Explosions rang out one after another, and the bodies of pirates and Marines were scattered across the blood-stained ice!
While Victor was being held back by Admiral Kizaru, Straw Hat Luffy was getting closer and closer to Ace on the execution platform with the help of the Whitebeard Pirates' division captains!
At the same time, Edward Newgate—Whitebeard—faced a crisis he had never imagined!
"Dad!"
"Squard, are you all right?"
Whitebeard turned his head toward his subordinate, a strange glint flashing in his weathered eyes.
Squard was the one Victor had mentioned before.
But what exactly did Victor mean? That his trusted "son" was going to betray him?
Impossible!
"Well, at least I didn't die."
"I didn't see you just now. How's the situation in Wantou?"
"Although the appearance of that man named Victor has boosted our morale, the pirate crew under his command has already suffered heavy losses!"
The Squard spoke in a low voice, but his expression turned slightly unnatural when he mentioned the words heavy losses.
"Sengoku will show no mercy. He'll mobilize every force he can to crush us!"
"Dad, do you know a lot about Marine tactics?"
"Sengoku and I are old acquaintances. The Marines want to encircle us, and that's exactly what I want. I'm also going to attack. With Victor's little devils holding them back, let's rush over and save Ace!"
Whitebeard turned to observe the battlefield again. Victor was indeed being targeted by Kizaru. It was time for Whitebeard himself to act…
"Yes, each of our forty-three allied pirate crews has received great kindness from you. For the Whitebeard Pirates, we should go through fire and water!"
The Squard drew his sword and charged forward.
Whitebeard glanced at Squard. Of course, he could hear the hidden meaning in his words. Of course, he noticed Squard's odd behavior.
But Squard was right—too many sacrifices had already been made…
"I'm sorry, but this is—"
"I understand. This is a battle for our family. The pirate Whitebeard will never abandon his family. That's why everyone has followed you to this battlefield that's like hell!"
"…Hmm…"
Whitebeard smiled faintly and stepped forward.
At this moment, Victor—still fighting Kizaru below—saw the situation aboard the Moby Dick and was immediately shocked.
If nothing changed, Whitebeard was about to be stabbed through the abdomen by his own "son"!
Victor clenched his teeth. Had his warning been in vain?
Or was Whitebeard simply a fool? Even if he guessed what would happen, he still needed to give his family an explanation?!
"Marco! Hurry! Squard!!!"
Victor roared again, this time addressing the first division commander—Phoenix Marco!
"Dad!!!!"
Hearing Victor's warning, Marco turned instantly. His body burst into blue flames as he shot toward the Moby Dick at full speed.
Because at that very moment, Squard lunged with his sword—straight at Whitebeard's back!
Everything happened in an instant. Thanks to Victor's warning, Marco was able to react first. With his phoenix speed, he could still make it!
"How could I let you interfere with my plan, Phoenix Marco!"
A low voice boomed, and a magma-coated fist exploded forward.
It was Admiral Akainu!
As the mastermind behind this plot, Akainu had been closely watching Victor's movements, fearing the young man might disrupt his plans.
His instincts were correct. Even though Kizaru had Victor engaged, the accident still came from him.
So, when Victor shouted, Akainu immediately intercepted Marco, attempting to finish him with a single deadly strike!
The entire battlefield froze, every gaze locked on this moment!
Marco, staring down Akainu's fatal punch, showed no signs of dodging.
Akainu grinned. He could already foresee it—Whitebeard grievously injured, Marco dead, and the Whitebeard Pirates utterly doomed. The Phoenix? Nothing but ashes.
But fate had other plans.
"Thirty Million Volt Thunderbird!!!"
A deafening crack split the sky. A colossal bird of lightning crashed into Akainu, slamming the admiral hard into the frozen ground!
In that split second, Marco streaked past and dove toward Squard, stopping the betrayal just in time.
"Oh~ Victor, what a scary little brat…" Kizaru chuckled as he launched a dazzling kick of light.
But to his shock, Victor raised his left hand and blocked it with Wado Ichimonji—while his right hand still crackled with lightning from the Thunderbird attack!
Sword in the left. Thunder in the right.
Kizaru's eyes widened.
Not only him—Sengoku, Garp, Aokiji, the Seven Warlords, the Whitebeard captains, and every fighter in the war were shaken.
And Boa Hancock… her beautiful eyes shimmered as she stared at Victor.
There were two reasons for their shock:
Whitebeard had been attacked by his own son, Squard.
A man once unknown across the seas—Victor—had fought the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, and now held off two Marine Admirals while saving Marco.
What a monstrous record!
Compared to him, the so-called Supernovas were just kids.
"Hey! Borsalino, what are you doing?!"
Akainu climbed out of the ice pit, his face dark as an erupting volcano.
"Ohhh~ Sakazuki, I tried my best. But this little brat Victor is too fast, too tricky…" Kizaru lazily replied.
"Humph!" Akainu snorted coldly.
No matter how fast Victor was, he couldn't be faster than light. Kizaru was clearly holding back.
His glare fixed on Victor. As a zealot of absolute justice, Akainu's eyes burned with fury. To him, Victor was already an unforgivable criminal.
"Victor, after this battle, I will personally capture you and execute you!"
Victor ignored him. His mind was racing for a way to save Fire Fist Ace.
As for Akainu? Hah. Someone else could deal with him.
"Thank you, Victor! Sakazuki, you actually tricked my dear son into attacking me! Still, it was a clever plan. Sengoku, you are as sharp as ever!"
Blood trickled down Whitebeard's arm.
Despite Marco's desperate intervention, he had only managed to deflect Squard's strike. The blade hadn't pierced Whitebeard's chest, but it had run through his left arm.
Even so, despite the betrayal, Whitebeard still forgave Squard…