At this moment, despair gripped the hearts of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Was this truly the power of the Celestial Dragons?
They possessed terrifying regenerative abilities that bordered on immortality. Whitebeard's all-out attack had clearly destroyed them, yet these monstrous beings recovered as if death itself held no meaning.
To stand against enemies like this…
Could they still win?
…
A heavy sense of hopelessness spread through every member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Marco!!!"
Suddenly, Whitebeard roared without turning back.
"Understood!!!!"
As the second-in-command, First Division Commander, and ship doctor of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco understood instantly. He shut his eyes tightly, swallowing the grief in his chest before shouting:
"All Whitebeard Pirates, obey Whitebeard's orders!!!"
Suppressing his sorrow, Marco scanned the battlefield, clenched his teeth, and commanded:
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!!! Do not let Pops's sacrifice be meaningless!"
"But, Whitebeard…"
"There are no buts! Retreat!!! Take every comrade who still has breath and leave!!!"
"Yes!!!"
Many pirates cried openly, wiping tears and snot from their faces as they roared through sobs:
"Wuwuwu, Whitebeard, retreat! Retreat!!!"
"Don't let Whitebeard worry about us! You bastards, move!!!"
"Retreat!!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates turned back sorrowfully, abandoning all attempts to fight the Marines and retreating at full speed.
When pirates advanced, the Marines could still hold defensive lines. The plaza had limited access points, and guarding key areas was manageable.
But once the pirates withdrew, the Marines' pursuit capabilities faltered.
Most of the Marines who had barely survived the Gorosei's massacre collapsed the moment the pain returned to their bodies.
As fiercely as they had fought while numb, they now screamed just as miserably while writhing on the ground.
With ordinary Marines no longer desperately clinging to them, the Marine elites found it difficult to effectively pursue the retreating pirates.
Those who remained among the Whitebeard Pirates were not weak. The weaker ones had already fallen during earlier slaughter.
The surviving commanders automatically stayed at the rear, covering the retreat and making pursuit even more difficult for the Marine Admirals.
"This path… is blocked!"
Swish!
A beam of yellow light flashed as a figure appeared above the pirates' escape route.
"Oh no!"
The pirate at the front stared at the middle-aged man in a yellow suit hovering above and screamed in terror:
"It's Admiral Kizaru!!!"
Buzz!
"Oh my, oh my, oh my… esteemed members of the Whitebeard Pirates…"
Kizaru floated leisurely in the air, hands glowing with blinding light as he gazed down at them.
"Leaving already? Isn't that a bit rude? Stay awhile."
Swish! Swish! Swish!
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless light bullets rained down like a storm, tearing into the Whitebeard Pirates' formation.
Boom! Boom!
Pirates were struck one after another, some blown apart, others collapsing with missing limbs, screaming in agony.
"Get out of the way!!!"
A massive blue-flamed phoenix surged upward, wings spreading wide as Marco unleashed a violent shockwave that blasted Kizaru out of the sky.
"Phoenix Seal!"
Bang!!!
Kizaru was hurled away, but before he could hit the ground, his body dissolved into light and reformed instantly.
"Marco, you are not leaving either. Stay and entertain this old man a bit longer."
Blue flames and yellow light collided once more in the sky.
Boom! Boom!
"Retreat! Don't look back! This battle is beyond our level!!!"
The pirates turned toward the Marine warships docked along the shore.
"Seize their ships! Then have our fleet come pick up the commanders!"
Other Whitebeard commanders were already locked in battle with Marine Vice Admirals across the battlefield.
…
On another side of Marineford.
Boom!
A massive handprint slammed into the ground.
"Why did you betray the Marines?!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku brought his Buddha palm down, pinning a pink-haired figure to the ground as golden light suppressed him.
"Pfft… cough, cough… fufufu~"
Doflamingo spat out blood, wiped it away casually, and laughed as he looked up at Sengoku.
"Betrayal? You misunderstand, Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
The Seven Warlords have never been loyal. We merely cooperated with the Marines.
When cooperation stops being beneficial, agreements naturally end. Surely you understand that."
"Hmph. Arrogant!"
Sengoku raised his palm again, Haki surging as he prepared to finish it.
"Fufufufu… Fleet Admiral Sengoku, did you forget…"
Doflamingo pointed lazily behind Sengoku without even attempting to dodge.
"I am not alone."
Behind Sengoku, grains of sand quietly gathered.
"Desert Spada!!!"
A blade of compressed sand slashed toward Sengoku's neck.
Pfft!
Blood splattered across the ground.
Sengoku roared as he struck backward.
"Crocodile!!!"
He twisted just enough to avoid a fatal blow, but his back was still cut deeply.
Sand scattered, evading the counterattack.
Moments later, the grains reformed into a familiar figure with a cigar clenched between his teeth.
Former Shichibukai, Crocodile.
…
Crocodile glanced coldly at Doflamingo, who was climbing out of the pit.
"You talk too much."
"Fufufufu!"
Doflamingo cracked his neck and stepped beside Crocodile, grinning at the wounded Sengoku.
"Even without my warning, you think Sengoku wouldn't have reacted? Do not underestimate the Buddha."
"Where's Null?"
Crocodile scanned the battlefield.
"He said the show was ending. Why hasn't he appeared?"
"Who?"
Doflamingo frowned.
"Who is Null?"
Crocodile looked down at him with open disdain.
"I thought you were part of Vespera. Turns out you know nothing."
…
With a snort, Crocodile turned away.
"Forget it. Go play elsewhere."
…
For the first time, Doflamingo felt genuine irritation.
It seemed Crocodile had just looked down on him.
===
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