A powerful aura surged from Whitebeard's body as his Haki instantly intensified and exploded. Even his muscles seemed to regrow on his frame, as if time itself were flowing backward for him at this moment.
The eighth burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted today. As the World's Strongest Man, how could Whitebeard possibly lack the qualities of a king?
At this moment, Whitebeard chose to burn his remaining lifespan to carve out a path to the future for his sons.
Sengoku and Garp's expressions grew solemn. This Whitebeard was the version they were most familiar with—the invincible Emperor of the Sea, Edward Newgate, was only now revealing his full strength.
Sengoku's expression became serious: "Everyone, fall back."
With his back to his children, Whitebeard shouted his final order: "I shall bid you farewell here! You must all return safely to the New World!"
Then, facing his old rivals Sengoku and Garp, as well as the Marines' new generation—the Three Admirals and Hera—he raised his Murakumogiri.
"I am a remnant of the old era. There is no ship in the new era that can carry me. Let us settle things here."
Akainu was the first to lose his patience and charged forward: "Are you just going to tuck your tails and run as soon as you achieve your goal? What a bunch of cowards, the Whitebeard Pirates."
Before Ace's expression could even change, Whitebeard charged forward, his Haki-infused Murakumogiri blocking Akainu's advance: "Brat, did I say you could leave?"
In addition to being infused with Whitebeard's Haoshoku and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Murakumogiri intercepted Akainu. Although Akainu immediately used his elemental form, he was still struck until he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Hera wrapped Haoshoku around her 'saikū'. Her 'Imperial Descent: Absolute Void-Time Slash' collided with Whitebeard's Haki infusion, the force of their clash directly tearing the sky asunder.
Whitebeard, in his state of ultimate sublimation, truly lived up to his title as the World's Strongest Man. Even with Akainu's weakening effect, his strength was not something the current Hera could contend with.
After swinging this blade, Whitebeard's complexion looked significantly older. At this moment, he was using his very life to fuel his Haoshoku.
The vibrations of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit traveled through the clash and acted upon Hera's body, shaking her internal organs and causing her to cough up a large amount of blood.
In the next second, the City of Devouring Time wrapped around her flashed with light, and Hera's condition was restored: "Good, it seems a single hit won't kill me. In that case, it means there's a fight to be had."
Whitebeard looked at the recovered Hera with some surprise. His previous strike was intended to directly incapacitate both Hera and Akainu.
Although Akainu was the first to take damage, most of the strike's power was channeled into Hera through the clash with 'saikū'. He hadn't expected her to heal herself in an instant.
Whitebeard looked at the young girl before him: "So you are the sister Hera that Ace spoke of? Not bad at all. Do you want to become my daughter?"
Hera stuck out her tongue and made a face: "I am Grandpa Garp's child, I won't betray Grandpa Garp."
Whitebeard laughed: "Gurararara! Garp finally has a good granddaughter who joined the Marines."
Marco sensed that although Whitebeard's aura was powerful, it was clearly tinged with the scent of death. Forcing back his tears, he pulled Ace and Luffy: "Let's go. Don't let the last of Pops' life go to waste."
The Whitebeard Pirates' flagship, the 'Moby Dick', was still intact. The crew of the Whitebeard Pirates had long since regarded this ship, which carried countless memories, as their comrade.
Tears flowed from Ace's eyes as he was carried by Marco back onto the 'Moby Dick'.
Whitebeard turned sideways toward Ace and said with the last of his tenderness: "Ace, as a father... have I been adequate?"
Ace's voice was choked with sobs: "Of course, Pops! There is no father more responsible than you."
Next, Whitebeard looked at the six people in front of him. Akainu's heart had already been injured by the shock of Whitebeard's strike; that was the price he paid for underestimating Whitebeard.
Then, he settled into a stance: "Come, you Marines! Are you ready to face the final wrath of Whitebeard?"
The first to move wasn't Kizaru, the fastest, but Hera, who had been waiting for a big fight. She teleported directly behind Whitebeard, 'saikū' slashing toward his neck.
Simultaneously with her movement, a clone from her ability appeared where Hera had originally stood, firing special bullets from the dual pistols in its hands.
The clones floated in mid-air, pressing their hands downward to stabilize the space of Marineford, preventing the power of Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit from becoming too great and destroying the Marine headquarters.
Whitebeard swung Murakumogiri backward, protecting his neck and blocking 'saikū's' attack. His other hand gathered the white light of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, crushing all the bullets fired by the clones.
Hera did not have the clones use Haoshoku for suppression; that move was too threatening to some people, and she wanted to save a surprise for Imu during the final battle.
After her missed strike, Hera's figure vanished instantly. Although the other clones didn't use Haoshoku, the buffs from the City of Devouring Time and her ability stacked on Hera, making her like the ruler of this area.
Whitebeard felt his weapon grow much heavier. In this space, the omnipresent pressure caused his movements to slow down.
But the Whitebeard who had abandoned tomorrow was not so easily dealt with. His frame trembled continuously, and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit caused his body to vibrate at high speeds, breaking through Hera's suppression.
Whitebeard then gathered his strength, even stabbing Murakumogiri directly into the ground. He crossed his arms, striking his signature pose for activating the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Aokiji's ice pillars rose from the ground, attempting to freeze Whitebeard. The soles of Kizaru's feet flashed with light as he tried to interrupt Whitebeard's charge with a light-speed kick.
On the other side, Akainu completely transformed into his element, as if waiting for an opportunity.
Before Kizaru's kick could get close to Whitebeard, his leg was shattered into dissipating light by the vibrational force surrounding Whitebeard's body. A kick not combined with Armament Haki couldn't even get near Whitebeard.
Aokiji's ice was also shattered in mid-air. Seeing this, Hera's pupils vibrated slightly. She couldn't let Whitebeard release this strike; the mere charging phase was already this terrifying. If they didn't find a way, the entire Marineford would be sunk by this blow.
The golden Buddha statue was dyed black by a massive amount of Armament Haki as its palm struck toward Whitebeard. Garp's fist was wrapped in black-and-red Haoshoku: 'Fist Bone: Impact'.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"