"Old Man!!!"
Seeing their Old Man holding the rear alone, the Whitebeard Pirates were filled with grief and fury.
"Old Man, we will not abandon you!"
Marco the Phoenix, First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, watched with bloodshot eyes as his captain was assaulted by five terrifying monsters that regenerated endlessly. Flames erupted around Marco as he spun through the air, forcing Kizaru back with sheer momentum.
"You are our backbone! If you stay behind, what meaning does it have for us to leave?!"
"Old Man!!!"
Jozu the Diamond had been frozen solid by Aokiji, yet even then he struggled forward with brute force, refusing to stop until several Marine Vice Admirals restrained him together.
Other Whitebeard Pirates who could still fight tried desperately to rush toward Whitebeard, but the damage inflicted by the Gorosei had drained them far too deeply. Their bodies obeyed no longer, even as their hearts screamed to move.
Still, they struggled.
"You damn brats!!!"
Whitebeard roared, swinging Murakumogiri and sending a massive warthog-shaped monster flying through the air.
"In this family, the most important thing has always been family! And you disobedient brats are my greatest treasure!!!"
"But, Old Man!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates roared back, weapons raised, attacking the remaining elite Marines with everything they had left.
"Don't you understand?!"
Tears streamed down their bloodstained faces as they stared at the man who had given unwanted souls a home upon the cold sea.
"Our most precious treasure is you!!!"
…
Whitebeard's massive body trembled.
He roared as Murakumogiri ignited with blood-red Haki, his laughter hoarse and shaking.
"Gurarararara… Heaven has been far too kind to me, giving me such foolish sons!!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Murakumogiri tore through the air, releasing crimson shockwaves that fractured space itself. The shattered air splintered apart like exploding snowflakes, detonating high above the battlefield.
Crack!!!!!
…
Whitebeard turned, gazing at the pirates who once laughed freely at his side, now battered, bleeding, and grim.
"Kill them! Save the Old Man!"
"Get lost, Marines!"
"Old Man, do not be afraid! We are coming!"
Their twisted, exhausted expressions looked unbearably precious to him.
What wonderful children.
Alas, I can no longer return.
Whitebeard closed his eyes, engraving every smile, every voice, deep into his heart.
"Gurararara!!"
He opened his eyes again, Haki blazing, laughter echoing as he faced the five monsters charging toward him, attempting to bypass him to pursue Luffy.
"You are the Gorosei, the Celestial Dragons, right? Then come. I will be your opponent!!!"
The skeletal centaur moved in an instant, becoming a streak of black.
A cold flash erupted as a merciless black blade struck Murakumogiri. The weapons did not collide fully, yet the clash of their Haki distorted the air with dazzling intensity.
"What arrogance from a lowly pirate."
Financial Military God Saint Nusjuro stared at Whitebeard with cold disdain, as though gazing at a larger insect.
"We are not here for you, Whitebeard."
"Hoo…"
Environment Military God Saint Mars roared, flames spilling from the heavens as he descended, encircling Whitebeard in crimson-black fire.
"A pirate like you does not even deserve our attention."
Boom!!!
Whitebeard answered with a quake-infused punch, blasting the enormous serpent-like creature from the sky. He planted Murakumogiri into the ground and spoke with final authority.
"This is my last Captain's order! Whitebeard Pirates, this is where we part ways!"
Boom!
Conqueror's Haki surged violently, coating Murakumogiri as it clashed against the overwhelming pressure of the five monsters.
"Return to the New World alive!"
Boom!!!
Another Haki-infused blow erupted, smashing the sand-creature ambushing from below.
"I am a relic of the old era. There is no ship in the new era that can carry me!"
Whitebeard turned, slashing the tusks from a charging beast behind him, his roar shaking the battlefield.
"Live! My sons! This is where we part!!!"
"No! Old Man! Wuwu…"
The Whitebeard Pirates collapsed to their knees, despair crushing them as they watched their father stand alone.
"Old Man!!!"
"Hurry and go!!!"
Murakumogiri vibrated violently in Whitebeard's hands as he intercepted all five monsters alone.
"Obey your Captain! Get out of here! These monsters cannot be killed!"
The plaza had become a graveyard. Ordinary Marines were nowhere to be seen, only mangled remains scattered in countless forms of death.
Even the Whitebeard Pirates had suffered heavy casualties during the clash of titans.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Hm?"
The ground trembled violently as a colossal body slammed down, blasting a massive crater into the plaza and launching Whitebeard skyward.
"Gurararara! Celestial Dragons? You are nothing but stubborn insects!"
He twisted midair, then dove downward headfirst.
In an instant, the five Gorosei charged together, attacking from all directions.
Boom!!!!
They had wasted enough time.
They would end him here.
Terrifying Haki surged through the air, crashing toward the lone descending figure.
"Old Man!!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates screamed through clenched teeth.
…
In the air.
"Haha…"
A familiar, long-forgotten laugh echoed softly.
"Hahahaha, Whitebeard. You have truly grown old. Is this really your peak?"
Whitebeard smiled faintly with closed eyes.
"Hmph. Roger, you dead ghost. You figured I would come see you, did you?"
The ghostly figure sat cross-legged in the air, grinning.
"I just came to watch you deal with those arrogant monsters."
"Even dead, you still love trouble."
Whitebeard's eyes snapped open, blood-red killing intent blazing.
"Guhahahahaha! Ace acknowledged me as a good father, Roger!"
"Ace…"
Roger glanced toward the distance, where Ace was, then sighed.
"I truly lost to you."
The fall continued.
"Being Pirate King was never my dream."
Whitebeard tightened his grip on Murakumogiri, Haoshoku Haki roaring around him.
"Family is everything."
"Family…"
The ghost echoed softly as he merged into Whitebeard's body.
"The children are watching! Protecting them is a father's duty!"
Whitebeard's body erupted in blood-red Haki coating, raging like a demon from the abyss.
"A father must never disappoint his children!"
Murakumogiri gathered every remaining ounce of his power.
The final slash descended, just like his last duel with Roger.
His strength surpassed even his prime.
Boom!
The sky burned crimson.
"Gurarararara!!!"
Whitebeard roared, eyes blazing.
"My children are watching! How could their Old Man fall to filthy insects like you?!"
Boom!!!!!!!
The sky split apart as Murakumogiri carved through the heavens.
"God Sunder!!!"
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