Akainu's smirk froze instantly. His mind went blank.
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.
A name that struck terror into the hearts of both Marines and pirates alike.
And now, that very man was standing before him. Under the crushing weight of his overwhelming presence, Akainu began to panic.
His magma-infused arm swelled suddenly, erupting with molten fire. The temperature on the battlefield skyrocketed.
"What a nuisance."
Whitebeard's confident grin never wavered. The massive naginata in his hand, coated in seismic energy, clashed against the torrent of lava.
Boom!
Their attacks collided, shaking heaven and earth in a deafening explosion.
Vincent stood not far away, eyes narrowed as he watched the clash.
This level of battle was not something he could interfere with. Getting involved would only mean risking accidental injury.
Not that he was worried.
In the original storyline, even a gravely wounded Whitebeard had pummeled Akainu three times, forcing him to flee into the depths of Marineford.
Now, in full health, there was no way Akainu could harm him.
The sky turned into a swirling storm of red and white as the two titans exchanged blows. The shockwaves created violent gusts of wind, toppling Marines and pirates alike.
"This is all you've got?"
Whitebeard fought with ease, his naginata tearing cracks into the very air. The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was terrifying, causing spiderweb-like fractures to ripple outward from beneath their feet.
Even Marineford itself began to crumble.
"Get Ace out of there!" Marco shouted, transforming into his phoenix form and blasting through the last two cannons guarding the execution platform.
With the cannons destroyed, Little Oars charged forward unimpeded, trampling Marines with each step.
The Navy was losing ground fast. Ace was moments away from being rescued.
Vincent remained atop a high vantage point, but his expression stayed grim.
He knew the Navy's true trump cards hadn't yet entered the fray.
Once they did, the tide could turn again.
On the execution platform, Ace sat beside his grandfather Iron Fist Garp. The Navy hero was crouched low, a dark expression in his eyes.
Ace's execution had seemed inevitable. Garp had wrestled with himself countless times, torn between justice and family.
But as he witnessed the battle unfold, his resolve began to strengthen.
He was a Marine. A symbol of justice.
He could not betray the word emblazoned on his back.
"You little brat... Why couldn't you just follow the path I laid out for you?" he muttered with a sigh.
Garp turned away, unwilling to meet Ace's gaze, afraid that even one glance would shatter the wall he'd barely managed to build around his heart.
"Old man… do me one favor," Ace whispered, staring at Garp's back.
Before Garp could respond, Ace continued, "Don't make things hard for Luffy."
Tears were already streaming down Garp's face. He nodded silently, the only thing he could do for his grandson now.
"He's finally going to make his move…"
Sengoku stood atop the platform, watching Garp walk away. His expression was mixed relieved, but also uneasy.
Meanwhile, Akainu was forced back, his sea of magma blasted away by a single swing from Whitebeard's naginata.
"Hellhound!"
Using the smoke from the explosion as cover, Akainu extended his arms like liquid fire and launched a magma fist straight at Whitebeard's chest.
"Hrah!"
But Whitebeard, still in top condition, had been ready for this.
Despite the pirates gaining the upper hand, he wasn't letting his guard down. His prepared right fist smashed into Akainu's attack.
Boom!
The battlefield shook again, a fresh explosion kicking up blinding smoke and dust.
The island itself began to fracture, like it might crumble apart at any moment.
"This can't go on much longer."
From within the smoke, Akainu slowly stood, voice grim. "If this continues, the island won't hold."
"Oh really?"
Whitebeard's grin widened before his face turned cold.
"Then you'd better try and hold it together."
They clashed again. Akainu's body turned to magma, and his right arm morphed into the shape of a snarling dog.
"Great Eruption: Crimson Lotus!"
The extended arm surged forward, the magma beast snarling like it had a will of its own, claws reaching for Whitebeard.
"Grah!"
Whitebeard didn't waste time on flashy counters. One swing of his naginata sent the magma dog flying.
Then, with a single step, he lunged toward Akainu and reached out with his massive hand.
"Awoo!"
The magma dog let out a pained howl as it suddenly swelled, growing to half a man's size in an instant.
Like a volcanic bomb, it exploded in a fiery blaze, engulfing Whitebeard in flames.
"Whew…"
Seeing his attack land, Akainu exhaled in relief.
But just as he relaxed, the flames before him split open and a massive figure burst through.
Three meters tall, Whitebeard towered over Akainu like a god among men.
"Up yours!"
With a snarl, Whitebeard closed in for hand-to-hand combat, landing a massive punch that sent Akainu flying.
Akainu rolled back with the impact, then threw out several fiery projectiles to create distance.
The fireballs slammed into Whitebeard's body, barely slowing him down, let alone doing any real damage.
"Hellhound!"
Akainu roared again, arm stretching as he launched another magma strike.
The fireballs had annoyed Whitebeard, who twisted his head just enough to avoid a direct hit.
The molten strike grazed his face, burning a huge patch of skin.
"Aaaargh!"
Whitebeard roared in fury, eyes bloodshot.
With a mighty hand, he grabbed the crouching Akainu, flung him high into the air
"Hrrgh… 170… HAH!"
His left fist wrapped in a glowing white orb of seismic energy, he timed it perfectly
BOOM!
He punched Akainu square in the midsection, shattering the very air, releasing blinding light!
Akainu's body contorted grotesquely, his stomach caved in as he was launched like a cannonball.
"You annoying mutt… DIE!"
Whitebeard bellowed, pouring even more strength into the blow.
Splat!
Akainu vomited blood midair, flying like a ragdoll across the battlefield.
"Akainu!"
At the Marine rear, Sengoku's heart dropped watching Akainu soar through the sky, battered and broken.
Aokiji was still locked in battle with several Whitebeard commanders. No chance he'd finish soon.
Kizaru had burned through most of his stamina and was holding the rear.
His gaze landed on Garp's back, expression heavy with doubt… and a flicker of hope.
"Garp, you bastard… this time, please, be reliable."
At the same time, he readied himself.
If Garp faltered again, Kizaru swore he'd be the first to take him down.
And then there was Whitebeard.
"If we keep dragging this out, the Red-Haired Pirates will be here…"
They needed to end this. Fast.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Kizaru picked up a Den Den Mushi.
"Begin the assault. Send in Sentomaru and his team."
----------------------------------------------------
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
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