He looked around at the increasing number of marines closing in from all directions, densely packed, completely sealing off their escape routes.
Captains like Marco and Flower Sword were being held back by other powerful marines, unable to come to their aid.
They were now trapped in a desperate situation, isolated and without support.
Ace took a deep breath, enduring the intense pain in his body, and struggled to his feet. He shouted anxiously toward Luffy, who was locked in fierce combat:
"Luffy, stop fighting him! Run! We need to leave this place now!"
He knew that the right choice at this moment was to escape as quickly as possible and not continue the struggle.
If they kept fighting like this, not only would he die, but Luffy would also be dragged down and perish alongside him.
He couldn't burden his brother any longer—absolutely not!
Noticing Ace's reaction, Akainu sneered:
"Finally come to your senses? Too bad, it's already too late.
Since you chose to step onto this battlefield and oppose the Navy, don't even think about leaving alive!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a golden streak of light suddenly flashed, appearing silently beside Luffy.
It was Kizaru.
Kizaru still wore his usual lazy smile, and his tone remained unhurried, but the usual carelessness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of seriousness.
Light radiated from his feet as he kicked out without hesitation, carrying terrifying force, and struck Luffy squarely in the back:
"Sorry about this, Straw Hat. Today, we can't just let Fire Fist Ace escape unscathed."
Given the current situation, Kizaru knew he could no longer remain on the sidelines or deliberately hold back.
If Ace were allowed to escape Marineford unharmed, or if the Whitebeard Pirates managed to withdraw completely, the Navy's war—mobilizing its full headquarters strength and countless strategic plans—would become a colossal joke.
The Navy's prestige would plummet, the World Government's credibility would suffer greatly, and they would even be mocked by the world.
More importantly, if the Navy's authority crumbled, the situation on the seas would spiral completely out of control.
Pirate forces would grow even more rampant, plundering and wreaking havoc everywhere, disrupting world order and plunging the seas into endless conflict.
By then, it wouldn't just be the soldiers and pirates on this battlefield who would die—countless innocent civilians, towns, and kingdoms would be swept up in the pirate wars, suffering endless calamities.
Officially, as a Navy Admiral, he had a duty to uphold world order, an obligation to prevent pirates from escaping, and to enforce the Navy's Justice.
Personally, he didn't want to see the seas descend into utter chaos or witness more innocent lives lost.
So, he had to act—restrain Luffy, block all escape routes, and bring this war to a definitive end.
Caught off guard, Luffy was struck hard by Kizaru's kick. His body flew backward uncontrollably through the air and crashed heavily into a section of ruined wall.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his breathing growing erratic.
Even though Uchiha Madara's enhancements were powerful, their effect was still based on his own foundation.
Having endured numerous battles earlier, he had long since exhausted his stamina. Even after achieving Gear Fifth, he was far from reaching his peak and perfect state.
At this moment, his energy was nearly depleted, making it difficult to maintain his current form.
As a result, his Gear Fifth showed a noticeable mutation—the white flame clouds dimmed slightly.
Kizaru flashed into position, landing steadily beside Luffy, firmly restraining him and preventing any chance for him to rise again to support Ace.
For Kizaru, restraining Luffy in this state was a simple task.
Luffy was tightly entangled by Kizaru, unable to break free.
The surrounding Marines closed in layer by layer, sealing off all escape routes.
Commanders like Marco and Flower Sword were held back, unable to come to the rescue.
In an instant, Ace was completely isolated, trapped in a hopeless situation with no possibility of escape.
Akainu slowly strode forward, step by step toward Ace. The magma around him continued to flow slowly, the intense heat growing fiercer with each step, scorching and cracking the ground beneath his feet.
His face showed no expression, only bone-chilling coldness and dense killing intent, as if he were looking at a dead man.
He stood towering over Ace, his shadow completely enveloping Ace's figure.
Ace instinctively took a step back, his eyes not filled with fear, but with regret and resentment.
He looked up at Akainu, at his ferocious face, and felt utterly powerless.
"There's nowhere left to run, Fire Fist Ace."
Akainu's voice was icy, carrying a tone of indifference. "Today, you shall fall here. Let your blood atone for the sins you have committed!"
Before the words had fully faded, Akainu raised his massive magma fist high, preparing to strike Fire Fist Ace.
He intended to utterly annihilate Fire Fist Ace, end this war, and uphold his Absolute Justice.
Ace slowly closed his eyes, his heart filled with regret.
He hated his own impulsiveness, his own weakness, his failure to protect Old Man's honor, his failure to protect Luffy, his failure to escape this battlefield alive.
He had let down Old Man, let down Luffy, let down all the comrades who had fought desperately to save him.
Just as Fire Fist Ace was about to meet his end, the entire battlefield inexplicably fell into an eerie silence.
A chill originating from the depths of the soul swept over Akainu from behind without warning.
This was not the pressure of ordinary Haki, but a majestic aura emanating from a king—the terrifying Conqueror's Haki of one who had ruled the seas for decades.
The Haki was violent and overwhelming, instantly enveloping Akainu entirely.
An invisible force seemed to freeze the space around him. Akainu's body stiffened abruptly, his mind trembling violently.
An unprecedented sense of crisis shot up his spine to the crown of his head, chilling him to the core and rendering him unable to move even an inch for a moment.
His raised fist hung frozen in mid-air, unable to descend any further.
His breathing grew rapid, fine beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. The ferocity and killing intent on his face were instantly replaced by fear.
Stiffly, he slowly turned his head to look behind him.
There, behind him, stood a towering figure that had appeared without notice.
He was tall and imposing, exuding a suffocating pressure.
This aura made it almost difficult for Akainu to breathe.
Half of Whitebeard's face was cast in shadow, his eyes now filled with overwhelming fury.
He stood there, and the clamor of the entire battlefield quieted somewhat. All the marines and pirates instinctively halted their actions, their gazes turning toward him with reverence.
His voice was low, filled with anger, and slowly echoed across the entire battlefield:
"What... do you think you're doing to my dear son?"
The air over Marineford froze completely in that moment.
Everyone knew that an even more thrilling battle was about to begin.
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