vice Admirals.
Even their Observation Haki was exceptional.
Once they gradually grasped the mechanics of Red's Hyperspace Hole, their vigilance rose to its absolute peak.
After a prolonged exchange, Red's lightning-fast Electric-type techniques failed to land a single hit on them!
However…
With the Zapdos template loaded, granting him Flying-type abilities and moves, Red possessed aerial dominance far beyond Momonga and Doberman.
Coupled with the agility of the Flying type, their attacks struggled just as much to catch him.
If they used Moonwalk to pursue him into the air, they would immediately enter Red's home field.
Thus, the two could only launch flying slashes from the ground while evading the Pokémon moves Red might unleash.
Until Red, utterly shamelessly, used a move called Rain Dance.
In an instant, heavy storm clouds rolled across Upper Yard's once-clear sky, massive raindrops pouring down and turning the battlefield into a world of rain!
With the rain's blessing, Red's Electric-type moves received a tremendous boost.
Techniques that once required ambushes to land now became unavoidable—guaranteed hits.
So far, Momonga and Doberman had already taken three Thunders and two Thunderbolts head-on.
It had to be said…
Enduring so many devastating lightning strikes while drenched and still standing was proof of just how solid these elite Vice Admirals truly were.
At the very least, their defensive power and vitality far surpassed other fighters of the same rank.
But unfortunately…
No matter how strong their foundation, it could not change today's outcome.
Red never fights unprepared battles.
From the very beginning, he had already secured victory!
"That damned monster…"
Momonga murmured weakly, his eyes dark as he realized their inevitable defeat.
Instinctively…
His gaze drifted toward the distant sky.
There, three figures were locked in battle with a streaking beam of light.
The sheer scale of that clash dwarfed even the one unfolding here.
"We miscalculated."
Doberman, feeling the numbness spreading through his body, let out a bitter sigh.
No matter how they thought about it…
They had never imagined that beside a mere division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates would stand a combatant with Admiral-level strength.
And with two more fighters whose power far exceeded that of ordinary Vice Admirals…
The three of them had forcibly pinned down Admiral Kizaru, preventing him from supporting any other Navy forces.
Momonga and Doberman then shifted their gaze once more.
The Navy soldiers and agents who once held a numerical advantage were now completely blocked by dense swarms of insects!
Those were hundreds of Navy officers—by Grand Line standards, even the weakest could contend with pirates carrying bounties of over thirty million Beli!
And yet, such a force was being halted by insects.
The individual strength of those bugs wasn't impressive—some were even weaker than Sky Island's native beasts.
But their numbers were overwhelming.
More critically, they split into countless small swarms, coordinating like disciplined armies, leaving Navy forces unable to spare attention elsewhere.
Even the lucky few who escaped the insects were instantly struck down by lightning from nowhere, collapsing on the spot.
As for Ace's side…
There was no need to elaborate.
After being tempered by the Pokémon world and personally trained by Red, Ace's strength had risen far beyond his former "weakest commander" status.
Against two ordinary CP0 agents, victory was all but guaranteed.
The Sky Island landing operation had lasted less than half an hour, yet the Navy and World Government were already facing total defeat.
Now, their only remaining hope lay with the CP0 agent whose strength rivaled an Admiral's.
"If he can defeat that Akatsuki member and then assist Admiral Kizaru, the tide of war will be instantly reversed!"
The same thought arose simultaneously in both Momonga and Doberman's minds.
But in the next second—
"Gum-Gum · Destroyer God Light Spear!!!"
BOOOOM—!!!!!
A terrifying surge of energy descended upon the heavens and earth.
From within the distant clouds beyond Upper Yard, an immense laser-like beam suddenly burst forth, like a sword piercing through the world itself, shooting straight toward Red.
At the very center of that beam was a masked figure—
The CP0 powerhouse in whom the two Vice Admirals had placed all their hopes!
Yet compared to his earlier domineering presence, the man was now in dire condition.
A visible crack marred his mask, his cloak was torn to shreds, and through the gaps seeped dark crimson blood.
Strange arcs of electricity flickered across his body as well, paralyzing even his formidable physique.
"Luffy really is careless," Red said helplessly. "How can he just barge into someone else's battlefield?"
Just as Red was preparing a lightning strike to finish Momonga and Doberman, he was forced to halt.
With a wave of his hand, a massive Hyperspace Hole opened, swallowing both the CP0 agent and the energy beam whole.
Then, with his other hand, Red drew a circle in the air like Doctor Strange, opening a connected portal and sending the CP0 agent straight back where he came from.
"W-What… was that just now?!"
Momonga and Doberman stared in utter disbelief.
Especially Momonga!
That CP0 agent—whose mere presence overwhelmed him—had been beaten into such a state!?
That was someone just below Admiral level!
Were they really here to suppress a Yonko crew's commander…
Or had they picked a fight with an entire Yonko-class force?!
When had such a terrifying power emerged upon the seas?!
Before their thoughts could settle, blinding golden lightning filled their vision once more.
Already familiar with this sight, both men instinctively coated themselves in Armament Haki.
But it was too late.
Because this time—
What stood before them was no longer Red's half-beast form, but a true Zapdos, eyes razor-sharp, wings beating with thunderous force!
At last, Red unleashed his strongest form—fully loading the Zapdos template—and charged straight at them.
In an instant!
Like a flash cleaving heaven and earth!
Beneath the storm clouds, Red reappeared behind the two Vice Admirals, blazing with light.
Endless lightning burst behind him like stage lights.
Zapdos landed, claws digging into the ground, its form shifting into a kneeling human silhouette.
Red slowly stood and turned around.
He saw two charred figures stagger as they turned back toward him.
Clang—
Their swords fell to the ground.
Consumed by regret and confusion, Momonga and Doberman finally lost consciousness, collapsing heavily onto the earth.
"Hoo…"
"Those guys were really tough."
The fragrance of grass spread through the air.
Red sat down on the Grassy Terrain, beginning to recover his stamina.
After all, his opponents were elite Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters. Without his Psychic Power to substitute for Observation Haki and evade their assaults, the fight would not have ended so easily.
But at least for now…
Everything on the battlefield remained within Red's expectations.
"Next, once Luffy's side settles things, we can think about retreat."
"It's time to get Laboon ready."
"This time, we really helped the Whitebeard Pirates put on a grand show for the world~"
"But next time…"
"It'll be our turn to steal the spotlight!!!"
Red smiled, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.
(End of Chapter)