At this moment, Jozu found Marco again, his voice tight with urgency.
"Marco, how much longer do we have to wait? Everyone's being scattered!"
Marco swept his gaze across the battlefield, anxiety flickering in his eyes. At the same time, he cursed Blackbeard for still not showing up. His voice dropped into a grim tone.
"We've already taken heavy losses—and so have the Marines. If we can't hold on any longer, they'll descend on us like starving wolves. Just endure a little more. The moment Blackbeard and his crew appear, that will be our window to retreat."
"Blackbeard…?" Confusion returned to Jozu's face.
Marco nodded but offered no explanation. Instead, he looked Jozu straight in the eye and asked quietly, "Do you trust me?"
Without hesitation, Jozu answered, "Of course."
Marco allowed himself a brief smile. "Then that's enough. War isn't something you can walk away from just because you want to. The idea that everyone could retreat safely to the New World without a single death was always a fantasy. Right now, the only thing we can do is kill as many Marines as possible. Only then will they hesitate to pursue us when we finally pull back."
With that, Marco didn't wait for a reply. He turned and charged back into the sea of Marines.
Meanwhile, on the plaza.
Whitebeard stood against Akainu and Sengoku, the three of them locked in a brutal struggle with no restraint left. By now, all three had suffered grave injuries—but Whitebeard's were the most horrifying. Half of his beard had been blown away by Akainu, and two more gaping wounds bled freely from his massive frame.
Akainu wasn't faring much better. Blood streamed down his face, clear evidence of the punishment he had taken from Whitebeard's blows. Of the three, Sengoku was in the best condition—blood trickled from his forehead and nose, but his injuries were far lighter than those of the other two.
"Cough… cough…"
Whitebeard spat out mouthfuls of blood, his body finally failing him as he sank to one knee.
Seeing this, Akainu gasped for breath and sneered coldly.
"So even a monster like you can't endure endless punishment forever, huh, Whitebeard?"
Whitebeard didn't answer. He simply raised his eyes and stared at Akainu.
That silent gaze made Akainu's heart tighten.
He knew better than anyone how terrifying Whitebeard was. This dying old man fought without fear, constantly trading wounds for wounds. Akainu might be ruthless, even reckless—but he knew when recklessness crossed into foolishness. If Whitebeard chose to make a final, suicidal exchange now, the price would be unbearable.
Sengoku wiped the blood from his brow and spoke in a cold, measured voice.
"Accept your fate, Whitebeard. You've already lost. Not just you—but your entire pirate crew. Even if we pay a heavy price today, the Whitebeard Pirates will be erased."
"Gurararara…"
Whitebeard's laughter echoed hoarsely across the ruined plaza.
"Accept my fate? I came to Marineford with no intention of leaving alive. Even in death, I'll drag this so-called fortress of justice down with me!"
As he spoke, tremor-tremor fruit power surged once more along Murakumogiri, the air itself beginning to crack apart again.
Seeing that Whitebeard still intended to fight to the bitter end, Sengoku's patience finally snapped. He shouted sharply at Akainu.
"Sakazuki, stop him! Don't let him destroy Marineford!"
Akainu nearly cursed out loud. From start to finish, he had been the one pressing the attack head-on, while Sengoku supported from the flanks. But rank was rank—orders were orders. And as a Marine, protecting Marineford was still his duty.
"Don't even think about destroying this fortress, Whitebeard!"
Akainu roared as his magma fist slammed into Murakumogiri once more. The clash sent violent shockwaves through the plaza. The ground beneath them split apart, cracks spiderwebbing outward as molten fragments and volcanic bombs rained down in every direction.
Sengoku seized the opening instantly. Seeing both Whitebeard and Akainu momentarily spent from the collision, he thrust his palm forward and bellowed,
"Buddha's Impact!"
Boom!
A tremendous shockwave tore through Whitebeard's body, ravaging his already shattered internal organs. Even so, Whitebeard refused to fall. Gritting his teeth, he swung his left fist at Sengoku and roared,
"Out of my way, Sengoku!"
Before the blow could land, Akainu intercepted it, his magma-coated fist colliding head-on with Whitebeard's quake-infused strike.
The three were forced back once more.
Whitebeard staggered, breathing like a bellows, his massive frame barely holding together. As he stared at Sengoku and Akainu, bitterness welled in his chest. Facing two Admiral-level monsters at once was simply too much. Even with his life on the line, even trading wounds without restraint—he had reached his limit.
Sengoku studied him in silence for a long moment, then spoke gravely.
"It seems… he's finally reached the end."
"Yes," Akainu replied, panting heavily, his eyes never leaving Whitebeard. Even now, he didn't dare relax. A cornered Whitebeard was at his most dangerous.
But then—
A sudden wave of malicious intent surged from behind Sengoku.
He spun around sharply.
Atop the shattered remains of the Justice Tower, figures had appeared unnoticed. Sengoku's eyes widened as recognition struck.
"It's you!"
"Zehahahahaha!"
Blackbeard stepped forward from the ruins, laughter echoing across the battlefield. His gaze dropped to the blood-soaked Whitebeard below, barely standing. His grin widened grotesquely.
"So you noticed us already? Zehahahaha! Long time no see, Pops! But look at you now—how utterly miserable. Is this really the Whitebeard I once admired?"
"Teach…"
Whitebeard's expression darkened instantly.
Far away, beyond Crescent Bay, the retreating Whitebeard Pirates and their allied crews clenched their teeth in fury as they spotted Blackbeard standing amid the ruins.
Doflamingo licked his lips, laughing softly.
"Fufufufufu… isn't that Blackbeard? Showing up at a moment like this—and just look at the freaks behind him."
The Marines stared at the figures beside Blackbeard in horror.
"That's 'Evil King' Avalo Pizarro!"
"And 'Crescent Moon Hunter' Catarina Devon!"
"Vasco Shot, the Heavy Drinker!"
"San Juan Wolf!"
"And… Shiliew of the Rain?!"
Their voices trembled.
"They're all infamous criminals from Impel Down's Level Six!"
Sengoku's face drained of color as realization struck him like a hammer. He roared,
"Shiliew! Why are you here?! Where is Magellan?! What happened at Impel Down?!"
Shiliew chuckled darkly, resting his blade on his shoulder.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku… doesn't my presence here answer that question? My apologies—but from now on, I'll be siding with these gentlemen."
The battlefield fell into a chilling silence.
The true disaster had finally arrived.
--------------------------------
AN: Check out my P@treon For +40 extra chapters.
Thank You For your Support!!
[email protected]/noviceauthor777