Chapter 1573 Battle Until Dusk

The epic battle between Hawkeye Mihawk and Kokushibo has already exceeded the scope of ordinary strong individuals who can intervene.

From afar, one could only see two powerful sword energies, one white and one green, like giant dragons, colliding fiercely above the venom-soaked sea.

Each clash of sword energies unleashed a deafening roar, whipping up towering waves and tearing deep, bottomless chasms into the sea that remained unclosed for a long time.

If these two great swordsmen had moved the battlefield to any island or city, the earth would probably have already shaken, large areas of buildings would have been easily leveled and shredded, a section of the island would have been turned into ruins, and eventually the entire island would have disappeared.

In the center of the battlefield, the two figures had already transformed into two blurry streaks of light, moving at a speed that was difficult for the naked eye to perceive, and ordinary people could not see their specific movements at all.

All that could be heard was the sound of swords clashing like a sudden storm, and the blinding sparks that constantly burst forth, illuminating the dim sky. For a moment, it was difficult to tell who was superior, and the two were evenly matched.

The crisis in this special sea area goes far beyond this earth-shattering duel between swordsmen.

On the other side, the venomous skeleton monster, hundreds of meters tall and formed from Magellan's complete loss of control and the awakened power of the Venom-Venom Fruit, slowly moved towards Marine Headquarters after the destruction of Impel Down.

Wherever it goes, the seawater is completely dyed the color of death, and the air is filled with deadly miasma. The poisonous gas it naturally emits as it moves is enough to create a no-man's-land within a radius of several nautical miles.

This is no longer simply a biological entity or a being with special abilities, but a moving and ever-spreading natural disaster, an ecological catastrophe capable of destroying everything.

On the battlefield of Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, standing shoulder to shoulder with Artoria, had an unprecedentedly solemn expression.

Through his Observation Haki, he clearly sensed the terrifying presence that was steadily approaching. "Impeachment has fallen completely..."

Sengoku's voice carried a hint of sorrow and helplessness. Magellan's fate had caused him great pain, but right now, he needed to consider the survival of Marineford.

"We must not let Marineford follow in Impel Down's footsteps; we must stop it from getting any closer!"

His gaze involuntarily drifted to the battlefield on the outer sea, where two elemental giants, each over a thousand meters tall, the Lava Demon God and the "Takemikazuchi," were still engaged in the most primitive and ferocious close-quarters combat.

boom! boom! boom!

The giant lava fist, wreathed in dark red underworld flames, clashed violently with the thunderous palm, bursting with billions of bolts of lightning, time and again.

Each collision was like a hundred volcanoes erupting simultaneously, or countless divine lightning bolts striking down from the sky. Terrifying energy shockwaves swept across the entire bay, turning the nearby sky into a bizarre mix of dark red and bright white.

Shiki the Golden Lion, however, was like a mischievous old man who loved watching a good show. He manipulated the floating island fragments, keeping them at a relatively safe distance, and watched this battle of the gods with great interest.

He kept making clicking sounds of admiration, as if what he was seeing was not a life-or-death war, but a wonderful circus performance. Enel's madness suited his taste perfectly.

On the massive whale-shaped prow of the Moby Dick, Edward Newgate, the world's strongest man, still stood as immovable as a mountain.

His tall figure and weathered yet dignified face are themselves a banner, a symbol.

As long as he stands there, he will be an eternal pillar of strength and a powerful boost to all the pirates who attack the Marine Headquarters.

The pirates' offensive continued relentlessly, fearless and relentlessly engaging the Navy in direct combat.

Admiral Aokiji hovered alone in mid-air, maintaining a subtle distance from the Moby Dick.

He kept a close eye on Whitebeard's every move. He knew very well that if Whitebeard used his terrifying ability to precisely control the direction of shockwaves once he awakened it, it would undoubtedly be a disaster for the Navy.

He must remain vigilant at all times and stop Whitebeard from launching another devastating attack at all costs.

The fierce battle raged from dawn until dusk, the scorching sun having long since lost its midday heat, transforming into a fiery red sunset teetering on the horizon.

A full day of fighting had drained the physical strength and energy of most people on the battlefield. Whether it was the pirates launching a relentless offensive or the navy holding their ground, they were all at their limit, relying solely on their willpower and survival instinct to grit their teeth and persevere.

Whitebeard's insightful eyes clearly saw the weariness on the faces of his men, and also the marines behind the naval defenses, who were equally wounded but still stubbornly resisting under the urging of their officers.

He knew perfectly well that he absolutely could not order a retreat at this moment!

The pirate alliance may seem powerful, but it is actually a desperate gamble. If they were to order a retreat now, the exhausted army would inevitably suffer a disastrous defeat under the pursuit of the Navy.

Countless heroes from the New World will fall on this Marine Headquarters plaza they intend to conquer. We must press on and completely crush the Navy's will to resist.

The stalemate in the battle, especially the figure that always stood atop the naval walls, put immense pressure on Whitebeard.

Logically, at dusk, with Enel summoning thunderclouds that obscured the sky, visibility in Marineford should have dropped sharply, but the entire battlefield did not fall into darkness.

The reason lies with that knight girl, who held high the Sword of Victory of the Contract, which shone with holy light, and emanated a warm and firm golden light. A condensed golden pillar of light stretched across the sky of Marineford.

The light was not dazzling but extremely penetrating, gently and continuously illuminating most of Marineford. Although it could not compare to the brightness of daytime, it was enough for both sides to clearly distinguish friend from foe, ensuring that the navy's morale did not collapse.

Whitebeard's gaze passed over the Aokiji who was waiting in battle ahead, and over the chaotic battlefield, finally settling on the figure of the girl on the city wall, who seemed to be the embodiment of light.

Thoughts raced through his mind. Artoria's existence was like an unyielding flag, greatly boosting the morale of the Navy. Even if Whitebeard was stupid, he could see the clues.

That radiant light of justice should be strengthening all the marines; although this ability is incredible, it's not just a bluffing decoration.

Since that pillar of light was erected, the morale of the Navy has soared, with the average combat strength increasing by at least 20%. This has made it increasingly difficult for the pirates who were initially evenly matched with them to fight.

Even if the Navy dies on the spot, they will not retreat. The pirates who fight against them are somewhat broken by the Navy's sense of justice. They did not expect that the Navy, who they thought were cowardly, rarely appeared on the battlefield of Marineford. They could hardly be seen at all.

How much does a naval admiral earn? Is it worth it for these naval personnel to work so hard?