Blackbeard Teach approached Whitebeard's corpse. The Beasts Pirates, Big Mom's crew, and the countless spectators felt nothing in particular. But the Whitebeard commanders and the allied captains were burning with rage. They would never allow this traitor to defile their father's body. Yet now, they were powerless to stop it. They couldn't even protect Whitebeard's remains.
Teach activated the power of the Yami Yami no Mi. Darkness surged across his body, swallowing Whitebeard's massive form.
Up in the sky, Shanks' brow tensed. The appearance of Souta Kiryuu had allowed him to breathe again. At last, the war had reached a point where balance could be restored. But the arrival of Blackbeard made everything uncertain again. His emotions twisted in ways even he didn't care to decipher.
...
"Wurorororo! Souta! You bastard finally came—then the war continues!"
Kaido, locked in battle against Warriors of the Five Elders, had been planning to withdraw. But the arrival of Souta and the Red Count rekindled his overflowing battle spirit.
Even Big Mom's retreating ships slowed to a halt, her crew watching the battlefield intently.
In the sky, the three escaped monsters from Impel Down turned sharply back. More and more reinforcements from Souta's Ardragon Fleet appeared from a skyborne warship.
"Yahahahaha! This god knew Boss God wouldn't miss this war!"
Enel burst into laughter. But when Garp came barreling toward him, he reluctantly retreated, turning into lightning and vanishing into the skyship.
"They really do have teleportation?" Peach Rabbit Gion whispered, face pale. Another nightmare. Once the Ardragon Crew could appear anywhere… who could stand against them besides the Five Elders?
"Then the killing continues."
Rain of Blood Shiryu smirked, his eyes flicking between the great red dragon circling the sky and the Marine fleet below—Garp, Bogard, Gion.
At Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had believed the appearance of the Five Elders at G-18 Fortress had guaranteed victory. They had sacrificed countless Marines by diverting forces away from G-1. But Souta Kiryuu had still appeared. Then what had their sacrifice meant?
Even Sengoku, who hated Souta Kiryuu, had no choice now. He continually shouted to Green Bull Aramaki in G-9 Fortress to take flight and reinforce the battlefield.
Aramaki hesitated. He had received no orders from the Elders. But with Sengoku's repeated demands—and with all Five Elders present at G-18—he finally summoned a rotating flower bloom and sped toward the battlefield.
...
Upon the frozen battlefield of G-18 Fortress:
As Blackbeard began to steal Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi ability, the three Elders recovered and regrouped, turning cold eyes toward Souta.
They ignored the insignificant Blackbeard. Three Elders against Souta and the Red Count still gave them an advantage.
"Eheheheh! Weren't you looking for me?" Souta said, stepping forward with thunderous confidence. "Well, here I am. Why don't you charge me like you did Whitebeard?"
His laughter rolled through the sky, wild and unrestrained.
On the broadcast screens, Souta's supporters erupted in celebration.
On Sabaody Archipelago:
"Look, LOOK! Is he not the coolest man alive!? He's provoking the highest authority in the world!" Nami shouted.
Luffy stared murderously at Satan—the Elder who had killed Ace—his fists trembling.
Zoro's eyes locked onto Nasujuro, wielder of the First Generation Kitetsu. The sword aura radiating from him matched Mihawk's own. A new rival had appeared.
Sanji watched quietly, cigarette burning low. He glanced at Luffy now and then, making sure the captain didn't bolt toward the battlefield.
Usopp scanned every broadcast angle, searching for the Red Hair Pirates.
"Looks like my father's crew… might have lost." His voice cracked.
...
On the Gran Tesoro:
Karina, Baccarat, and Tesoro himself stared at the broadcast.
Souta Kiryuu—their ally and idol—had finally entered the war.
One Emperor had already fallen. Something the world had not witnessed in decades.
"He now has the strength to confront the World Government itself." Tesoro exhaled, exhilarated.
Souta could command Kaido as if he were a pawn. He could summon Barrett and the Red Count. This force was enough to shatter Marine Headquarters.
If the Elders did not fight together, Souta's faction was nearly unstoppable.
Tesoro grinned, a cold edge forming. He would no longer bow to Celestial Dragons. If Souta could defy them, so could he.
...
Back on the battlefield:
Satan and Peter lunged toward Souta, while Nasujuro targeted the Red Count, seeking revenge for being cleaved in half.
They also needed to recover Vegapunk—or the research into the Mother Flame would never continue.
Boom.
During the chaotic clash of five figures, Blackbeard completed his theft. The darkness faded. Whitebeard's body remained unchanged.
Blackbeard grinned.
Then he raised his hand.
Crack.
The shockwave shattered the colossal sandworm Elder before he even realized what had happened.
"The Tremor-Tremor Fruit…"
Satan stared, horrified.
The nobody had inherited Whitebeard's power.
Souta laughed aloud.
"Ha! How's that? In the future, even my men won't be weaker than you!"
And then— Silhouettes descended from the sky.
Souta's Six Paths had arrived.
But when Shiki the Golden Lion, and even Akainu Sakazuki, appeared in Souta's ranks—the uproar shook the world.
The iron-blooded Marine Admiral… had joined Souta Kiryuu.
It was madness. Absurd. Impossible. And yet, it was real.