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Chapter 81: Because You Are My Son
Whitebeard's naginata sent Marine Garp flying back, the massive shockwave kicking up a storm of ice shards.
"Gurarara!"
Whitebeard laughed wildly, his naginata sweeping out, forcing Marine Garp back several more steps.
He was just about to order an all-out charge when, suddenly, a familiar aura approached from behind. It was an aura filled with sadness, resolve... and killing intent.
Whitebeard's laughter died. His Observation Haki clearly captured the man's location: Squard. A captain from an allied crew, a son who had followed him into battle for many years. He was standing right behind him now, holding a longsword, its tip aimed at his back.
Whitebeard didn't turn. He just stood there, his naginata planted on the ground, his broad back exposed to Squard.
"Pops..."
Squard's voice was trembling, his eyes red and overflowing with tears. His mind was filled with Akainu's words.
"Ace is Roger's son."
"Whitebeard knew all along."
"He's using all of you as pawns."
"As sacrifices to save Ace."
Squard gritted his teeth, the longsword in his hand trembling. He didn't want to believe it. But those words made too much sense. Why did Whitebeard want to save Ace? Why make everyone take such a huge risk? Just because Ace was Roger's son?
But Roger... Roger had killed so many of his comrades. He hated Roger. He hated the Pirate King. And now, the person he was here to save... was Roger's son.
"Why!"
Squard roared, tears blurring his
vision.
"Why didn't you tell me!"
"Why did you lie to me!"
"Why are you using us as sacrifices!"
His heart-tearing voice echoed across the battlefield. Everyone froze.
Marco, who was busy fighting Kizaru, his face changed dramatically when he heard the roar.
"Squard?!"
Jozu also stopped moving, his gaze locked on the figure behind Whitebeard.
"No... It can't be..."
The Whitebeard Pirates were all petrified. They stared at Squard. At the man holding the longsword. At the blade tip aimed at Pops' back.
"Squard! What are you doing!"
Someone roared.
"Stop! Stop it!"
But they were too far. So far, they could only watch.
Squard closed his eyes, a tear rolling down.
"I'm sorry... Pops..."
His voice was choked.
"But I..."
"I have to avenge my comrades!"
As his voice fell, he snapped his eyes open, and thrust the longsword forward!
Puchi—!
The blade pierced Whitebeard's chest. Blood gushed from the wound.
Time stopped. The entire battlefield fell into a dead silence. Everyone stared, their faces filled with disbelief.
"P... Pops..."
Marco's voice trembled, his blue flames dimming.
"How could..."
Jozu was frozen, cracks spreading across his diamond skin. The Whitebeard Pirates were all stunned. They stared at the sword buried in their Pops' chest. They stared at the gushing blood. Their minds were blank.
And at that exact moment. On the other side.
Akainu's figure, like a meteor, his arm wrapped in magma, slammed into Garp's back!
"Die, traitor!"
"Dark Hound!"
Garp was locked in a struggle with Sengoku and couldn't spare the attention. He could only barely muster his Armament Haki to protect his back. But Akainu's blow... held all his power!
Puchi—!
The magma fist pierced Garp's back. Even with Haki's protection, the magma vaporized his flesh and burned through his body.
The green steam on Garp's body fluctuated wildly, and the lightning dimmed.
"Pfft—!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body trembling.
On the execution platform.
Ace saw everything.
He saw Whitebeard impaled by Squard.
He saw Garp pierced by Akainu's Dark Hound.
"No—!"
Ace let out a heart-tearing wail, his voice full of despair and pain.
"Pops!"
"Grandpa!"
He struggled desperately, trying to break the Seastone cuffs. But the cold shackles held him fast. His voice was choked, his eyes filled with self-blame and regret.
On the battlefield.
Whitebeard looked down at the sword in his chest. Blood dripped down the blade, blooming like flowers on the ice.
He did not fall.
He didn't even sway.
He just stood there, his naginata planted, his broad back straight.
After a moment, he spoke, his voice calm.
"What a foolish son..."
"Squard."
Squard trembled, his hand on the hilt shaking.
"Pops..."
His voice was full of pain.
"Why... why didn't you..."
"Why didn't you dodge..."
Whitebeard turned. His wrinkled old face held no anger, no blame. Only gentleness.
"Gurarara..."
He laughed softly, raising a hand and placing it on Squard's head.
"Because you are my son."
Squard's eyes went wide, his tears unstoppable.
"Pops..."
"I... I..."
His voice trembled, his eyes full of regret and despair.
"You were tricked."
Whitebeard's voice was still calm.
"I have never used you as pawns."
"You are all my sons."
"Ace, too."
He paused, his voice holding a trace of bitterness.
"So what if he's Roger's son?"
"He is my son. That's all that matters."
Squard's body shook. He looked up at Whitebeard's wrinkled face.
"But... but..."
"No 'buts'."
Whitebeard cut him off.
"In my life, I've made many mistakes."
"But there is one thing... I have never regretted."
He turned his head, looking at the distant execution platform.
At the boy chained there.
"And that... is making you all my sons."
Whitebeard's voice echoed across the battlefield.
Every member of the Whitebeard Pirates heard it.
They looked at that tall figure, at the man who still stood tall with a sword in his chest.
Their tears flowed.
"Pops..."
Marco's voice was shaking.
"POPS!"
Jozu roared, his diamond fists smashing wildly at Doflamingo.
"Gurarara!"
Whitebeard suddenly laughed wildly.
He gripped the hilt of the sword in his chest... and pulled it out.
Blood sprayed, but his laugh grew louder.
"My sons!"
He raised his naginata high, his voice shaking the heavens.
"I have only one order!"
"Save Ace!"
"And then..."
He paused, a fierce light in his eyes.
"All those bastards who dared to plot against my son..."
"Kill every last one of them!"
"SIR!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates roared as one.