Marineford, the Marine Headquarters, lay in ruins. The once-proud island had been reduced to rubble after the devastating battle. Corpses littered the ground, and rivers of blood flowed through the wreckage. The stench of death hung heavy in the air.
With the ceasefire agreement in place, both sides began their grim tasks. The Marines scrambled to rescue their wounded, while the Pirates reached out to their ships stranded offshore. The frozen sea had forced Pirate vessels to dock beyond Marineford Island, and now they were called to the military port for support. The withdrawal had begun.
By the bay, charred bodies floated on the water's surface, their burnt stench overwhelming. Thousands of corpses stretched as far as the eye could see, a horrifying testament to the carnage. This hellish scene sent chills down the spines of all who witnessed it. And it was all the work of one man—Carl D. Sephiroth.
Many Pirates quietly thanked their luck for escaping unscathed. Suddenly, a splash broke the silence. The Moby Dick, its white whale figurehead unmistakable, surfaced from the depths. The resin bubble covering the ship burst, revealing its intact hull.
The Moby Dick had stayed out of the battle, a contingency plan by the Whitebeard Pirates for emergency evacuation or special tactics. Now, with the war over, it surfaced to carry the survivors to safety.
Whitebeard, his chest burned through, leaned heavily on his massive cloud cutter. He ascended the gangway step by step, his body trembling faintly. Veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat dripped down his face.
The ceasefire had brought a moment of relief, but it also unleashed the injuries he'd been suppressing. Hidden wounds and chronic illnesses surged through his body, ravaging him from within. "Whitebeard!" Marco, following close behind, noticed his captain's distress and quickly moved to support him.
But Whitebeard silently pushed Marco's hand away. Clenching his jaw, he steadied himself and walked onto the Moby Dick with as much dignity as he could muster. He settled into his seat at the ship's center, his presence still commanding despite his frailty.
His gaze swept over Marco, Ace, Luffy, and the others before landing on Red-Haired Shanks. "Red Hair," Whitebeard said, his voice labored, "I owe you a debt this time—one that's not easy to repay." His eyes grew cloudy, unfocused. "We've known each other for so many years..."
"Enough of that!" Shanks interrupted with a wry smile. "If you feel bad about it, just give me some treasure. I'm a Pirate, after all. Treasure's the only thing that interests me."
Though Whitebeard hadn't finished, Shanks' Observation Haki had already foreseen his words. Whitebeard intended to entrust his islands and crew to him—a responsibility Shanks wasn't eager to take on. He cut him off before the request could be made.
"You damn brat…" Whitebeard muttered with a weak chuckle, his lips twitching into a faint smile. Finally, he spoke again.
"Since you want treasure, then let Marco give you half of the Whitebeard Pirates' stored treasure…" He paused, coughing violently. "But I'll warn you—our crew doesn't have much to spare."
Whitebeard's words ended with a violent cough. Blood spilled from his mouth, bright and crimson, staining his hand as he tried to cover it. "Whitebeard! Quick, someone treat Whitebeard! Marco!" Jozu shouted, his voice frantic as he turned to Marco. But Marco stood frozen, his expression dark and silent, offering no response.
"No need..." Whitebeard rasped, his voice strained. "I know my injuries best." He paused, coughing again, his body trembling with the effort. "My liver, lungs... even my heart are burned. Sengoku's strike shattered my organs. I'm only alive because I'm holding myself together with Haki. At this point, Marco's skills... they can't save me."
Jozu's protests died on his lips as Whitebeard raised a hand, silencing him with a weary smile. His body slumped slightly, the weight of his wounds dragging him down.
Ace's knees buckled. He collapsed onto the deck, tears streaming down his face. "I'm sorry!" he cried, his voice thick with grief. "Whitebeard, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't—"
"Enough!" Whitebeard interrupted, his voice sharp despite his weakening state. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he spoke. "Once you step onto my ship, you're my son. As your father, protecting you... isn't that my duty?"
His voice faltered, growing softer with each word. His eyes, once fierce and commanding, began to lose their focus, dulling as his life force ebbed away. Like a flickering candle in the wind, he teetered on the edge of death.
In his final moments, he murmured, as if asking himself, "My sons... As your father, I didn't disappoint you, did I?"
"Never!" came the chorus of voices from his crew. "You're the greatest father in the world!" "The best Whitebeard there ever was!"
A faint smile touched Whitebeard's lips. He closed his eyes slowly, his voice barely a whisper as he breathed his last words. "That's good..." His heart stopped. The last flicker of life vanished.
"Whitebeard!" The cry echoed across the ship, a collective wail of grief. The crew wept openly, their sorrow raw and uncontainable. Ace crumpled face-first onto the deck, his body shaking with sobs. Regret and anguish tore through him.
In the ruins of Marineford, Sengoku paused mid-conversation. His gaze drifted to the Moby Dick as it sailed away from the bay. "Whitebeard, my old rival... farewell," he murmured, adjusting the black-framed glasses on his nose. His tone carried a strange mix of melancholy and loss.
The decades-long conflict between them had finally ended. Though the Marines had failed to execute Ace, two of the Four Emperors—Kaido and Whitebeard—had fallen. Given the unity among the Emperors, this outcome was no small feat. The Marines could rightfully claim a major victory.
With that thought, Sengoku turned to the communication soldiers. "Spread the news of our triumph," he ordered. His motives, of course, had nothing to do with seeking leniency in any potential military court proceedings.
On the other side, after giving his sisters a warm farewell, Sephiroth opened a spatial doorway. Without hesitation, he stepped through, leaving Marineford behind with Hancock and Yamato at his side.