Over a billion people worldwide watched this war, mouths agape, their worldviews shattered. To be honest, the shock it delivered surpassed even the Summit War from two and a half years ago.
Forget Jin's initial move of feminizing Momonosuke, which had already stunned everyone.
Orochimaru's act of resurrecting the dead made people across the seas feel their entire worldview was being refreshed.
At this moment, the resurrected dead from those coffins were attacking their most familiar former friends.
Ace's right arm blazed with fire as he launched a Fire Fist at Luffy.
"Divine Fire: Unknown Fire!" The reanimated Ace leaped into the air, arms spread wide like an eagle's wings, pulling back before thrusting forward violently, shooting out dozens of flame arrows.
Luffy kept dodging using his Observation Haki prediction, his face conflicted, unable to strike back.
"Luffy! Fight back! Don't worry about it! I'm already dead!" The reanimated Ace shouted hoarsely while attacking mercilessly.
"I... I..." Luffy's voice trembled, his whole body shaking.
"Dragon Claw Fist!" On the other side, Dragon faced off against Sabo.
Sabo had learned all his techniques from Dragon, and both were Logia users. Their fight looked like they were separated by a mirror.
Because the sacrifices Orochimaru used for this Impure World Reincarnation were too weak, top-tier fighters like Dragon and Oden couldn't display their living strength.
Coupled with fire's elemental advantage over wind, Sabo actually held a slight upper hand against his former leader.
"How is the Revolutionary Army now, Sabo?" Dragon formed his right hand into a dragon claw, coating it with Armament Haki as he attacked, simultaneously asking.
Sabo countered with his own Dragon Claw Fist, his expression conflicted as he replied, "I... I had a bit of a disagreement with Koala..."
"A disagreement?" Dragon frowned deeply. Honestly, judging by Sabo's expression, he knew it was probably more than just 'a bit'.
Rumble-
Suddenly, the entire venue, even all of Onigashima, shook.
The ground tilted, the sea roared. No need to look… Newgate was unleashing his power!
The reanimated Newgate was probably the only top-tier fighter resurrected by Orochimaru whose strength wasn't weaker but stronger compared to his living state… though that was his old age, not his prime.
Mainly because during the Summit War, he had been stabbed in the stomach.
Now, although his overall strength was inferior to when he was alive, he had the 'Infinite Chakra' buff! That alone was enough to display power surpassing his Summit War self.
"Gyaaah-!"
"Someone fell! Save them! Quick!"
"Androgynous freak! Using Pops to fight us!" Many veteran crew members who had followed Newgate for decades were sent flying by the Gura Gura no Mi's shockwaves.
"Zehahaha! What a fascinating scene!" Blackbeard laughed heartily, "Pops, who always prided himself on loving his sons, is now killing them! Even I only killed Thatch! I'm nowhere near your level, Pops!"
Hearing this, the controlled Newgate's eyes filled with bloodshot veins, 'Teach, you bastard!'
"Shut up, Teach! Don't you dare insult Pops!" Jozu, who had lost an arm to Kuzan at Marineford, turned into diamond and charged fiercely at Teach.
"A close-combat Devil Fruit User? Who gave you the courage to get near me!?" Blackbeard sneered disdainfully.
As he spoke, dark energy rose from his right hand again. He slapped Jozu's diamond body, instantly reverting him to his normal form. The next second, a feeling of weakness washed over Jozu!
"See ya~ Jozu!" Blackbeard grabbed Jozu's remaining arm with his right hand, his left hand condensing the power of the Gura Gura no Mi.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Even if slightly inferior to Newgate's, the terror of the Gura Gura no Mi needed no explanation.
Everyone saw Jozu's temple take a punch. The man with the world's best defense rolled his eyes back and was sent flying high into the air like a baseball hit by a bat, crashing through the venue's ceiling.
"Save Commander Jozu!" Whitebeard Pirates' crew members screamed.
"Teach—!!!" Ace roared hoarsely.
"Zehahaha~ You should worry about killing your precious brother first before dealing with me," Blackbeard laughed uproariously.
The reanimated Ace was so angry he could vomit blood. He couldn't help but glance again at that man. After all, only he could break this deadlock now.
However, Jin remained as before, sitting in place, holding the pitiful, ashen-faced Wano's number one courtesan, showing no intention of intervening.
"Phew... That was unexpectedly satisfying. Huh? It's already this lively?" Just then, Kaido came down from the third floor.
Seeing the situation below, his eyes widened in astonishment, 'Damn, even Whitebeard got resurrected?!'
"How was it?" Jin asked sideways.
"Pretty good. Thinking he's Oden's son made it even more stimulating," Kaido stroked his chin, remembering the feeling.
"You damn pervert!" Yamato cursed.
'To do that to my idol's son... Wait, didn't that make Oden's son my stepmother now?' Yamato felt her brain circuits were about to fry.
"Shut up!" Kaido couldn't resist slapping his unfilial daughter.
"By the way, could you... actually fit? Didn't you tear Momoko apart?" Jin was somewhat curious.
Given Kaido's size, Jin estimated that thing was at least one or two meters long, so how could Momoko withstand it? Truly fascinating.
"My mom once said my dad wasn't that big down there," Yamato chimed in appropriately.
Thwack!
Kaido couldn't resist and punched the deadweight girl again.
...
"Pops! Stop!" Below, as Newgate prepared to launch another shockwave, Marco pushed his power output to the maximum.
Phoenix Flame Barrier!!!
The moment the shockwave and blue flames collided, the impact swept through the entire venue. The violent wind pressure was enough to blow away pirates with bounties below 300 million Berry!
However, the stalemate only lasted about five seconds. Soon, Marco's face on the left began to contort.
"Marco! Run!" Newgate, unable to control his body, shouted.
"Pops! With you and Ace gone, I have to protect the Whitebeard Pirates!" Marco gritted his teeth, holding on.
Two seconds passed.
The blue flames were gradually being overwhelmed by the shockwave. It was about to hit Marco directly!
"Marco! Look out!" At that moment, a figure pounced, pushing Marco aside and taking the full force of the shockwave.
Both Newgate and the pushed-aside Marco saw the figure and their faces changed dramatically, shouting the name in unison:
"Squard!!!"
Yes, it was the man who fell for Sengoku's divisive strategy two years ago and stabbed Newgate with the 'Filial Piety Blade'… [Maelstrom Spider] Squard!
With Squard's meager strength, how could he possibly block an Infinite-Chakra Newgate?
The moment the shockwave touched his body, all his bones were shattered. He crashed into the wall behind like a broken puppet.
"Squard!"
"Captain Squard!"
"Idiot! Why did you block Pops' attack!?" Countless Whitebeard Pirates rushed forward, trying to treat Squard.
Squard, beaten into a bloody mess, coughed up a mouthful of blood, tears streaming down his face as he cried out to the distant reanimated Whitebeard, "P-Pops... I... I'm sorry... It's... it's all my fault... D-Dying by your hand... is... is my best end..."
After saying this, Squard's head lolled to the side… he was dead.
The reanimated Newgate stood as if struck by lightning, speechless for a long time.
"Zehahaha-" Blackbeard offered more mockery, "You even got to take revenge yourself, Pops. You came out ahead this time! But I never thought you'd be so naive, Marco, keeping such trash around?"
At this moment, Newgate's rage peaked.
"Don't... mess with me!!!" As the words fell, a semi-transparent soul rose from the reanimated Newgate's body, beginning to separate from the dust-constructed form.
"I... will never harm my sons!"
Seeing this, the faces of everyone worldwide changed.
"What is that thing?" Kaido asked, astonished.
"As expected of Whitebeard. His willpower is truly strong," Jin did not stint his praise.
If a reincarnated person's will is strong enough, they can break free from the caster's control and return their soul to the pure land.
"Pops..." Marco, Vista, and the others watched in surprise as Newgate's soul ascended.
"Marco, Vista, and all of you... you are all my beloved sons..." The soul-form Newgate smiled, "Everyone... make sure you all return home safely, understand?"
After speaking, Newgate's soul drifted away with the wind, while the dust-constructed body below shed its Impure World Reincarnation's layer, revealing its original form… the unlucky pirate used as Orochimaru's sacrifice.
[Ding~ Group member, Edward Newgate, has joined the group!]
Hearing the system notification, Jin felt both moved and a bit disappointed.
He had wanted to watch the show a bit longer, but he never expected Newgate's will to be so strong.
[Tobirama: @Newgate, Impressive. This is the first time I've seen someone break free from the Impure World Reincarnation's control through sheer will.]
[Hashirama: A father's love is truly great, Brother Newgate.]
[Kazuma: That was so cool just now.]
[Newgate: @Jin, You brat! I'm not done settling accounts with you yet!]
[Jin: What's it got to do with me? Orochimaru resurrected you. If you want revenge, go find him. Besides, I think that ugly Blackbeard was right… you came out ahead by getting revenge yourself.]
...
Although Whitebeard's soul ascended by his own will, clearly, the others lacked his capability and remained under Orochimaru's control.
"Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor!" A super fireball a hundred meters in diameter, resembling a sun, illuminated the center of the venue.
The reanimated Ace threw the massive fireball down at Luffy below.
"Gear Fourth! Gomu Gomu no Kong Gatling!!" Even in Gear Fourth, Luffy couldn't bring himself to attack Ace.
His Armament Haki-inflated fists retracted into his body before violently extending, launching a frantic barrage.
The descending fireball completely enveloped Luffy. Although Luffy continuously attacked with his barrage, finally dispersing the fireball before it completely exploded, it seemed... too late!
Boom-!
The fireball fully detonated. Scattered sparks fell like a small meteor shower across every corner of the venue, completely turning it into a sea of fire.
Although he didn't die from that move, affected by Gear Fourth's side effects, Luffy lay on the ground like a limp rag, unable to move.
The reanimated Ace gritted his teeth, walking towards the fallen Luffy, muttering incessantly, "Run... run away... Luffy... run..."
Seeing this, Jin couldn't help but feel disappointed, "It's ending so soon?"
"Wororororo~ Dying at the hands of his already-dead sworn brother. That's a unique way to go," Kaido also laughed gleefully.
Then, Kaido noticed Jin, who was holding Hiyori, watching the show, and even had his daughter pinned under his foot. He somehow felt... outdone.
After thinking for a moment, he went back to the third floor and brought down the still unconscious, eyes rolled back Momoko.
'Yeah, that's better. When you go watch a show, you got to have a girl in your arms, right?'
Yamato, pressed to the ground as a footrest by Jin, felt increasingly complicated, 'My idol's son is my stepmother? What kind of melodramatic plot is this?'
"Kaido!!!" The reanimated Oden, watching this, was also furious enough to vomit blood. But he couldn't control his body, and he didn't possess Newgate's formidable willpower to break free from the Impure World Reincarnation's control.
On the other side, the reanimated Ace's right arm burst into flames, ready to deliver a final punch to the immobile Luffy.
The village chief of Foosha Village, Makino, Garp at Marine Headquarters, Shanks in the New World... all held their breath, terrified. They could never have dreamed that Luffy would die by Ace's hand!
"Run away!! Luffy!!!" The reanimated Ace screamed hoarsely.
But his fist continued its descent unabated.
"Is he going to evolve into Nika?" Jin wondered inwardly. He didn't think Luffy would be taken out so easily. Perhaps Joy Boy was already preparing to possess him.
Swish-
At the final moment, when the reanimated Ace's fiery fist was less than half a centimeter from Luffy's forehead, something shot through the air and entered Ace's mouth.
"Ace! Stop!" Following that, a little girl's sharp cry rang out.
The reanimated Ace's movements halted abruptly.
He turned his head to look, seeing Usopp in a shooting stance and a little girl about eight years old beside him.
"You... are you... Tama?" The reanimated Ace asked, stunned.
Tama rushed forward, overjoyed, "Thank goodness, Ace! Are you back to normal?"
The reanimated Ace clenched his fist.
Orochimaru, who is busy fighting Law and trying to seize the Ope Ope no Mi, was dumbfounded, 'Wh-what's going on!?'
"Did she use the Kibi Kibi no Mi's ability to override Orochimaru's talisman? It's somewhat similar to using Genjutsu to break Genjutsu," Jin analyzed, posing like Conan, pinching his chin. (T/N: Millet-Millet Fruit.)
In the original Naruto, when Sasuke and Itachi were caught in Kabuto's Genjutsu, they used Genjutsu on each other to override Kabuto's control.
Tama's Kibi Kibi no Mi was also a mind-control type ability. She used her Devil Fruit's Power to override the mind-control talisman placed by Orochimaru.
"Hahaha! As expected of the Tama Emperor!" Jin couldn't help but laugh out loud.
'No wonder so many readers in my previous life said Tama, not that loser Momonosuke, should be the Shogun. It really made sense.'