Next Bonus, 100!!
<><><><><><>
Whitebeard's slash cleaved past Sengoku's shoulder, continuing its trajectory to completely obliterate the remains of the execution platform. The shockwave tore through the Marine Headquarters building, slicing the massive structure cleanly in two.
A deep, bone-exposing gash opened on Sengoku's shoulder, blood spraying into the air.
Simultaneously, Sengoku's Buddha Palm slammed into Whitebeard's torso. Layer upon layer of concussive force washed over the Yonko, like crashing waves against a cliff.
The shockwaves pounded into Whitebeard relentlessly.
It was Sengoku's signature technique for bypassing Armament Haki defenses.
Whitebeard couldn't dodge.
The impact of the Buddha's palm sent him flying backward. He coughed up a heavy spray of blood, his face turning a sickly, pallid gray.
CLANG!
Whitebeard drove the haft of his naginata into the ground, using it to arrest his momentum and keep himself upright.
"Hellhound!"
Sakazuki materialized directly behind Whitebeard. He cared nothing for the 'honor of a duel.'
Sneak attacks? In the pursuit of absolute victory, there was no such thing as fighting dirty.
Strike while the enemy is weak. Take their life.
His fist, composed of churning, superheated magma, lunged toward Whitebeard's exposed back.
"POPS!!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates screamed in terror.
"FIRE FIST!"
From the settling dust, a torrent of searing flames erupted. A massive pillar of fire shot into the sky, condensing into a colossal, blazing fist that slammed directly into Sakazuki.
BOOM! BOOM!
The deafening explosion halted Sakazuki's advance. He was blasted out of the air, crashing into the ground and leaving a smoldering crater in his wake.
Sensing the attack, Whitebeard spun around, delivering a vicious backhand slash that sent Sakazuki tumbling further away.
"ACE!"
Luffy cheered, scrambling to his feet and running toward his brother.
"Cough... I'm fine!"
Ace emerged from the rubble. Though covered in bruises and scrapes, his body was wreathed in intensely burning, vibrant flames.
In that split second when Whitebeard had intercepted Sengoku, Luffy had managed to pick the lock. Ace was free!
The Seastone cuffs that had suppressed his power were finally gone.
The familiar, surging strength had returned.
And with it, he had intercepted Sakazuki's lethal strike.
"Luffy... thank you. I never thought I'd have to rely on my little brother to save my life!"
"But now... it's my turn to protect you!"
Ace, cloaked in a mantle of fire, scanned the blood-soaked battlefield. He turned toward Whitebeard and bowed deeply.
"Pops! Everyone! Thank you! For everything you've endured for my sake!"
Whitebeard smiled warmly, his booming laugh cutting through the tension. "Gurararara..."
The Whitebeard Pirates, Ivankov, and the escaped prisoners erupted in ecstatic cheers. Tears of joy streamed down the faces of hardened killers.
"ACE!"
"HE DID IT!"
"HE'S FREE!"
In that fleeting moment, thousands of voices chanted Ace's name in triumph.
"Dammit! How did this happen??"
"What the hell went wrong??"
The Marines panicked, their morale taking a severe hit.
Sengoku clutched his bleeding shoulder, his face a mask of absolute fury.
He shot a venomous glare at Garp, who was still conveniently playing dead on the ground below.
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku barked his next order. "All units! They must not be allowed to escape!"
"The Justice of the Marines and the honor of the World Government demand it! Do not let them leave this island alive!"
"SIR!"
The battle instantly reignited.
The rescue of Ace marked the successful completion of the Whitebeard Pirates' primary strategic objective.
Now, their sole focus was executing a flawless fighting retreat.
But for Sengoku and the Marines...
This was a catastrophic failure.
They had lost the initiative. They were now on the defensive.
The only way to salvage this disaster was to ensure the complete annihilation of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Sengoku, Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, and the elite Marine forces surged forward, converging on the retreating pirates.
"You're not getting past me!"
Jinbe intercepted Kuzan.
Vista and the other commanders engaged Borsalino.
But Sengoku and Sakazuki locked their sights squarely on Whitebeard.
Whitebeard glanced at them, his expression utterly calm. "Ace. Straw Hat. Get out of here. Now."
Ace froze. "Pops!"
"Listen to me, Ace. This is your captain's final order. Take your brother and retreat to the ships."
Whitebeard knew the grim reality. The Marines' core combat strength was largely intact. The true, desperate counterattack was only just beginning.
To ensure a successful retreat...
Someone had to hold the line.
And in this place, at this moment, who else but him could possibly shoulder that burden?
Ace opened his mouth to argue, to demand they fight together, but Luffy suddenly collapsed, his body going completely limp.
The effects of the Tension Hormone had worn off.
Realizing he couldn't be selfish, Ace grabbed Luffy and sprinted toward the harbor.
"You're not getting away!"
Sengoku lunged after them, but Whitebeard stepped into his path. With a resounding CLANG, the naginata met the Buddha's palm, forcing Sengoku back.
"Meteor Volcano!"
Sakazuki unleashed a barrage of magma fists, aiming directly for the fleeing brothers.
Suddenly.
A massive shadow fell over Sakazuki. A devastating, quake-infused punch slammed him out of the sky, burying him deep into the bedrock.
Whitebeard landed heavily. Surveying the chaotic battlefield and the desperate Marine counter-offensive, he took a slow, deliberate breath.
He drove the haft of his blade deep into the earth.
He dropped into a low stance, extending his arms outward, and violently pulled at the very fabric of space.
Inside his chest, his failing organs strained against the impossible exertion.
BOOM!
He unleashed a cataclysmic surge of power.
RUMBLE...
In an instant...
The entirety of Marineford began to violently shake and convulse. The earth tore open, massive jagged rocks thrusting upward from the ground. The plaza shattered into fragments, and the surrounding sea churned violently.
The remaining structures of the Headquarters building completely collapsed, reduced to rubble.
It was as if the island had been struck by a world-ending earthquake.
Everyone on the battlefield was thrown off balance, forced to cease fighting just to stay on their feet.
Having unleashed the devastating quake, Whitebeard stood panting heavily.
Recovering from the shock, the Whitebeard Pirates frantically resumed their retreat.
"Get to the ships! Hurry!"
"Everyone, fall back!"
"Listen up! The mission is a success! Ace is free! We are covering the retreat!"
Squard, consumed by his agonizing guilt, actively took command of the rearguard.
He led his crew, charging back toward the advancing Marines.
SWISH!
Whitebeard leaped into their path, blocking Squard and his men.
"Pops??"
"Get back to the ships!" Whitebeard commanded. "I know what you're trying to do, Squard. But a son dying before his father... that is the ultimate unfilial act."
He stopped them dead in their tracks.
Then, he turned and faced the remaining members of his crew. "Listen to me, all of you!"
"Whitebeard Pirates!"
"I am issuing my final order as your captain!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'FINAL'?? POPS, WAIT! DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!"
"WE PROMISED WE WERE ALL GOING BACK TO THE NEW WORLD TOGETHER!"
"POPS!!!"
"This is where we part ways!" Whitebeard roared, his voice thick with emotion.
"Every single one of you... you must survive! Return safely to the New World!"
"POPS!!!"
Whitebeard drew his fist back one last time.
"I am a relic of the old era! There is no ship that can carry me into the new!"
DOOOOOM!
He slammed his fist into the air.
The entire island of Marineford was violently split in two, a massive chasm separating the retreating pirates from the Marine forces.
Whitebeard turned his back on his family, facing the endless sea of Marines charging toward him. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a handful of pills, and swallowed them dry.
They were the experimental drugs Law had left him—a potent stimulant designed to temporarily force his failing organs back to peak operational capacity.
The effects were drastically more aggressive than the "Energy Steroids" of Fish-Man Island. The cost was equally severe: it actively incinerated his remaining lifespan.
But for Whitebeard... his remaining lifespan was no longer of any concern.
"POPS!!!"
Ace looked back, falling to his knees.
"Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns!"
"Dying here... is the perfect end to my journey!"
Whitebeard roared in response.
Jin's ruthless critique of the Yonko had lingered in his mind, echoing constantly.
For him...
Rather than clinging to a pathetic, fading existence hooked up to IV drips, it was far better to die in a blaze of glorious, unmitigated violence.
That was the true romance of a pirate's life!
The drugs dissolved in his stomach, releasing a tidal wave of artificial vitality. They burned through his flesh, his blood, and the very core of his being.
VMMMM...
His body seemed to visibly de-age, shedding the weight of decades. His aura expanded, growing vast and terrifying.
To Sengoku, the pressure radiating from the old man was suddenly, horrifyingly familiar.
Power!
Absolute, overwhelming power!
Whitebeard savored the sensation. It was as if his long-lost youth had returned for one final encore. It had been far too long since he felt this alive!
He opened his eyes, gripping his naginata with renewed vigor. With a single, devastating swing, he shattered the ground before him, sending hundreds of Marines flying into the air.
Those who landed were critically wounded or dead on impact.
"He doesn't have to worry about protecting Ace anymore," Sengoku realized, his expression grim.
"It seems he fully intends to sink Marineford to the bottom of the sea... and take himself down with it!"
Garp dusted himself off and slowly stood up from the rubble. "So this is where you choose to bid farewell to the old era? You certainly picked a hell of a stage, Newgate."
He walked forward, his massive fists clenching tightly.
As his Haki flared, his Marine coat billowed wildly behind him, snapping in the fierce wind.
When it came to fighting Ace or Luffy, Garp had faltered. He couldn't do it.
But if he was fighting Whitebeard?
Then he would strike with everything he had.
<><><><><><>
~ 70 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)