Boom!
The explosive shockwave tore through the battlefield like a raging hurricane, sweeping everything in its path.
Massive chunks of molten rock shattered like fragile glass, completely pulverized in an instant.
"Die!"
The armored giant flickered and appeared right in front of Akainu.
Its enormous right fist, wrapped in surging Armament Haki, slammed straight toward Akainu's head!
Akainu crossed his arms, Armament Haki spreading over them and turning pitch-black as he tried to block Bullet's attack.
Rumble!
The ground collapsed as Akainu was smashed deep into the earth.
"Yare yare… that's really terrifying," Kizaru muttered, still locked in a standoff with Rayleigh.
Rayleigh smiled faintly.
"After Roger, that kid should be the strongest. Even Whitebeard as he is now probably isn't his match."
That wasn't idle praise.
Within the Roger Pirates, Bullet had always been seen as Roger's successor.
No one expected that Roger's death would drive him completely out of control.
Fate could be cruel.
"Now's our chance!"
As chaos reigned across the battlefield, Marco seized the opening. He leapt into the air, transforming into a phoenix as he shot straight toward the execution platform!
"Don't worry, Ace! I'll get you out of here!"
Bad!
Sengoku's expression changed instantly.
There was no one on their side who could fly. There was no way to stop Marco!
Just as Marco was about to reach the execution platform, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
A fist the size of a sandbag, coated in steel-like Armament Haki, slammed brutally into Marco's head!
Bang!
Marco was smashed straight into the ground. His phoenix form was forcibly dispelled, and he grimaced in pain, teeth clenched.
Seeing that figure, Sengoku finally let out a breath.
Thank goodness…
This guy still remembered he was a Marine.
Garp withdrew his fist, landed beside the Admirals' seats, and plopped himself right down in the center.
"If you want to pass through here… then kill this old man first, you brats!"
Garp's eyes were wide with fury, his entire body on the verge of exploding.
The torment of family and duty was tearing him apart, and he desperately needed an outlet.
"The legendary Marine hero… Garp!"
The pirates' morale instantly dipped.
This was the man who had once cornered the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
With him guarding the final line of defense, no one dared to speak of breaking through!
"Get out of the way, you damn old man!"
An enraged shout suddenly rang out across the battlefield.
Luffy had somehow broken through the encirclement and charged deep into the battlefield.
"You rushed in too fast, Luffy!"
Not far away, the Straw Hat Pirates were charging forward with help from several Whitebeard Pirates captains.
They had arrived a little later than Luffy.
After learning they were the crew of Ace's sworn brother, Luffy, the Whitebeard Pirates had readily let them through.
"You guys made it too!" Luffy grinned brightly.
No matter how dire the situation was, as long as his friends were with him, he feared nothing.
"That damn brat…"
Garp nearly cursed out loud.
On a battlefield like this, Luffy's strength was barely above cannon fodder, yet he dared to rush so far forward!
On the other side, Sengoku saw pirates nearing the encircling walls and made a decisive call.
"Carry out the execution early!"
Ace was nothing more than bait.
Now that over eighty percent of the Whitebeard Pirates had entered the encirclement, the bait had served its purpose. It was time to dispose of it.
On the execution platform, the two guards received the order and immediately raised their spears, thrusting toward Ace's back.
Exactly like Roger's execution back then.
"No!"
Marco's face went pale.
He wanted to stop it, but it was already too late.
Whitebeard's pupils shrank sharply.
He never imagined Sengoku would act so shamelessly.
Just as he was about to forcibly interrupt the execution with his shockwaves, Sengoku's Buddha form slammed a fist straight at his head!
Whitebeard had no choice but to turn and meet him head-on.
Boom!
The aftershock of their clash nearly shattered most of the ice field.
But because of that, Whitebeard missed his chance to save Ace.
"You bastard, Sengoku!" Whitebeard roared in fury.
Sengoku sneered coldly.
"Whitebeard! Today, not only Ace… you're staying here too!"
"Want to kill me? I'm afraid your Marines can't afford the price!" Whitebeard said coldly.
As the spears were about to fall, everyone's hearts sank to the bottom.
Was it over?
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed across the battlefield.
"Stop it right now!"
Luffy glared at the executioners with blazing eyes.
As his shout rang out, a powerful pressure erupted from his body.
The next instant, the two executioners shuddered as if struck by an invisible hammer, then collapsed limply to the ground.
In that moment, every single gaze turned toward Luffy.
"Hey, hey… you've got to be kidding me," Aokiji said, cold sweat dripping down his face.
Kizaru looked uncharacteristically serious.
"This just got troublesome."
Sengoku's face turned pitch-black.
"That brat… he actually has that kind of potential?"
In the distance, Ivankov's face lit up with delight.
"Eeeh-heeh! Just as expected of Dragon's son! Blood really doesn't lie!"
They wouldn't mistake it.
That power was Conqueror's Haki.
The mark of a king…
A gift possessed by only one in several million.
Luffy didn't understand any of that. He only saw the guards collapse, and joy surged through his heart. Without hesitation, he leapt toward the execution platform.
"Damn it, Luffy! Don't you dare!"
Garp sprang into the air, blocking Luffy's path.
Luffy puffed out his cheeks and roared,
"You bastard old man! Don't get in the way of me saving Ace!"
His Gum-Gum Gatling slammed toward Garp without mercy.
Garp blocked two punches… then suddenly took one to the side of the face and went flying.
That terrible acting instantly covered Sengoku's face in black lines.
So the vice-captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco, wasn't even as good as your grandson who can't use Haki yet?
But it was too late to say anything now.
At that distance, even if Sengoku wanted to fix things, he couldn't make it in time.
"Ace! I'm coming!" Luffy laughed as he charged toward the platform.
At that moment, the closest ones who could intervene were the Seven Warlords.
Sengoku glanced over… and his face darkened completely.
Mihawk, who had been watching earlier, was now sparring with Vista, testing swordsmanship.
Hancock was rampaging through the crowd, petrifying and beating down pirates and Marines alike!
Doflamingo was dangling some unlucky pirate in midair with his String-String Fruit, forcing him into a grotesque game of mutual slaughter.
The only remotely reliable one, Kuma, was busy stopping Little Oars Jr. from breaking the encirclement wall.
Great. Just great.
In the blink of an eye, every single one of you found something to do, huh?
Luffy stretched out his arms, grabbed the edge of the execution platform, and flung himself up.
Ace… was right in front of him.
***
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