As a strong individual, he can also sense it.
"Teach, oh..."
The unconscious Whitebeard, at this moment, lowered his gaze towards Teach, who sat on the ground with a face full of terror; his eyes glanced, then turned to the always confident and audacious Sage.
"And you, little brat..."
"What Roger is waiting for, it's least likely to be you guys. His will, someday in the future, will be inherited by someone. Just like Ace, there will be a day when someone takes on his will. The inheritance of will, the change of eras, human dreams... these will never change."
"Eventually, someone will find that enormous treasure, carrying the will and truth passed down for hundreds of years, to challenge you. Sengoku, oh, what you World Government fears... it will happen eventually, the massive battle that will engulf the entire world, it will surely come!"
With a smile, he laughed at Sengoku, "Someone will find it, that ultimate treasure, that..."
Why were humans born?
For survival?
For desire?
For dreams?
Or simply to have a full meal?
All of these, and all are possible...
He is not interested in the treasure; otherwise, when Roger wanted to tell him about Laugh Tale, he would have accepted it.
Some, like Roger, went to sea for the world's truth and treasure hunt.
Others, like him...
Grew up as an orphan in the chaos, went to sea as a pirate for survival. Yet, deep inside, he still desires the same thing he always wanted during his lone wander as an orphan... a family.
Marco, Ace, Jozu, Sachi, Vista... slowly gathered from one person to a large family. Countless people passed by him, gradually fulfilling his smile.
Through all these years, what he wanted has been entirely achieved.
His era should have ended long ago. Compared to dying pathetically of illness at sea, having a grand battle with the Navy... isn't that bad either.
"I'm very satisfied..."
Edward Newgate took a deep breath, towards the front and the world, letting out his final roar:
"One Piece! It truly exists!!!"
The resonant voice, like a mighty bell, mixed with the last released Supreme King Haki; both Navy and Pirate froze at this moment, uniformly turned heads towards the massive figure before the gap.
The cloak fell off, exposing Whitebeard's shiny back, contrasting strongly with the scars and wounds on his chest.
"Impressive!"
Sage's smile grew, "It's precisely because of people like you that the sea is interesting!"
"Heh-heh, indeed an impressive last words, but from now on, it's my era!"
Teach stood up, laughed wildly, then had his men unfurl a black cloth to cover Whitebeard.
"Enjoy the show, and... Sage! Let me show you my credentials!"
He cast an evil smile at everyone and dove into the black cloth.
"You know too?"
Shiryu paused briefly, looking towards Sage beside him.
He knows the two are partners, but didn't expect the involvement to run so deep.
This guy isn't just skilled at killing...
The initial heart stirring back then wasn't misplaced; Teach is good, but Sage is excellent too, both worthy of partnership and joining.
But Sage simply refused him.
Sage gave an indifferent smile and said to Moriah, "Moriah, move further away, don't linger here. Soon, you will witness my credentials."
"Well hey-hee-hee, then I'll watch closely, Sage, don't let me down!"
Otherwise, he'll soon head out to sea.
If the World Government decides to eliminate him, he won't just sit and await doom!
"Ha heh-heh!"
Just two minutes later, a familiar rough laugh echoed from within the black cloth, which naturally fell off, revealing Whitebeard's lifeless yet still upright body.
Apparently, not much had changed.
Standing below him, Teach hasn't transformed much either.
"Come, witness it!"
Teach's right hand burst into darkness, pressing forcefully upon the ground, "The first, is the ability of my Dark-Dark Fruit! Dark Acupoints!"
Black mist expanded like an abyss absorbing everything around, swallowing the Navy and structures confining them, then spewing them back out; the buildings turned to rubble, and the people lost consciousness and breath.
"And then..."
His left hand clenched into a fist, radiating a halo, yanked strongly in another direction, replicating Whitebeard's exact movement.
Thud!
Boom!!
The air split open at this moment; the tremor further collapsed some of the dilapidated Naval Headquarters buildings, and ground around cracked open, forming rising mounds.
"That is..."
Sengoku's pupils dramatically contracted, revealing disbelief.
"The ability to devour everything with darkness! The ability to destroy everything with tremors! With both these powers, I begin embracing my new era! Ha heh, ha heh-heh-heh!!"
Teach spread his arms wide, emitting his most arrogant laughter.
"You bastard!" Sengoku shouted in anger, "Teach! Is this your ultimate aim?!"
"That's right, Fleet Marshal Sengoku! To celebrate the arrival of my era, let's demolish Marineford!" Teach pointed at him, grinning with a snarl.
The Quake-Quake Fruit's power... still exists.
The Navy sank into despair.
They fought desperately, finally eliminating Whitebeard, only to have the threat remain.
Then... what should the Navy do?
Marineford is the bastion of justice! If it falls, then...
"Stop the nonsensical boasting, brat!"
Golden light glittered beneath the sky, a Golden Great Buddha with a colossal shockwave encompassed Teach and his comrades all in, and the intense impact instantly made their bodies burst into blood.
"Even if Marineford is destroyed, we will rebuild it, but justice will not fall! Stop speaking such pointless words, brat!"
The Golden Great Buddha glared, booming like a bell, lifting morale.
"Whether justice falls or not matters little to me, who's rightfully just isn't the point... what's important is, Marineford will certainly be destroyed!"
Buzz!!
With the sound rising behind, a massive torrent of darkness soared skyward, causing Marinesford's folks to tremble uncontrollably.
The sky, at this moment, dropped into dark clouds.
This feeling...
Sengoku subconsciously turned his head, and saw at the top of the citadel on the Naval Headquarters buildings, someone sitting there holding a cannonball.
Sage!
Supreme King!
Though not targeting anyone, this sheer might of Supreme King Haki could still be felt... terribly immense!
"Teach, you've had the opportunity to prove, the world has seen, face granted to you, so next, you won't hinder my plan, right?"
He tossed the cannonball upward, gazing down at the staggering Teach rising.
"Ha heh-heh-heh, truly overwhelming Haki, remarkably amazing, Sage! I know what you're after, we make such good partners, thinking alike. Hey, at this moment, you must invite me to join as well!" Teach laughed out loud.
"Then you stop Sengoku, as a favor of giving you the chance to showcase; don't let him pester me."
Sage stood up from the citadel's top, shouting towards the front: "Then, world! Keep your eyes on me, unite your gaze upon me!"
"I, the Calamity, Norton Sage! Upon advancing into the New World, extend an invitation to those ambitious yet dissatisfied!"
"Fishmen, dwarves, giants... no matter the race, no matter the background, as long as you respect me, bow to me, I will share my wealth and glory with you!"
"For this, I will prove my power and worth to you! Today... raze Marineford!!"