Chapter 217: Climax of the War
Not long after Rhodes and his companion returned to the plaza, they felt tremors beneath their feet.
RUMBLE...
Accompanied by thunderous booming, specially manufactured metal walls slowly rose from the circular harbor's edge.
Within moments, they completely surrounded the pirates trapped on the ice.
Witnessing this, the pirates couldn't help showing hints of despair. Originally, only their retreat had been severed, but as long as they could rescue Ace, they still had a chance to break through.
But now, even their path forward was blocked—Whitebeard's forces were completely trapped.
However, the harbor wasn't entirely sealed.
The Whitebeard Pirates' only hope lay in the metal wall that hadn't yet risen, held down by Little Oars Jr.'s massive body.
This created a crucial gap in the otherwise complete encirclement.
The Navy, having meticulously planned and waited so long for this opportunity, certainly wouldn't let it slip away.
After their forces had almost completely evacuated from the ice, Admiral Akainu—who hadn't had opportunity to display his power until now—finally unleashed his catastrophic strength.
"Ryusei Kazan!"
As Akainu launched massive quantities of magma into the sky, the pirates on the ice floes stared in horror at the darkening crimson heavens, uncertain of what approached.
The next moment, their expressions transformed dramatically, filled with gasps of alarm.
Above them, countless magma fists—carrying violent destructive force—rained down upon the harbor's frozen surface.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Under the descending magma barrage, large holes and cracks appeared across the harbor's ice, which then rapidly melted under the intense heat.
Even the seawater beneath was scalded to boiling—a terrifying spectacle.
This attack wasn't primarily designed for killing; its main purpose was depriving the pirates of their footing, forcing them to endure the Navy's firepower without stable ground.
Therefore, the Whitebeard Pirates suffered relatively few direct casualties.
However, what filled them with despair was witnessing the Moby Dick and other pirate ships ignited by Akainu's magma fists, bursting into flames.
The Whitebeard Pirates felt excruciating pain.
In this vast ocean, pirate ships are like homes to pirates, and now this home—which had sustained them for decades—was being destroyed.
Whitebeard couldn't help gazing at the Moby Dick.
"I'm sorry..."
Witnessing the Moby Dick burned and the charred pirate flag, Whitebeard took a deep breath, feeling the throbbing pain in the thigh wound Rhodes had inflicted.
He couldn't afford concern for anything else—he had to save his son.
At this moment, the Marines were preparing to execute Ace.
But just then—
"Ace... Ace..."
Little Oars Jr., who was severely injured and near death, suddenly experienced a moment of lucidity, raising his arm and reaching toward Ace.
"Oars..."
Ace's expression trembled as he observed the dying Oars—still thinking of saving him—and felt sharp pain pierce his heart.
"This is what happens when you lack strength."
Rhodes glanced at Ace atop the execution platform and murmured calmly.
Without sufficient power, you can only watch helplessly as family and loved ones die before your eyes.
And at this moment, Admirals Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru arrived at the critical location.
Kizaru's hand flashed with laser light as he prepared to blast Oars away, allowing the metal wall to rise and completely encircle the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Kaijo Ipponzeoi!"
But just then, a massive surge of seawater suddenly erupted from the harbor, engulfing the three Admirals.
Affected by the seawater, the laser light in Kizaru's hand vanished instantly.
Before everyone's eyes, Akainu and the others were visibly shaken, their faces streaked with seawater.
Quickly, however, the seawater receded, revealing two figures before them: Luffy and Sabo!
Unlike the original timeline, led by their older brother Sabo, Luffy and Sabo didn't launch a suicidal charge against the three Admirals. Instead, they bypassed them from both flanks and rushed toward the execution platform.
Unfortunately, their current strength proved too insufficient for this stage.
Whoosh...
Kizaru's figure flashed twice mid-air, and in an instant, he kicked both away, sending them crashing heavily to the ground some distance away.
"Ice Saber!"
Aokiji conjured an incredibly sharp ice blade, piercing Luffy's right arm and pinning it to the ground.
Just then, a sharp whistling sound emerged from the side.
"Hmm?!"
Aokiji's expression shifted slightly. He barely managed raising his ice saber to block, but it shattered instantly under the attack. He was sent flying backward like a cannonball—though thanks to elemental transformation beforehand, he avoided injury.
"The Dragon Slayer Swordsman?"
Aokiji slowly rose, coldly regarding the newcomer.
The newcomer was none other than Rhodes.
"Garp-san has shown me kindness, so you can't touch this kid," Rhodes stated casually, hands in his pockets. "Besides, you don't want to witness Vice Admiral Garp going berserk, do you?"
"Ara ara... this is troublesome."
Aokiji scratched his head, appearing genuinely conflicted.
He hadn't actually intended killing Luffy—otherwise that ice blade strike wouldn't have targeted his arm, but his heart.
Simultaneously, Marco—who'd flown into the plaza—rescued Sabo from Kizaru's assault.
However, Sengoku atop the execution platform suddenly issued the execution order.
Two executioners raised their blades high.
"Do it!"
With Sengoku's command, the blades fell toward Ace's neck.
Whitebeard prepared to unleash his Conqueror's Haki to stop it, but was suddenly affected by internal injuries aggravating his condition. His concentration faltered, and he couldn't release his Conqueror's Haki. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as the blades descended.
In that critical instant, two blade-shaped constructs formed from golden sand suddenly shot out from beneath the execution platform, tearing through the air and sending both executioners flying.
The one who'd intervened was none other than Crocodile, who'd somehow infiltrated the plaza.
"Hey, you crocodile bastard—you dumped me and now you're teaming up with Whitebeard? I'll be jealous..."
Hearing Doflamingo's ambiguous words from afar, Rhodes couldn't help but chuckle.
Rumors circulated that Crocodile had once been female—could they be true?
Hancock frowned, her beautiful eyes flashing with murderous intent. That man had actually attempted attacking Rhodes—unforgivable!
Whitebeard, witnessing this scene, breathed a sigh of relief, though he recognized the war had reached its most critical juncture.
"Jozu, deploy our trump card!"
Diamond Jozu received the order and immediately contacted his subordinates. Soon, a brand-new, large sailing vessel appeared on the sea.
This ship was arguably the most crucial asset for Whitebeard's forces to turn the battle's tide.
By this time, the harbor ice had almost completely melted under Akainu's assault, and without this vessel, Whitebeard and his crew would be unable to approach the plaza.
Carrying the externally powered sailing ship, Whitebeard's forces quickly arrived near Oars.
"Go! Rescue Ace!"
Oars used his last reserves of strength to drag the ship of hope onto the plaza.
The Whitebeard Pirates, after suffering devastating casualties, successfully reached the plaza.
This also signified that this world's greatest war had finally reached its absolute climax.
Live-streamed via Den Den Mushi, the people of Sabaody Archipelago—and indeed the entire world—watched with wide eyes and intense anticipation, eager to witness how events would unfold.
(End of Chapter)
[+500 Power Stones = +2 Extra Chapter]
[+10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Review!
P*atreon/Soulforger (30+ advanced chapters)
Buy me coffee - ko-fi*com/soulforger01