The Marine soldiers were horrified to discover that their exhaled white breath was actually condensing into static electricity in the air!
"Pops! Don't worry about me!"
Jozu suddenly struggled against the searing heat and shouted, "GO! Go save Ace! He's—"
"Shut up!"
Akainu's magma arm tightened abruptly, and Jozu's throat bones immediately emitted a terrifying cracking sound.
"Whitebeard, you'd better think carefully..."
The sea breeze suddenly stilled.
Everyone held their breath, watching the imposing figure slowly raise his Murakumogiri.
The tip of the blade trembled slightly—not from hesitation, but from suppressed rage pushed to its absolute limit.
Marco circled anxiously in the sky in his Phoenix Form; Vista had drawn his twin blades but dared not act rashly; even the usually arrogant Bullet stood grimly in place.
Everyone understood—this choice would alter the entire landscape of the New World.
A ferocious grin slowly spread across Akainu's lips.
Clearly, he had anticipated this exact scenario.
Whether it was Whitebeard's appearance or his hesitation, everything was within his calculations.
"Whitebeard," his voice rumbled like magma boiling in a volcano's crater. "This is a war between the Marines and the Eternal Divine Kingdom. If you and your men turn and leave now..."
The magma hand loosened slightly, just enough to let Jozu breathe.
"I give you my word as Admiral that Diamond Jozu will be returned unharmed to the Moby Dick."
The battlefield fell into an eerie silence, so profound that even the sound of waves crashing against the rocks was clearly audible.
Whitebeard's blade was deeply embedded in the rocky ground, his knuckles turning white from gripping the hilt too tightly.
His eyes, usually brimming with bold spirit, were now clouded.
This man, who had never flinched before the Marine Headquarters' million-strong army, was now trapped by the simplest of choices: Choose between his sons.
"Gurararara..." Whitebeard's laughter suddenly took on a metallic, rasping quality. "You little magma-brat, do you think..."
"Captain."
A cold, clear voice abruptly cut through the tense atmosphere.
The tip of Ron's White Moon scabbard lightly tapped the ground, sending a spray of tiny sparks flying.
He didn't even turn his head, merely using his thumb to slowly push an inch of the gleaming blade from its sheath.
"Captain, go save Ace."
CLICK.
The tsuba collided with the scabbard with a crisp ring.
"I'll handle Jozu here."
A simple statement, yet it caused Akainu's pupils to contract sharply.
He saw the look in Ron's eyes—it wasn't the gaze one gives an opponent, but the look a butcher gives livestock awaiting slaughter.
The wind pressure generated by just three inches of White Moon being drawn had already carved a foot-deep trench in the ground between them.
Whitebeard gave Ron a deep look, and Murakumogiri suddenly emitted a dragon-like hum.
When this Emperor of the Sea straightened his back once more, it was as if invisible shackles had been completely shattered.
"Jozu," his voice regained its former resonance. "Watch closely—how your Father brings his son home!"
Akainu's magma suddenly surged violently as he realized he had made a fatal mistake.
He had underestimated this ruler of the seas, and even more so, he had underestimated the weight behind that casually spoken promise from the man wielding the white blade.
When Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability began gathering a sphere of white light on his blade, Akainu finally understood—the course of this war was slipping from the Navy's control.
Whitebeard's gaze pierced through the battlefield like thunder, landing squarely on Jozu's blood-streaked face.
In that moment, the figure of this Emperor seemed to grow even taller.
His white coat flapped wildly in the fierce wind, his crescent-shaped mustache raised with pride.
THOOM!
He slammed the butt of his blade heavily into the ground, causing the entire island to tremble!
"JOZU!"
Whitebeard's roar exploded like thunder, stirring massive waves across the sea.
"LISTEN WELL—!"
His muscles tensed violently as the Tremor-Tremor white halo madly gathered around his fist, distorting and shattering the very space around it like glass.
His eyes burned with a fire that had never been extinguished over decades as he declared, word by word:
"I AM WHITEBEARD!!!"
The sound waves transformed into tangible shockwaves that swept across the battlefield, causing Navy soldiers' eardrums to bleed.
"NO ONE! ABSOLUTELY NO ONE—CAN USE MY FAMILY TO THREATEN ME!!!"
Jozu's diamond body suddenly began trembling violently.
This tough man, who hadn't shed a single tear despite enduring extreme torture, now wept like a child.
Scalding tears washed over the bloodstains on his face, sizzling into white steam as they met Akainu's magma fist.
"Waaah—!! Damn Pops!!" he cried out, his face contorted. "Who asked you to save me! Go save Ace instead, you stupid old man!!"
Akainu's magma suddenly surged violently again.
To his shock, he discovered that Diamond Jozu, who had been completely restrained moments before, was now erupting with Haki born of sheer will and beginning to struggle.
Even more terrifying—Whitebeard had already turned around, his blade descending with space-shattering force, unleashing a world-cleaving strike aimed directly at Akainu's position!
...
Meanwhile, in the New World - Onigashima.
Who's Who's distorted image flickered on the Den Den Mushi's projection screen.
"Just received live footage... that bastard Akainu... he hit Whitebeard with a massive eruption! The feed cut out... it looks like Whitebeard has been burned to ashes!"
His ears twitched nervously. "Now the entire Marines are cheering..."
CRACK.
Kaido's gourd shattered in his grip, fragments embedding deep into his palm unnoticed.
His massive frame swayed before erupting into a deafening roar.
"MARINES—!!!"
The sonic blast shook dust from Onigashima's ceiling, knocking several waiters unconscious.
Dragon scales involuntarily surfaced across Kaido's skin as his Conqueror's Haki pulverized all banquet tables and chairs into sawdust.
"I just captured Fire Fist Ace!"
He kicked the golden throne in fury.
"And Whitebeard fucking DIES?! Before I could fight him?!"
CRASH!
The throne smashed against the wall, piercing straight through Whitebeard's old bounty poster.
King cautiously approached. "Boss, about Ace... should we keep him?"
Kaido suddenly stilled.
This abnormal calm was more terrifying than his rage.
Slowly turning toward the dungeon, his grin stretched ear to ear, manic and cruel.
"Since Whitebeard's flag is useless now..." Kaido's dragon claws cracked audibly. "We'll use this brat's head... to consecrate my new Onigashima banner! I'll start the greatest war the world has ever seen myself!"
"Wait, Boss!"
Jack's eyes suddenly gleamed with an idea, stepping forward despite the pressure.
"Boss, the report might be premature. But even if Whitebeard is dead, Marco and the other commanders remain. Plus, Ron's other identity is the Whitebeard Pirates' Vice-Captain. Ace might still be useful..."