Sengoku immediately realized something was wrong!
With a sweep of his hand, he roared into the Den Den Mushi: "Cut the transmission—now!"
But the moment the words left his mouth, the two kings had already closed the distance, standing mere steps away from Ace.
Their blades and hands stretched forward desperately—
Trying to stop the attack.
But—
It was too late.
Whoosh!
Magma surged past.
Right before their eyes, it devoured everything.
Everything fell silent.
Including the entire battlefield.
Ace smiled and whispered an apology.
But the magma swallowed his smile whole.
*CRACK—!*
A thunderbolt split the sky.
Rain began to fall, cold and relentless.
The icy droplets battered the two old men standing before Ace.
They stood frozen, letting the rain drench their burning hearts.
*Thud!*
Ace's body hit the ground heavily.
A dull thud echoed.
The red beads around his neck snapped free, rolling wildly across the ground.
They rolled to Whitebeard's feet, clattering against Garp's boots.
But in that moment, neither man could hear anything.
Only two words echoed endlessly in their minds:
"Pops..."
"Grandpa..."
Each repetition cut deeper than a blade.
As they stared at the headless corpse, its life force rapidly fading, a fury began to burn in their hearts—
Igniting a firestorm in their frozen chests.
Everyone sensed the danger.
Everyone scrambled to flee the area.
A cataclysmic storm was about to erupt here!
Run—or die!
Sengoku didn't hesitate.
He lunged forward to stop Garp!
If Garp attacked an Admiral, the consequences would be disastrous.
That was why he had ordered the Den Den Mushi cut off immediately.
Aokiji's expression darkened.
Even Kong abandoned Yamato, who stood stunned, and turned to intervene.
But Akainu showed no fear.
He refused to believe Garp would betray the justice he had upheld for decades.
And as for Whitebeard? With so many Marines here, what could he possibly do?
That brat Ace had to die—no matter what!
Without a word, Akainu unleashed another Meigo this time aimed directly at Whitebeard, who stood drowning in grief.
If it hit, the old man would share the same fate as the corpse at his feet!
"Meigo: Magma Burst!"
But Whitebeard didn't move.
As if—
He had truly lost his mind.
Akainu's lips curled in triumph.
A double kill?
What an unexpected prize!
Just as his magma fist seared Whitebeard's beard, inches from his face—
*WHAM!*
A fist, blacker than night and faster than thought, smashed into Akainu's jaw!
The impact deformed his face instantly—his chin nearly touching the half of his face Whitebeard hadn't sliced off earlier!
Two teeth flew out.
Yet the fist kept pushing, until Akainu's jaw did touch his face, and he was sent flying by the tsunami-like force!
The Meigo fizzled harmlessly against Whitebeard's unflinching expression.
So close...
Akainu cursed Garp's entire bloodline in his mind.
He never expected—
This bastard would actually strike!
And with full power, no less!
Was he insane?! What was he thinking?!
Full power?
Was this really full power?
*ZZZT—!*
A shockwave erupted with Garp at its center!
Everything but Ace was sent flying.
Crimson lightning wreathed Garp's right fist.
A scarlet glow ignited.
The ground shattered under the pressure.
The very air trembled.
Rain evaporated instantly.
As Akainu flew backward, he met Garp's eyes—glowing red with fury.
No more laughter.
Only darkness.
Then—
Garp vanished.
Akainu's mind blanked.
Again?!
His earlier confidence was gone.
Frankly, his face couldn't even form an expression anymore.
Only one thought remained:
'This old man's lost his mind!'
'He's really trying to kill me!'
'HE DARES?!'
The crimson fist that materialized before him answered:
HE DARES.
But just before impact—
A hand clamped down on Garp's head, just like in the original timeline.
Holding him back—
Physically and mentally.
Yet this time, Sengoku failed to restrain him.
Garp seized Sengoku's wrist and hurled him aside!
But as he straightened—
An old-fashioned military uniform blocked his path.
Kong gripped Garp's collar, snarling:
"GARP!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
...
Just as Akainu, still midair, thought he was saved—
A chilling gust swept up his spine.
Like the breath of death itself.
His Observation Haki flared—
And what he sensed made his blood freeze.
Before he could react—
A massive hand clamped around his throat.
Whitebeard stood tall, his expression darker than the abyss.
An aura of lethal intent radiated from him.
It was almost as if Garp's punch had delivered Akainu straight into Whitebeard's grasp.
Too perfect.
Then—
A white light flared.
A deadly aura surged from the hand gripping Akainu!
The attack hadn't even launched, yet Akainu's body trembled uncontrollably!
It was the power of tremor.
His only option now was a desperate counterattack.
Escape?
Impossible.
Same move as before—but this time, unavoidable.
Scorching magma clashed against quake powerful enough to shake Marineford itself!
Akainu's fist landed on Whitebeard's collarbone.
He'd aimed for the heart.
But Whitebeard wasn't standing still.
His left shoulder was nearly burned away, the damage spreading to his neck.
A chunk was missing.
Yet Whitebeard didn't even flinch.
Compared to him, Akainu was in a far worse state.
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