Several days later,
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
After holding a funeral for his wife, Zephyr had lost all motivation to work.
He began to harbor deep doubts about the justice he had upheld for so many years.
He only showed a hint of emotion when taking care of his child.
Most of the time, he sat in a daze, staring off into the distance.
Left with no choice,
Fleet Admiral Kong granted Zephyr an extended leave.
He also assigned several people to stay close and accompany him.
The incident involving Admiral Zephyr shocked not only Marine Headquarters but also the World Government.
This was the first time in history that an Admiral had a family member attacked.
The uproar it caused was understandable.
After several days of discussions, the high command issued a directive.
A residential district was to be constructed within Marineford, designated for families of officers ranked Captain and above.
The pirate world, emboldened by the incident, became increasingly reckless.
Attacks on the Marines grew more frequent.
...
The New World, Second Half of the Grand Line
A massive pirate ship with a white whale figurehead was speeding toward the Marine G-4 Branch in the New World.
Whitebeard stood on the deck at the bow of the ship, his brows slightly furrowed as he gazed into the distance.
Not far from him, Marco—still just a trainee who had recently joined the Whitebeard Pirates—quietly asked the man beside him, Whitey Bay:
"Whitey Bay-san, how did Theodore get captured by the Marines?"
Still young at the time, Whitey Bay's eyes were red, as if she had just finished crying.
"The Marines have gone mad after what happened to Zephyr. They've been killing rampantly at sea."
"When we went to collect this year's protection fee, we ran into a Vice Admiral resupplying there."
"Theodore stayed behind to cover our retreat. That's how he was captured."
She broke into tears again, guilt-ridden.
Marco was left flustered, trying to comfort her awkwardly.
Whitebeard stood at the bow, eyes narrowing as the outline of the Marine G-4 Branch came into view:
"My beloved son better be unharmed... Marines..."
...
The New World, G-4 Branch
Bzzz—Bzzz! Bzzz—Bzzz! Bzzz—Bzzz!…
The instant the Whitebeard Pirates were spotted, loud sirens blared through the base.
All personnel grabbed their weapons and lined the fortress walls, ready for battle.
Next to every soldier was a blood-soaked sack.
The branch commander of G-4, Vice Admiral Kvel, stood solemnly facing the Whitebeard Pirates across the field.
He knew this was a battle of life and death, but he showed no fear.
From the day he became a Marine, Kvel had prepared himself for this.
Death was but a small matter—justice would endure.
As the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick came to a stop not far from the fortress, Kvel drew the long blade at his waist.
Whitebeard stepped forward to the bow of the ship and asked in a deep voice:
"My beloved son—he's safe, isn't he, Marines?"
Kvel raised his blade and swung it.
The prepared soldiers lifted the sacks at their feet and dumped them over the wall.
Countless severed heads rolled down from the fortress walls, piling onto the ground below.
Kvel's cold voice rang out:
"See if you can spot which one's your son. If you find him, he's yours."
Fury erupted on board the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard's face darkened as he stared at Kvel:
"In that case... all of you can join Theodore in the grave."
He raised his left fist.
A translucent, white shockwave ring formed.
With a mighty punch aimed at the air before him—
A massive crack split through the air, followed by a tyrannical shockwave surging forward.
It blasted straight toward the fortress's dozens-of-meters-tall steel gates.
Boom—!
The gates caved inward from the impact, trembling violently.
Rumble!
They collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Whitebeard raised his fist again and swung.
An invisible shockwave roared toward the soldiers on the wall.
With a rumble, the entire fortress shook violently.
The soldiers staggered but quickly regained their footing, raising rifles and cannons in retaliation.
Bang! Bang! Boom! Bang! Boom!!!...
The sounds of gunfire and explosions were deafening.
Under Whitebeard's cover, the Whitebeard Pirates stormed through the shattered gates and charged into the fortress.
Vice Admiral Kvel's blade was coated in Armament Haki.
He launched flying slashes at Whitebeard while charging toward him.
Whitebeard casually shattered the incoming attacks and looked toward Kvel.
His halberd now covered in Armament Haki, he swung it down hard.
Clang!
Blades clashed.
Then came a thunderous BOOM!—a figure was sent flying.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
Fleet Admiral Kong had a splitting headache.
First, the incident with Zephyr's family.
Now Whitebeard had assaulted the G-4 Branch.
After Kvel reported the situation, the call was cut off, and he could no longer be reached.
When Kong searched for capable personnel, he could only think of Sengoku and Sakazuki.
He immediately sent people to stall Whitebeard while contacting the two.
By the time Sengoku and Sakazuki had regrouped, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
Using a special ability user temporarily loaned from the CP organization by Fleet Admiral Kong, they were instantly transported.
When they arrived at G-4, they were greeted by the sight of a devastated fortress.
Towering fortress walls were shattered into several pieces.
Blood had soaked most of the stronghold.
Countless Marine corpses were strewn across the ground.
Their Observation Haki picked up Whitebeard's presence at the center of the fortress.
At the moment they appeared, Whitebeard sensed them.
He dragged the nearby Kvel—whose limbs were all broken—and walked out, followed by his crew.
The instant they met, Sengoku and Sakazuki saw the mangled Kvel dangling from Whitebeard's hand.
Their faces darkened.
Sengoku was the first to speak:
"Whitebeard... are you provoking the Marines?"
Whitebeard grinned.
"Kurararara... Sengoku, it was your side that started this."
Sengoku's expression was stern. His voice was low:
"What will it take for you to release Kvel?"
Whitebeard replied casually:
"That depends on what you're willing to off—"
Before he could finish, Sakazuki stepped forward and interrupted:
"No need to talk."
"Justice must never yield to evil."
Whitebeard tossed Kvel to the ground.
Spinning his halberd in his hand, he asked:
"What, don't want to save him anymore?"
Sengoku tried to speak, but Sakazuki held out a hand to stop him.
He didn't reply to Whitebeard, instead turning his gaze toward the bloodied Kvel:
"Vice Admiral Kvel—are you ready?"
Kvel, collapsed on the ground and covered in blood, struggled to lift his head.
He forced a faint smile:
"Kh...kh... Always... ready..."
Sakazuki lowered his head slightly.
His voice was emotionless:
"For justice."
Kvel's eyes gleamed with pride as he looked at Sakazuki:
"For... justice!"
Sakazuki's entire right arm turned to magma, swelling into a massive lava fist.
Thick black smoke poured out as his rage boiled over.
He suddenly looked up, eyes filled with murderous intent.
Aimed at both Whitebeard and Kvel, he roared:
"Great Eruption!!!"
The already massive lava fist grew larger mid-flight, hurtling toward them.
Whitebeard couldn't tell whether Sakazuki truly meant to kill Kvel or not.
But his hesitation lasted only a moment.
Weighing a crippled Marine against his own children—the answer was obvious.
Activating his powers, Whitebeard slammed his fist into the air above his crew.
The explosion in the air shielded them.
As it shattered the lava fist, he focused his Observation Haki tightly on the movements of the two enemies.
Without Whitebeard's protection, the lava scattered toward Kvel.
Just as it touched him—
It instantly reformed into Sakazuki, and a sharp sonic boom followed.
Sakazuki grabbed Vice Admiral Kvel, coated his body in Armament Haki, took a blow from Whitebeard head-on, and hurled Kvel toward Sengoku.
With no more burdens to worry about, Sakazuki turned to face the grim Whitebeard, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He activated his powers.
His skin turned red-hot as magma surged beneath.
Blinding golden light gleamed in his eyes.
A scorching heatwave surged from his body—Magma Mode activated.
Sakazuki grinned fiercely at Whitebeard.
Red light radiated from his body.
BOOM!
A massive crater was left behind.
In an instant, Sakazuki had blitzed into the center of Whitebeard's children.
Turning his head to meet Whitebeard's shocked gaze, he said coldly:
"Lava Bomb Rain."
BOOM!!!!!!!!!
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