Private group chat.
Ace: "Hey, Third. Have you heard that song?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "?"
Ace: "The one that goes, 'I can't tell anymore are you friendship or love I missed?'"
Hiruzen: "Yeah, 'Promise of a Dandelion', right?"
Ace: "I'm already on the execution platform. My next stop is Wano."
Hiruzen: "And?"
Ace: "So this time, I'm going to survive."
Hiruzen wanted to tease him for raising a death flag so casually, but in the end he just replied:
Hiruzen: "Then I wish you the best of luck."
Just then, Zenitsu silent all this time chimed in:
Zenitsu: "Good luck."
The sea breeze over Marineford carried the scent of smoke and blood. Sunlight gleamed off the lenses of Sengoku's glasses.
There were less than three hours until the execution.
Marine Headquarters had mobilized one hundred thousand elite soldiers.
The entire event would be broadcast live across the world.
The goal of this battle was clear: execute Portgas D. Ace, crush the Whitebeard Pirates, and restore order to the seas.
All three Admirals were present. Only two of the Seven Warlords were missing.
At the very top of the execution platform, Sengoku, the "strategist admiral," stared at Garp beside him.
"It's settled then," he said gravely. "I'm going to reveal everything."
Garp lowered his gaze to Ace and gave a snort. "Do what you want."
With that, he leapt down from the platform and stood beside Vice Admiral Tsuru.
She had been preparing to console Garp, but was surprised to find him calmly snacking on senbei.
Tsuru watched him for a moment, then asked cautiously, "You seem to be in a good mood."
"Huh? That's because I'm too upset. Gotta eat more senbei to cope, haha."
He dumped the whole bag into his mouth, crunching loudly.
Seriously? I don't buy it.
Tsuru frowned at him. Garp, don't do anything stupid.
Sengoku studied Ace's lifeless expression, wondering if the man had already given up.
Ace's head hung low, his orange cowboy hat casting a shadow over his face. He looked completely defeated.
Good. That would make the execution much smoother.
Sengoku raised the golden Den Den Mushi. His voice boomed through the amplifiers across the world.
"I have an announcement. One that concerns the significance of executing Portgas D. Ace today—"
Then his tone shifted, sharp and commanding.
"Ace! Tell the world your father's name!"
Suddenly, Ace raised his head. His eyes lit up with fire.
"Hahaha. Sure!"
Sengoku's heart skipped. Something felt off. But this was Marine Headquarters. What could possibly go wrong?
Ace shouted, "It's Edward Newgate! Whitebeard!"
"No, it isn't!" Sengoku snapped, ready to explain the truth to the world.
But Ace beat him to it.
"You're right, Sengoku! My biological father is Gol D. Roger! The former Pirate King!"
Why so cooperative? Sengoku frowned.
Then Ace threw back his head and laughed, raising his voice even higher:
"I am the son of the Pirate King! The adopted son of Whitebeard! The one who will end the Celestial Dragons! The liberator of fate! The enemy of the Five Elders! The one hated most by the corrupt admiral Sengoku!"
That's... a lot of titles.
'Corrupt admiral'?
"Silence!" Sengoku roared, his face darkening.
Ace glanced at him and grinned. Sorry, old man. Looks like I'm stealing the spotlight today.
His voice rose again.
"And one more thing!"
"ONE PIECE IS REAL!"
The words exploded like thunder.
All of Marineford fell silent.
Around the world, people leapt from their chairs in disbelief.
News Coo reporters frantically snapped photos, camera flashes immortalizing Ace's defiant expression in this historic moment.
Even the Admirals and gathered Warlords turned to look.
Garp choked on his senbei. He stared, wide-eyed. My grandson... really has guts, huh?
Back at the World Economic News agency, Morgans was so excited his feathers stood on end.
"Hold the headline! Hold it! There's something bigger! Get me the best photo right now! Don't stop the cameras!"
Sengoku was livid.
"Shut him up! Now!"
The guards rushed forward, but Ace shot them a glare so fierce they fell back in fear.
Conqueror's Haki? Damn!
Sengoku was about to step in himself when a messenger arrived below the platform.
"Fleet Admiral! The Gate of Justice has opened on its own!"
Suddenly, the seas around Marineford churned violently. Waves rose without warning, tossing warships like toys.
Sengoku's gaze snapped toward the massive gate.
There, the so-called "eternally sealed" Gate of Justice was slowly creaking open. Its massive gears groaned like some ancient beast awakening.
Every marine on the field stared in stunned disbelief.
Then, forty-three ships under the Whitebeard banner sailed into the bay. Their skull-emblazoned sails burned in the sunlight. The decks were packed with fearsome pirates, all brimming with killing intent.
The sea within the bay darkened with massive shadows.
Whitebeard's four main ships broke through the water's surface.
"Gurararara!" That familiar, booming laugh rang out from the Moby Dick.
"Sengoku! Long time no see!"
Whitebeard stood at the bow, massive and imposing. His supreme-grade naginata, Murakumogiri, struck the deck with a heavy clang.
In that instant, all of Marineford trembled.
And just like that, global attention shifted from the Marines to the Whitebeard Pirates.
On the deck of the Moby Dick stood a platform, mirroring the Marines' execution stage.
There knelt Saint Charlos, still dressed in gaudy noble robes, chained at the wrists, his posture eerily matching Ace's.
To his left stood the executor: Squard the Whirl Spider, blade in hand and eyes sharp.
To his right stood two men. Uchiha Itachi, arms crossed, red clouds swirling on his cloak, his Sharingan eyes cold and unwavering. Beside him, Marco the Phoenix stood with hands in his pockets, his pompadour fluttering in the wind.
Whitebeard's voice boomed across the sea.
"Sengoku. You execute my son? I execute your so-called Celestial Dragon. Fair, isn't it?"
Cheers erupted from all forty-three ships.
"Pops is way too cool!"
Shock spread like wildfire. Even Vice Admirals whispered among themselves.
The three Admirals exchanged glances. Kizaru and Akainu locked eyes, while Aokiji, distant as ever, rubbed his forehead in thought.
Among the Warlords, Doflamingo burst out laughing. Boa Hancock looked like she might defect on the spot.
Garp looked from Ace to the opposing platform. My grandson's really gone all in, huh?
Ace, too, stared in disbelief across the sea.
What the hell, Itachi?! What have you done?!
Sengoku broke into a cold sweat.
Whitebeard... has gone completely insane!
Back in the newsroom, Morgans shrieked, feathers flying.
"Hold the headline! Hold the headline! There's more! There's bigger! Tell the field reporters get those shots! Don't stop the shutters!"
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