Luffy collapsed beside Ace, his knees hitting the shattered ground.
Tears streamed down the faces of the pirates all around them.
"Ace…"
"Ace!!"
Garp slumped onto the battlefield as if his soul had left his body. His eyes were unfocused, fixed on Ace's smiling face as he lay there.
"EZRA D. VALE!!!"
Only Whitebeard's furious roar shook the air, his killing intent locking onto Ezra like a blade.
Gripping Murakumogiri, he charged.
Akainu arrived at Ezra's side at the same moment, his right arm already transformed into churning magma, ready to attack.
Ezra lifted a hand and stopped him.
"I will handle this. Get every Marine out of the plaza. Now."
Akainu froze for a second, then understood Ezra's intention.
He meant to completely end the Whitebeard Pirates.
Akainu gave a heavy nod. "Understood."
He turned and left at once, moving to evacuate the Marines as fast as possible.
Otherwise, they might die by Ezra's hand.
Whitebeard had already reached Ezra.
Murakumogiri was wrapped in the power of the Tremor Tremor Fruit as it came crashing down.
Ezra slowly drew Ryujin Jakka from his waist.
Clang!
He blocked the blow head on.
"GRAAAH!"
Whitebeard roared, both hands gripping his weapon as he forced it down with overwhelming strength.
A sharp light flashed through Ezra's eyes.
His right arm surged with power and he pushed back.
Whitebeard was forced a step away.
"What?!"
"What monstrous strength…"
Whitebeard frowned, disbelief flickering across his face, but he had no time to think.
"Sea Quake!"
With a swing of his massive arm, the air itself shattered with cracking sounds.
Ezra's gaze sharpened.
"Blazing Sever."
In an instant, countless flaming slashes tore forward, carrying searing heat.
The explosion thundered across the battlefield.
Taking advantage of the clash, the Whitebeard Pirates pulled Luffy and Ace away from the area.
Ezra's figure appeared in the distance, eyes lowering toward the pirates below.
Whitebeard turned and roared at his crew.
"Whitebeard Pirates, hear my order. Full retreat!"
"Yes, Pops!"
Whitebeard understood. The tide of battle had turned. If his crew stayed any longer, the only result would be more needless deaths.
But would Ezra let them leave?
Of course not.
"Whitebeard… do you think they can just walk away?"
His voice fell.
Boom.
A terrifying wave of spiritual pressure burst from Ezra, carrying suffocating heat.
It crashed down on everyone present.
Thud. Thud.
Pirates dropped to their knees all around.
Whitebeard's body swayed. He slammed Murakumogiri into the ground to keep himself upright, barely enduring the pressure.
Seeing his sons unable to flee, Whitebeard's face twisted with fury.
"Flame bastard. If you have the guts, fight me one on one!"
Ezra's expression did not change.
"Fine. One man against your entire crew."
He raised Ryujin Jakka before him.
"All things in the universe turn to ash… Ryujin Jakka."
Boom.
His spiritual pressure exploded to an even more outrageous level. The already scorching air surged hotter still, like the surface of the sun sweeping across Marineford.
In the distance, Akainu had just led the Marines beyond the plaza when he felt the burning heat spreading through the sky.
"This is…!"
His pupils shrank.
Beside him, Sengoku wiped sweat from his forehead.
"It is Ezra's power."
"Everyone, evacuate Marineford immediately. As far as possible. Move!"
Sengoku directed the retreat with steady authority. This possibility had clearly been accounted for in advance.
Warships had already been prepared behind Marineford as a fallback.
"Hurry!"
"That is Admiral Scorched Flame's ability!"
"I am not dying to friendly fire!"
The Marines stationed at Marineford all recognized this terrifying power.
Back on the battlefield, Ezra completed the release of his blade.
The overwhelming spiritual pressure suddenly drew inward.
A sword wreathed in roaring flames appeared before Whitebeard and the others.
Ezra landed lightly, holding the burning blade in one hand. His crimson eyes swept over the pirates.
They felt the pressure ease slightly and seized the chance.
"Run!"
"Run now!"
"How are we supposed to fight that?! With our heads?!"
Cursing in panic, pirates rushed forward again.
Ezra raised a brow and casually swung his sword downward.
"I told you. Stay here."
"Flame Wall Prison."
A massive wall of fire surged forward and then closed in like a giant hand, trapping the pirates inside.
"What is this?! It is burning!"
"It is too hot!"
The trapped pirates slammed their weapons and fists against the blazing barrier in desperation.
A flash of light passed through Ezra's eyes.
The enormous fiery hand clenched.
Flames swallowed everything inside.
When the fire scattered, nothing remained.
Whitebeard's pupils shrank.
"No!!!"
The man who treasured his sons above all else was completely consumed by rage.
As the surviving pirates fell into stunned silence, Ezra spoke calmly.
"Whitebeard. Shall we begin now?"
Seeing Ezra's indifferent expression, Whitebeard's fury exploded.
"Flame wretch, die!"
He swung Murakumogiri and rushed Ezra.
"Cloud Splitter, Third Form!"
Three massive shockwave slashes tore through the air toward Ezra.
Ezra met them head on, Ryujin Jakka flashing as he blocked each one.
Whitebeard closed the distance in the same instant.
"Die!"
"Earthquake!"
With his roar, the ground beneath Ezra suddenly collapsed, burying him in rubble.
Whitebeard did not believe that would be enough to kill him.
He was right.
A blazing slash erupted from the debris.
Ezra stepped out completely unharmed.
Whitebeard did not stop attacking.
The two clashed again and again, blades flashing, shockwaves roaring.
The pirates watching were stunned.
"That relaxed look…"
"Those reckless attacks…"
"This guy… he is like a top predator."
"He is toying with Pops!"
Marco, who had regained consciousness at some point, growled in fury.
As one of the few who had witnessed an earlier battle between Ezra and Whitebeard, he knew.
Ezra now stood above Whitebeard.
"Damn you, Ezra!"
Marco roared unwillingly.
"Everyone! Grab your weapons and charge!"
"How can the Whitebeard Pirates let Pops fight alone to protect us?!"