Under a sky of immaculate blue, the sacred city of Mariejoie stood atop the Red Line, its alabaster towers shining like untouchable jewels.
Yet, at the foot of this divine fortress, an incongruous figure stood, almost invisible in the shadow of a steep promontory.
Gojo Satoru, hands in his pockets, observed the city with an enigmatic smile. His black sunglasses reflected the sunlight, masking the intensity of his gaze. The waves crashed against the cliffs below, but the silence around him seemed to absorb all noise.
With a fluid movement, Gojo crouched down, placing a hand on the rocky ground. His fingers grazed the stone, as if he could feel the world's pulsations through it.
"Long time... huh?" he murmured, his voice carried by the wind. His eyes, though hidden, seemed to pierce through the walls of Mariejoie, as if he could see beyond the golden façades, to the secrets buried within the city.
He straightened up, his smile widening. "Well... shall we begin?"
A glint of light shimmered around him, and in an instant, he disappeared, leaving behind only an oppressive silence. The seagulls above circled, indifferent, while the wind swept the place where he had stood. Somewhere, in the shadow of Mariejoie, a shiver ran down the spine of a Cipher Pol guard, though he did not understand the reason.
Two days had passed, and the whole world seemed to hold its breath. At Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines, a storm of iron and fire was brewing.
The crescent bay of the island was surrounded by a colossal fleet: dozens of Marine battleships, their cannons aimed out to sea, ready to face the enemy. In the center of the execution ground, a raised platform dominated the scene.
Portgas D. Ace, commander of the 2nd division of Whitebeard's crew, knelt there, his wrists bound by seastone handcuffs. His gaze, though weary, burned with fierce determination.
Around him, the three Marine admirals - Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru - stood in the front line, their imposing silhouettes radiating a cold menace. Behind them, the vice admirals and thousands of soldiers formed a steel wall.
Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral, stood near Garp, his old friend, on a platform overlooking the scene. The atmosphere was electric, saturated with the tension of an imminent war.
Suddenly, a cry rang out from the watchtowers. "They're coming! Whitebeard's crew!"
On the horizon, the ocean churned. The Moby Dick, Whitebeard's legendary ship, emerged from the waves, flanked by dozens of allied vessels. Edward Newgate, known as Whitebeard, stood at the bow, his immense naginata planted on the deck. At 72 years old, the Emperor of the Seas exuded an overwhelming aura, his piercing gaze fixed on the platform where Ace was held.
"ACE!" he roared, his voice echoing like thunder. "I've come to get you, my son!"
Whitebeard's commanders - Marco the Phoenix, Jozu the Diamond, Vista, and the others - prepared for battle, their weapons drawn. The Marines responded with a barrage of artillery, and the ocean exploded in geysers of foam. The Battle of Marineford had begun.
The clashes erupted with unprecedented violence. Whitebeard's pirates charged, facing the waves of Marine soldiers. Marco, transformed into a phoenix, soared over the battlefield, his blue flames repelling attacks. Jozu, his body sparkling like diamond, smashed a battleship with a single blow.
In the center, Whitebeard himself entered the fray, his Gura Gura no Mi power causing the earth and ocean to tremble. Each of his punches fractured the air, creating shockwaves that pulverized the enemy ranks.
On the Marine side, the admirals fought back. Akainu unleashed torrents of magma, incinerating dozens of pirates. Aokiji froze the ocean, trapping ships in blocks of ice. Kizaru, swift as light, struck with deadly precision.
The Warlords of the Sea, present for the occasion - Mihawk, Doflamingo, Moria, and Kuma - added their own chaos to the conflict, although some seemed more interested in the spectacle than victory.
Sengoku, from his platform, watched the battle with a mix of coldness and concern. "Whitebeard... he's willing to destroy everything to save Ace," he murmured. Beside him, Garp, with a stern face, clenched his fists, torn between his duty and his love for his adoptive grandson.
As the battle reached its climax, an unexpected event shifted the atmosphere. A cry resounded from the sky, followed by a deafening rumble. All heads turned to the clouds, where a massive shadow pierced the horizon.
A Marine ship, stolen from Impel Down, plummeted in free fall, carried by an improbable updraft.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" shouted a Marine officer.
On the ship's deck, a familiar figure stood, his straw hat fluttering in the wind.
Monkey D. Luffy, surrounded by Jinbe, Crocodile, Ivankov, and a horde of escaped prisoners from Impel Down, raised his fist with a determined smile.
"ACE! I'M COMING!" he cried, his voice cutting through the battle's tumult.
The ship crashed into the frozen bay, shattering the ice and sending shards in all directions. Luffy leaped from the deck, landing in the heart of the battlefield, his gaze fixed on the execution platform.
"Ace! Hold on! I'll get you out of there!"
The crowd of fighters paused for a moment, stunned. Sengoku, furious, barked, "Monkey D. Luffy?! How did he escape from Impel Down?!"
Whitebeard, with a smirk, murmured, "That kid..."
Ignoring the chaos around him, Luffy charged through the enemy ranks, his fists strengthened by the Haki he was just beginning to master. Jinbe, Crocodile, and the others followed him, pushing back the Marines trying to stop them.
Luffy's presence galvanized Whitebeard's pirates, who redoubled their efforts to reach the execution platform.
Luffy's arrival marked a turning point in the battle. The fighting became even more frenzied, each side struggling to gain the upper hand.
Ace, from the platform, looked at his little brother with a mix of pride and anguish.
"Luffy... why are you here?!" he cried, his voice trembling.
"Because you're my brother!" replied Luffy.