Sengoku stared at the collapsing Justice Tower, his expression twisting with disbelief. "How could this be? Marineford is the fortress of justice. Whitebeard… how dare you…"
Whitebeard let out a deep, rumbling laugh as he watched the tower crumble into rubble. "Gurararara. When did you start saying such naive things, Sengoku? Has that Fleet Admiral seat softened your brain?"
He had come to Marineford prepared to die. Now that Ace had been rescued and the Whitebeard Pirates had suffered far fewer casualties than he feared, everything happening before him felt like a victory. The Marines, humiliated by Ace's rescue, would retaliate fiercely. If Whitebeard didn't stay behind, his sons would be cut down as they tried to retreat. But if he remained here—if he chose to die here—then his sons could live and return safely to the New World.
And as the man once hailed the strongest in the world, Whitebeard had no intention of dying quietly in a bed. Sengoku had provided him with a stage worthy of his final stand, and he intended to make the Marines pay dearly for daring to reach for his son's life.
"Pops…" Marco looked at the battlefield surrounding Whitebeard, his expression growing more serious. Facing the Marine encirclement alone, Whitebeard's fate was clear. Marco could only pray that Whitebeard would hold on a little longer—not just to buy them time, but perhaps long enough for the Red Hair Pirates to appear.
But unlike the original timeline, both Whitebeard and Ace were still alive. The appearance of Red Hair was no longer guaranteed, and even if they came, the Marines might refuse to stop the war.
Regardless, Marco had only one choice left: return Ace and the crew to the New World. That much, at least, could still be protected.
From the rear, Sengoku watched the Justice Tower collapse, the escape of Ace, and Akainu and Kizaru being held back by Whitebeard—along with the massive quake shaking Marineford itself. At this point, the war had completely slipped out of his control.
"Hey, Garp!" Sengoku shouted toward the execution platform.
Garp opened his eyes slightly, but the thought of Ace and Luffy made his expression twist with conflict. In the end, he shut his eyes again, refusing to rise.
Sengoku's face darkened. He had not relied on Garp from the beginning, but he never imagined the situation would deteriorate to this degree while Garp continued pretending to sleep.
'Useless,' he cursed inwardly.
He tore off his Justice cloak and tossed it aside. His original plan had been to work with Garp to defeat Whitebeard while leaving Ace to the Admirals. But with Garp refusing to act, Sengoku could no longer depend on him.
He stepped forward, his body expanding and transforming into a towering golden Buddha. "Whitebeard. I will not let you destroy Marineford any further."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Sengoku-sama…!"
The Marines, shaken by the quakes rippling under their feet, were reinvigorated by his appearance.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes slightly. "Finally decided to make your move, Sengoku?"
"All Marines, pursue the Whitebeard Pirates immediately!" Sengoku ordered with authority. "This man is beyond the reach of numbers. Anyone staying here would only be in the way!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines immediately scattered, leaving the vast plaza to Sengoku, Akainu, and Whitebeard.
Sengoku then commanded sharply, "Borsalino, deal with Fire Fist Ace. Whitebeard will be handled by Sakazuki and me."
Whitebeard drew a deep breath. Shockwaves rippled across Murakumogiri as he swung the blade downward. "I told you already. Your opponent is me."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Whitebeard!…"
Akainu's magma fist collided with Murakumogiri in an explosive clash, sending rumbling shockwaves across the plaza.
Taking advantage of the moment, Sengoku launched an attack, his golden palm surging with destructive force. "Shockwave!"
Whitebeard met it head-on, the air cracking under his punch. But faced with the simultaneous pressure of a Fleet Admiral and an Admiral, even he was pushed back, coughing blood as he steadied himself.
Sengoku exhaled slowly. "Whitebeard, I admit that in terms of strategy, you succeeded today. But the final victory still belongs to the Marines. No matter how you struggle, you cannot overcome our absolute advantage. I will personally end you—'the strongest man in the world.' Borsalino! Go after Ace at once!"
"Understood, Sengoku-san…" Kizaru said with that same infuriating, lazy smile before his body scattered into golden light, streaking toward Ace.
Whitebeard could only watch Kizaru's departure; stopping him was impossible now. Turning back to Sengoku and Akainu, he braced himself. He knew the overwhelming pressure of facing two Admiral-level forces at once.
Sengoku had been his rival since the days the man was still a Vice Admiral. He knew exactly how powerful Sengoku's Buddha form was. Alone, he feared neither Sengoku nor Akainu. But together, even his younger self would have struggled—not to mention his current, weakened body.
Still, he laughed. "Gurararara. Sengoku, you always were fond of ganging up on me. First Garp, now this magma brat."
"Spare me your nonsense," Sengoku snapped. "Ever since Roger's death, you've held the title of strongest in the world. To fall to the combined force of a Fleet Admiral and an Admiral—consider it a fitting end."
He raised his palm again. "Shockwave!"
Akainu followed immediately, molten fists erupting with fury. "Die! Great Eruption!"
Whitebeard steadied himself, shockwaves gathering around his arm. "Shatter!"
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