"You've struck the wielder of the Face-Face Fruit, Shanks. The system is now copying his Devil Fruit ability. Host, endure for one minute."
The system's voice went unnoticed. Jiang Lin's attention was locked on the man standing before him.
Red-Haired Shanks.
One of the Four Emperors, standing equal to Whitebeard in the New World. His arrival stunned everyone present.
Two Emperors, together at Marineford. The war's course was about to shift, and every soul on the battlefield knew it.
A suffocating pressure swept across the plaza.
"Young pirate… your appearance, for better or worse, has already reshaped the world's fate."
"When the wheel of destiny turns… let me be the one to bring this war to its end!"
Shanks calmly sheathed his sword. Between him stood the two figures whose clash would decide everything—Jiang Lin and Akainu.
"The man who set Luffy upon the path of piracy… Red-Hair!"
Garp's fists clenched as he glared at Shanks. To him, the humiliation of being struck by his own grandson was Shanks' doing.
"Captain! It's the Red-Hair Pirates' ship!"
Cheers and shouts rose as a massive vessel sailed into the bay. At its side, a bright yellow submarine followed closely—the unmistakable ship of the upstart Supernova, Trafalgar Law.
"Shanks? He clashed with Kaido just yesterday… how can he be here now?!"
Marines gasped in disbelief.
"Shanks," Whitebeard rumbled, gripping Murakumogiri, his one good eye fixed on the newcomer, "what business do you have here?"
From the yellow submarine, a young man stepped onto the deck—Law, the rookie who had shocked the world at Sabaody.
"Shanks, allow me first…"
Jiang Lin's form blurred into golden light, vanishing from the battlefield and reappearing at the submarine.
"Jiang Lin! What do you want?"
Law drew Kikoku, wary.
"Nothing more than friendship."
With a smile, Jiang Lin descended, placing a hand on Law's shoulder before the Supernova could react.
"You've struck the wielder of the Ope-Ope Fruit, Trafalgar Law. The system is now copying his Devil Fruit ability. Host, endure for one minute."
"Thanks."
Jiang Lin's grin widened. With that, he returned to the plaza, leaving Law frozen in disbelief.
"That man… could he really be—"
Bepo the polar bear emerged from the submarine's cabin, eyes wide.
"He's… terrifying," Law muttered, wiping cold sweat from his brow. He had thought Jiang Lin meant to kill them, only to leave after a single word. Relief mingled with dread.
"Lucky… had he chosen to fight, it would've been a massacre."
Back in the plaza, Jiang Lin lifted his gaze toward Sengoku. The Fleet Admiral's expression hardened as Shanks stepped forward.
The battlefield had reached a crossroads: continue fighting Whitebeard and Shanks—or concede.
"Shanks!"
Luffy's shout cut across the chaos.
"Yo, Luffy!" Shanks raised a hand in greeting. He knew Whitebeard, he knew Luffy—this was no stranger's battlefield.
But he had come for one reason: to end it.
"Shanks," Sengoku's voice rang with anger, "are you here to shield Jiang Lin?"
"…No. I'm here to protect all of you."
Gasps swept the Marines. Sengoku's face darkened as golden light surged from his body.
"Yes," Shanks said, stepping forward. "I'm protecting your future… the future of your World Government."
He leveled his sword at Jiang Lin.
"Because that man… You cannot stop."
The Whitebeard Pirates looked on in shock.
Jiang Lin only smiled. The system's timer ticked away.
"One minute complete. Face-Face Fruit successfully copied. Ability duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds."
Turning back to Shanks, Jiang Lin spoke calmly, his voice carrying across the plaza:
"Shanks, do me the courtesy of stepping aside. Don't interfere in this battle."
The words froze both Shanks and Sengoku.
"Heh. What a frightening brat."
Shanks' hand instinctively touched the hilt of Gryphon—but after a long silence, he let go, smiling faintly.
"Sengoku… you know the truth. The choice is yours."
"Cheeky upstart," Sengoku spat. "Your potential may be immense, but your strength is far from enough to speak to me like this."
"Then if either of you wants to fight… come to me."
At his words, the Red-Hair Pirates assembled at his back, their presence an unspoken threat.
Now there were three forces on the field: Whitebeard and Jiang Lin, the Navy under Sengoku, and Shanks with his crew.
"Fine. Jiang Lin is your problem now. Once this war is over, the Navy will revoke his bounty."
With a cold laugh, Sengoku released his golden form. Light dimmed from his body as he stood bare-chested before the crowd.
"I declare… this war is over!"
A heavy silence fell, followed by a collective sigh of relief. Had Sengoku chosen otherwise, the plaza would have drowned in blood.
But Kizaru's voice broke the calm.
"Damn it! Jiang Lin may leave, but Ivankov must stay!"
He flashed toward Whitebeard's rear—only to be intercepted.
Shanks stepped in, blade raised.
"Admiral Borsalino… the war is finished."
His tone left no room for argument.
"Kizaru! Return! Tend to the wounded," Sengoku barked.
"All who can move, aid the medics. Start with the gravely injured. I won't allow another death on this field," Garp thundered.
Though resentment burned in their eyes, the Navy shifted to triage.
Kizaru seethed, glaring at Ivankov, then Shanks. Unable to vent his fury, he unleashed a storm of lasers into the empty air before slinking back to Sengoku's side.
Whitebeard exhaled heavily, Murakumogiri still in hand. His body was failing—old wounds reopened, blood loss taking its toll. Without Jiang Lin, he'd already be dead.
"Shanks!"
"Whitebeard!"
Their gazes locked, then both drifted to Jiang Lin.
"…Still alive. Good," Shanks said with a faint smile, before turning to leave.
"Shanks," Jiang Lin called, grinning, "share a drink with me someday."
"The world says never drink with me," Shanks replied, laughing. "But when you stand before me again, I'll warm the sake myself."
His ship slipped from the bay, his voice lingering in the air.
"Brat! If it's your sake you want, come with me. I've barrels waiting!" Whitebeard's booming laugh followed.
"Perhaps," Jiang Lin said softly. He leaned close, whispering something into Whitebeard's ear.
The Emperor's laughter thundered anew. "Very well! I'll find the finest allies for you!"
And with that, he entrusted Jozu, Vista, and Ace to Jiang Lin.
"To serve this brat will be your greatest honor," Whitebeard declared, rallying his men. Their ships raised anchor, departing Marineford at last.
"D. Jiang Lin… for the next two years, I'll be in your care."
Ace extended his hand.
"Then two years from now, I hope you'll join my crew," Jiang Lin replied, clasping it firmly.
Luffy, Jinbei, and Ivankov approached.
"Jiang Lin, we're leaving too. Will you come?"
"I'll walk my own path."
Luffy frowned, reluctant.
"Don't worry. We'll meet again—two years from now."
At his side, Hancock approached, eyes lingering on Jiang Lin with quiet trust.
"Hancock, our first stop is Amazon Lily. Let's raise my flag there… then begin our voyage."
As the pirates departed and the Navy tended to their wounded, Sengoku's eyes stayed fixed on Jiang Lin.
"D. Jiang Lin."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Their gazes crossed for the last time.
Thus concluded the greatest war of the era—a clash that shook the seas, reshaped the balance of power, and etched into history a name the world would never forget.
D. Jiang Lin.
A pirate whose existence made even the World Government tremble.