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"!!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates erupted into a collective shout of anguish and disbelief.
In the next moment, a fragile yet unmistakable wave of Conqueror's Haki emanated from the distance.
"ACE!!"
Luffy's panicked voice echoed across Marineford as he awakened just in time to witness Ace being struck through the chest by Akainu's magma fist.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Luffy unleashed a sudden burst of Conqueror's Haki. The sheer force of it stunned all the nearby Marines guarding the Straw Hats, leaving them incapacitated.
Unaware of the chaos he had caused, Luffy pushed through the debilitating effects of his seastone handcuffs with sheer willpower. Fueled by rage and desperation, he charged toward Ace in the square, his body trembling with effort.
But his path was soon obstructed by a towering black figure.
"It's no use now, Straw Hat Luffy."
The shadow belonged to Bartholomew Kuma. His expressionless gaze locked onto Luffy as he spoke in his cold, monotone voice.
"Fire Fist Ace is dead. This rescue mission has failed."
"Shut up! Ace isn't going to die!!"
Luffy roared, throwing a punch at Kuma with all the strength his seastone-restrained body could muster. However, despite his anger, the attack was weak and ineffective, barely registering against Kuma's immense frame.
Kuma remained silent, watching the desperate Luffy. Then, with a single, effortless move, he struck, sending Luffy flying out of Marineford.
Kuma turned his attention to the remaining members of the Straw Hat Pirates, who stood frozen in terror and disbelief.
At the same time, elsewhere on the battlefield, chaos reigned.
The white halo of destruction surrounding Whitebeard shattered. Garp, despite his incredible strength and experience, was overwhelmed by the sheer ferocity of the battle. He was flung violently across the battlefield, slamming into a building that collapsed under the impact.
Ignoring his injuries, Garp rose mechanically to his feet. His wide, trembling eyes were filled with disbelief and anguish as he turned toward Ace and Akainu.
Unbearable grief and fury burned within him. Garp's hands clenched tightly, and he took a step forward—but Sengoku was already there, intercepting him.
"Marine!!!"
Whitebeard's roar was deafening, as if the very world was collapsing under its weight.
In that instant, a terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him, sweeping across the battlefield like a storm. The air itself seemed to quake under the force. Although most Marines and pirates had already succumbed to Luffy's earlier burst of Haki, the sheer intensity of Whitebeard's fury was enough to send shockwaves through the battlefield.
This overwhelming display of power conveyed the depth of Whitebeard's rage.
The man known as the Strongest in the World had failed to save the son he cherished. His anger boiled over, and despite his injuries and exhaustion, Whitebeard surged forward with terrifying speed.
The sea surrounding Marineford churned violently, massive waves rising in response to his fury.
Whitebeard's sudden assault caught Akainu off guard. With a devastating quake-forged punch, Whitebeard struck Akainu square in the chest. The atmosphere shattered with the impact, and the force of the blow sent Akainu reeling, coughing up blood as though his lungs had been crushed.
Yet, despite the crushing blow, Akainu's resilience as a Marine Admiral was unyielding. Through the pain, he roared:
"Dark Hound!"
Akainu's left arm transformed into a mass of molten lava, and with blinding speed, he countered with a punch that struck Whitebeard's face, leaving a searing mark.
For any normal person, such an attack would have been fatal. But Whitebeard, a figure of near-mythical endurance, stood tall like an immovable mountain. His eyes burned with fury as he grabbed Akainu by the collar, lifting him effortlessly before hurling him skyward.
Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki flared once more, locking Akainu in place.
"Brush---"
Whitebeard swung his nagita, its blade crackling with the immense power of his quake-quake vibrations, slashing it toward Akainu.
"Crack... Crack..."
The force of the vibrations condensed in the air, resonating with the atmosphere.
A sharp, deafening sound echoed as the space in front of him fractured like fragile glass. Cracks, glowing faintly with light, spread outward in spiderweb patterns.
Above Marineford, the once serene white clouds and clear blue sky transformed into a shattered mosaic, as if the heavens themselves had been broken. The cracks continued to stretch, climbing further and further outward.
"Boom—BOOM—!"
On the ground, the tremors reached Marinford Square. The earth beneath the battlefield split apart, enormous cracks radiating outward. Marines screamed as they fell into the widening chasms, powerless against the fury of Whitebeard's attack.
The Marine Headquarters building shook violently, its foundations crumbling. Structures across Marineford collapsed one by one, reduced to rubble under the overwhelming force.
Akainu, standing at the epicenter of the assault, was hurled backward with devastating power, his body plunging into a gaping abyss torn open by the attack.
Whitebeard's unrelenting fury forced all combat to an abrupt halt.
"Daddy's angry!"
"Everyone, get back! Whitebeard's pissed!
The shockwaves rippled outward, reaching the Marine Headquarters' iconic building. The massive seagull emblem, the symbol of Marine justice, shattered under the strain.
"The Headquarters building is collapsing!!"
Marines stared in disbelief as the pillars cracked, unable to bear the load. The towering structure, a beacon of their strength, crumbled toward the rear amidst shouts of panic.
"Boom—BOOM!!!"
Amid the chaos, Sengoku stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock. Cold sweat poured down his face as he struggled to comprehend the sheer magnitude of Whitebeard's wrath.
The blow, fueled by unbridled rage, had torn Marineford asunder.
Meanwhile, Marco, drenched in sweat, seized the opportunity created by the temporary ceasefire. The Marines were too stunned to act, and no one dared approach Whitebeard in his current state. Taking flight, Marco raced toward the square, scooping up Ace's battered body.
But despite his phoenix flames, renowned across the seas for their incredible healing power, Marco could feel the cold truth in his arms. His flames, capable of regenerating injuries, could not restore lost vitality.
Marco's heart ached as he cradled Ace. Though Ace had only been with them for three years, Marco had always seen him as a younger brother.
Now, that younger brother lay limp, blood spilling from his mouth, his once fiery spirit fading.
Tears streamed down Marco's face as he roared in anguish. "ACE!!!"
The sound of his grief swept through the battlefield. Even the other pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates felt their hearts sink, their fighting spirit momentarily dulled.
"Sorry… Marco… Father…"
Ace's voice was faint, his breathing shallow as blood trickled from his lips. His eyelids grew heavier, and his body weaker with every passing second.
"The only thing I regret... is leaving my younger brother behind... but it seems my journey ends here."
Whitebeard, standing in the distance, remained silent, his imposing figure still as a statue. Yet tears flowed freely from his eyes, betraying his sorrow.
Ace lifted his gaze weakly, looking toward the faces of those who had fought so hard for him.
"Father… everyone… thank you. For loving me… someone who carries the blood of a demon... someone who acted so recklessly… thank you."
Tears streamed down Ace's cheeks as he forced out his final words, a soft smile of relief gracing his lips.
With his last breath, the flame of Fire Fist Ace was extinguished.
Far away, Luffy, still flying through the air after Kuma's strike, felt his heart wrench as a sharp sense of loss overcame him. Inside his hat, the fragments of Ace's Vivre Card burned completely to ash, disappearing in an instant.