(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)
(11 chapters of the new book are already released in p.atreon)
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"Unbelievable..."
"How dare he..."
"Marineford... It's impossible! This must be fake!"
At the Navy Headquarters, the Marines engaged in fierce combat against the Whitebeard Pirates suddenly halted.
Their eyes widened in disbelief as they turned toward Marineford's main building, which was now mostly in ruins.
Just a minute ago, Whitebeard's attack had struck Marineford directly.
Against his overwhelming vibration ability, the steel barriers reinforced with a significant amount of seastone barely held for a moment before shattering completely.
The shockwave rippled outward, reducing countless buildings to rubble as if they were made of paper.
Had Aokiji not reacted in time—creating multiple layers of ice walls to absorb the impact—the devastation would have been even greater.
Only now did people truly grasp why Whitebeard, despite his long silence, was still hailed as the world's strongest man.
The Admirals were like walking natural disasters.
And Whitebeard—he was the man who could destroy the world.
Even those watching the battle from afar through the screens were stunned into silence.
Facing such a monstrous opponent… Could the Marines truly claim victory?
"WHITEBEARD!!"
Sengoku's furious roar echoed across the battlefield.
He couldn't believe that Marineford was being laid to waste before his very eyes.
"Are you angry, Sengoku?"
Whitebeard remained unmoved, his sharp eyes locking onto the Fleet Admiral.
"Then return my son to me!"
"Otherwise, today—I will completely destroy the Marines!"
There was no hint of jest in his words.
Whitebeard knew that in his current state, he could raze the Headquarters to the ground with just a few more uses of his power.
Had it not been for his sons already being entangled in a battle with the Marines—and Ace still chained on the execution platform—his previous strike wouldn't have been aimed at the building.
"Old man..."
Within his towering Susanoo, Sasuke had witnessed the destruction firsthand, and even he was shaken by Whitebeard's raw power.
Even with his full-body Susanoo, he wasn't sure he could withstand such an attack.
As Whitebeard stood menacingly, Akainu could no longer sit idly by.
Rising to his feet, he raised both arms to the sky, unleashing a torrent of magma.
"[Meteor Volcano]!!"
A storm of flaming fists shot high into the air before plummeting toward Whitebeard's fleet like a fiery meteor shower.
If even one of those attacks struck, an entire ship could be annihilated instantly.
Sasuke's eyes flashed sharply.
With a powerful flap of his Susanoo wings, he shot upward, leaving Naruto behind.
As his massive sword swung, countless molten projectiles were detonated mid-air before they could reach the fleet.
"Tch!"
Akainu bit down so hard on his cigar that it crumbled, molten magma dripping from his mouth as the surrounding temperature surged.
He had had enough.
With a fierce leap, he rocketed into the sky, intent on dealing with Sasuke by himself.
"Fujitora! Ryokugyu! Move in!"
On the execution platform, Sengoku could no longer remain passive.
With an uncharacteristic loss of composure, he ordered the two Admiral candidates to enter the battle.
"Sigh..." Fujitora hesitated, but Ryokugyu merely stretched lazily before leaping down to join the fight.
Fujitora shook his head and started walking forward.
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku turned to his longtime comrade, his expression grim.
"Garp! If you still consider yourself a Marine, don't do anything reckless!"
"Don't worry… I won't act rashly."
Garp sighed, but his gaze hardened as he looked at Ace, his voice filled with pain.
"Why did you have to become a pirate...?"
"Grandpa, I..." Ace's heart ached with guilt.
Then just when things were getting heated… a voice boomed across the battlefield.
"ACE!! I'M HERE TO SAVE YOU!!"
"L-Luffy?!"
"LUFFY!"
Both Ace and Garp snapped their heads upward in shock.
High above, a figure was rapidly approaching Marineford, his feet propelling him forward like rockets.
Even from this distance, both Ace and Garp could tell—it was undoubtedly Luffy.
"Dammit, Garp! It's your grandson again!"
Sengoku was utterly exasperated. The last he had heard, the Straw Hats were battling Big Mom in Totto Land.
How had they suddenly appeared here?!
"Luffy! What the hell are you doing here?!"
Ace shouted desperately toward the sky.
Too many people had already died because of him—he couldn't let Luffy put himself in danger as well.
"What are you talking about?! You're my big brother!!"
Luffy, still in Gear Fourth, rocketed downward, crashing into the ground with a deafening impact before charging toward the execution platform without a moment's hesitation.
"Ace's younger brother...? He's a monster in his own right."
Whitebeard watched Luffy's advance, a small smile tugging at his lips.
His Haki radiated outward—Luffy's strength had already surpassed Ace's.
Perhaps, under Whitebeard's protection, Ace had grown complacent.
If they managed to save Ace this time… Whitebeard resolved that he would let the boy carve out his own path.
With Luffy's arrival, the Whitebeard Pirates surged forward.
However, their momentum was soon checked.
One Admiral blocked Luffy.
The other used his Devil Fruit ability to drain the strength of countless pirates.
"Old man!! Get out of my way!! I need to save Ace!!"
Luffy launched a furious punch, his voice tinged with urgency.
"Forgive me, Straw-hat," Fujitora said solemnly, effortlessly parrying the attack. "As a Marine, I have my duties. I can't let you pass."
The blind Admiral remained entirely on the defensive, relying on his gravity manipulation and refined swordsmanship to keep Luffy entangled.
Luffy grew increasingly desperate.
But then—
The Thousand Sunny arrived.
From the ship, Zoro and Sanji immediately leaped into action.
"Leave this to us!"
Zoro stepped in to replace Luffy, while Sanji went straight for Kizaru.
"Go, Luffy! Hurry up and save your brother!!"
Zoro's eyes burned with determination.
He had faced Fujitora before and had struggled against him.
But this time… He wasn't backing down.
Two years ago, Sasuke and Ace had been the ones to hold off Fujitora and Kizaru.
Now, after two years of training, they would stand against them.
"Thanks, Zoro! Sanji!"
Luffy grinned, then resumed his mad dash toward the execution platform.
Marco, witnessing this, nodded at Sanji and Zoro in appreciation.
His body shook as brilliant blue flames engulfed him, rapidly healing the injuries he had sustained during his battle with Kizaru.
His arms transformed into wings, and with a mighty flap—
He took to the skies, soaring toward the execution platform alongside Luffy.