Whitebeard's naginata repelled Marine Garp, and a huge shockwave sent ice shards flying everywhere.
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard laughed wildly, sweeping his naginata horizontally, forcing Marine Garp back several steps.
He was about to order a full army charge when suddenly, a familiar aura came from behind him.
That aura carried sadness.
It carried determination.
And... murderous intent.
Whitebeard's laughter abruptly stopped.
His Observation Haki clearly detected the person's location.
Squard.
The Captain of a pirate crew under the Whitebeard Pirates, a son who had followed him in battle for many years.
He was standing behind him at this moment.
Holding a long sword in his hand.
The tip of the sword was aimed at his back.
Whitebeard did not turn around.
He just stood there, his naginata planted in the ground, his broad back exposed to Squard.
"Father..."
Squard's voice trembled, his eyes red, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
In his mind, Akainu's words echoed.
"Ace is Roger's son."
"Whitebeard knew that a long time ago."
"He treated all of you as pawns."
"As sacrifices to save Ace."
Squard gritted his teeth, the long sword 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 did he make everyone take such a huge risk?
Just because Ace was Roger's son?
But Roger... Roger killed too many of his comrades.
He hated Roger.
He hated that Pirate King.
And now, the person he was going 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 did you treat us as sacrifices!"
His voice was heart-wrenching, echoing across the entire battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Marco, who was entangled with Kizaru, heard this roar and his expression changed drastically.
"Squard?!"
Jozu also stopped his movements, his gaze fixed on the figure behind Whitebeard.
"No... it can't be..."
All the pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates were petrified.
They looked at Squard.
They looked at the man holding the long sword.
They looked at the tip of the sword aimed at their Father's back.
"Squard! What are you doing!"
Someone roared.
"Stop it! Stop it now!"
Someone desperately tried to rush over.
But the distance was too great.
So far that they could only watch helplessly.
Squard closed his eyes, tears falling.
"I'm sorry... Father..."
His voice choked.
"But I..."
"I must avenge my comrades!"
As his voice fell.
He suddenly opened his eyes, thrusting the long sword out fiercely!
Pfft—!
The long sword pierced through Whitebeard's chest.
Blood gushed from the wound.
Time stood still at this moment.
The entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone's eyes widened, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Fa... Father..."
Marco's voice trembled, and his cyan-blue flames dimmed a bit.
"How could this be..."
Jozu's body froze in place, fine cracks appearing on his diamond-like skin.
The pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates were all stunned.
They looked at the long sword embedded in their Father's chest.
They watched the constantly gushing blood.
Their minds were blank.
And just then.
On the other side.
Akainu's figure was like a meteor, burning magma enveloping his right arm, fiercely striking Garp's back!
"Die! Traitor!"
"Dark Hound!"
Garp was wrestling with Sengoku and had no time to be distracted.
He could only barely activate his Armament Haki to protect his back.
But Akainu's attack condensed all of his power!
Pfft—!
The magma fist pierced through Garp's back.
Even with the protection of Armament Haki, the scorching magma still evaporated flesh and blood, burning through his body.
The green steam around Garp fluctuated violently, and the lightning glow dimmed a bit.
"Pfft—!"
He spat out a large mouthful of blood, his body trembling violently.
On the execution platform.
Ace saw all of this.
He saw Whitebeard being pierced by Squard.
He saw Garp being pierced by Akainu's Dark Hound.
"No—!"
Ace let out a heart-wrenching wail, his voice full of despair and pain.
"Father!"
"Grandpa!"
He struggled desperately, trying to break free from the Sea Stone handcuffs.
But those cold shackles firmly locked his hands.
His voice choked, his eyes full of self-reproach and regret.
On the battlefield.
Whitebeard lowered his head, looking at the long sword piercing his chest.
Blood dripped down the blade, blooming into blood flowers on the ice.
He did not fall.
He didn't even sway his body.
He just stood there, his naginata still planted in the ground, his broad back still straight.
A moment later.
He slowly spoke, his voice unusually calm.
"What a foolish son..."
"Squard."
Squard trembled all over, his hand holding the hilt of the sword shaking.
"Father..."
His voice was full of pain.
"You... why did you..."
"Why didn't you dodge..."
Whitebeard turned around, his wrinkled old face showing no anger, no blame.
Only tenderness.
"Gurararara..."
He laughed deeply, raising his hand and placing it on Squard's head.
"Because you are my son."
Squard's eyes widened, tears no longer holding back.
"Father..."
"I... I..."
His voice trembled, his eyes filled with regret and despair.
Whitebeard slowly turned around.
He looked at Squard kneeling on the ground, his face showing no anger, no blame.
Only deep sorrow.
"What a foolish son..."
Whitebeard's voice was soft, yet it clearly spread throughout the entire battlefield.
"Squard."
He raised his hand and slowly placed it on Squard's head.
That hand was large and warm.
Just like it had caressed his head countless times before.
"Father..."
Squard's voice choked, tears flowing uncontrollably.
"You were deceived."
Whitebeard's voice remained calm.
"This old man never treated you as pawns."
"You are all this old man's sons."
"Ace is too."
He paused, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"So what if he's Roger's son?"
"He's this old man's son, that's enough."
Squard's body trembled violently.
He looked up at Whitebeard's wrinkled face.
"But... but..."
"There are no 'buts'."
Whitebeard interrupted him.
"This old man has made many mistakes in his life."
"But there's one thing this old man has never regretted."
He turned his head, looking at the execution platform in the distance.
Looking at the young man handcuffed there.
"That is taking you all as sons."
Whitebeard's voice echoed across the battlefield.
All members of the Whitebeard Pirates heard it.
They looked at that tall figure, at that figure who stood firm even with a sword in his chest.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Father..."
Marco's voice trembled.
"Father!"
Jozu roared, his diamond-hard fists furiously smashing Doflamingo.
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard suddenly burst into wild laughter.
He reached out and grabbed the hilt of the sword in his chest, pulling it out fiercely.
Blood gushed, but his laughter grew even louder.
"My sons!"
He raised his naginata high, his voice echoing through the heavens and earth.
"This old man has only one order!"
"Save Ace!"
"And then..."
He paused, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
"Those bastards who dared to scheme against this old man's sons..."
"Kill them all!"
"Yes!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates roared in unison.