"Whitebeard! Behind you!!" Victor's roar cut through the chaos.
As he burst out of the dust, he saw the Blackbeard Pirates making their move, launching a sudden ambush against Edward Newgate.
"Hmm?" Whitebeard instantly sensed the killing intent at his back.
Without hesitation, he shifted sideways, swinging his fist while forcing back Admiral Aokiji with a sweep of his Naginata, Murakumogiri.
DENG!
Whitebeard's punch cracked the very air itself—yet it was stopped cold by a swirling black light.
Dark Vortax!
"Teach!?"
Whitebeard finally saw the culprit—the traitor of his crew, Marshall D. Teach, the one who had handed Ace over to the Marines.
But something was wrong… Teach looked different, and his powers—what was this strange darkness!?
"Zehahahaha! All your strength means nothing before me! Pops, admit it—you're old! The new era doesn't belong to you!"
Blackbeard laughed manically, his dream finally within reach.
Whitebeard's quake ability was pulled into the vortex of darkness, neutralized.
Then Teach's new crew surged forward, their faces grim. They knew—even an injured Whitebeard was the world's strongest man.
"Pops!!!" Marco roared, trying to rush to his father's aid.
But before he could move, Kizaru appeared in front of him, blocking him with overwhelming speed.
"Now, now~ you should stay put, Phoenix Marco~"
Marco cursed. He could only watch as Blackbeard's men unleashed their combined assault.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Whitebeard endured their strikes head-on. His massive body staggered back, his chest splitting with deep wounds. Though not fatal, the damage was severe.
"Hiss… what a monster…"
Van Augur muttered, lowering his rifle.
"Uncle Whitebeard! Are you alright!?"
Victor flashed into place, standing protectively before the Emperor.
"Gurarara… Little Victor, thank you…"
Whitebeard gritted his teeth against the pain. If not for Victor's earlier warning, he might have taken a killing blow.
Teach hadn't just betrayed him—he'd gathered a crew of terrifying criminals.
The battlefield froze in shock.
Ace had been rescued by Victor and Luffy, Whitebeard was seriously wounded, and now Blackbeard's crew—escaped monsters from Impel Down—had revealed themselves.
"The Corrupt King, Avalo Pizarro! The Crescent-Moon Hunter, Catarina Devon! The giant battleship, Sanjuan Wolf! Heavy Drinker, Vasco Shot!
All of them are the worst criminals from Impel Down's sixth floor! How the hell are they here!?"
"And Shiryu of the Rain—the former Head Jailer of Impel Down?! How did he end up with pirates!?"
Marines across the battlefield erupted in confusion.
"Shiryu, have you betrayed justice!?" Sengoku bellowed, his golden form looming.
He hadn't yet received the reports from Impel Down—he had no idea of the catastrophe that had occurred there.
"What's the point of 'justice' or 'injustice'?" Shiryu sneered, his sword glinting. "I just chose what I wanted. That prison was boring as hell. Let Magellan and Hannyabal rot there."
Shiryu didn't even glance at Sengoku. His eyes locked instead onto Victor.
They had unfinished business.
"Zehahahaha! Sengoku! Your navy is pathetic! I thought you'd weaken Whitebeard for me, but look at you! Useless!" Blackbeard's laughter rang out.
He had planned to wait until Whitebeard was crushed by the Marines, but with the tide against them—and Marineford in ruins—he had been forced to act early.
"Blackbeard, give it up. You won't take Whitebeard's power today." Victor's voice was cold, his lips curling into a smile that made Teach's laughter falter.
How did this kid know his plan?! He hadn't even revealed that ability yet!
"Captain." Shiryu stepped forward, drawing his blade. "Victor and I have an agreement. If we meet again—it's him or me. Let me take his head."
Blackbeard's grin widened. "Zehahaha! Then do it, Shiryu! Tear him apart!"
Shiryu's expression hardened. "Understood. He dies by my sword."
As a swordsman, Shiryu had absolute faith in his blade. Victor had impressed him back in Impel Down—but to Shiryu, he was still prey waiting for the slaughter.
Victor remained silent, but inside he was thrilled. Clearly, Blackbeard's crew had only just arrived—they hadn't seen his rampage.
Otherwise, Shiryu would never be stupid enough to challenge him one-on-one.
The audience, however, was stunned.
Shiryu of the Rain was infamous, a name feared even within the Marines. His skill with the blade was unmatched. Against an ordinary opponent, no one would doubt his words.
But against Victor…?
To claim he'd kill him outright sounded insane.
What shocked them even more was Victor's demeanor.
He didn't summon lightning. The crackling aura that had cloaked him earlier was gone.
Instead, he slowly drew the Second Generation Kitetsu and held it in his hand.
But his face was grim, his grip trembling. The sword shook in his hands.
"As a swordsman, you can't even hold your blade steady," Shiryu scoffed. "Are you that afraid, Victor? Don't worry… my blade is fast. Your death will be painless."
Cold light glinted in his eyes. To him, Victor had already lost.
Blackbeard's crew chuckled. If Victor couldn't even keep his weapon steady, Shiryu would make quick work of him.
But the veterans of the battlefield—allies and enemies alike—thought only one thing as they watched.
This kid Victor… is a conniving bastard.