As the massive ice blocks were cleared away one after another, a vast opening finally formed in the frozen sea. From the depths below, the Moby Dick No. 5 burst forth from the seabed, cutting through the water as it emerged into the open.
When the Whitebeard Pirates saw their ship rise from beneath the sea, cheers erupted at once.
"This is incredible!"
"We still had a ship hidden below?"
"And it is a paddle steamer. We can really retreat now."
The Pirates surged forward in excitement and began boarding the Moby Dick No. 5 in large numbers.
But amid the celebration, Squard stood frozen in place. Watching everyone escape stirred deep emotion within him. Yet when he remembered how he had once raised his blade against Whitebeard, shame consumed him completely. Even if he survived and returned to the New World, how could he ever face Ace and the others again?
Slowly, Squard drew his sword and turned to his crew.
"I am sorry… I am asking you to die with me."
One by one, his subordinates stepped forward without hesitation.
"It is fine, Captain Squard."
"We chose this path together."
Seeing their unwavering determination, Squard's resolve was finally sealed. He raised his blade high and shouted with all his strength, "Marco, everyone, leave now. My Squard Pirates will cover your retreat. Squard Pirates, follow my command. Charge with me. Even if we die, we must stop the Marines and buy time for Marco and Ace to escape."
The Whitebeard Pirates and their affiliated crews, who had already begun boarding, were stunned when they saw Squard leading his men straight toward the Marine ranks.
"Is Squard really sacrificing himself to cover our retreat?"
"He must be trying to make up for what he did before."
"Damn it… what is that man thinking?"
Unlike the rest, Marco felt only approval in his heart. He was no longer the naive version of himself. There was no time for hesitation. He immediately shouted, "Everyone, do not stop. Keep boarding. Do you want Squard's sacrifice to be in vain? Get on the ship now."
Hearing Marco's order, the Pirates clenched their teeth and continued boarding without looking back.
"Oh my, so this was your plan, Marco."
A teasing voice suddenly echoed from behind him.
Marco barely had time to turn his head before a sharp pain tore through his waist. A beam of light pierced straight through his body. He cried out in pain, clutching his abdomen as he fell rapidly from the sky.
"Marco…"
Vista and the others shouted in alarm.
Marco crashed down onto the deck of the Moby Dick No. 5. Vista and the others rushed to his side at once.
"Are you alright?"
"I am fine," Marco replied. Blue flames surged over his wound, restoring his body in seconds.
He then turned his gaze toward Ace. Under Ivankov's hormone treatment, Ace's condition had barely stabilized. His right shoulder was wrapped tightly in bandages. Still, the injury was far too severe for him to rejoin the battle. If he fought again now, the wounds would surely reopen.
Marco slowly lifted his eyes toward the mast. Admiral Kizaru stood there calmly, his posture relaxed as ever.
"Kizaru," Marco said grimly, "you still enjoy ambushing people."
"How frightening," Kizaru replied in his usual lazy tone. "You really are troublesome, Marco. Anyone else would be at death's door after that attack, yet here you are, as if nothing happened. You truly are a monster."
Marco gave a faint smirk. "Tell me, Admiral Kizaru, why fight so hard? Ace has already lost an arm. Even if he carries the Pirate King's blood, his threat to the world and the Marines is already greatly reduced. Why chase him to the very end? There is an old saying, leave space today so paths may cross again tomorrow."
Kizaru sounded almost amused. "I am a Marine, you know. Do not make it sound like we are friends. It is only natural for the Marines to capture Pirates."
Marco clicked his tongue in irritation. "Just as I thought. It still comes down to a fight. I do not want to face an Admiral, but I have no choice. I will take Ace back to the New World alive, no matter what."
He turned to the others and spoke firmly, "I will hold off Kizaru. You protect the rest and continue boarding. Guard the ship at all costs. Once everyone is aboard, set sail immediately."
Vista and the others nodded without hesitation. "Do not worry. Leave it to us. You are the one who must be careful."
Luffy added loudly, "Pineapple Head, be careful. That guy is incredibly strong."
Marco grinned. "I do not expect to defeat him. I only need to stall him long enough for everyone to escape. That much, I can do."
His body flared with blue flames as he transformed into his hybrid Phoenix form and charged straight at Kizaru.
"Phoenix Seal."
His kick came down with ferocious force. Kizaru raised his Ama no Murakumo sword to block. The impact drove him back, away from the Moby Dick No. 5. He drifted through the air using Moonwalk, speaking lazily, "You truly are serious, Marco. To be honest, I never expected the Marines to be pushed this far."
High above, Marco and Kizaru clashed in a fierce aerial battle.
Below them, Jozu roared, "Faster. Move even faster."
Then, from the distant heart of Marineford, a thunderous voice echoed across the battlefield, shaking the very sea.
"THE ONE PIECE IS REAL."
Whitebeard's final declaration resounded through the heavens.
Just as in the original fate of history, the great pirate Whitebeard fell at Marineford.
From the sky, Marco could see farther than anyone else. His eyes found Whitebeard's distant form in the plaza. A deep ache gripped his heart as his vision blurred.
"Do not worry, old man," Marco whispered with steely resolve. "I will bring everyone back to the New World. And I will avenge you."
At that moment, a mechanical voice echoed in his ear.
"Ding, you have a new mission…"
Not far away, Kizaru paused mid-air and glanced toward the plaza. "So, Whitebeard has finally fallen. I did not expect him to leave such a will behind."
"Old man…"
Across the battlefield, the Whitebeard Pirates and their allies felt their hearts shatter. Though many of them could no longer see their captain from such a great distance, his final words reached them clearly.
They all understood that those words were his last.
And with that realization, their grief turned into burning resolve as the great era marched forward.