Blackbeard dragged Ace all the way to the foot of the execution platform without any obstruction.
Who was going to stop him?
The Marines? Impossible. He was delivering performance points straight to them.
The pirates? Most of them were Whitebeard's crew—and with Ace as a hostage, any interference meant Ace's neck would snap.
Reaching the platform, Blackbeard leapt up and barked orders at the Marines stationed there.
"Hey! Marines! Bring the Seastone cuffs! Put them back on Captain Fire Fist!"
The soldiers hesitated and looked toward Sengoku.
Sengoku's face was dark as iron, but he nodded.
What else could he do?
The entire world was watching via live broadcast.
Was he supposed to shout, "Blackbeard, go to hell"?
If he dared say that, the Marines might as well disband on the spot.
Soon, a heavy pair of Seastone shackles was brought up.
Blackbeard personally cuffed Ace, suppressing even his own discomfort from the stone.
As Ace's body went limp, Blackbeard's grin widened.
"Zehahahaha! Captain Ace, execution is your true destination!"
He shoved Ace down roughly, forcing him to kneel—
In almost the exact same spot as before.
Ace bit down hard, humiliation burning in his eyes.
Question: Why is he always filled with anger and defiance?
Answer: Because he's weak.
Weakness is the original sin.
Sengoku watched and knew he couldn't keep tangling with Rayleigh.
He had to guard Ace personally this time.
There would be no third rescue.
The would-be-retired Dark King was no longer the priority.
He suddenly unleashed a burst of force, pushing Rayleigh back.
"Silvers Rayleigh!"
"Leave Marineford immediately! Otherwise, your retirement ends today!"
Rayleigh stood with his sword, conflicted.
His gaze drifted toward Hancock, who was watching him anxiously from afar.
Then to Ace—back in despair once more.
"…Enough. Hancock's safe. As for Ace… I've done what I could."
He had fulfilled his duty to Roger.
With a sigh, he sheathed his blade.
Between a dead Ace and a living Shakky—
The choice was obvious.
He withdrew from the battlefield in swift bounds and vanished into the chaos.
As for Hancock—
With Leno around, she was likely safer than by his side.
Even if he hated to admit it.
Besides, if he stayed, the atmosphere might only grow more awkward.
Rayleigh's departure tightened the pressure on Whitebeard.
"Even Rayleigh's gone… Sengoku will guard the platform personally… then Ace—"
He wasn't blind.
Sengoku was clearly preparing to take command of the execution site.
Once Sengoku was stationed there—
Rescuing Ace would become near impossible.
Time was running out.
Whitebeard's arm veins bulged.
"Gurararara!!! Get out of my way!"
He was burning through his life force now.
Murakumogiri, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, clashed against Garp's iron fist.
Shockwaves exploded outward.
Even Leno, who despised Garp personally, had to admit—
The old man's combat instincts were sharp.
Or perhaps just sly.
Mid-exchange, Garp shifted from a punch to a vicious side kick—
Driving it hard into Whitebeard's kidney.
Whitebeard, refusing to retreat, absorbed the kick head-on.
Blood spilled from his lips—
But he used the recoil to launch himself forward toward the execution platform!
"Ace!! Hold on!!! Pops is coming!!!"
Whitebeard charged like a madman.
Marines in his path were blasted away like dust.
Only one thing filled his vision—
His son.
"Old man!!" Ace cried, tears streaming down his face.
He hated his weakness.
Hated that he had fallen again.
Everything had reset to zero.
Meanwhile—
Garp hadn't come out unscathed.
He wiped blood from his mouth and watched Whitebeard's retreating back.
His expression was complicated.
But he gritted his teeth and gave chase.
"Whitebeard! Don't even think about it!"
After shouting that—
He immediately coughed up another mouthful of blood.
His face turned "pale."
His body "wobbled."
Clutching his chest, he looked like a man barely standing.
"That should do it. I even spat blood. Looks convincing enough, right?"
Whitebeard's blow had hurt.
Not enough to incapacitate him—
But perfect for… slacking off.
He'd coughed blood.
Surely that proved he was fighting seriously?
Deep down—
He hoped Ace would escape.
Like a small boat battered by waves, he steadied himself—
But didn't pursue further.
He'd made it look difficult enough.
No one could complain now.
And truthfully—
He was injured.
Meanwhile—
Sengoku was just about to step onto the execution platform—
When Whitebeard's roar thundered behind him.
"SENGOKU!! STAND STILL!!"
The oppressive force of Conqueror's Haki hit before the man himself.
Sengoku turned sharply—
Whitebeard was already dangerously close.
Murakumogiri glowed with a trembling white sphere—
Wrapped in crackling black-red lightning.
A strike infused with both Tremor power and Conqueror's coating.
Terrifying.
In battles at this level—
Observation-killing techniques were standard.
Otherwise, how could they even face someone like Shanks?
Relying solely on Haki senses wasn't enough.
Eyes mattered.
Sengoku's face changed drastically.
Block—or continue climbing.
If he chose the latter—
He might actually die here.
"Damn you, Whitebeard!"
He roared and transformed into his golden Buddha form.
"Buddha Shockwave!"
A massive golden palm, also wrapped in powerful Conqueror's Haki, met the descending blade.
BOOM—!!!
The collision shattered the ground.
The shockwave carved the earth down several feet.
Marines and pirates alike were hurled away.
Dust filled the air.
Sengoku blocked the attack.
But his advance toward the platform—
Was completely halted.
Whitebeard didn't give him a second to breathe.
"Again!"
Murakumogiri swung once more.
Pressed hard, Sengoku had no choice but to respond.
The golden Buddha's face darkened with rage.
Damn it!
Where was Garp?!
What was that old bastard doing?!
He wasn't coming.
Not at all.
Because—
Leno's plan had succeeded.
And now—
It was his turn to move.
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