Marineford.
On the towering execution platform—
Sengoku and the others glanced at the Five Elders standing behind them. Confusion flickered across their faces.
"According to the plan," Sengoku said in a low voice only they could hear, "you should've stayed in the shadows, waiting for Whitebeard, Shiki, and Kaido to arrive."
"Shiki and Kaido?"
Hearing that, Ace—who had been standing with his head lowered, eyes closed—felt a jolt of shock.
Why would those two come?!
But the next second, he clenched his teeth and shut his eyes again, drowning in regret.
If he hadn't gone after Teach…
if he hadn't insisted on fighting…
then these people wouldn't have to storm Navy Headquarters to save him.
Beside Sengoku, the kimono-clad Elder answered calmly.
"The plan changed."
"According to CP0's report, it won't be only Whitebeard, Shiki, and Kaido."
"There will be another group of powerful pirates coming to cause chaos as well."
Sengoku and Kong both stiffened.
"What?!"
Garp, however, flicked a glance at Ace. The deep crease in his brow loosened slightly, as if something complicated was turning in his mind.
The Elder in the blue suit continued in a flat tone.
"CP0's latest intelligence says that a force led by Gild Tesoro is rushing toward Marineford."
"Enel. Koshiro. Don Chinjao."
"More than ten powerful pirates in total."
"And…"
"The Revolutionary Army rabble also seems to be preparing something."
For a heartbeat, Kong and Sengoku both froze.
Especially Sengoku.
A cold sweat spread across his forehead.
He knew those names. He understood what they meant.
The ruler of the Golden City. The self-proclaimed Thunder God of Skypiea's seas. A Wano swordsman of the Shimotsuki line. The leader of the Happo Navy…
Each one was a notorious powerhouse. Each one had their own pride, their own territory, their own reasons to clash—not cooperate.
So why were they suddenly united?
Why were they all coming on this day?
And worse—
Marineford's intelligence network hadn't sent even a hint of warning.
It made no sense.
Who organized them? Tesoro?
Tesoro controlled an absurd portion of the world's wealth, moved between the underworld and the surface with ease, and could buy influence anywhere. His own strength was said to be near Admiral level.
But even if Tesoro could pull strings—
what about the Revolutionary Army?
That wasn't something money could command.
Sengoku's thoughts churned violently, his expression growing darker by the second.
Do they want to overturn the world…?!
The Five Elders wouldn't joke about something like this.
"If they're joining too," Kong said heavily, "then today's war will surpass even God Valley…"
From the side, the Elder in the black suit gave a quiet, contemptuous snort.
"Pathetic."
"What have you idiots been doing all this time?"
"If we hadn't learned this in advance, would you have repeated the disaster from forty years ago again?"
His voice was low—careful. The whole world was watching via live broadcast.
"Enough," the Elder in the dark green suit said with a cold laugh.
"Stop wasting words."
"We came out here so you trash would have time to prepare."
"With the five of us here, those vermin won't be able to stir anything."
He spoke as if the arrival of so many powerful forces meant nothing.
The other four Elders looked the same—completely unfazed.
With Imu's "life-return" secret technique supporting them, they trusted in their own power absolutely.
As long as no one on Rōmu's level appeared, then it didn't matter how many came—
they would kill them all.
"Kong."
Sengoku's side—Kong stared at the Five Elders for a moment, then said in a deep voice.
"Do as they say."
"Start."
Even though today's battle was growing into something monstrous, Kong knew how strong the Five Elders truly were. His confidence remained firm.
Sengoku nodded.
And yet—
a vague, uneasy feeling gnawed at him.
Not because he doubted the Elders' strength.
But because these people joining together like this…
felt too unnatural.
Still, the arrow was already on the string.
There was no turning back.
Sengoku exhaled, waved the guards back, stepped forward, and stood to Ace's left with a Den Den Mushi in hand.
Then, in a calm voice, he asked:
"Ace."
"Say your father's name."
The question instantly seized Marineford—
and everyone watching the broadcast around the world.
"What does that mean?! Why ask who his father is?"
"Is he some big pirate's bloodline?"
"He must be someone important—otherwise the Navy wouldn't execute him like this!"
Across the seas, debate exploded as the world began guessing Ace's true identity.
Ace turned his head slightly, shot Sengoku a glance, and answered like it was obvious.
"My old man is Whitebeard."
To him, Whitebeard was his father.
That would never change—even if he died.
"No."
Sengoku's voice snapped like a blade.
His eyes sharpened, and he raised his voice so the entire world would hear.
"Your father…"
"Is the Pirate King—"
"Gol D. Roger!!"
In an instant—
the plaza erupted.
Shouts, gasps, disbelief. People's scalps went cold.
The entire world shook.
"No way… he's the Pirate King's blood?!"
"Roger… Roger's son?!"
"So that's why the Navy set up this kind of lineup!"
"Twenty years ago I watched Roger die in Loguetown—now I'm watching his son!"
Cameras clicked wildly. Journalists scrambled. No one wanted to miss this.
On the execution platform, Garp's fists clenched so hard his knuckles whitened.
A scene from years ago flashed through his mind—
Roger, imprisoned, calmly entrusting his child to him.
As a Marine, Garp should've severed everything about Roger.
But friendship… and the truth behind what happened at God Valley…
made him break his own rules.
He saved Ace.
He raised him alongside Luffy.
And now—
Ace was about to meet the same fate as his father, while Garp stood here and watched.
Ace himself bit his lip until it hurt, his face full of stubborn refusal.
He never wanted to acknowledge Roger.
In his heart, he had only one father—
the man who called him "son" and gave him a home.
Whitebeard.
On the wall, Blackbeard's eyes narrowed.
So he's Roger's bloodline…
Blackbeard wanted to become Pirate King.
But something still didn't add up.
Executing Roger's son could explain provoking Whitebeard, Shiki, and Kaido—
but why had the Five Elders come in person?
As someone who often moved through the underworld, Blackbeard knew exactly what those five represented.
"What is the Navy really after here?"
His gaze fixed on Sengoku, voice low and sinister.
Then he slowly smiled.
"Doesn't matter."
"As long as my plan goes through…"
"This world will end up under my heel."
Even with the unexpected twist of the Five Elders entering the battlefield, Blackbeard never doubted one thing:
Whitebeard would come.
He knew his "old man."
He would absolutely come.
"Come on…"
"Come witness your son overturn this world."
On the execution platform, Sengoku watched the crowd's reaction, then glanced at the time, voice low.
"Whitebeard and the others…"
"They should be arriving soon…"
That strange tightness in Sengoku's chest only grew heavier.
Behind him, Kong nodded slowly, eyes on the distant horizon.
If possible, he wanted to strike Whitebeard before he set foot on Marineford.
The Gura Gura no Mi was power that could destroy the world.
If Whitebeard reached the island, holding Marineford would become far more difficult.
At the same time, Kong placed a heavy hand on Garp's shoulder.
"Garp."
"You know what this means."
"That boy carries pirate blood."
"If we let him go, he'll become one of the most dangerous figures of the new generation."
"We are the Navy."
"We cannot allow that to happen."
Garp's teeth ground together.
He stayed silent for a long time—
then finally forced out a single, bitter acknowledgment.
Time ticked by.
The murmurs gradually died.
Sweat appeared on faces across the fortress.
The sea looked calm—too calm.
But the strong could feel it:
an unease crawling up from beneath the surface.
Suddenly—
a Marine in a watchtower, staring through binoculars, went pale.
In the distance, through thick mist—
countless massive pirate ships were charging toward Marineford.
Even at this range, he recognized the silhouettes on their decks.
Every one of them was a notorious pirate.
Whitebeard's allied fleet.
It took only seconds to think.
He lowered the binoculars, grabbed the Den Den Mushi, and roared:
"Whitebeard Pirates spotted!!"
In an instant—
the entire island moved.
Thousands of Marines drew weapons.
Hands trembled—some from fear, some from pressure, some from adrenaline.
On the wall, the Warlords narrowed their eyes.
Below the execution platform, the three Admirals sharpened their gaze.
On the platform, Kong, Garp, Sengoku, and the Five Elders all focused their senses—
searching for Whitebeard.
But—
no matter how they looked, they couldn't find him.
And then—
Marineford's crescent bay began to churn.
A gigantic whirlpool formed at the center, turning the water black.
A few seconds later—
the seawater surged upward dozens of meters with a deafening roar—
and a colossal pirate ship burst from beneath the sea.
It flew.
Launched by sheer force, it rose out of the bay and crashed down into the heart of Marineford.
The hull was coated in shimmering rainbow bubbles—coating.
The mast carried the unmistakable flag:
the skull with a crescent mustache.
It was the Whitebeard Pirates' main ship—
the Moby Dick.
"He came from under the sea?!"
On the platform, Sengoku's group jolted—but Sengoku recovered instantly.
He raised the broadcast Den Den Mushi and shouted:
"All forces!"
"Highest alert!!"
The Marines snapped back to themselves.
Weapons up. Lines held. Positions locked.
At the same time, Whitebeard's allied crews surged into the harbor.
"What the hell…?!"
"How many warships are there?!"
"How many Marines does this place have?!"
Even prepared in their minds, the allied pirates still sucked in cold air.
The Navy's defenses were insane.
Warships ringed the island in layers.
Heavy cannons lined the coast.
And Marines—
endless Marines—
packed so tightly it felt like the ground itself was made of soldiers.
Another thunderous boom erupted.
Three more ships rose from beneath the sea and landed perfectly beside the Moby Dick.
On the deck—
Marco the Phoenix.
Jozu the Diamond.
Vista the Flower Sword.
Blamenco. Rakuyo. Namur. Blenheim. Curiel. Kingdew. Haruta. Atmos. Speed Jiru. Fossa. Izou.
Fifteen commanders.
Only Ace, the Second Division Commander, was missing—because he was on the platform.
They formed a line at the front of the deck, all eyes locked on the execution platform.
Then—
heavy footsteps.
A mountain of a man stepped forward.
A white captain's coat draped over his shoulders.
Murakumogiri in his right hand.
A bare chest covered in terrifying scars.
The man the Navy feared most—
Edward Newgate.
Whitebeard.
Thud.
He planted Murakumogiri into the deck and lifted his head toward the execution platform.
His voice carried across the bay like thunder.
"We haven't seen each other in decades, Sengoku."
"Whitebeard…"
Sengoku's forehead shone with sweat.
As an old rival, he knew exactly what kind of monster stood there.
The ordinary Marines were worse—throats bobbing, faces pale, staring at Whitebeard's overwhelming presence.
Whitebeard let out a quiet huff, ignoring the world's gaze.
Then he said, calm and heavy:
"My beloved son…"
"…is he alright?"
On the platform—
Ace's head snapped up.
His voice tore out of his throat as he shouted with all his strength—
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