The Fleet Admiral of the Marines did not merely symbolize absolute justice—he embodied absolute power.
Those who could rise to the rank of Fleet Admiral were no ordinary people. Aokiji, Akainu, even Kizaru—each possessed a strength so overwhelming, it left others breathless.
And now, a young pirate who had just begun to make a name for himself among the seas was being granted the opportunity to become a Marine Admiral by Sengoku himself. Such a move was nothing short of shocking to the world.
"Who exactly is this D?"
Far away in Wano Country, a burly man watched the live broadcast through a Den Den Mushi, a glint of interest in his eyes. On the screen before him played the moment when Mizuchi was offered the position of Marine Admiral by Sengoku.
"Hehehe… D, huh?"
"D! Interesting!"
"…"
Across the New World, on various islands, powerful figures—some standing, some sitting, some reclining—watched the broadcast intently. Their expressions varied, but deep within, all were intensely intrigued by Mizuchi's presence.
"Hehehe… a Marine Admiral! Sengoku! I… really… feel so… thrilled!"
Mizuchi turned his gaze toward the execution stage and let out a manic laugh.
"Hehe! Whitebeard, let this pirate wear you out a bit first!"
Upon seeing Mizuchi's reaction, Sengoku set the Den Den Mushi down with satisfaction. He had no real intention of granting the Admiral's seat to Mizuchi. He merely intended to use this pretense to drive Mizuchi into fighting with all his might.
After all, even Whitebeard—the strongest man in the world—would find it difficult to defeat Mizuchi unscathed, given Mizuchi's ability to replicate powers.
If Mizuchi and Whitebeard fought to mutual injury, it would signal the perfect moment for the Marines to launch a counterattack.
"No… impossible, Mizuchi! Are you really deceiving me, deceiving Luffy?"
Ace clenched his fists in anger. He wasn't worried about his own predicament—he was worried about Luffy, who hadn't appeared yet.
Previously, Ace had entrusted Luffy to Mizuchi's care. Now, only Mizuchi had appeared on the battlefield. Could it mean something unfortunate had happened to Luffy?
The thought alone made Ace's body tremble uncontrollably.
"Ace… don't worry. That kid won't be a match for Whitebeard!"
Sengoku, sensing Ace's emotional fluctuation, assumed Ace was worried about Whitebeard. Little did he know, Ace's true concern was for Luffy.
After all, compared to Whitebeard, Luffy was the "weak one."
"I… refuse!"
As Sengoku and the assembled Marines watched from their vantage points on the sidelines, enjoying the spectacle on the Moby Dick, Mizuchi suddenly wiped away his grin and shouted his heart out toward the Marines, toward Sengoku, and toward Ace:
"I… refuse!"
"Oh…"
In the sky above, Kizaru looked down with a puzzled expression. He truly could not understand Mizuchi's motives.
If Mizuchi had sided with Whitebeard and his crew, he would not have attacked Whitebeard. But now, after striking, it was clear he had taken the opposing side.
Faced with Sengoku's "Admiral" offer, Mizuchi seemingly had no reason to refuse.
After all, who could resist the temptation of an Admiral's seat? Only a rare few—Emperors, their deputies, or legendary pirates like Garp—could.
Mizuchi, a rookie just stepping onto the world stage, was clearly not one of those people. His refusal stunned everyone.
"Hmph!"
Seeing Mizuchi's declaration, Akainu raised his head and snorted coldly.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Aokiji exuded an icy aura, his gaze meaningfully fixed on Mizuchi.
"D! By opposing both the Marines' hundred thousand strong and the Whitebeard Pirates simultaneously, do you think you can leave Marineford alive?"
Sengoku, raising his arm once more, spoke with anger and intimidation. Mizuchi's refusal had turned his original plan into a complete joke.
This slap was not just against Sengoku's face—it was a blow to the Marines and even the World Government itself.
"Hehehe! What an interesting kid!"
Rayleigh, sitting in a tavern while sipping beer, watched the broadcast with unwavering attention.
Across the world, countless others were watching just like him.
Reporters, originally drawn to cover Whitebeard's activities, shifted their focus entirely to Mizuchi after his shocking behavior.
"A man challenging both the Marines and Whitebeard Pirates simultaneously… what is his goal?"
"The mysterious pirate D appears in Marineford, opposing both the Marines and Whitebeard's crew… what will be his fate?"
"…"
Headlines with startling titles quickly spread from the Sabaody Archipelago across the globe. From that moment, Mizuchi had firmly left his mark in the hearts of everyone in the world.
People everywhere stared at their screens in tension, eager to see Mizuchi's next move, waiting for him to shock the world again.
"D! That's my boy! Hahaha…"
While the world was abuzz with speculation and astonishment at Mizuchi's actions, Whitebeard suddenly smiled faintly behind him. Moving past Marco, he approached and draped a hand over Mizuchi's shoulder.
"You have already attacked Edward Newgate, the holder of the Gura Gura no Mi. The system is replicating his Devil Fruit. Please endure for one minute."
"You are now within one meter of Edward Newgate's body. The system is replicating his Devil Fruit. Please endure for one minute."
As Whitebeard embraced Mizuchi, Mizuchi casually placed his arm over Whitebeard's shoulder in return.
The two stood before over a hundred thousand Marines, exchanging a glance and then bursting into a hearty laugh as if they were old friends reunited after years apart.
"Hahahahaha…"
The thunderous laughter stunned everyone. Those who had just been fighting to the death now froze. How could a single laugh erase all enmity?
"D, I know you came here to save my son. My powers are yours—I trust you completely!"
Whitebeard, speaking in a whisper audible only to Mizuchi under the cover of laughter, conveyed his trust.
"Thank you, old man!"
Mizuchi responded solemnly, surprised at Whitebeard's sudden embrace. He had expected a brutal battle but instead received warmth and trust.
Clearly, Whitebeard had already guessed Mizuchi's intentions. Mizuchi's actions were linked to his ability to replicate powers, and entrusting him with the Gura Gura no Mi increased their side's chances of success significantly.
"Sengoku! Your little tricks don't work on my young brother! Hahaha…"
Whitebeard's boisterous laugh echoed across the plaza, striking Sengoku's pride like a thunderous blow. Sengoku's face darkened with anger.
"Attack! Don't let D replicate Whitebeard's powers! Everyone, target D first!"
With his plan exposed, Sengoku could not allow Mizuchi to replicate the Gura Gura no Mi. At his command, all coastal cannons, Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru, and every Vice Admiral immediately charged toward Mizuchi.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Dense fractures appeared around Mizuchi and Whitebeard, and an overwhelming aura erupted from the bow of the Moby Dick.