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Luffy charged forward, the weight of countless hopes behind him.
A shadow moved—Dracule Mihawk's blade sliced through the air, its killing intent locked on Luffy.
"Straw Hat Boy! Look out!!!" Ivankov cried.
But before the blade could fall, another figure appeared. A golden hook clashed with Mihawk's sword, the impact blasting out a wave of wind.
"Crocodile!!"
His voice was low and cold. "You're in my way, Straw Hat. Get lost."
Luffy ignored him, pushing on with Ivankov toward the platform.
"Why are you stopping me, Crocodile?!"
Crocodile sneered. "I'm in a bad mood. Be careful, Mihawk."
Under the Whitebeard Pirates' cover, Luffy reached the base of the execution platform—but the towering height loomed above him, impossible to scale.
Then, another figure appeared. With a flick of his scissors, he cut the ground into a staircase leading upward.
"It's Inazuma—the Revolutionary's Lightning!"
Marines rushed to block the path, but Luffy's leg stretched back, then snapped forward like a giant axe.
"Gomu Gomu no… BATTLE AXE!!!"
The strike slammed down with a thunderous crash.
The marines went flying as Luffy charged up the stairs.
Lightning blocked the path behind him, standing firm. "Go, Luffy! Don't stop!!!"
More marines flooded the passage."Don't let Straw Hat get through!"
"Death Wink!!!"
A blast of terrifying pink energy knocked the marines back in an instant.
Ivankov stood tall in front of the enemy. "No one gets past me!"
The pirates cheered wildly. "He made it! Straw Hat's going up!!!"
Kizaru's eyes followed Luffy as he raced up the staircase. His voice was slow, almost mocking."You're really betting everything on a brat like this, Whitebeard?"
"But I'm not letting him through."
His body dissolved into glittering golden light—only for Whitebeard's massive blade, brimming with destructive force, to come crashing down at him!
Kizaru barely rolled aside before the strike split the ground where he had stood."Whitebeard!!"
Whitebeard bellowed, "Stay out of this and watch, old man!"
Luffy's heart leapt—he was almost there. The execution platform was just ahead. Ten meters away. Ace was right there!
Ace's eyes widened in shock."Luffy?!"
"I'm coming, Ace!!!"
Then—an explosion roared at the foot of the stairs. Luffy froze, eyes darting forward.
Standing in his path was none other than…
"Hero Garp!!!"
"Grandpa, move aside!!!" Luffy shouted desperately.
But Garp's face was etched with sorrow."You think I can just let you through? I'm a Vice Admiral of the Navy headquarters!"
"Long before you were born, I've been fighting pirates. If you want to pass here… then do it over my dead body!"
Luffy's eyes went wide, trembling."Grandpa… why?!"
"This is the path you chose!" Garp roared back.
"Please, let me through! I have to save Ace!!!"
"Ace…" His brother's face twisted in pain."Luffy!!"
"Hurry, Straw Hat!" Ivankov shouted from below. "If you waste time, the platform will collapse before you reach him!"
Memories flooded Luffy's mind: Grandpa training him, feeding him, carrying him home on his back. That back had always felt so warm, so safe.
"I told you… if you want to pass, then step over my corpse!"
Garp's words snapped Luffy back into the present.
"I can't do it, Grandpa!!!" Luffy screamed.
"If you can't—Ace will die!!! Life is full of pain, boy. I won't hold back. From here on… I'll treat you as the enemy!!!"
Tears streamed down Luffy's face, but his eyes hardened. He slipped into Gear Second, steam hissing around him as his fist charged up with power. But even as he prepared to strike, all he could see was Grandpa grinning at him over a plate of meat.
Garp's iron fist swung straight toward him.
"Stop, Luffy! Don't fight him!!!" Ace's voice broke in anguish.
At the last second, Garp's fist slowed. His eyes shut tight. He let Luffy's blow connect.
Luffy's punch smashed upward into his grandfather's chin. Blood sprayed as Garp's body went limp, tumbling down from the platform.
"Vice Admiral Garp!!!" The marines' voices rang with disbelief.
Ace's face twisted in agony. "Old man!!!"
Sengoku clenched his jaw. "So in the end, you couldn't do it… you're still their grandfather, Garp."
Naruto's world
Tears streamed down Sasuke's face. "Is this what family means? To kill each other? If we're family, why do we have to fight like this?"
In his mind, Itachi's voice rang cold and sharp."Foolish little brother… you're too weak. Your hatred isn't enough. Hate me! Hate me more!!!"
"Why? Was all your kindness when we were kids just a lie?"
"I'll kill you, Itachi! With my own hands! If you want me to hate you, then I'll hate you until the day I end you!!!"
Saint Seiya's world
"Brother… I know you're no traitor." Aiolia of Leo stared into the distance, grief in his eyes.
His elder brother, the Sagittarius Gold Saint, was hunted as a supposed traitor by Capricorn and Gemini under the Pope's orders.
But Aiolia had never believed it. He had grown up with his brother. He knew him. He would never betray Sanctuary.
"Brother, I'll find the truth. I'll clear your name."
Dragon Ball's world
Goku's eyes widened. "I… killed my own grandfather, when I lost control as a Great Ape. I never even got to apologize."
"Luffy, Ace… treasure your grandfather while you can. But also remember—he has his own duty."
Frieza's cruel laugh echoed. "Such pathetic sentimentality. Only strength endures. Family ties are just words weaklings cling to. A true ruler like me has no need for them!"
Back in Marineford—
Whitebeard and Kizaru clashed fiercely."So… Straw Hat's almost at the execution stand," Kizaru said.
"That reckless brat," Whitebeard growled, blade surging with quake energy. "But it doesn't matter. He'll free Ace!"
"Don't make me laugh. How could a fool like him break Fire Fist's chains?" Kizaru sneered.
Whitebeard roared, unleashing a devastating strike. But Kizaru dissolved into golden motes again, reappearing with his foot pressing down on Whitebeard's massive blade."You dropped your guard, old man!"
Meanwhile, Luffy reached the top of the platform. His eyes lit up with joy."I made it… I'm finally here!"
"Luffy, you idiot!" Ace cried.
"ACE!!!" Luffy grinned, that wide, reckless smile.
"Wait—I have the key!" He pulled out the one Boa Hancock had given him, fumbling toward Ace's seastone cuffs.
But Sengoku's body suddenly radiated golden light. His form expanded, towering, until he loomed like a massive Buddha, divine light flooding the battlefield.
"It's Sengoku's Devil Fruit power!" the marines shouted in awe.
Golden shockwaves rippled outward. Sengoku's voice thundered like judgment itself:"Did you think you could slip through my fingers?"
"Damn you, Sengoku!!!"
Kizaru stared in shock. "So… that's what you had hidden, Straw Hat."
Just as Luffy reached for Ace's lock, a golden laser seared through the air—shattering the key in his hand.
"Straw Hat Luffy, you're no hero. You're a menace. Both you and Ace will be executed—by me!!!"
Sengoku's massive golden fist descended, radiating annihilation.
Then—movement from the fallen bodies. A familiar face rose from the rubble: Mr. 3, freed from Impel Down.
He gasped at the sight of the golden titan. "W-what the hell is that?!"
"Three! Use your wax wall to protect Ace!"
The colossal fist slammed down—Luffy bit his thumb and inflated, swelling into a gigantic balloon."Gum-Gum… Giant Balloon!!!"
The golden strike collided with his body, shockwaves blasting outward.
"..."
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