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Ace watched his crewmates bleed for him. Luffy lay collapsed, unable to stand. Tears streamed down Ace's face uncontrollably.
"Damn it… I'm twisted."
"In this moment, when Father, my brother, my comrades are shedding their blood for me—why do I feel this strange joy even as I cry?"
"Only now… do I finally understand the true weight of life!"
Luffy grabbed Ivankov's leg."Please, Iva! Give me the shot!!!"
"Are you serious, Strawhat boy?" Ivankov's face was tense.
"Get out of my way, magma brat!!!"
Whitebeard swung his bisento, the force blasting Akainu backward.
But suddenly, Whitebeard's heart seized. A wet cough wracked him, blood spilling from his mouth as he fell to one knee.
"Damn it… not now!"
Akainu steadied himself, approaching step by step."Whitebeard… even legends can't outrun time."
Marco's face twisted in panic as he rushed forward."The worst has happened…!"
Before the war began, Whitebeard had stopped taking his medicine.
Kizaru seized the opening, light flashing in his hand.
A golden laser pierced Marco's side. He coughed blood and stumbled.
"Marco!!!" Jozu cried out in alarm.
But Aokiji's freezing aura spread, and in an instant, Jozu's diamond body was locked solid in ice.
Akainu's aura burned hotter, magma dripping from his arm as he advanced on Whitebeard."Let me send you to the underworld."
His fist erupted like a volcano, slamming into Whitebeard's chest.
Flames and black smoke engulfed him, explosions ripping outward, fire and smoke billowing skyward.
At last, under Luffy's desperate plea, Ivankov injected the adrenaline hormones.
Luffy sprang back like a man reborn, roaring with wild fury."ACE!!!"
Ivankov still frowned."This only tricks your body—it doesn't heal your wounds!"
"I… I won't fall again!"
Luffy shot forward like a cannonball."They won't execute Ace! Not while I'm here!!!"
Ivankov charged after him."Then I'll back you up! I won't let you collapse!"
But rows of Marines blocked their path.
Ivankov leapt ahead."Out of the way, Strawhat boy!"
"Death Wink!!!"
A shockwave of pink energy blasted the soldiers aside like leaves in a storm.
Whitebeard clutched his gaping wound, blood streaming as smoke rose from his burned flesh.
Akainu loomed, his arm still molten.
"Magma brat…!!!"
Marco staggered forward."Father, I'm coming—!"
A golden beam lanced through him again, knocking him down.
Kizaru's lazy drawl followed."You let your guard down again… how many times now? Maybe just stay down and rest, eh?"
But Marco's phoenix flames flared, blue fire erupting as he desperately rushed toward Whitebeard."Father!!!"
A Marine giant stepped in, black tentacles wrapping Marco, slapping sea-stone cuffs onto him.
"Sea-prism stone—no!!"
Two more lasers pierced Marco's body. His strength failed, and he collapsed.
Nearby, Jozu was already a frozen statue.
The two strongest Whitebeard commanders had fallen.
Aokiji's voice was like ice."The Whitebeard Pirates are finished."
Sengoku gave the order."Take Whitebeard's head now!"
Marines surged forward, blades and rifles aimed at the immobilized titan.
Steel pierced him, bullets slammed into him. Whitebeard's massive body wavered.
"Father!!!" His sons screamed, charging in vain.
But Whitebeard planted his feet, refusing to fall.
"You think a few gnats like you can kill me?"
"My sons—I don't need your help. Because I… am Whitebeard!!!"
He swung his bisento in a single earth-shaking arc, the force blasting Marines away like ragdolls, shockwaves shredding the battlefield.
Thousands of Marines were hurled into the air, screaming.
"Monster…!"
Even the bravest faltered.
Sengoku roared, "Don't retreat! He's wounded—press the attack!"
But no one dared move.
Whitebeard leaned on his weapon, blood dripping steadily.
"Wounded? Laughable. You think this is enough to kill me? If I died from such scratches, what would that mean? No… until I see the bright future of my sons, I will never die!"
Behind him, Jinbei and the remaining commanders stood tall."We'll defend Father's honor!"
In the Pirate World
"Father, your body…" His sons surrounded him, their faces stricken.
Whitebeard laughed, voice booming."Everyone grows old one day! Dry those tears, my sons. Just as you've seen in that vision—until I witness your future with my own eyes, I will not fall."
Ace trembled, horrified."Father suffered such wounds in the future… just to save me? Damn it… I don't deserve it!"
In the Shinobi World
"Go, Whitebeard! You can beat those rotten Marines, believe it!" Naruto shouted with all his heart.
Kakashi's expression was grave."Even wracked by illness, he fights on for his family. Truly a man of strength and conviction…"
Within the Akatsuki, Itachi murmured to himself."Bearing sickness, yet protecting his children… isn't that the same as me? Enduring pain, carrying the burden, all for Sasuke's sake… Will I one day fall, just like Whitebeard?"
Kisame eyed him quietly."Never thought I'd see even you troubled by doubts, Itachi."
Sengoku's voice thundered across the battlefield."You wanted to see your sons' future, Whitebeard? Then watch no longer—execution squad, do it now!"
Two fresh soldiers stepped forward, raising their blades high.
"..."
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