Witnessing Monkey D. Garp advancing with a light stride, Marco resolved swiftly. He hurled Monkey D. Luffy, whom he carried, like a cannonball toward Garp, shouting loudly, "Straw Hat, whether Ace survives or not, it's up to you!" Only Luffy stood a realistic chance of subduing Garp on this battlefield.
Thrown through the air, Luffy locked eyes with Garp and answered firmly, "Grandpa, get out of the way, don't stop me, I have to save Ace!"
Garp clenched his fists, ready to strike. "Don't even think of it. As a Marine, I won't let you pass easily. If you want to save Ace, then defeat me first!" He swung at Luffy with all his strength.
Luffy responded, voice steady, "I will save Ace..." As their bodies hurtled closer, Garp's hardened exterior cracked. Moments before his fist struck, his soft side took hold. He closed his eyes, relaxed his grip, and allowed Luffy's blow to land lightly on his cheek instead.
Marines standing nearby gasped in shock at seeing "Hero Garp" seemingly defeated by Luffy's direct punch. Only Sengoku the Buddha wore a grim expression, muttering, "Garp, you fool, even now you couldn't resist the bonds of blood, could you?"
Luffy's punch had force, but he knew Garp's power was immense; Garp must not interfere again with Jinbe and his other allies. Instantly, Luffy wrapped his rubber arms tightly around Garp, and they began to plummet to the earth. Luffy yelled, "Pineapple Head, Jinbe, save Ace now!"
Seeing them fall, Marco seized the moment. Taking Jinbe in tow, he soared again toward the execution platform.
Meanwhile Sengoku's body glowed golden as he activated his Devil Fruit, transforming into his colossal Buddha form. His booming voice echoed across Marineford, "Pirates, do not be reckless. This fortress of justice will not allow you to rescue the criminal."
Turning to the executioners he commanded, he ordered, "Proceed with the execution of Fire Fist Ace immediately."
The two executioners raised their long swords without hesitation.
"Don't think you'll succeed." Marco said as his Conqueror's Haki flared intensely. The two executioners froze instantly, their raised swords halted mid-air.
Shock and disbelief rippled through the Admirals and Sengoku. Marco actually had Conqueror's Haki. No one had ever heard of the famed pirate Marco possessing such power. Could he have awakened it late?
Before Sengoku could muster a response, Marco flung Jinbe into the air. In that same instant, Marco accelerated, rocketing toward the executioners on the platform.
Sengoku's eyes narrowed, calculating. He glanced at Jinbe soaring upward. Through cold reasoning he realized the strategy: Marco would distract him while the fish-man Jinbe would move in to save Ace. Sengoku's frown deepened in frustration at having underestimated his enemies.
Then he aimed his palm toward Jinbe and roared, "Buddha's Shockwave!"
Jinbe, sensing the plan, braced himself midair. He shouted, "Fishman Karate: Eight Thousand Tile True Punch!" Two powerful shockwaves of force clashed violently.
Seizing the moment, Marco closed the distance to Sengoku and growled, "Phoenix Seal!" He delivered a fierce kick. Sengoku tried to defend with his other palm, but the impact forced him backward several steps. Tremors shook the execution platform below them, unstable after recent battles.
Sengoku's face turned grim — the platform was collapsing under their combined weight and force.
Marco landed firmly on the platform. Ace caught sight of him and managed a strained smile, "Marco..."
In the sky, Jinbe descended with the force of his punch, landing hard on the platform beside them. Sengoku stared in disbelief at the allies who had suddenly appeared on the platform. Jinbe, formerly a Warlord of the Sea only days ago, now stood as their enemy. Fear and anger flickered across Sengoku's face as he spat, "Damn you, Jinbe..."
Jinbe squared his stance, his arms emanating a dark sheen of Armament Haki. He growled, "Sengoku, I owe everything to Whitebeard Old Man. Even if it costs my life, I will stop you."
Sengoku sneered in contempt and charged, fists raised. Jinbe met the attack without flinching, bracing himself to block.
The force of their collision hammered the platform again. It rocked violently, creaking under stress, swaying dangerously as though ready to crumble at any moment.
Marco moved behind Ace, urgency in his voice. "Ace, stay still, I'm unlocking you now." From his pocket he produced a key. Sengoku's expression hardened as he recognized the key. He realized his blunder — the Whitebeard Pirates must have acquired the execution key from the traitor within Marine high command.
The execution platform trembled further, on the brink of collapse. Sengoku leaped back, shouting orders to the Marines below, "Open fire! Cannon fire at the platform! Execute Fire Fist Ace now!"
At once, cannon fire erupted. Cannonballs soared upward and struck the platform. Steel and stone spat splinters everywhere.
But at Marco's call, his Phoenix-flame wings erupted from his back, unfurling into massive blue hands of fire that encased the execution platform like a protective sphere.
Bang after bang, cannonballs struck, exploding in thick clouds of smoke. The platform groaned and began to crack. Yet the area within Marco's blue flame remained unscathed, shielded from destruction.
Inside that burning sphere, a brilliant orange flame suddenly materialized — forming into a blazing fist.
"Fire Fist…"