Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, slashes crashed onto the battlefield, sending shockwaves rippling through the shattered remains of Marineford.
The entire island trembled.
"That man…" Sengoku's voice was low and heavy, his fists clenched. "He really intends to sink Marineford… with his own life."
Despite the relentless assaults from the Marines, Whitebeard stood his ground. One after another, elite soldiers lunged at him, only to be swatted away like flies by the overwhelming force of his attacks.
Buzz—
A blade imbued with the power of the Gura Gura no Mi and Haki sliced through the air, its shockwave tearing across the battlefield, heading straight for the execution platform.
Puff!
Carl, standing firm on the platform, swung Sakura Ten in a sweeping arc. A colossal black-gold Slash Wave erupted from his blade, colliding with Whitebeard's attack and obliterating it midair.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Whitebeard advanced, his movements slow but unyielding, each step shaking the very ground beneath him.
Swoosh!
A golden flash streaked across the battlefield.
Kizaru materialized in the air, light particles crackling around him. A blinding laser shot forward, piercing Whitebeard's already-wounded arm.
"Oh~" Kizaru's voice carried its usual mocking tone. "Have you really weakened to the point where you're taking direct hits from me?"
Boom!
Without hesitation, Whitebeard swung his bisento in a brutal backhand motion, striking Kizaru midair and sending him crashing away like a broken doll.
Boom!
"The Red Lotus Hound!"
A scorching, hellish figure emerged—Akainu, his entire body exuding pure, molten fury. A massive magma hound, fangs bared, lunged from his outstretched arm.
Whitebeard's grip tightened around his bisento. With a roar, he raised it high and brought it down with earth-shattering force.
Crack!
The very fabric of space seemed to fracture.
Akainu's magma form distorted, his body momentarily shattering apart under the shockwave before reforming a short distance away. Lava dripped from his wounds, mixing with the blood seeping down his face.
Boom!
Whitebeard leaped forward, his fist coated in an intense, blinding glow—Haki and the power of destruction fused as one.
Crack!
The punch slammed into Akainu's midsection.
"Pfft—!!"
Blood spewed from Akainu's mouth as his body was driven into the ground with devastating force. The very battlefield beneath them cracked and crumbled.
Carl, still seated on the execution platform, watched the battle unfold. His expression remained impassive, but the corners of his eyes twitched.
"That level of endurance… even now?"
This scene reminded him of another legendary figure.
Shiki.
Another remnant of the old era, one who had fought to his last breath, gambling everything to remove the rudder embedded in his skull.
"Whitebeard must die."
Sengoku's voice was resolute.
That was the purpose of this public execution.
"Dad…"
Ace's voice trembled.
Tears streamed down his face as he watched Whitebeard stand against the world alone.
"Leave me behind! Daddy! You're going to die!"
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard laughed, despite the blood spilling from his lips.
"You brat… who do you think I am?!"
He lifted his naginata, and with one mighty swing, a single slash sent dozens of Marines flying.
"I am… Whitebeard!!!"
Carl exhaled a slow puff of smoke, his red eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.
He's reaching his limit.
Though Whitebeard continued to battle Kizaru and Aokiji, his once-invincible strikes were slowing. His movements, though still powerful, lacked their previous dominance.
Atop the execution platform, two Marine guards approached, standing on either side of Ace.
"Prepare to execute."
Sengoku's voice was firm.
"Yes!"
"Wait."
Carl raised a hand.
Sengoku shot him a questioning look.
Carl turned his gaze toward Ace, his tone indifferent.
"Any last words?"
Before Roger died, his final words had ignited a new era of piracy.
This execution was different—the live broadcast had already been cut. No riots would be sparked from Ace's final words.
Sengoku frowned but remained silent.
Ace raised his head slowly.
His mind was blank.
What… should he say?
For a moment, he was lost, his heart weighed down by emotions too heavy to put into words.
"It doesn't matter," Carl muttered, releasing another breath of smoke. "Just say anything. You're about to die—don't you have any regrets? Any unfulfilled wishes?"
Ace blinked, staring down at Whitebeard, then at the battlefield, then at Luffy, unconscious in Jinbei's arms.
A small smile spread across his face.
He took a deep breath.
Then, he shouted with everything he had—
"Dad! Luffy! Everyone!"
Silence fell.
All eyes turned toward the execution platform.
Tears welled up in the corners of Ace's eyes as he cried out:
"I carry Roger's blood! Since the day I was born, no one ever wanted me alive! I thought… my very existence was a mistake!
"But when I met you all—those days were the happiest of my life!!"
"Luffy, I'm sorry. I won't be able to keep my promise. I won't be able to fight you for the title of Pirate King."
"Dad… everyone…"
"I'm sorry for causing you all so much trouble—"
His head dropped.
He slammed it against the execution platform three times.
Below, the Whitebeard Pirates trembled.
A wailing cry erupted from the crowd.
"Ace!! We were the ones who failed you!!"
Boom!
Whitebeard drove his naginata into the ground, taking a deep breath.
"Ace… listen to me."
His voice was softer than before.
"You… are my son. It doesn't matter if Roger's blood runs through your veins."
Ace's eyes widened.
Whitebeard's smile was unwavering.
"Ace… let me ask you something."
"I'm your father… am I still worthy?"
Ace stared at him.
Memories flashed before his eyes.
His time aboard the Moby Dick.
The warmth of the crew.
The family he found.
Tears blurred his vision as he slammed his forehead to the platform once more.
"Of course you are!!!"
"Gurararara…!!"
Whitebeard laughed.
"That's enough."
Hum—
The air around his naginata shimmered.
A final, earth-shattering slash tore toward the execution platform.
Clang!
Carl met the attack head-on. Sakura Ten clashed with Whitebeard's strike, the impact sending shockwaves through the platform.
Whitebeard coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. His body trembled, nearly collapsing.
Carl exhaled another puff of smoke.
"Bloodlines mean nothing."
He looked down at Ace.
"The Celestial Dragons claim to have the blood of gods. And yet… they are fools."
"A person's worth is determined by their own choices."
Carl turned away.
"Your last words are done."
Sengoku exhaled deeply.
"Execution."
The long blades rose.
Ace lifted his head one last time.
"Dad! Everyone! Thank you… for loving me!"
His smile was warm.
Just like Roger's, all those years ago.
Chi!!
The blades fell.
Blood stained the execution platform.
Silence.
Carl extinguished his cigar, lighting a new one.
He gazed up at the sky, expression unreadable.
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