"Your name holds no meaning for me anymore..." Ace said despondently.
He would soon be executed, and no matter how resounding his name, it would mean nothing to him.
"Oh, I still have to tell you something. I know Luffy, your biological younger brother." Ye Jia said with a smile, "He's a very interesting fellow, always yelling about wanting to be the Pirate King... Although he looks a bit foolish, this guy is not simple!"
"If I'm not mistaken, he should be on his way to save you right now, shouldn't he?"
Ye Jia looked towards Impel Down.
In the original One Piece world, Luffy entered Impel Down with the help of Boa Hancock, then, along with Emporio Ivankov, Crocodile, Buggy the Clown, and Jinbe the Knight of the Sea, they commandeered a Marine battleship and descended from the sky directly into the Battle of Marineford.
Although everything had changed now, Ye Jia believed that as long as Luffy willed it, the entire world would open a "path" for him.
That guy would come, sooner or later.
"You know Luffy?!"
Upon hearing Luffy's name, a look of surprise appeared in Ace's eyes, showing how much his younger brother meant to him.
"Of course!"
"If you know Luffy, help me pass a message to him!" Ace's face was filled with reminiscence.
"Go ahead," Ye Jia chuckled.
"Tell Luffy for me, if possible, to live this life without any regrets! To live on for my share... and to be freer than anyone else!"
As Ace finished speaking, he seemed to hear again the oath he and Luffy had made by the sea years ago—one day, we will set sail and roam the seas! We will live according to our own will!
"I understand." Ye Jia nodded, then grinned, "But I was just lying to you... I won't help you deliver that message."
"If you want to tell him, tell him yourself!"
With that, Ye Jia burst into laughter, and with a flicker, he left the execution platform.
"This guy..." Ace shook his head and chuckled helplessly at these words.
At this moment, Marine Headquarters had completed its deployment.
"Don't let your guard down!"
"No matter what happens, there are only three hours left!"
"By then, everything will be over!"
For this war, a total of one hundred thousand elite Marines were ready, silently awaiting the decisive battle.
The crescent-shaped bay and the entire island were surrounded by 50 battleships.
Countless heavy cannons were set up on the shore.
Looking from the port, one could clearly see at the very front of the formation the five key pirates: the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
At the same time, on the execution platform at the very back of the plaza, was the central figure of this incident, awaiting the moment his fate would be decided: Whitebeard Pirates 2nd Division Commander, Portgas D. Ace!
And below the execution platform were the three supreme combat powers of Marine Headquarters, the Three Great Admirals: Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru!
At this moment, all conceivable forces of justice were fully prepared, waiting for the Whitebeard Pirates to arrive, to prevent Ace's rescue!
"This formation... the Marines truly live up to their name."
As an ace, Ye Jia didn't need to act in the early stages of the war; he only needed to quietly observe.
He looked back and saw the dense array of elite Marines, all staring at the bay with grave expressions... No one was whispering, no one was slacking off, all were tense, ready to face the war!
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Hero Garp have appeared."
Soon, Ye Jia saw Sengoku the Buddha and Garp on the execution platform.
"It's decided, Garp, I'm going to make everything public."
Sengoku the Buddha glanced at a helpless Garp.
"Do as you please, I'm going down."
Garp gave Ace a meaningful look, sighed, and left despondently.
"The Den Den Mushi..." Sengoku the Buddha took the Den Den Mushi, cleared his throat, "Everyone, I have something to announce!"
...
Meanwhile, not only the Marines but also people all over the world were highly concerned about the outcome of this war!
South Blue—
"Only three hours left, and Whitebeard still hasn't arrived..."
"Do you think he'll come? Whitebeard is already old, and we haven't heard much from him these past few years."
East Blue—
"He's a faded pirate. When do Marine Headquarters ever lose a battle?"
"Win or lose, as long as he appears, this war will be extraordinary! Even if he dies, it will be a glorious death!"
"It's best if he doesn't come... Once the execution is over, this matter will conclude, and no more trouble will arise!"
North Blue—
"Hey, boss! Bring me some booze!"
"Who has the mind to do business these days? Go home! If the world is still peaceful tomorrow, I'll continue operating!"
West Blue—
"Don't compare him to ordinary old men! He hasn't aged a bit... A year ago, just seeing him sitting there was enough to scare us out of our wits!"
Grand Line—
"Even children know him, singing and dancing... 'Whitebeard the pirate, scarier than a ghost!'"
"Oh, heavens, what will become of this world?"
At the same time, all residents of Marineford had fled to the Sabaody Archipelago for refuge.
They watched Marineford's every move through three large screens relaying the live broadcast!
Reporters and photographers from all over the world swarmed in, hoping to disseminate the most detailed information to the entire world as soon as possible.
Every time a pirate ship sent by the Marines set sail, it was sunk, and no news of Whitebeard was obtained... A heavy atmosphere permeated Marineford, tightening everyone's nerves!
"Look! Ace is out!"
"It's Fire Fist Ace! You can see him on screen!"
"Die, hateful pirates! Whitebeard, die too! The Marines are invincible! The world will always belong to justice!"
People saw the scene from Marineford through the screens and immediately became agitated, shouting loudly...
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