On the way to Whole Cake Island, a massive pirate ship spread its wings, soaring through the sky.
"Borororo! The Oro Jackson can actually fly! This is truly eye-opening, Rayleigh!"
On the deck sat a dozen or so formidable great pirates, their presence overwhelming.
"Caesar, you bastard, who gave you permission to board the Oro Jackson, huh? And where did you get that booze from?"
Gaban looked utterly displeased as he watched Caesar, Kaido, and Linlin casually sit on the deck, a circle of barrels placed before them.
"Zehahaha, never thought I'd step aboard the Pirate King's ship. Truly a day worth commemorating."
Blackbeard leaned against the ship's railing, flanked by Doc Q and Van Augur, his body wrapped in bandages.
"Teach, you actually dared to come back? Aren't you afraid Caesar will finish you off?" Shanks sat on the deck, guzzling from a massive barrel of liquor.
"Zehahaha! I'm one of the Four Emperors of the New World! If I lacked even this much courage, then after today, Marshall D. Teach would be stripped of his title!"
"Borororo! I've fought enough for today. So drink up—the battle's over!"
Caesar chugged an entire barrel of booze, then hurled the empty barrel off the Oro Jackson like a cannonball, sending it flying to who-knows-where.
The atmosphere among the seated group wasn't particularly tense.
Rayleigh held a small bottle of liquor while examining Ganzui's Seven Stars Sword.
As his fingers brushed the blade, a cut instantly opened on his fingers and crimson blood flowed out—only to be absorbed by the sword.
A tremendous suction force erupted from the blade, clinging to Rayleigh's fingers.
"Truly a Cursed Sword. I think I've heard legends of this blade before. Ganzui, where did you find it?"
Ganzui lay flat on his back on the deck, his body mummified in bandages by Doc Q, leaving only his eyes exposed.
He stared resentfully at Caesar, who was downing booze like water.
Caesar curled his lip and snorted.
"What's with that look, old man?"
"Mamamama, Caesar, he's probably sulking because you didn't help him catch a wife," Linlin giggled.
"Wororororo, understandable. This guy's been single for seventy years. Once we get back to Whole Cake Island, we'll arrange ten beauties to take good care of him." Kaido wore a mischievous smirk.
Ganzui writhed in vehement protest.
I didn't!
I'm not!
Stop spouting nonsense!
Ten beauties? Are you trying to suck me dry?!
Hurry up and heal me with your blood, damn you, Caesar!
Inside the cabin, Vincent the captain of the Warhammer Pirates, peeked at the figures on the deck with shining eyes, so excited that the wounds on his legs split open again.
"All of the legends are here! Beast God Caesar, Red-Haired Shanks, Blackbeard… This ship carries half the great pirates of the New World!"
Caesar, mid-drink, suddenly raised his head and looked back the way they'd come.
"Garp… is he dead?"
BANG!
The bottles and barrels in Shanks' and Rayleigh's hands shattered, liquor splashing across the deck.
Bzzzt!
One by one, the figures on the deck unleashed their Observation Haki, scanning the surroundings for miles.
*****
On the ice, Dragon and Luffy had already vanished.
Akainu carried Garp's corpse on his back, followed by Kizaru and the others, heading towards Marineford.
Fujitora abruptly looked up, his gaze piercing the distant horizon, killing intent blazing in his eyes.
Kizaru, Akainu, and Aramaki also halted, turning towards the sky, their eyes also filled with killing intent.
"Let's go. Back to G-1," Akainu said grimly.
Fujitora drew his cane sword and slashed ten times in rapid succession.
His face instantly paled, his burly frame swaying as he nearly collapsed.
"You..." Akainu hesitated, looking at Fujitora.
"I leave something behind for these bastards," Fujitora said indifferently.
"Let's hurry and leave before complications arise," Kizaru said coldly.
*****
On the deck of the Oro Jackson, everyone wore different expressions.
The older ones were filled with emotion, Blackbeard's eyes showed surprise, while Shanks appeared somewhat dejected.
Rayleigh picked up another bottle of wine, opened it, but didn't drink.
Instead, he stood up, walked to the ship's railing, and poured the wine into the sea.
"May you rest in piece, Garp."
Caesar threw his head back and laughed wildly, "Bororo! Garp was a worthy opponent. He is one of the man i held in high regard!"
With that, Caesar raised his wine and declared loudly.
"Let's toast to him!"
"Wororororo, though he was an enemy, he deserves respect! A toast won't hurt," Kaido raised his cup.
"Mamamama, I was chased by him more than a few times in the past. That old man Garp was called a hero by the Marines for a reason—worthy of our respect!"
One by one, hands were raised, and the wine was drunk.
"Zehahaha! The Marines' top-tier strength has diminished by one more. That's worth celebrating!"
As soon as Blackbeard finished speaking, the entire ship's crew turned their gazes toward him.
The atmosphere on the deck instantly became deathly silent and suffocating.
Shanks' face twisted in anger as he roared.
"Teach! What the hell are you saying?"
Blackbeard chuckled awkwardly, spreading his hands.
"Zehahaha, my bad, my bad. I misspoke."
Gaban removed his hand from his axe handle.
Sunbell lowered his harpoon.
Rayleigh released his grip on his sword.
...
Gaban glared coldly at Blackbeard and said, "Though Garp was an enemy, he was also the opponent Roger respected most in his life. He raised Roger's son for over a decade—he was practically our benefactor! Blackbeard, Ace died because of you. As pirates, life and death are left to fate. We old-timers understand that. But if you harbor such an attitude while aiming to conquer these seas, you're delusional!"
"Borororo! Exactly, you gotta have a broader mind, Blackbeard! But if anyone killed my son, I'd make sure they paid with their life! Right, Red-haired? That clown Buggy—he's under you, isn't he?"
Caesar laughed heartily, looking at Shanks.
"Buggy? What's going on? Buggy killed your... son?" Rayleigh walked over in shock, his eyes questioning Shanks.
Shanks' expression darkened as he looked up at Caesar and said solemnly.
"Caesar, the one who killed your son was already slain by you—Edward Weevil. Though he was a pirate under Buggy, his strength far surpassed Buggy's, and he never followed orders. So—"
Caesar waved his hand dismissively and sneered, "Save the excuses. Can a captain escape responsibility for his crew's actions? If Rayleigh killed Newgate's son, could Roger stay still? Remember, after the Tea Party—no, the Pirate Council—we'll still be enemies, fighting tooth and nail on the open seas!"
Shanks sighed and said nothing more.
"Oi oi! What's going on up there? This doesn't look good!"
Suddenly, Blackbeard exclaimed in alarm.
Everyone looked up to see the sky suddenly turn fiery red.
The clouds were parted by an invisible hand as burning meteors with long trailing flames descended towards them!
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