"It's Ace's brother!" It was only now that the crew on the Moby Dick clearly saw Drake's face.
Up until this moment, his movement had been too swift to track—the nature of teleportation made it nearly impossible for ordinary eyes to capture his form. Seeing Drake risk everything to strike at Akainu moved them more than words could say.
A massive, crescent-shaped blade of energy, large enough to dye the very sky crimson, tore through the air toward Akainu's back. Sensing the threat, Akainu spun around and unleashed a thunderous punch!
A gargantuan torrent of magma collided with the blood-red sword intent. Even though Drake had put every ounce of strength into the strike, the raw power of the Admiral's fist blew the attack back at him.
Fortunately, Drake was prepared. He chained three rapid blinks, narrowly evading the counter-blast.
KABOOM!
The resulting explosion leveled a section of the Marineford harbor. Drake stood on the ice, gasping for air, his heart hammering against his ribs. His stamina was officially depleted; he felt more exhausted than if he had run a full-speed sprint back in his school days.
Every muscle in his body sang with a stinging pain, and his vision swam in a dizzying haze. This time, Vale D. Drake had truly pushed himself to the limit.
He didn't consider himself a hero, nor did he think he was anyone special. But in this moment, he refused to let Akainu pass. He couldn't accept a world where he possessed a System yet remained a helpless bystander. If he let Akainu ruin everything now, what was the point of his journey to this world?
The world might be fictional, but the heat of the magma was real, the weight of the sword was real, and the bond with his brothers was the most real thing of all!
Since he was here, he would act! Ace would not die!
Drake knew that even if he offered Ace a way out via his own ship, Ace would never abandon the Whitebeard Pirates. If the crew couldn't leave, Ace wouldn't either. Therefore, the Whitebeard Pirates had to escape!
"I'll finish you off first!" Akainu roared, lunging toward the exhausted Drake with murderous intent.
"DRAKE!!" Ace, Sabo, and Luffy screamed in unison.
Anyone with eyes could see Drake was at the end of his tether. His body swayed, and his knees buckled; he looked like he might collapse at any second. Facing Akainu's lethal magma, it looked like Drake was about to be executed where he stood.
"Vista!" Marco barked, launching himself into the sky.
"On it!" 'Flower Sword' Vista, having fought alongside Marco for years, understood the command instantly. He pivoted, leading a charge toward the Blackbeard Pirates. He intended to execute the traitor Teach right then and there.
The Blackbeard Pirates had been neutralized, but since the Marines hadn't secured them with Sea Prism Stone yet, their abilities were technically still active. However, Marine reinforcements were already racing back with shackles.
"Marco!" Ace shouted as the Phoenix soared past.
Marco offered a resolute smile and called back, "Don't worry, Ace! Your brother is fighting for us—we won't let him stand alone!"
And he saved our Pops, Marco added silently as he transformed into a streak of blue flame, streaking toward Akainu like a comet.
With Marco heading to the harbor, the other Division Commanders began their organized withdrawal. Only Jozu remained by Whitebeard's side, a decision the Emperor met with a silent, approving smile.
Vista's mission was to purge the traitor. The Marines only made a half-hearted attempt to stop him. After all, why would they risk their lives to protect Blackbeard? He was their enemy too. Protecting him would make them the world's biggest fools.
Drake, caught in a semi-conscious haze of exhaustion, felt a sudden wave of heat. His instincts screamed, but his body refused to move. Just as the crowd held their breath, Drake forced one last teleport, appearing behind Akainu. But that was it—his tank was empty.
His first thought was the Senzu Beans. The healing salves of the Dragon Ball world were truly the ultimate recovery item. Even half a bean would restore his stamina and heal his burns instantly. He made a mental note: I need to stock up on those.
This was Drake's first time truly breaking through his limits. Fighting an Admiral meant staying in a state of hyper-focus for the duration of the battle.
BOOM! Akainu's punch missed, striking the ice. He frowned and spun around. Sensing Drake's location, he unleashed another magma fist. He had figured out the rhythm: Drake could only jump ten meters.
HUMMM—!
Suddenly, a curtain of blue flames swept across the sky, interposing itself between Drake and the Admiral.
CRASH! Magma and azure fire collided in a violent stalemate.
"It's Commander Marco!!" the pirates cheered.
Marco reverted to human form, though his wings remained wreathed in protective fire.
"Whitebeard Pirates..." Akainu muttered, his expression flat. Then, a slow, predatory smirk spread across his face.
"Hmm?" Marco's brow furrowed. A sudden sense of dread washed over him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions erupted from the harbor behind them. The red glow of the blasts reflected off Akainu's face. Marco's pupils shrank as he spun around.
"No..." "Our ships!!"
The air was filled with the agonizing cries of the pirates. On the water, the remnants of the fleet were being torn apart. A line of Pacifistas—the World Government's ultimate human weapons—were unleashing a coordinated barrage of lasers. One by one, the ships were being vaporized.
Pirates were thrown into the freezing sea, only to be met by the merciless, systematic targeting of the Pacifistas' lasers.
"Everyone..." Marco's voice failed him.
"Sink the Moby Dick!" Sentomaru ordered, pointing his massive axe toward the flagship.
The Pacifistas adjusted their aim, locking onto the pride of the Whitebeard fleet.
Marco gritted his teeth. He saw Kenshin rushing over to assist Drake, and he made his own choice. This was too sudden—the Navy had been holding this card the whole time!
"I won't let you sink our home while I'm still standing!!"
The usually composed Marco was finally pushed into a state of pure, unadulterated rage. First the betrayal of Teach, and now the destruction of their family's home—he would not allow it!