One Piece: My Evolving Aircraft

Next Bonus, 100!!

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The sky was the color of bruised iron.

The day of Ace's execution had arrived.

The high command of the Marines, along with one hundred thousand elite soldiers, stood assembled in immaculate formation across the plaza.

Vice Admiral John Giant stood before them, delivering a rousing pre-battle speech.

"Justice will prevail!"

The answering roar from the troops echoed across the island.

With practiced efficiency, they dispersed to their assigned defensive sectors.

Marineford was a mid-sized island, characterized by its crescent-shaped harbor. It wasn't just a military installation; it was a home. The island housed civilian facilities for the families of the soldiers and officers stationed there.

The headquarters itself was built directly into the towering mountain at the island's center, the stone hollowed out to create extensive fortifications and state-of-the-art training facilities.

It was the ultimate bastion of Marine power.

Geographically, it sat at the crucial juncture leading into the second half of the Grand Line, perilously close to Mary Geoise, the seat of the World Government. Together with Enies Lobby and Impel Down, it formed a formidable defensive triangle.

The strategic placement of Marine Headquarters served two vital purposes.

First and foremost, it provided rapid-response protection for the Celestial Dragons residing in the Holy Land.

Second, it acted as a choke point, controlling the only viable route into the New World, allowing the Marines to intercept and capture pirates attempting to cross over.

This defensive posture had been the cornerstone of Marine strategy ever since the death of Pirate King Gol D. Roger. The prevailing theory was simple: choke off the supply of rookies arriving from Sabaody to mitigate the growing threat in the New World.

In practice, this meant the Marines had effectively abandoned the aggressive, territorial contest for the New World seen during the era of Rocks, opting instead for a strategy of passive defense.

This shift had bred deep resentment among many of the more zealous Marine officers. Driven by their own unwavering sense of justice, figures like Zephyr often took matters into their own hands, operating outside official directives.

Furthermore, the constant demand for troops to maintain order and security in Mary Geoise left the Marines perpetually stretched thin. Consequently, Marineford's ability to police the surrounding regions—and its overall deterrent effect against the pirate menace—was severely compromised.

It was this very vulnerability that had necessitated the creation of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

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Before the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, an escort fleet commanded by Vice Admirals Momonga and Onigumo departed from the harbor, setting a course for Impel Down.

Their objective: Secure Portgas D. Ace And Bring Him Back For Execution.

Moments after their departure, Jinbe and Luffy slipped out, riding a massive shark, and quietly began trailing the fleet.

Shortly after that, Blackbeard Teach and his crew made their own stealthy exit.

A vigilant Marine sentry reported the unauthorized departures to Sengoku. But with the greatest war of the era looming, the Fleet Admiral simply didn't have the bandwidth to deal with it.

He merely radioed Momonga and the warden of Impel Down, ordering them to remain on high alert.

Trailing one after the other, both rogue groups followed Momonga's fleet straight through the Gates of Justice.

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Within the civilian town of Marineford.

The families and non-essential personnel had all been evacuated. Only a skeleton crew of logistics officers remained, hurriedly delivering breakfast to the troops.

Jin, Hancock, Crocodile, and Mihawk sat together around a table, eating in silence.

The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Across the plaza, Marines were hurriedly making final calls to their families. Some were writing last wills and testaments; others were frantically trying to hype themselves up for the impending slaughter.

They were soldiers, yes, but they were still human. Fear and anxiety were natural.

Crocodile took a drag from his cigar. "Swept up in the currents of a shifting era, the individual suddenly seems so utterly insignificant, doesn't it?"

"The moment they put on that uniform," Mihawk replied evenly, his tone completely detached, "they should have made their peace with dying in it." It was clear he held no love for the Marines.

Crocodile smirked. "You were betrayed by them once, weren't you? Even earned the title of 'Marine Hunter.' Seems we have quite a bit in common. So, what do you say? Interested in joining the Bounty Hunter Guild? We could make quite the team."

Mihawk shot him a sidelong glance but offered no reply.

Jin chuckled softly. "He'll agree eventually."

"Why?" Mihawk asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Haven't you heard the rumblings?" Jin asked, taking a sip of coffee. "It's one of the lingering aftershocks of Doflamingo's little coup in Dressrosa. A growing faction of the affiliated nations is beginning to actively oppose the Warlord system. They're planning to petition for its complete abolition at the next Levely. And without that title shielding you... everyone at this table will instantly revert to being a wanted criminal. You'll be hunted."

"Is that not primarily because your existence has shattered the balance?" Mihawk countered sharply. "The Five Elders no longer trust the Warlords because of you."

"Fair point," Jin conceded with a shrug. "But the Five Elders are already cultivating alternatives. I guarantee it."

War is born from a cascade of "accidents."

And every single one of those accidents is the result of meticulous calculation by someone pulling the strings.

Two years from now, the World Government would inevitably abolish the Warlord system. And the deployment of the Seraphim would be the deciding factor.

While Jin and the others enjoyed their breakfast, a sleep-deprived Sengoku was locked in another war council with the Marine brass, frantically hammering out the final tactical details.

To face Whitebeard, Headquarters had recalled one hundred thousand elite troops from branches across the globe.

Whitebeard's forces, on the other hand, numbered less than half that.

This massive disparity in manpower dictated entirely different strategic objectives for the two sides.

The Marines' objective was absolute annihilation. They intended to use their superior numbers and established tactics to wipe the Whitebeard Pirates off the map.

Whitebeard's objective, however, was a surgical strike. They needed to hit fast, punch through the defenses, rescue "Fire Fist" Ace, and execute a fighting retreat with minimal casualties.

These diametrically opposed goals would dictate every command and tactical decision made by the supreme commanders on the battlefield.

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As the sun crested the horizon, Jinbe and Luffy, riding the currents, arrived at Impel Down ahead of Momonga and Onigumo.

Why hadn't they struck earlier?

Jin had calculated that due to the altered timeline, Luffy had far fewer potential "allies" waiting for him inside the prison. Striking early would have been disastrous. It was a far better tactical gamble to wait until the bulk of the Marine forces were heavily concentrated at Marineford before attempting a rescue.

In truth, the odds of them actually breaching Magellan's defenses and extracting Ace were abysmally low.

But if Jin hadn't let them try, he would have seemed utterly heartless.

Their primary function, anyway, was to cause absolute chaos within the prison.

The Great Prison, Impel Down.

It was a colossal, submerged tower, its foundations anchored directly to the ocean floor. It consisted of a surface-level receiving area and six subterranean levels.

"They don't keep prisoners on the surface level," Jinbe explained as they breached the main gate.

Before them lay a heavy iron grate.

Beyond it was the processing area, where new arrivals underwent their "baptism" and initial interrogation. This involved plunging the inmates into vats of boiling water—purportedly for sterilization.

The level also housed administrative offices and security checkpoints for visiting officials.

Because Impel Down was situated deep within the Calm Belt, it was surrounded by monstrous Sea Kings and guarded by a dedicated Marine fleet.

Inside, it housed the worst of the worst, patrolled by horrific Jailer Beasts and monitored by an extensive network of Visual Den Den Mushi.

It was universally known as the "Impenetrable Fortress."

In recorded history, only one man had ever managed to break out: "Golden Lion" Shiki. And it had cost him both his legs to do it.

Following that catastrophic failure, the previous Chief Warden had been forced into retirement. The young Magellan had taken command.

He had relocated the Chief Warden's office to Level 4, implementing security protocols that were far more draconian than his predecessor's.

For twenty years, not a single soul had escaped.

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~ 70 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon

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