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Alex observed the unfolding chaos in silence.
The rhythm of the battlefield had been completely disrupted, yet fate seemed unyielding. Despite all the changes, the outcome remained the same.
Once, in another life, he had shed countless tears watching this moment. But now, he merely shook his head slightly, detached.
After all, this Summit War had been triggered by his own actions.
And while Ace's death was undeniably tragic, his focus lay elsewhere. The moment Whitebeard met his end—that was the true climax of this war.
"Ace..."
Whitebeard's sorrowful gaze fell on Ace's lifeless body cradled in Marco's arms.
For decades, Whitebeard had lived without fear of death. But now, faced with the sight of his fallen son, his heart felt unbearably heavy.
Ace's final words weighed on him, an ache that refused to fade.
His body, riddled with countless wounds, stood as a testament to his endurance. Even half his face, blasted away by Akainu's assault, couldn't topple the great figure. Where any ordinary man would have already succumbed, Whitebeard remained upright, his towering form unyielding.
The immense shockwaves emanating from him forced nearly all fighting on the battlefield to a halt.
Ace's death had sapped the Whitebeard Pirates of their will to fight. Even Kaido, locked in battle with Aokiji, had momentarily ceased his assault, watching the scene unfold in grim silence.
Whitebeard's rage-filled voice boomed across the battlefield:
"Marine!! Give me back my son!!!"
His furious gaze promised retribution, and his relentless shockwaves tore through Marineford, shattering the very earth beneath their feet.
"You've lost, Whitebeard!"
The sound of rushing figures pierced through the tension.
In an instant, Akainu and the other three Admirals—Kizaru, Aokiji, and Ryokugyu—converged on Whitebeard. Each of them radiated lethal intent.
Whitebeard stood like a beast cornered, his massive frame casting a long shadow. But even a beast as mighty as he would fall eventually.
Ice, lasers, and nature's wrath surged toward him in unison. The Admirals held nothing back, intent on ending the life of this legendary pirate.
From the sidelines, the Shichibukai, having ceased their own skirmishes, watched with interest. This moment was pivotal, the tipping point of the war.
"Daddy..."
Blackbeard, lurking in the chaos, gripped Edward Weevil by the shoulder, stopping him from charging forward.
Teach's greedy eyes locked onto Whitebeard, his ambitions clear.
"Let's take the Quake-Quake Fruit from him and bring its power back to the sea, along with the legend of the strongest man."
But before the Admirals' attacks could land, flames of blue phoenix fire, the unyielding sheen of diamond, and a barrage of sword strikes intercepted them.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves, Marines!"
Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the other Whitebeard Pirates' commanders had broken through the ranks of Marine Vice Admirals. Standing by Whitebeard's side, they formed a protective wall, their resolve unshaken.
Ryokugyu sneered at the defiance.
"You've already lost, Whitebeard Pirates," he declared. "Surrender now, and accept your capture with dignity."
"Are you kidding me?!" Marco roared, preparing to charge.
But Whitebeard raised a hand, his voice calm despite the turmoil.
"Marco."
The phoenix froze mid-step, turning to face his captain.
"As your captain, I give you one final task."
Marco's breath hitched as realization dawned. He stared into Whitebeard's steady gaze, his lip trembling. After a long pause, he bowed his head.
"Understood."
Whitebeard smiled faintly. "Marco… you don't blame me for failing you, do you?"
Marco clenched his fists, his voice heavy with emotion.
"How could I, Pops? Never."
Marco's voice trembled as he spoke, tears streaming from his eyes. He raised his head and locked his gaze on Whitebeard. His pupils shimmered with emotion as he declared:
"You are the greatest dad. It's been the greatest honor of my life to be your son!"
Whitebeard's face softened with a faint, prideful smile.
"That's enough... That's all I needed to hear."
Taking a deep breath, Whitebeard lifted his Murakunogiri. The weapon gleamed in the sunlight breaking through the clouds, and his booming voice roared across Marineford like a thunderclap:
"Whitebeard Pirates, retreat!!!"
Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Whitebeard dashed forward, charging toward the center of the square. His massive frame seemed to defy the wounds riddling his body as he surged ahead to face the Admirals head-on.
Once more, Whitebeard unleashed his fury, creating a horrifying spectacle: one man against four Admirals.
The intensity of his assault momentarily forced the Admirals to retreat, with even Kizaru and Ryokugyu hesitating under the weight of his resolve. Whitebeard's relentless attacks, fueled by the knowledge he was fighting his final battle, exuded a sense of determination that left all watching in awe.
Meanwhile, his retreat order resonated with his crew.
"Father! We don't want to leave you!"
"Pops, are you planning to die here?!"
The voices of countless pirates echoed through the battlefield. But Whitebeard's overwhelming shockwaves split the ground, creating wide fissures that separated the crew from their captain. Those few strong enough to cross the gap were stopped by their comrades, who understood Whitebeard's unspoken will.
Whitebeard's voice thundered again, commanding attention.
"I am a relic of the old era! The New World has no place for my ship!"
He slammed his fist into the air, vibrations tearing the atmosphere apart as shockwaves churned the surrounding sea into chaos.
"Go, my sons! Live on!"
BOOM!
The sheer force of his strike resonated across Marineford, silencing further protests from his crew.
Under Whitebeard's cover, the pirates began their retreat.
"No, Pops!"
"Go!" Marco shouted, his voice hoarse. "Don't waste Dad's sacrifice!"
Despite the retreat, the Marines were not about to let their enemies escape so easily. Aokiji, acting quickly, leapt into the air, his hands already freezing into massive ice sculptures.
"Ice Age!"
The Admiral aimed to freeze the turbulent sea, cutting off the pirates' escape. But before the freezing wave could take hold, Whitebeard acted.
With his Murakumogiri wreathed in a radiant white glow, he swung upward, unleashing an immense quake. The shockwave ripped through the air, blasting Aokiji into the ruins with an explosion of smoke and debris.
The force of the attack caused Whitebeard to stagger. His towering frame swayed unsteadily, and he planted his weapon firmly into the ground to steady himself. His breath came in shallow gasps, each one more labored than the last.
Everyone watching knew: Whitebeard had reached his limit.
The sunlight finally pierced through the dark clouds above Marineford. Under its golden glow, Whitebeard's colossal form stood unmoving, a symbol of unyielding strength and defiance.
He was a titan, steadfast and resolute, even in his final moments.
"He's dying… Whitebeard."
Kizaru and Ryokugyu, now at a safe distance, hesitated to approach. Despite knowing their foe was at death's door, neither dared move closer. Even with just a single breath left, Whitebeard was a man who inspired fear.
From the shadows, Alex observed with a faint smile curling at his lips.
"This is it. The turning point."
He watched intently as the final moments of the Strongest Man in the World played out. The passing of Whitebeard would mark the beginning of a new, chaotic era.
The constraints brought by the World Government's conscription would soon be shattered, plunging the world into another age of turmoil.
More importantly, the legendary power of the Quake-Quake Fruit would once again resurface beneath the waves.