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On the Sabaody Archipelago, all eyes were glued to the massive screen projecting the chaotic scenes from Marineford.
From a bird's-eye view, the devastation was clear. The once-pristine symbol of Marine justice, the Marine Headquarters building, stood in ruins—half-destroyed and unrecognizable. Just one glance conveyed the ferocity of the battle that had unfolded.
"The Marine building... it's down!"
"The Whitebeard Pirates are retreating. Is the war finally ending?!"
"Whitebeard... he looks like he's about to die!"
Since Sengoku announced Ace's execution, the events of the Summit War had unfolded relentlessly, each shocking moment beamed to the crowd watching from afar. It was an avalanche of chaos, forcing itself into their minds.
"Whitebeard!"
A hoarse, hate-filled voice suddenly echoed from the wreckage.
Through the smoke and rubble, Akainu emerged, his body bloodied and battered, a testament to Whitebeard's devastating attack. Yet despite the fatal blow he had endured, Akainu pushed forward, a fiery resolve blazing in his eyes. He resembled a man crawling out of hell itself, unbroken and vengeful.
With a roar, Akainu's body ignited, transforming into molten lava. Fueled by his iron will to eradicate evil, he launched a relentless assault at Whitebeard, moving with terrifying speed.
Boom!
But before the attack could land, a massive shadow intervened.
Kaido, in his hybrid form, intercepted Akainu's strike with his monstrous kanabo. Wielding immense power, Kaido unleashed a devastating counterstrike, sending Akainu hurtling backward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground shook violently as the impact rippled across the battlefield.
In the next instant, the Big Mom legion, who had previously halted their offensive, stormed forward. They replaced the scattered remnants of Whitebeard's crew, creating a defensive perimeter around him. The air crackled with tension as they formed a protective barrier, keeping enemies at bay within a radius of several dozen meters.
Sengoku narrowed his eyes, shifting his focus to Alex, who stood at the center of it all. For now, he refrained from speaking, though unease flickered across his face.
Whitebeard was on the brink of death. No matter what Alex's intentions were, the end seemed inevitable. Yet Alex's next move left Sengoku's faint relief shattered.
Without warning, Alex tossed a speaker Den Den Mushi toward Whitebeard, his lips curling into a taunting smile.
"When a man's about to die," Alex said, his voice carrying an unsettling weight, "he always has something to say. Whitebeard, I'm sure you've got something worth sharing."
The world fell silent.
Not only the Marines and pirates battling at Marineford but also every spectator across the globe held their breath. Alex's words planted a singular question in everyone's mind:
What does he mean?
As if spurred by Alex's provocation, Whitebeard stirred. His massive frame, beaten and battered, lifted as though a fire had been reignited within him.
"Dad!"
"Whitebeard... is he still alive?!"
Ignoring the shouts and chaos from the square, Whitebeard cast a deep, penetrating glance at Alex, as if trying to see through the leader of this so-called "new era."
His gaze then shifted back to the Marines and, finally, to Blackbeard Teach, standing smugly at the rear of the crowd.
"Just as someone inherited Roger's will," Whitebeard began, his voice weak but unwavering, "so too will there be someone to inherit Ace's will."
His words, amplified through the speaker Den Den Mushi, echoed across Marineford, clear and resolute.
"Even if their bloodline is severed, their flame will never be extinguished. Although I care little for it, when that treasure is discovered..." He paused, his breath shallow, yet his presence unyielding. "The world will be turned upside down."
The onlookers froze, hanging on his every word.
"Someone will find it," Whitebeard declared, his voice growing sharper. "And that day will come."
The weight of those words struck Sengoku like a thunderbolt. His eyes widened as a dreaded memory resurfaced. He shouted in desperation:
"Stop him!!"
The Marines sprang into action, but their advance was blocked by the overwhelming might of the Big Mom legion and Kaido, who held the line with merciless efficiency.
At that moment, Whitebeard smiled—a wide, knowing grin. He suddenly lifted his head, summoning every last ounce of his remaining strength.
Sengoku's panic turned into raw fear as he screamed:
"Shut up, Whitebeard!!!"
But it was already too late.
Whitebeard's deafening voice thundered across Marineford, carried by the live broadcast to the farthest corners of the world. It rang out over the seas, a declaration impossible to ignore:
"ONE PIECE… IS REAL!!!"
With that final proclamation, the unyielding legend of Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, came to an end.
The battlefield fell silent. Pirates, Marines, and the millions watching across the globe were struck dumb.
And then, the world erupted.
The boiling excitement that followed spread like wildfire. The existence of One Piece, a secret long overshadowed by doubt, was now undeniable. The words of Whitebeard, a man who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Gold Roger, carried a weight no one could dismiss.
Even the Four Emperors had refrained from openly speaking about the legendary treasure. Under the World Government's relentless conscription and control, the era of pirates had begun to wane.
But now, Whitebeard's final words reignited the flames of the Great Pirate Era.
Sengoku, trembling with rage, clenched his fists and roared:
"Alex, you bastard! This was your plan all along, wasn't it?!"
The Fleet Admiral's fury surged. This was the second time his plans had been shattered in such a spectacular way—first by Roger, and now by Alex.
Alex smirked, his calm demeanor cutting through the chaos. "You tell me."
Effortlessly, he descended from his vantage point in the sky, landing smoothly beside Whitebeard's lifeless body. His presence immediately drew the attention of every pirate, Marine, and spectator alike.
"The Flying Admiral has moved in!"
"What's he planning to do to Dad?!"
A mix of dread and anticipation gripped the crowd as all eyes fixed on Alex.
Amid the tension, Alex called out a name:
"Yoruichi."
"Yes, my lord general!"
The Soul of the King's Blade, sheathed at his side, responded with eerie clarity. A dark, ominous aura began to flow from the blade as it emerged, hovering in the air.
Alex grasped the hilt of Yoruichi with his right hand, and an unnatural darkness enveloped him. It spread outward, thick and suffocating, as though it were alive, pulsating with raw power.
Under the bright sun, the darkness radiating from Alex and his sword was all the more menacing—a stark contrast to the light of day.
From afar, Blackbeard Teach, who had been watching intently, felt his body tremble uncontrollably. His eyes widened in shock and unbridled excitement as he muttered, his voice barely a whisper:
"That... That's...!!!"