Sabaody Archipelago.
"What's going on?! Why was the broadcast cut off?!"
"Is it a machine malfunction?!"
"Did the Straw Hat kid manage to save Ace or not?!"
"What the hell is this?! Hurry up and check it!"
Just as the screen showed the Straw Hat kid climbing onto the execution platform, the live broadcast was suddenly cut off.
The moment the screen went black, the crowd gathered in the plaza erupted into furious curses, their resentment boiling over.
"Tch, what the hell are the Marines playing at?!"
Atop a building's roof, Kid's face was filled with disdain alongside his anger. He scoffed, "Don't tell me they're so scared of Fire Fist Ace being rescued that they intentionally cut the broadcast so no one could see it. What a bunch of trash."
"Hey, Captain Kid."
At that moment, a voice called out from nearby.
Kid turned his head and saw several figures leaping over from the adjacent roof.
"Trafalgar Law. What, looking for another fight?" Kid asked coldly, his eyes naturally glinting with ferocity.
The two had already crossed paths on the island over the past few days and even fought a battle that ended in a draw. It could be said that they had come to know each other through blows.
Law stepped forward, resting his long sword against his shoulder, and curled his lips into a cold smirk. "A war that could shift the balance of the world... wouldn't you find it a pity if you couldn't witness its conclusion with your own eyes?"
"What are you getting at?"
"We're planning to head over to Marineford to take a look. How about it? Want to tag along?" Law asked in a frivolous tone.
Kid stared at him for a moment before scoffing disdainfully. "Hmph. Even if you hadn't brought it up, I was already planning to go."
"Heat, Wire, tell everyone to prepare to set sail."
With that, Kid turned and signaled his subordinates to leave, awkwardly leaving Law and his officers standing there.
"What's he acting so arrogant for?!"
"He didn't even beat the captain in our fight! This is pissing me off, that bastard!"
Bepo bared his sharp teeth and shouted angrily, throwing fierce punches and kicks at the air.
Law patted his head with a headache and sighed. "He's just as hard to deal with as the Straw Hat kid. If we want to take down Doffy, allying with them doesn't seem very reliable."
"What about them, Captain? Want to give them a try?" Bepo suddenly spoke up, raising a hand to point at a building across the plaza.
Law followed his gaze and saw several officers of the Demon Lion Pirates gathered together on a top-floor balcony.
"A Warlord of the Sea, huh..."
Law thought seriously for a moment before shaking his head. "Their strength is certainly sufficient, but the risk is equally high. Besides..."
*'Allying with the Straw Hat kid or Kid to take down a Warlord would be for fame and profit, but Allen is already a Warlord himself. He has absolutely no motive to go after Donquixote Doflamingo.'*
"Forget it, we'll talk about this later. Let's go."
Law turned and signaled Bepo and the others to leave.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side.
"What should we do? Are we heading to Marineford?" Nami's tone was laced with worry, a faint sense of unease lingering in her heart. "I wonder how Allen is doing right now."
"Don't worry, Nami-san. With that guy's strength, he'll definitely have no problem protecting himself," Sanji offered comfortingly, though a hint of worry also flickered deep in his eyes—especially after inadvertently catching a glimpse of a massive dark shadow flying through the sky just moments ago.
Judging by its direction, it seemed to be flying toward Marineford. He didn't know what it was, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this war was far from over and would see many more unexpected turns.
"However, the ship's coating is already finished." Sanji changed the subject, adding, "If you're that worried, let's go take a look. We have to head to Fish-Man Island anyway. Once the war ends, we can pick Allen up and dive straight down."
"What do the rest of you say? Shall we put it to a vote?" As he spoke, Sanji swept his gaze over the group.
Buchi was the first to jump out, grinning widely. "I want to go find the boss!"
"If we're going, we're going. I don't care either way," Killer said casually from the corner.
Robin smiled faintly and spoke up. "There's nothing to do here anyway. We might as well go take a look together."
"Yeah, I just don't know if we'll end up causing trouble for the captain," Gin chimed in.
Seeing that everyone had made their stance clear, Sanji made up his mind. He stood up and said, "In that case, let's set off. He should have a Transponder Snail on him, so let's let him know first."
"Right."
"Let's go!"
Soon, aside from their group, the other Supernovas still on the island also sprang into action, setting sail for Marine Headquarters with their own respective goals.
...
Meanwhile, at Marineford.
A massive crater had been blasted open beneath the execution platform, leaving the surrounding area in absolute ruins. Giant iron scaffolds had collapsed to the ground, the steel rebars and iron bars twisted and bent as if crushed by some overwhelming force.
A colossal meteorite had crashed into the center of the crater, glowing with fire and emitting scorching white smoke.
On the smoke-filled battlefield, the roar of artillery and the shouts of slaughter had all ceased. Everyone, wearing expressions of either solemnity or sheer shock, was looking up at the sky.
A massive flying ship, fashioned out of an entire island, hovered high in the air.
At the bow of the ship stood the Golden Lion, standing proudly with a piece of a steering wheel lodged in his head. His long golden hair whipped wildly behind him as he sneered, looking down at the Marineford plaza.
"Long time no see, Newgate. And Sengoku, Garp. Well? How do you like my little greeting gift?"
"Shi—ki!!"
Behind the execution platform, which had now been reduced to a meteorite crater, a ragged Sengoku gritted his teeth. Clenching his fists, he glared furiously up at the sky.
"Why... Why are you here?!"
Relying on Luffy and an Ace shackled in Seastone to destroy the execution platform was naturally impossible. Without a doubt, this was all the Golden Lion's doing.
With just a single meteorite the size of a warship, he had blasted away Sengoku, who had been preparing to strike Luffy.
In the plaza, everyone was caught off guard by Shiki's sudden arrival.
Whitebeard stared up at the Golden Lion with an unfriendly expression. Gripping Murakumogiri tightly, he spoke in a deep voice, "What are you doing here, Shiki? If you're here to get in my way, I can sink you to the bottom of the sea right now."
"Jihahahaha! Don't be so distant, Newgate! We were on the same ship for a time, after all. First it was Rocks, then Roger..."
The Golden Lion threw his head back and laughed wildly. Grinning broadly, he looked down and said, "Now your era is coming to an end as well. You can't possibly refuse an old friend coming to see you off on your final journey, can you?"
"Well, that was the original plan, anyway. But..."
As he spoke, the Golden Lion shifted his gaze to the crater, locking onto a weakened Ace who was being supported by Luffy. He mocked, "When I heard that kid was Roger's bloodline, my thoughts inevitably changed just a little bit."
Hearing this, Whitebeard seemed to guess Shiki's intentions. His expression remained composed, yet carried a trace of coldness.
"His name is Ace, and he is my son. It's been over twenty years. Your obsession with Roger runs too deep, Shiki."
"Ah, perhaps it does."
Shiki took the cigar from his mouth, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke. He turned his palm upward, his five fingers curling slightly.
Under everyone's horrified gazes, several small islands tore through the clouds behind the flying ship, revealing themselves with a deafening rumble!
Shiki's lips curled upward. Sneering as he looked down, he declared, "I just can't let it go, Newgate. The next era... it should be the Golden Lion's turn, shouldn't it?"