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"Father!"
"The Moby Dick and the other four allied ships have all been coated and can set off at any time!"
Marco, in his phoenix form, descended from the sky and reported respectfully.
Hearing the report, the burly figure gazing at the sea under the moonlight slowly turned around. A sense of overwhelming presence radiated from him.
It was the strongest man in the world, one of the Four Emperors—Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.
Zheng——
The handle of his weapon, the mighty Murakumogiri, struck the ground, creating a low thud as though the earth itself trembled.
"Very good. Tell all the boys—assemble!"
Though age had set in, the figure remained towering and his voice as powerful as ever. Immediately, a pirate ran off to deliver the order.
The muscular man standing beside Marco spoke up:
"Father, are we really going to rush in from beneath the sea? Isn't that too dangerous?"
This was Diamond Joz, captain of the third division.
"Gurarara... what danger lies below the sea? Sixteen... no, fourteen captains will plunge into the depths with me!"
Hearing Joz's concern, Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh. But when he mentioned the fourteen captains, his tone wavered slightly, showing a rare vulnerability.
Yes, there had originally been sixteen captains.
One had been killed by Blackbeard.
And another... waited for them to be rescued.
"Leave the 43 pirate fleets to confront them directly. If everyone charges from the front, Marine will engage us head-on. Remember, children, your mission is to rescue Ace!"
"Rescue Captain Ace!"
"Rescue Ace!"
The assembled pirates roared in unison, their fervor burning like a storm.
Clang.
The hilt of Murakumogiri met the ground again, and suddenly, the roaring wave of voices fell silent.
"Children, keep the battle plan in mind: the 43 fleets attack first, and the Moby Dick leads three other ships from the bottom of the sea into the bay, aiming straight for them to catch Marine off-guard!"
"One allied ship will stay below as our escape route, ready to take everyone back!"
Whitebeard raised his arms and bellowed,
"Have you all heard clearly?"
The crew below erupted once more with excitement.
"Loud and clear!"
"Loud and clear!"
...
Suddenly, a voice echoed from above,
"pops, I want to save Ace too."
Under the cold moonlight, a figure towering like a hill stood resolute.
Whitebeard frowned slightly,
"Little Ozzy, we will bring Ace back. You stay here."
This massive figure was the descendant of Oz, known as Little Oz.
Normally, he would never defy Whitebeard's orders. But tonight was different.
"No, pops, I'm going. I want to bring Ace back. He's a friend of Oz's. I must save him!"
Little Oz's voice was firm, resolute.
In his large hand, he clutched the straw hat Ace had woven for him.
Thinking of gentle Ace facing execution stirred his blood with fury he could barely contain.
"Little Ozzy, are you ignoring your father's words? You're too big; you'll make an easy target. pops doesn't want you to get hurt—it's for your own good."
Seeing Little Oz's resolve, Marco also attempted to dissuade him.
But the response he received was unwavering:
"I don't care. I'm going to save Ace. He's my friend, and Little Oz won't let him get hurt."
Even Marco was at a loss.
Without Ace, Little Oz couldn't be reasoned with.
Whitebeard shook his head and sighed,
"Go on, then. Bring Ace back."
Almost as though from the sky, Little Oz's voice rumbled with heartfelt gratitude,
"Thank you, pops!"
After the exchange, the 1,600 members of the Whitebeard Pirates and the 43 allied fleets assembled completely.
Whitebeard's deep and powerful voice resonated,
"Set sail!"
With their captain leading them, the pirates began boarding their vessels.
Whitebeard turned once more to gaze at the vast sea, a look of grandeur and nostalgia in his eyes, as though he held countless words unsaid—or perhaps a farewell.
Marco stood silently behind him, hearing Whitebeard's labored breaths, reminiscent of an old yet mighty beast. His face showed deep worry.
"Father, your body... Let us handle this battle!"
The scars of a lifetime's battles weighed on the sea emperor, his legacy nearing its final stand.
"Gurarara..."
"Marco, you are all my sons; why should I hide behind you?"
Whitebeard turned, and the sense of loss in his eyes vanished, replaced by boundless Haki. Each gesture radiated the dignity and might of a maritime overlord.
"Alright, let's go!"
Seeing Marco still wanting to protest, Whitebeard gave the order and strode forward, his steps heavy and resolute. His silhouette under the moonlight appeared grand and, inexplicably, tragic. Marco took a deep breath and followed, just as he had since he was a boy.
The Four Emperors' Whitebeard led his pirates onward!
...
Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates were not the only ones in motion.
Near the waters of Impel Down, a small pirate ship cut through the silent night, slicing the moon's reflection on the water as it sped forward. Soon, a giant shadow appeared on the horizon, like a slumbering beast in the clouds and mist.
"Zehahaha... Impel Down is almost here."
At the bow, a burly man stood with arms wide, laughing loudly, careless of his missing front teeth. His face exuded madness, his posture pure arrogance.
Behind him, several peculiar figures followed—a sniper with an eyepatch, a wrestler sporting purple hair and a golden championship belt, a navigator with white wings, a feeble doctor, and a horse on its last legs.
They were Blackbeard's crew: Burgess, Lafitte, Van Augur, Doc Q, and his horse.
"Captain, why are we going to Impel Down? Isn't Ace already being escorted to Marineford?"
Burgess, also known as Champion, scratched his head with a silly grin.
Blackbeard's smile grew wider, his gaze fixed intently on Impel Down.
"Ace? He's just a pawn to pit Marine and Whitebeard against each other. Whitebeard has had the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit long enough, and I've waited too long for this day!"
Behind the Summit War was Blackbeard's machination. True to his ambition, from the moment he first laid eyes on the Dark-Dark Fruit, a vast and audacious plan had been brewing within his mind. A plan grand enough to shake the very seas.
History would prove him right. The clash would see three of the Four Emperors intervene, with one falling from power. The war would lead to a change of Marine leadership, two new Admirals, and a restructuring of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
A shift in the sea's order, the fall of an old king, and the rise of a new emperor—everything originated from Blackbeard's calculated ambition and relentless purpose!
"And Impel Down holds some interesting figures. I've got a place for them on my crew. Time to make some noise! Zehahaha..."
He laughed wildly, his excitement causing a dark aura to seep from his palms, an aura heavy with malevolence.
His plan proceeded smoothly, unhindered…
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Phoenizbeelze
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