As the elite officers of Marine Headquarters stood their ground, cold sweat dripped from their brows. Caesar's domineering aura weighed heavily upon them—not due to his arrogance, but due to the sheer force behind his presence.
Suddenly, countless slashes materialized in the battlefield, tearing through the air with unnatural speed and precision. These mysterious attacks caught the Marines off guard.
The Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals instinctively raised their weapons, attempting to block or evade, but the slashes were not only unpredictable—they carried devastating power. Forced into a defensive stance, they found themselves unable to counterattack or support their comrades elsewhere.
Observing this, Fleet Admiral Sengoku wasted no time. His massive frame expanded as he activated his Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu, transforming into a towering golden Buddha. With a powerful shockwave, he launched a devastating attack toward Caesar, forcing the pirate captain to shift his focus to defense.
At that moment, the battle truly began.
"Charge!"
Eli, a new recruit of the Caesar Pirates, roared as he swung his massive axe at the Marines. Wounds covered his body, but he fought recklessly, disregarding all injuries except those that threatened his life. His brutal, self-healing combat style quickly drew the attention of Sengoku and the other high-ranking officers.
The battlefield erupted into chaos. Eli's strategy of trading wounds for wounds inflicted heavy casualties among the Marines. However, before Sengoku or the other Admirals could react, a new development shocked them further.
Arnold and Lily, two more members of the Caesar Pirates, unleashed their abilities in full force.
Arnold's speed was extraordinary—so fast that even bullets seemed to vanish from sight. Even Marine officers proficient in Rokushiki (Six Powers) struggled to track his movements. Some Vice Admirals with Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) sensed his attacks, but their bodies simply couldn't keep up. Those who failed to react in time collapsed instantly, struck down by precise gunfire.
Meanwhile, Lily controlled the battlefield with her dual-element powers. The sky roared with thunder as bolts of lightning from Raijin Cloud struck down, while a bone-chilling frost from Yuki Yuki no Mi froze swaths of Marine forces in their tracks. The combination sent waves of panic through the ranks.
"Devil Fruit users! And troublesome ones at that!"
The Marines quickly realized the trio—Eli, Arnold, and Lily—were all Akuma no Mi users. Among them, Lily's Logia-type ability made her particularly dangerous, rendering standard physical attacks useless against her.
Sengoku's expression darkened. "Three new Devil Fruit users…? This doesn't match intelligence reports." His eyes narrowed as he reassessed the *Caesar Pirates' *threat level.
Determined to crush them, Fleet Admiral Sengoku unleashed his full power.
BOOM!
The battlefield trembled under the impact of his attacks. Meanwhile, Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals from nearby Marine bases began arriving, reinforcing the Marines in waves.
The Battle Escalates
Two days passed.
By then, multiple Vice Admirals and Major Generals had joined the fray, intensifying the combat. Despite their strength, the Caesar Pirates were vastly outnumbered. Even though Caesar held the upper hand in his duel against Sengoku, the latter's endurance and resilience proved frustrating—his Buddha Form made him a near-immovable force.
The endless reinforcements placed immense pressure on Caesar's crew. Warriors like Vena, Regina, Lily, and Eli fought fiercely, but exhaustion set in. Despite their best efforts, the sheer numbers of their enemies pushed them to the brink.
Caesar's gaze flickered across the battlefield, his mind rapidly calculating their options. The realization hit him:
"If this continues, we might lose more than just the battle… We might lose our crew."
The Retreat Plan
Sensing the inevitable, Caesar made a split-second decision.
With a powerful slash, he forced Sengoku back momentarily and bellowed, "Lily! Use the clouds—cover the ship!"
Understanding his intent, Lily quickly generated thick storm clouds, enshrouding the Caesar Pirates' ship in dense fog. Visibility plummeted, causing confusion among the Marines.
Many lower-ranking officers lacked Kenbunshoku Haki, rendering them effectively blind. Even high-ranking Marines struggled to pinpoint the pirates' exact location in the mist.
Taking advantage of the moment, Caesar used his Haki-infused telekinetic abilities to pull all his crew members back to the ship. Then, with a final, devastating slash, he repelled Sengoku once more.
"Arnold! Use your Double-Speed Fruit—NOW!"
Arnold, despite his exhaustion, activated his Nisoku Nisoku no Mi, doubling the ship's speed instantly.
Realizing their plan, the Marines desperately tried to stop them. Sengoku, Garp, and other powerful officers lunged forward, but they were seconds too late. The ship accelerated at an incredible rate, submerging into the depths of the ocean.
The Caesar Pirates vanished in the blink of an eye.
Sengoku clenched his fists. "Tch… Damn it!"
The Navy had fought fiercely and had the upper hand at various moments, but in the end, Caesar and his crew had escaped.
After a moment of silence, Sengoku gave the order:
"All units, regroup! Tend to the wounded and return to Marine Headquarters!"
Though they had lost their prey, the battle had been a brutal reminder—the Caesar Pirates were no ordinary crew.
[114] Aftermath: Gaya Island
Meanwhile, far from the battlefield, the Caesar Pirates surfaced after an hour of deep-sea travel.
Arnold collapsed from exhaustion, having used up all his stamina. The rest of the crew, though injured, breathed a sigh of relief—they had survived.
However, as they regained their bearings, Caesar noticed land in the distance.
"We've drifted off course," Lily noted, scanning the horizon.
As they approached the unfamiliar island, they quickly learned its name—Gaya Island.
Caesar's eyes gleamed with recognition.
"Gaya Island… This is where the path to Skypiea begins."
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