There was less than a day left before Ace's execution, yet only three of the Seven Warlords of the Sea had arrived.
The "Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock, "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma, and "Hawk-Eye" Dracule Mihawk were all absent.
"Knight of the Sea" Jinbe had been imprisoned in Impel Down after refusing to fight against the Whitebeard Pirates.
In the meeting room at Mary Geoise, "Joker" Donquixote Doflamingo, Gecko Moria, and "Blackbeard" Marshall D. Teach were waiting impatiently for Fleet Admiral Sengoku's arrival.
"Why are there only the three of us? Where's everyone else?" Doflamingo glared at the admiral seated across from him, his tone sharp and irritated.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku will explain everything when he arrives," the officer replied curtly, showing no intention of humoring Doflamingo's temper, or his intimidation.
"Fufufufufu…"
Doflamingo's fingers twitched slightly. In the next instant, the officer's eyes glazed over as he drew his sword and swung it suddenly at his comrade beside him.
The startled comrade barely raised his blade in time to block the strike, shouting angrily, demanding to know what the hell he was doing and warning him not to make trouble here in Mary Geoise.
But before he could finish, his own body stiffened, then began to move on its own, striking back.
Within seconds, the two were locked in a chaotic clash right there in the conference room.
Just then, the doors opened. Fleet Admiral Sengoku entered, accompanied by Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Tsuru immediately saw through Doflamingo's little "game" and gave him a cold, knowing glance.
Doflamingo chuckled and, reading the situation, released his strings. The two officers dropped their weapons, breathing heavily, confused and alarmed.
"Fufufufufu… Fleet Admiral," Doflamingo drawled, stepping forward with that trademark grin.
"Care to explain why only three of us showed up?"
Sengoku's expression was solemn.
"Aside from Jinbe, who's currently imprisoned, the other three refused to answer the summons.
The World Government has stripped them of their Warlord titles and reinstated their previous bounties. After this war, the Navy will hunt them down."
Doflamingo frowned. He had originally planned to sit this one out, he didn't like getting involved in messy wars, but Sengoku's serious tone gave him pause.
"Hehehehe… I don't care about the others," Moria said lazily. "I just want Whitebeard's corpse. That'll make for some first-class material."
Blackbeard said nothing. He just kept drinking, expression unreadable.
Sengoku looked at the three of them and frowned slightly.
"Tomorrow's the execution. You'll come with me to Marineford."
Without waiting for a reply, he stood and strode toward the door.
The three exchanged glances, then followed silently. Each had their own agenda, but all knew one thing: a war like this was an opportunity to reap immense rewards.
As the final hours ticked away, the world's seas grew tense and restless.
The World Government had just stripped three Warlords of their titles, an unprecedented move. Yet the Whitebeard Pirates remained silent.
No ships, no messages. Nothing.
Some began to think that Whitebeard, the man once feared as the strongest in the world, had lost his nerve.
But Sengoku knew better. He was certain Whitebeard would come.
This war was inevitable.
Still, something gnawed at him, something he might have overlooked. But he couldn't put his finger on what it was.
At 9 a.m. the next morning, one hour before Portgas D. Ace's scheduled execution, the world held its breath.
Reporters crowded the Sabaody Archipelago, broadcasting every second of the Navy's preparations.
This was Sengoku's grand strategy, an elaborate trap.
The Navy was fully prepared. All they had to do now was wait for their prey.
Ten minutes to go.
Still no sign of Whitebeard's fleet.
Disappointment spread like wildfire.
People everywhere began to jeer, calling Whitebeard a coward, a relic unworthy of his former glory. Even some who had supported him now cursed his name in frustration.
On the execution platform, Sengoku sat with calm composure.
He knew Whitebeard. That man would never abandon his son. He would come.
But the Navy soldiers below were losing morale. Sengoku decided it was time to speak.
He rose, stepped up to the platform, and looked down at Ace, who was kneeling between the executioners' blades. Lifting the microphone, his voice rang out over Marineford.
"Ace, state your father's name!"
Ace glanced up at Sengoku, then slowly closed his eyes.
"My father… is Whitebeard."
"No!" Sengoku's voice boomed.
"Your mother was Portgas D. Rouge. A year and three months after your father's death, she gave birth to you, bearing the bloodline of the world's most evil man!
That man… was Gold Roger!"
Ace clenched his jaw, trembling with rage but refusing to speak.
The crowd erupted.
The revelation struck like thunder across the Sabaody Archipelago.
"The Pirate King's legacy still lives on!" someone shouted in disbelief.
"That monster's blood still flows in this world…" another murmured in terror.
Others, ignorant of the truth, sighed in relief. "Good! That demon's spawn is finally going to die."
To ordinary people, learning that the Pirate King's bloodline still existed was earth-shattering.
To the Marines gathered at Marineford, it was even more profound.
This was a day none of them would ever forget.
As for the three Warlords present, they were thrilled. To take part in ending the Pirate King's bloodline was a historic honor.
Sengoku continued, voice solemn.
"Two years ago, you took your mother's name and went to sea. As captain of the Spade Pirates, you made your mark across the Grand Line with unmatched speed and strength.
It was then we learned, Roger's bloodline lives on. But Whitebeard also discovered this truth. He took the son of his old rival under his wing, to raise him as the next Pirate King."
Ace glared up, fury flashing in his eyes.
"That's not true! I only joined his crew because I wanted him to become the Pirate King!"
Sengoku's gaze remained cold.
"You're the only one who believes that. The truth is, we couldn't touch you because Whitebeard protected you.
If left unchecked, your potential would one day make you the next great threat, the next Pirate King.
That's why your execution today is so vital. Even if it means total war with Whitebeard, it must be done!"
The Marines below erupted in a roar of approval.
At that moment, in the palace high above the Sky Island, Arima and his family watched the live broadcast from his shadow clone stationed at Marineford.
"Arima," Tsunade said quietly, "do you think Sengoku's speech is all true?"
"Who knows?" Arima replied, smiling faintly. "But it's a damn good move. He's rallying his troops before the storm. Smart play."
As he spoke, the image shifted.
The massive Gates of Justice were slowly opening.
Impel Down, Marine Headquarters, and Enies Lobby, the three government strongholds, were all linked by the massive current system centered on those gates.
Once opened, the currents flowed freely, allowing ships from outside to reach Marineford.
The sea before the execution platform grew unnaturally still. A thin mist began to rise over the water.
From the watchtowers, nervous Marines scanned the horizon, terrified they might miss something.
Then, someone shouted.
Dozens of enormous shadows appeared beneath the waves.
Ships.
Dozens of pirate ships, all sailing straight toward Marineford.
But among them, one was missing, the Moby Dick, Whitebeard's flagship.
Sengoku and Tsuru immediately sensed something was wrong.
Tsuru frowned. "Our formation… we placed it wrong!"
Before she could finish, a massive surge erupted from within the bay.
A colossal ship burst out from beneath the water, its hull gleaming white like a breaching whale.
The Moby Dick had arrived.
Sengoku's heart sank. He realized the truth at once, Whitebeard's fleet had coated their ships and traveled beneath the sea, sneaking right into the bay.
A risky maneuver, but brilliantly executed.
As the white whale's shadow loomed over the harbor, the world trembled.
Both sides were now face-to-face.
The Summit War had officially begun.