However, Taro was soon also shocked by Whitebeard's injuries.
Although the current Whitebeard was not like in the original story, with two fatal chest wounds inflicted by Akainu piercing through.
However, the combined combat power of Garp, Kizaru, and Aokiji was clearly much higher than Akainu's.
At this moment, blood continuously overflowed from the corner of Whitebeard's mouth, and several broken blades were still embedded in his body.
On his torso, the holes burned by Kizaru's laser beams were still gushing blood, and his right thigh had been pierced through by Aokiji's ice spear.
Yet, even like this, Whitebeard still stood tall and proud!
"Everyone, get on the ship!"
Understanding Whitebeard's intent, Marco shouted, ordering all the pirates to flee for their lives.
He himself, however, knelt at the cliff's edge, tears streaming down his face, watching Whitebeard off on his final journey.
The Marines fired from across the shore, watching helplessly as more and more pirates escaped.
Right at that moment, the dust and smoke stirred up by the collapse of the Marineford headquarters was finally blown away by the wind and rain, revealing a massive figure behind the main fortress.
"Hey, look, what's that?" a Marine exclaimed, pointing a finger.
"Ah, we've been discovered!" that figure said, covering its mouth.
"Zeha-ha-ha-ha, you've finally noticed, have you?" A sound of footsteps approached as Blackbeard led his cohorts out.
Seeing the mastermind who caused all this turmoil, Whitebeard clenched his fist, fury surging in his eyes.
"You bastards, how exactly did you get here?" Sengoku turned to face Blackbeard and demanded:
"And Shiliew, you bastard..."
Taro hadn't expected that after the battle at Impel Down, Blackbeard would still dare to come to Marineford. Enraged, he didn't want to listen to Sengoku's talk and directly interrupted,
"Fleet Admiral, is there any point in saying these things now?"
Then, he looked at the Blackbeard Pirates with disdain,
"Tch, Blackbeard, our life-or-death bet still hasn't claimed anyone's life. Now, let's continue!"
"Zeha-ha-ha-ha, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, your primary target right now isn't me, is it!"
Blackbeard grinned widely, ignoring Taro's provocation, and instead tried to persuade Sengoku,
"You have to defeat Whitebeard, pursue the other pirates, and also guard against the hidden Revolutionary Army..."
"Does the Marine have any extra combat power to spare? Zeha-ha-ha-ha!"
After speaking, Blackbeard let out another loud laugh.
Seeing the thoughtful look in Sengoku's eyes, Taro grew extremely anxious. "Fleet Admiral, don't pay him any mind. The garrison from Marijoa must already be on the way. We only need to..."
Sengoku raised a hand to stop Taro's words, whispering, "You know the distance from Marijoa to Marineford. Since there's still no news, I'm afraid..."
"Moreover, I also suspect that the Revolutionary Army is hiding in the shadows..."
Hearing this, Taro knew it was over. He said urgently, "Fleet Admiral, the Revolutionary Army doesn't have the strength for a full-scale war with the World Government right now. It's impossible for them to have people lurking..."
"How do you know?" Sengoku frowned.
"This..." Taro was immediately at a loss for words. He couldn't exactly say that the Revolutionary Army would declare war on the Celestial Dragons two years later.
Although the appearance of Monkey D. Dragon had made rescuing Ace much simpler, it also deeply affected Sengoku's judgment.
Originally, based on the previous situation, Taro believed that Blackbeard's plan, starting from Impel Down, hadn't gone smoothly due to his own interference.
One of his key combatants, Silvers Rayleigh, had lost an arm, and even "thunderstorm" had been obtained by Taro himself. It could be said he was already crippled.
In this situation, he shouldn't dare to appear at Marineford.
As for the execution site, because of Dragon's appearance, even though the Marine's strength remained, killing Ace again was almost impossible.
Being able to finish off Whitebeard in the end was already a decent outcome, one the Marine could barely accept.
But he never expected that the Blackbeard Pirates, with their strength greatly diminished, would still dare to appear.
This ambitious fellow, for his insane "dream," was truly willing to risk his life.
Thinking of this, Taro's heart sank.
"Teach, you bastard, you violated the one ironclad rule on the ship: killing a crewmate," Whitebeard raised his arm high and then smashed it down with all his might, shattering space.
"You alone are unworthy of being my son, Teach!"
The shockwave energy shot straight towards the Blackbeard Pirates, instantly shattering the platform where Blackbeard stood, sending rubble flying in all directions.
As the dust was blown away by the wind and rain, Whitebeard pointed his blade at Blackbeard. "I'll take your miserable life myself, to let Thatch rest in peace!"
"Zeha-ha-ha-ha," Blackbeard's body became enveloped in black mist.
"This is the world's strongest Devil Fruit I obtained by killing Thatch. Taste its power!"
"Black Hole Path!"
He slammed his palm onto the ground, and endless dark energy instantly spread out, covering a vast area.
Within the dark Domain, scattered rubble, swords, and blades all sank into the black mist.
"Although I once sincerely admired and worshipped you... you've grown old..."
Whitebeard swung his Quake Fist down at Blackbeard again, but Blackbeard didn't retreat; instead, he advanced, actively meeting the attack.
"Dark Water!"
His palm, swirling with a dark vortex, slapped towards Whitebeard's fist.
Instantly, it absorbed Whitebeard's Devil Fruit Ability, followed by an uppercut that landed squarely on Whitebeard's chin.
Taro moved his foot, about to step forward.
Sengoku stopped him. "What are you doing? Trying to aid a pirate?"
"Fleet Admiral, Blackbeard is far more dangerous and insane than Whitebeard. We can't..." Taro said urgently.
Sengoku said gravely, "A fight between two pirates. As a Marine, from what position do you intend to intervene?"
Taro stared at Blackbeard, gnashing his teeth in hatred, his fists clenched tightly.
Garp walked over at that moment, grabbing Taro's arm, signaling him not to act impulsively.
Helpless, Taro finally sighed and turned his head away.
Even after losing his Devil Fruit Ability, Whitebeard's physical combat skills and swordsmanship were still formidable. He spun his Murakumogiri a few times and delivered a diagonal slash, knocking Blackbeard to the ground.
Then, he pursued, stepping forward to pin Blackbeard's hand under his foot, his right hand gripping Blackbeard's throat, shockwave energy surging in his palm.
"Recklessness, arrogance—these are your weaknesses! Teach!"
Facing death, Blackbeard promptly acknowledged his 'father,' pleading in terror, "Stop, Pops, stop! I'm your son!"
"Are you really going to kill me?"
Hearing Blackbeard's utterly shameless words, Taro was even more enraged. He turned back, his eyes blood-red as he glared at him.
The shockwave energy in Whitebeard's hand suddenly erupted, instantly sending Blackbeard flying dozens of meters, where he collapsed on the ground.
In the mere time it took Blackbeard to roll over, Whitebeard had already walked up to him, his Quake Fist smashing down once more.
"If you're about to die, can't you just die quietly?"
Terrified, Blackbeard pulled out a pistol and fired at Whitebeard, simultaneously roaring at his companions:
"Finish him, all of you!"
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