174 With the Justice System

Sabaody Archipelago.

In front of the massive screen.

"..."

The atmosphere was suffocating, as if the air itself had solidified into lead.

Just moments ago, Whitebeard's final roar—those words, "All units, retreat!"—had clearly reached everyone's ears.

Immediately after came Admiral Aokiji freezing the bay, and Admiral Akainu's "Meteor Volcano" reducing the fleet to ash.

The Marines pursued relentlessly, slaughtering the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Despair...

Utter despair!

Gulp.

"The survival probability of the Whitebeard Pirates..."

"Is zero...!"

"The Magician" Basil Hawkins swallowed hard, the cards in his hands scattering to the ground.

"The New World..."

The cigar between "Gang" Capone Bege's fingers trembled slightly. "Are we... still going there?"

That question lingered in every Supernova's mind.

They were all kings of their own islands—arrogant, ambitious, full of dreams—and they had come to this sea's gateway to carve their names in history.

But the sight before them was like a bucket of icy water, dousing all their fire and pride in an instant.

Tap—

The long-silent "Surgeon of Death," Trafalgar Law, slowly stood up.

Trafalgar D. Water Law—"D" was his hidden name, "Water" his taboo name.

He scanned the faces of his rivals, each one bearing the same heavy expression.

"I believe everyone here has gone through a lot to make it this far."

Law's voice was low, but incredibly clear.

"To just give up on entering the New World—none of us would ever be satisfied with that."

He didn't know about the others.

But for him, entering the New World was something he must do.

He had to avenge Corazon-san.

He had to... personally kill that man—one of the Shichibukai, Donquixote Doflamingo.

But now... the power the Marines had just displayed cast a thick shadow over his once-clear plan for revenge.

Law's gaze turned toward the most violent man in the crowd—the one with the highest bounty—"Captain" Eustass Kid.

"Divine Departure—I don't dodge." —Kid.

"Eustass no... what are you trying to say?"

Kid's crimson lips curled into a feral grin; his tone was fierce, but his eyes were deadly serious.

"The era of the Marines... has arrived."

Law's fingers gently tapped Kikoku.

"The Whitebeard Pirates are about to be wiped out. The balance of the New World will be completely shattered."

"If we enter the New World now, we'll just die."

Law's gaze swept across everyone present.

"Either we get swallowed whole by the Marines..."

"Or we get torn apart in the Yonko's chaotic war."

His analysis made every heart there sink.

"So what then?"

Kid asked impatiently.

"What are you suggesting?!"

"How about... an alliance?"

Law finally revealed his goal.

"An alliance?!"

"That's right."

Law nodded, a faint self-deprecating smile on his lips.

"How should I put it... We may all call ourselves Supernovas, but as far as I know, that Rear Admiral on the screen—the one commanding this entire war—is none other than the recently infamous 'Blood Hawk' Rayne Hawke. The same Marine who ordered the bombardment of Mock Town, the head of G-3 Branch."

"For the past two months, for some reason, he hasn't been active in Paradise."

"Otherwise... I don't think any of us would've made it safely to Sabaody."

"!!!"

"Oi, what do you mean by that?!"

"You think I can't beat that so-called Blood Hawk?!"

Kid roared in fury. The metal parts of his arm whirred violently, grinding together with a sharp, harsh noise.

"Kid."

The silent Killer placed a hand on his captain's shoulder, his voice hoarse.

"He's right."

"If we want to survive in the New World... we'll have to form alliances."

"..."

Killer's gaze turned toward the screen.

There, the Marines were hunting down the Whitebeard Pirates' remnants.

That wasn't a battle.

It was a hunt.

A one-sided massacre.

Every Supernova fell silent.

They were all arrogant bastards who never put anyone in their eyes.

But after witnessing this crushing war, every single one of them understood—charging into the New World alone would only lead to one end.

Death.

Kid's chest rose and fell violently. He looked at Killer, who gave him a firm nod.

"Hmph..."

Kid snorted coldly through clenched teeth, silently acknowledging it.

The rest of the Supernovas also tacitly agreed.

A pirate alliance formed by the most notorious rookies of this era—

Under the suffocating might of the Marines—was born.

...

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

The tide of battle had already shifted.

On the frozen bay, no pirate formations could be seen anymore.

They had been divided, surrounded, and worn down wave after wave.

The Marines' lines moved like a precise comb, coldly brushing through the frozen battlefield, removing every last "impurity" of resistance.

Koby was among that tide.

He charged forward with the second wave of new recruits, his mind filled with one belief—to become a Marine Admiral someday.

"Kill them!"

The recruits around him roared, swinging their blades and rifles.

Koby shouted too, but his voice trembled in his throat.

Bang!

A dying pirate, using the last of his strength, fired his musket aimlessly toward the sky.

The bullet hit no one, but the blast knocked Koby's glasses from his face.

The world instantly blurred.

He could only make out shifting blurs of color, hear the deafening shouts and screams all around him.

"Watch out!"

A familiar voice suddenly shoved him aside.

It was his bunkmate—the guy who always bragged about how good the seafood back home was.

Slash!

A short blade pierced straight into that man's abdomen.

Koby watched helplessly as his friend's smile froze on his face. Then, slowly, he fell—his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Medic! Medic!"

Koby screamed frantically.

Two medics rushed over, checked the wound, and began bandaging—but then they shook their heads.

"His life can be saved, but his internal organs are shattered. He'll never fight again."

That once lively friend was quickly dragged off the battlefield.

"..."

Koby stood frozen.

Why?

He looked around.

The Marines had already won!

The Whitebeard Pirates were in full retreat—they only wanted to escape—they had no will to fight anymore!

Yet the Marine pursuit didn't stop for even a moment.

One pirate after another fell. One Marine after another was wounded—or died.

Every passing second, life was slipping away.

Was this really justice?

To drive the powerless into extinction—was this the Marines' justice?

No.

It wasn't!

Koby's heart screamed.

He looked at his comrades charging forward bravely. In his blurred vision, they looked like a swarm of moths flying straight into the flames.

And he... would be the one moth flying the other way!

He spun around, sprinting against the current of men.

"Hey! Koby! Where are you going?!"

"Coward!"

Angry shouts echoed behind him, but he no longer heard them.

He pushed through the crowd, eyes fixed on a single goal.

The execution platform!

He had to find the man who had given all these orders—Rear Admiral Hawke!

He had to stop this meaningless slaughter!

"..."

Finally, he reached the base of the execution platform.

He lifted his head. The man wearing the "Justice" cloak stood there, hands clasped behind his back.

Koby gathered every ounce of strength in his body and screamed from the depths of his soul.

"Rear Admiral Hawke, please stop this war!"

"You're... trampling on life itself!"