Chapter Fifteen: On the Brink
The navy’s heavy artillery roared into action, launching a fierce assault on the ships of the Whitebeard Pirates. Cries of agony erupted all around as pirates abandoned their vessels, leaping onto the sturdy ice. The marines at the front lines clashed with the pirates, marking the first wave of combat.
Led by their captains, the pirates pressed forward with a ferocious offensive, and the navy quickly found itself at a disadvantage. On the high platform, Admiral Kizaru rose from his seat. Dressed in a yellow-orange suit with a purple tie, his indolent words seemed to stir the patchy beard on his face.
“Really, the pirates of the Whitebeard crew are frighteningly strong…” His tone was ever lazy, giving every utterance a hint of insolence. Behind orange-red sunglasses, his lifeless eyes drifted toward Whitebeard, who stood at the bow: “If you want to catch the thief, first seize the king…”
He vanished in a flash of yellow light, and at the same moment, dazzling rays exploded in the sky as Kizaru reappeared, arms crossed, calling out, “Yata no Kagami…”
In an instant, clusters of light appeared around him, firing rapidly toward Whitebeard. Whitebeard stood unmoving, squinting at Kizaru as he muttered, “What’s this? Truly blinding.”
As countless beams hurtled toward him, a figure appeared before Whitebeard, intercepting every ray with his body. When the barrage faded, a pair of enormous azure wings unfurled for all to see—a man with pineapple-shaped hair hovered in midair.
It was Marco the Phoenix, First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Kizaru remarked unhurriedly, “A mythical Zoan-type, rarer even than Logia. I’ve never seen a bird like that.”
With that, he unleashed another volley of Yata no Kagami. Marco responded, “How could I let you strike at Pops right from the start?”
He transformed into a giant blue phoenix and charged at Kizaru, the beams dissolving soundlessly into his wings. As he drew near, Marco spun and delivered a powerful kick, which Kizaru blocked with his left arm. The two hovered in the air, locked in combat for several minutes, until Kizaru became a streak of light and crashed to the ground.
He emerged unscathed from the dust, his suit merely a bit soiled. Turning to the towering Marine Vice Admirals behind him, he said, “Keep an eye on the skies.”
The pirates continued their assault.
Diamond Jozu rushed forward, shouting for everyone to clear a path, and smashed his fist onto the ice. Tanye swallowed hard in astonishment. “Such incredible strength!”
The ice fractured, forming a massive circle. Seiji watched Jozu’s back, commenting, “Not just powerful—he’s a mathematical genius, a human compass.”
Tanye blinked. “A compass?”
Seiji replied, “Have you ever seen anyone punch out a perfect circle with one blow?”
Tanye admitted, “No… What’s he doing? Wait—is ice about to come down?”
Jozu plunged both hands into the ice, heaving upward to peel the entire circle free, the ice below forming a gigantic pine cone. He hurled it behind him.
The mountain-sized ice spire crashed toward the marines, provoking a chorus of shocked cries. Seiji marveled, “There really are monsters in this world of pirates. With strength like that, a single punch could send a man to the next life.”
He glanced at the platform where the Admirals sat.
The man in the red suit finally moved. Stepping forward, his entire arm churned like magma, and he punched in the direction of the ice spire.
A colossal magma fist pierced the mountain of ice, melting it into falling shards. The massive arm dissolved like melting ice cream, raining down as meteors upon the ground and the Whitebeard Pirates’ ships.
The pirates howled in despair as their ships were engulfed in flames within moments, forcing them to abandon their vessels and flee.
Seiji watched Akainu. “Best not to provoke him—if he suspects I’m a spy, my life won’t be worth a dime.”
With this exchange, the battle between pirates and navy formally began.
Seiji joined the fray, carefully avoiding division commanders and targeting lesser-known pirates. After several rounds, he had already slain dozens.
He noticed a figure nearby and frowned. “Koby?”
A pirate brandished a broadsword and charged at Koby. Seiji cursed the fool and struck down the pirate in front of Koby, who stood frozen, trembling as he stared at the lifeless body.
Seiji addressed him, “If you fear death, and lack the resolve to be a marine, you’d best retire after this war. Don’t imagine yourself a merciful savior—don’t do anything foolish beyond redemption.”
Koby, dazed, gritted his teeth and demanded, “Who are you? Why are you lecturing me?”
Seiji sneered, “Such a crybaby coward, dreaming of being an Admiral. Just look at you, legs trembling, wanting to run. You think war is a game?”
“This is what it means to be a marine. Frankly, you’re kind-hearted, but not fit for this job.”
With that, Seiji ignored Koby’s anger and continued to cut down pirates amid the crowd.
Koby felt as bitter as if he’d eaten dirt, bewildered at the unexpected rebuke.
Yet the man’s words were not without reason. “But… these images are just too horrifying…”
His heart raced, legs turned to jelly again. He recalled his promise to Luffy—to become a Marine Admiral…
Seiji dispatched another pirate.
Suddenly, a figure lunged at Seiji.
The attacker snapped at him, and Seiji hastily used Soru to dodge.
It was a pirate with a garlic-shaped shark head, wearing the attire of Fishman Island—a fishman, Namur, the Eighth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Namur grinned, “I’ve been watching you. You’re strong—why hide at the back, marine?”
Seiji smiled lightly, “Too many monsters here. Battle isn’t child’s play—I don’t care for futile heroics.”
Namur laughed, “You’re an interesting pirate. Come, then—I won’t let you harm my family.”
He attacked again, Seiji meeting him blade in hand, paying special attention to Namur’s teeth. The jaws of a sharkman were formidable weapons, far tougher than ordinary blades, with the ability to regenerate instantly if broken.
If bitten, that crushing force could tear an arm clean off.