(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
(9 chapters of the new book are already released in p.atreon)
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At this moment, silence blanketed the entire Naval Headquarters. Every eye was fixed on Sengoku.
"Ace! Say your father's name!"
Ace lifted his head, glanced at Sengoku, then lowered it again and replied calmly, "My father is Whitebeard."
"No!" Sengoku's voice was firm.
"Say your real father's name!"
"I only have one father, and that's Whitebeard!"
"Is that so? Then let me tell you the truth!" Sengoku declared.
"Your mother sacrificed her life to bring you into this world! She deceived the eyes of the world, enduring for your sake!"
"After your father died, you were born—the evilest bloodline in the world was not extinguished!"
"Your real father is none other than Gol D. Roger!"
"Your true name is… Gol D. Ace!"
Across the world, every person watching the screen heard Sengoku's words loud and clear.
"The Pirate King's… Roger's son…!"
"Portgas? No… Gol D. Ace?! The Pirate King still has a descendant?!"
People could hardly believe their ears. Some even trembled.
To pirates, Roger was a symbol—an idol.
But to the common people, he was a nightmare.
Because of Roger, this age of piracy had begun. Because of Roger, countless innocent lives have been lost.
Many despised him. His name carried a weight far from the romanticized tales of freedom Luffy spoke of.
And now, the son of Roger stood before the world.
"Damn it… So that's how it is? Roger… you really fooled me," Rayleigh muttered as he stared blankly at the big screen from the Sabaody Archipelago.
He never imagined that Ace was Roger's son.
But now… it was too late.
Too late to save Ace from there and bring him to safety.
"Whitebeard… it's up to you now."
On the screen, Ace trembled, his emotions in turmoil. Beside him, Sabo looked on with worry.
During his imprisonment, Sabo had regained his lost memories.
Yet fate was cruel—the long-lost brothers had finally reunited, only to find themselves behind bars.
No celebration. No freedom.
"Fleet Admiral! The Gate of Justice just opened on its own! We received no instruction!" A Marine soldier suddenly ran up to the execution platform, reporting loudly.
"What?!"
Sengoku's eyes widened in shock. An ominous feeling crept over him.
The sea beyond the pier was calm—too calm.
And then, alarms blared across Marineford.
Through the fog, a massive fleet emerged.
"How did they get so close?! Why didn't our reconnaissance teams report this?!"
Onboard were some of the most infamous pirates of the era.
"This is getting interesting!" Doflamingo grinned, thrilled by the unfolding chaos.
Sengoku's gaze shifted downward, toward the sea itself.
"Damn it… something's wrong!" Vice Admiral Tsuru muttered, realization striking her like a bolt of lightning.
Then—
BOOM! BOOM!
With a deafening crash, the massive hull of the Moby Dick burst from beneath the waves!
The world stood still.
A dazzling rainbow light reflected off the ship's protective coating before it shattered completely.
No one expected Whitebeard to enter Marineford in such a manner!
Step. Step.
Steady footsteps echoed through the battlefield.
Standing tall on the bow of the ship, Whitebeard gripped his weapon in one hand and let out a booming laugh:
"Gurararara! Sengoku! It's been decades, hasn't it? Did you take good care of my son?"
His sharp gaze fell on Ace, who sat isolated on the execution platform.
"Just hold on a little longer, Ace."
Ace stared at him, his mind blank.
"Pops…"
Was it just his imagination, or did Whitebeard look healthier, and somewhat even younger?
No, he should be even older now? What was going on?
Yet his presence—his aura—was as overwhelming as ever.
"Whitebeard…" Sengoku muttered, narrowing his eyes.
The intelligence reports had claimed Whitebeard was old, sickly, and weakened.
But the man standing before them was unchanged from decades ago.
No, there was one difference.
His mustache had grown a bit longer.
"Ace! We're here to take you home!" Marco shouted.
"We're here to take you home!"
The Whitebeard Pirates roared in unison.
A hundred thousand Marines stood silent, their overwhelming numbers suddenly meaningless.
Whitebeard's eyes swept over the battlefield, analyzing the situation.
Then—without hesitation—he plunged his weapon into the deck, clenched both fists, and punched the air with all his might.
CRACK! CRACK!
Like a shattered mirror, the very fabric of space fractured before him.
A tremor unlike any other spread outward.
"All units! Brace yourselves—a massive shockwave is coming!" Sengoku shouted.
He knew Whitebeard far too well.
To be called the Strongest Man in the World, half of Whitebeard's power came from his Quake-Quake Fruit!
The once-calm sea erupted into chaos.
Tidal waves surged sky-high.
On either side of Marineford, the ocean rose violently, forming towering tsunamis that threatened to crush the entire island!
"The world is ending!"
"A tsunami! We're doomed!"
Panic spread among the Marines. Against the power of nature itself, they were nothing more than ants.
Kizaru clicked his tongue. "Scary~ as always."
"Quit joking around! If those waves hit us, Marineford will suffer massive casualties!"
"Then stop them, Sakazuki."
"What a pain…"
With a sigh, Aokiji removed his blindfold.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his seat—
And reappeared midair, arms outstretched.
"Ice Age!"
From his palms, two enormous ice spikes shot forth.
Under the world's stunned gaze, the hundred-meter-high tsunamis froze solid, transforming into colossal icebergs!
"Tch. You brat…" Whitebeard's sharp gaze locked onto Aokiji.
Clenching his right fist, he unleashed another quake, sending the tremor through the very air itself—straight toward Aokiji!
At the last second, Aokiji evaded, barely turning to ice in time.
Still, a trickle of blood dripped from his mouth.
"Is this guy really over seventy?"
Even for a Logia user, Whitebeard's speed was terrifying.
Kizaru's eyes flashed, and in an instant, he took to the skies.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Golden light rained down, a barrage of laser bullets aimed at Whitebeard.
Just as Marco moved to intercept, Sasuke stepped forward.
Kusanagi gleamed as he drew his blade—
A massive slash obliterated Kizaru's attack and surged toward the execution platform.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Kizaru!" Sasuke's voice rang out.
"You think you can attack our captain that easily?!"