Clang!
Shiryu's blade flashed, intercepting Vista's path with clinical precision.
Bang! Bang! Van Augur, Pizarro, and Vasco Shot opened fire simultaneously, unleashing a frantic barrage at Vista.
Boom! Boom!
The cannons were not idle either, raining shells down in a relentless bombardment. Meanwhile, Shiryu held his ground, trading strike for strike in a savage duel between master swordsmen.
"Wihahaha!" Amidst the clash between Vista and Shiryu, Burgess leaped into the air, driving a massive fist toward Vista from above.
Danger! Vista had no time to mount a defense. The punch slammed squarely into his face.
Boom!
Vista was sent hurtling back, a trickle of blood beginning to seep from his forehead.
"Pops..." Jozu gritted his teeth, preparing to step forward and assist.
Whitebeard hesitated for a fraction of a second. He knew the best choice for the crew right now was to retreat!
Vista scrambled back to his feet, lunging toward Blackbeard again, but a voice cut through the air and stopped him in his tracks.
"Vista!" Ace, standing alongside Sabo, shouted toward him. "Don't go!"
Following Whitebeard's previous command, Ace and Sabo had intended to reach Luffy's side and withdraw together. However, Blackbeard—who should have been easy to finish off—remained an agonizing obstacle. If they continued to linger, the entire crew would be in peril!
The only logical move was to retreat now.
"Pops!" Ace looked at Whitebeard and spoke with a booming voice. "Leave Teach to me! He was a member of my division; it's my responsibility to deal with him personally!"
"The task of executing Teach... leave it to me in the future!"
With that, Ace bowed deeply toward Whitebeard. "I'm asking you!"
"This..." The Marines watching the exchange were speechless. Even Sengoku merely observed the scene in silence, offering no commentary.
"Ace..." Garp watched both Ace and Sabo, his heart a chaotic knot of conflicting emotions.
"Zehahahahaha! Ace! You're the one who's going to finish me?" Blackbeard erupted in laughter.
Ace didn't deign to respond. He simply looked at Whitebeard quietly. Soon, the corner of Whitebeard's mouth curled upward.
"If that is your wish... I leave it to you."
"Hmph," Ace smirked. "Naturally!"
Blackbeard: "!!!"
Ignoring me?
Thud! Whitebeard swung Murakumogiri in a wide, sweeping arc. "My sons! We are returning to the New World!"
"OHHH!" The spirits of the Whitebeard Pirates soared, their collective roar splitting the very heavens.
Following Whitebeard's command, Ace and the old man completely disregarded Blackbeard's presence. With the order given, Vista and Jozu flanked Whitebeard as they began their charge toward the harbor. Anyone standing in their path was blown away like chaff.
The pirate ships began to weigh anchor. The Marines mobilized their warships, intending to sink the last remaining vessels and bury the pirates at the bottom of the sea.
Garp made no move to block Whitebeard's exit. Partially, he knew he couldn't stop them; but more than that... he simply didn't want to.
"Whitebeard..." Sengoku murmured, watching the retreating silhouettes of Whitebeard and Ace.
"You think escaping is that easy...?"
Boom!
Suddenly, a brilliant red light flared across the harbor, looking like a second sun rising from the waves.
"No! Our ship!!"
Another pirate vessel was instantly pulverized, erupting in a violent explosion.
"Damn it! We don't have enough ships left..."
"It's Kizaru!"
A golden light shimmered in the sky as Kizaru's physical form materialized. "Whitebeard Pirates... leaving so soon...?"
"Curse you!!"
Several allied captains slammed their fists against the decks. Their comrades might not make it back. Countless pirates were struggling in the water; for the Fruit users among them, falling in was a death sentence.
Of the dozens of pirate galleons that had arrived, only the Moby Dick and five other ships remained. Now, the largest of those five had been sunk. Even a ship as massive as the Moby Dick couldn't hold everyone. They were faced with a horrific choice: leave their brothers behind, or stay and die together.
"Get on board, quickly!" The remaining ships were becoming dangerously overcrowded. Even the Moby Dick was packed to the gills. Yet, many pirates remained in the water or on the shore.
Hummm—! Golden light flared again. Kizaru crossed his arms, his eyes indifferent. "Yasakani no Magatama..."
His target this time: the Moby Dick!
But then, a towering figure manifested behind the Admiral. Whitebeard brought his blade down in a savage arc, striking Kizaru mid-air.
KABOOM!! Vibration energy flooded out without restraint.
The air began to spider-web with fractures, the space itself twisting under the weight of the blow.
"Whitebeard..." Kizaru was sent flying. He barely steadied himself, looking at the Emperor with a grim expression.
Being struck twice by Whitebeard in such a short span had left Kizaru feeling utterly humiliated. More than that, he was alarmed—Whitebeard's strength seemed to be increasing, and most importantly, his speed! Before, Whitebeard had been a slow, massive target, which was why he had taken such damage. Now, his speed was terrifying.
Hummm! While Kizaru was lost in thought, Whitebeard raised a trembling fist once more.
Boom!
Seeing the shockwave coming, Kizaru dissolved into light and fled. Standing his ground was not his style; a strategic withdrawal was the only sensible path.
Whitebeard didn't chase him. Instead, he shifted his focus toward Akainu, who was currently overwhelming Marco and Kenshin. Meanwhile, Ace and Sabo had reached Luffy's side. The three of them were working in perfect, seamless synchronization; with two fire-users in the mix, they were tearing through the Marine ranks.
Vista and Jozu had regrouped with the other Commanders, forming a defensive line on the shore to cover the ships.
"Gomu Gomu no...!" Luffy's voice was unmistakable, cutting through the din of battle. Flanked by Ace and Sabo, he was carving a path toward the harbor.
Boom! Akainu blew back Marco and Kenshin with a heavy strike. His gaze immediately locked onto Luffy's group.
"You brats are absolutely not leaving here alive!"
Akainu surged toward them like a wave of molten rock.
"Not good!" Marco and Kenshin were gasping for breath, unable to stop him as he bypassed them.
"It's the Admiral!" Luffy's heart hammered against his ribs. He had faced that power before. With their stamina depleted, he had no confidence they could stop him.
"Akainu!" Ace and Sabo exchanged a glance, preparing to intercept.
"Trying to run? The Whitebeard Pirates truly are nothing but a pack of cowards!" Akainu's voice arrived before he did. "Whitebeard is nothing but a shadow of his reputation. The 'Strongest Man in the World'? What a joke..."
Ace skidded to a halt, his face darkening as he glared at the approaching Admiral. "I won't let you insult Pops!"
"Oh? Did I say something wrong?" Akainu stood before the three brothers, his face a mask of contempt. "Whitebeard was a loser who couldn't beat your father, Gold Roger. Now, decades later, he shamelessly clings to his title as a Warlord of the Sea. He was never capable of becoming the Pirate King!"
"Shut your mouth! This era belongs to Whitebeard!!" Ace roared, his flames erupting as he lunged forward.
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