'Only 40%?'
Makoto wasn't particularly satisfied with that level of mastery.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much he could do about it. His current identity was only that of a Marine Commodore, so he could only take advantage of someone as easygoing as Smoker.
With tensions already running so high, trying to approach the Seven Warlords or the Vice Admirals and Admirals to collect their Fate Value would be asking for trouble. He would be lucky if they merely chased him away.
Fortunately, 40% mastery of Haki was sufficient for the time being.
Makoto could now freely reinforce different parts of his body with Armament Haki and even coat weapons with it.
That was about the extent of his current abilities, though. If he wanted to project Haki outward, he would probably need to reach at least 60% mastery.
His Observation Haki had also improved considerably. Its detection range had doubled to approximately 200 meters, and its precision had increased as well.
Unfortunately, he couldn't manifest Conqueror's Haki through Smoker and Tashigi. Unlike the relatively common Armament and Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki was so rare that even the number of people who knew about it was limited.
While those thoughts flashed through his mind, Makoto didn't forget to use his newly manifested Memory Fruit ability.
Because its manifestation level was also only 40%, the memories he transferred to Tashigi would retain just 40% of their original contents.
And when those incomplete memories were combined with his own 40% mastery of Haki and swordsmanship, Makoto genuinely had no idea how much would ultimately remain useful to her.
Fortunately, he could clearly sense that the Memory Fruit had taken effect.
Makoto withdrew his hand and looked at Tashigi curiously.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, and beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. Countless memories that she'd never possessed before had suddenly appeared in her mind.
She remembered pushing her body to its limits through relentless training, practicing swordsmanship until she could barely stand, and awakening Observation Haki during battles on the brink of death.
Naturally, these were all memories Makoto had implanted into her.
Yet Tashigi was gradually coming to understand and believe them.
The only remaining question was whether her body and mind could keep up.
Fortunately, Tashigi already possessed the potential to master both types of Haki. What she lacked was the raw strength and experience necessary to realize that potential.
With Makoto's implanted memories, her consciousness had achieved a breakthrough ahead of her physical body.
Under the astonished gazes of Smoker and the surrounding Marines, the skin on Tashigi's face gradually darkened.
Eventually, it turned a faint gray, giving her a somewhat frightening appearance.
Smoker, however, broke into a delighted smile.
This meant Tashigi had finally taken her first step toward mastering Armament Haki!
Although she could currently do little more than harden her skin to improve her defenses, without even being able to apply it properly to attacks, that alone would be extremely useful for surviving the coming battle.
How could Smoker not be happy for his subordinate?
Tashigi opened her eyes and glanced uncertainly at her darkened hand.
Then she looked toward the distance.
"Sir, I can now sense things within a range of a dozen or so meters. Approximately how advanced is that?"
Makoto made a quick estimate.
"Probably around 10% mastery. Unfortunately, your natural aptitude isn't quite sufficient. Otherwise, you should've been able to reach at least my current level."
Without hesitation, Makoto shifted the blame for the incomplete transfer onto Tashigi's supposed lack of talent.
Hearing that, Tashigi immediately withdrew her Armament Haki and bowed apologetically.
"I'm sorry I disappointed you, sir!"
Smoker quickly reassured her.
"It's perfectly normal not to master everything immediately. Training has to proceed step by step."
"Tashigi, remember that you owe this man a favor... Actually, I still don't know your name."
"Kitano."
"Right. You owe Commodore Kitano a favor. From now on, unless he asks you to do something that violates your principles, you should do whatever he asks. Understand?"
Tashigi nodded.
She clearly didn't yet understand the full implications of that statement.
Meanwhile, several nearby soldiers exchanged glances before slowly approaching with ingratiating smiles, looking as though they desperately wanted to say something.
Naturally, Makoto knew exactly what they were thinking.
Before he could speak, however, Smoker had already started berating them.
"Have you idiots looked at yourselves lately? Do you seriously think you're qualified to master Haki?"
"Learn the Six Powers first! Only then should you start dreaming about Haki!"
After thoroughly scolding the soldiers into retreating, Smoker turned back toward Makoto with a friendly smile of his own.
"Hey, brother. Think you could help me awaken Observation Haki too?"
Smoker couldn't conveniently use Armament Haki while relying on his Devil Fruit powers.
But that didn't mean Observation Haki wouldn't improve his ability to hunt down pirates.
Makoto glanced at him and nodded.
"Sure, but you're the last one. I can't afford to waste too much stamina."
The Devil Fruit and Haki systems in the One Piece world were rather unusual.
Despite possessing all sorts of extraordinary abilities, their users consumed stamina rather than an independent energy reserve.
That meant neither Makoto's Cursed Energy nor his chakra could directly replace the stamina these powers required.
Fortunately, he didn't primarily depend on those two energy systems for everything. His main reason for manifesting these new abilities was to make his upcoming actions more convenient.
While Makoto helped a thoroughly delighted Smoker awaken Observation Haki, Sengoku finally began his decisive speech.
"Bring me the Transponder Snail."
Sengoku's voice echoed across Marine Headquarters.
"Before we begin, there's something I must tell everyone. Something concerning the significance of Portgas D. Ace dying here today."
"Ace! State your father's name!"
Those words immediately drew bewildered looks from people across the world.
Why would Sengoku suddenly bring up Ace's father at a time like this?
Ace merely shot him a disdainful glance before answering firmly.
"My father is Whitebeard."
"You're lying!" Sengoku declared.
Ace shouted back at the top of his lungs.
"Whitebeard is my only father! I've never had anyone else!"
Seeing his reaction, Sengoku simply ignored him and continued his announcement.
"For years, we searched for that man's child, but our efforts yielded nothing."
"Eventually, we discovered that your mother had risked everything to protect you. She deceived both us and the entire world."
"Now we finally know the truth. Your mother was Portgas D. Rouge."
"To protect you, she kept you in her womb for an astonishing twenty months. The strain exhausted her life, and she died after giving birth to you."
Makoto had already finished helping Smoker and was now looking toward the execution platform.
Although he'd heard this story before, he couldn't help marveling at the extraordinary vitality and willpower possessed by people in the One Piece world.
Sengoku's speech continued.
"One year and three months after that man's death, a child carrying the world's most evil bloodline was born."
"That child was you!"
"Your father was the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"
The revelation sent shock waves throughout the entire world.
The Pirate King who had single-handedly ushered in the Great Pirate Era had actually left a son behind?
The overwhelming majority of ordinary people reacted with disgust and hatred.
They desperately hoped the Marines would execute Ace as soon as possible, bringing an end to that supposedly evil bloodline.
After all, the vast majority of pirates during the Great Pirate Era were ruthless criminals who murdered, robbed, pillaged, and committed every imaginable atrocity.
Only a small minority behaved like righteous outlaws or had been forced onto the seas by circumstances beyond their control.
An even smaller group resembled the protagonists of the original story: adventurers whose backgrounds and personal bonds had led them into conflict with the World Government.
Meanwhile, another portion of the population sympathized with Ace, either because they deeply respected Roger or because they despised the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
As for Makoto, his expression remained completely calm.
Once upon a time, he'd been a child who could become deeply emotional over the brotherhood between Ace and Luffy.
But now, he was destined to remain nothing more than a passing visitor to this world.
Unless someone here managed to leave an impression on him as profound as Nanami Kento had.
The Marines also began whispering among themselves.
Previously, many of them hadn't understood why they needed to wage war against Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors, merely to execute Ace.
Now they understood.
This was a war that absolutely had to be fought!
To eradicate an evil bloodline and bring the Great Pirate Era to an end, the Marines had to emerge victorious today!
Cheers erupted throughout Marine Headquarters, and the soldiers' fighting spirit rose rapidly.
Sengoku looked at the scene with satisfaction.
However, he was in no hurry to order Ace's execution.
Compared with Ace's life, Sengoku was far more interested in taking Whitebeard's.
Whitebeard was already gravely ill.
If the Marines could kill one of the Four Emperors today, Ace's survival would become practically irrelevant.
Just then, a report suddenly arrived.
"Fleet Admiral! The Gates of Justice have opened without receiving any orders! Please advise!"
For the first time, genuine astonishment appeared on Sengoku's face.
He'd known today's battle would be extraordinarily brutal.
But how had something already gone beyond his expectations before the fighting had even begun?
Immediately afterward, a strange atmosphere settled over Marine Headquarters.
The surrounding waters became unnaturally quiet, as though every living creature had sensed the approaching danger and gone into hiding.
A vast bank of mist rose along the distant horizon.
One after another, enormous sails emerged from within the fog.
The observation posts quickly spotted the approaching vessels, and messengers began distributing orders for the entire army to prepare for battle.
Countless heavy cannons rotated toward the distant ships.
All they needed was a single command from Sengoku, and artillery shells would rain down upon the approaching fleet.
Soon, the vessels emerged completely from the mist.
Each one flew a distinct pirate flag representing its captain.
Unlike the orderly, disciplined warships of the Marines, these pirate vessels radiated a rough, savage sense of danger.
There could be no doubt about their identity.
They were the massive allied fleet of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The war was finally about to begin.
Makoto watched the approaching ships and activated his Observation Haki.
Under normal circumstances, his sensing range extended approximately 200 meters.
If he concentrated his perception in a single direction, however, he could extend that range to roughly 500 meters.
Unfortunately, even 500 meters was nowhere near enough.
It didn't even exceed the range of the heavy cannons.
Apparently, he wouldn't be able to determine which ships carried his newcomers until the pirates came much closer.
Knowing what would happen next, Makoto wasn't particularly anxious to make a move.
After all, it wouldn't be long before the pirates came charging toward him themselves.
"Forty-three ships in total! Every captain is a famous pirate from the New World!"
"They're all members of Whitebeard's allied fleet!"
"But... we still haven't spotted Whitebeard or his division commanders!"
The observation officers faithfully relayed their findings.
As the pirate ships approached, the Marines grew increasingly restless.
Even so, nobody dared open fire.
Everyone was waiting for that man.
The man known as the strongest in the world.
Whitebeard!
Suddenly, countless bubbles began rising from beneath the waters of the crescent-shaped bay directly in front of Marine Headquarters.
The Admirals, with their extraordinary senses and physical abilities, had already noticed something strange.
But by the time they recognized what was happening, it was too late to stop it.
An enormous bubble suddenly emerged from the sea, as though an island were rising toward the surface.
Massive waves spread outward in every direction, and a mountainous shadow appeared beneath the water.
Sengoku's eyes widened.
He finally understood where Whitebeard had been hiding!
Whitebeard's flagship was the largest and most conspicuous vessel in his fleet, making it the easiest target to detect.
To avoid being discovered, he'd simply taken his ship, the Moby Dick, to the Sabaody Archipelago and had it coated before traveling underwater.
That allowed him to avoid nearly all interference while completely bypassing the Marines' blockade.
Sengoku immediately realized that his defensive arrangements contained a critical flaw.
A massive one.
But it was already too late to compensate.
The Moby Dick burst through the ocean surface and came to rest directly inside the Marines' encirclement.
Yet as the soldiers looked at the towering figure standing at the ship's bow, along with the fourteen renowned division commanders behind him, an unsettling thought suddenly occurred to them.
'Are we the ones surrounding Whitebeard?'
'Or is Whitebeard surrounding us?'
They would soon have their answer.
Whitebeard stood with Murakumogiri, one of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords, gripped firmly in his hand.
Then he let out his distinctive rumbling laugh.
"Gurararara!"
"Sengoku! It's been decades since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"
"How's my beloved son doing?"
Sengoku didn't answer.
Having fought Whitebeard before, he understood exactly how terrifying the man's abilities were.
Cold sweat began rolling down his forehead.
Allowing Whitebeard to get this close was a disaster.
With his powers, Whitebeard could easily overturn the entirety of Marine Headquarters.
The balance of this battle had already been shattered before the fighting even began.
"Just hold on a little longer, Ace!"
"Your old man is coming to get you!"
With those words, Whitebeard planted Murakumogiri into the deck.
He lowered his body slightly, gathering strength, before suddenly driving both fists into the surrounding air.
Crack!
The very air fractured beneath his blows.
Enormous cracks spread through the atmosphere as terrifying power surged outward and plunged into the surrounding ocean.
With nowhere else to dissipate, that overwhelming force struck the seawater like a falling meteor.
The ocean surged violently.
Towering waves rose higher and higher until they exceeded 100 meters.
Their sheer height dwarfed even the massive structures of Marineford.
If a tsunami of that magnitude came crashing down, it could easily wipe out seventy or eighty percent of the one hundred thousand Marines stationed here.
Even Makoto would have to immediately evade an attack of that scale.
After all, this level of destructive power had already surpassed what an ordinary Kage-level shinobi could produce.
It was even vastly more powerful than the Super Shinra Tensei that Deva Path Pain had used to destroy Konoha.
'As expected of the man currently regarded as the strongest in the One Piece world.'
Even at 72 years old, gravely ill and burdened by countless injuries, Whitebeard still existed on an entirely different level from the overwhelming majority of characters in this world.
Just as the entirety of Marine Headquarters seemed destined to be destroyed by this single attack, the Admirals, who had remained silent until now, finally made their move.
"Ice Age!"
…