Chapter 155: If you follow Sabo, you will go hungry for nine meals in three days!
Akainu's gaze remained fixed on the now-empty sea, his teeth audibly grinding. Finally, he squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to look any longer—one more glance might just be the death of him from pure rage!
But his violently heaving chest and increasingly purplish complexion betrayed the inferno blazing within him.
"Quick! Get the Admiral to the infirmary!" Onigumo urgently signaled the medics. "These are signs of a severe rage-induced cardiac episode!"
Four burly Marines clumsily lifted Akainu's rigid form. The entire time, his fists remained clenched, his chest pumping like a bellows, as if he might detonate at any moment!
"Make way! Everyone, make way!" Doberman cleared a path, his own face looking even grimmer than Akainu's. "Anyone who breathes a word of what happened here today will face a court-martial!"
Kizaru ambled along behind, stroking his chin and musing, "Oh my~ So passing out from anger isn't just an expression after all~"
Aokiji sighed: "Ah… it was just a fight that got a little out of hand… Is it really worth getting so worked up over?"
Akainu: ...!!!
And so,
the Marineford mass execution concluded in a manner no one could have predicted.
In this world-shaking battle, the most dazzling figure was undoubtedly the new Warlord—the "Flame Emperor," Ace!
....
The next day,
news that rocked the entire sea spread swiftly to every corner of the world!
The front page headline, printed in an extra-large, bold font, proclaimed:
[THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY CONCLUDES! "FLAME EMPEROR" ACE SOLO-KILLS BLACKBEARD, CRUSHES THE WHITEBEARD PIRATES! THE MARINES USHER IN A NEW ERA!]
The newspaper showcased the undisputed MVP of the execution:
Flame Emperor Ace!
1. **Solo-killed Blackbeard Teach:** Instantly vaporized the arch-criminal with mysterious pale flames, utterly eradicating the threat of the Rocks bloodline!
2. **Crushed the Whitebeard Pirates:** Single-handedly pursued the World's Strongest Man and his entire crew, forcing a Four Emperor's fleet into a hasty retreat!
3. **Severely Injured Whitebeard Himself:** Wounded Edward Newgate with his "Great Flame Emperor" attack, earning the man's personal endorsement as "The World's Strongest Flame Emperor"!
4. **Deterred the Two Emperors Alliance:** Stood firm against the combined threats of Big Mom and Kaido, demonstrating the formidable prestige of a Warlord!
5. **Preserved Marine Honor:** Stepped forward when the three Admirals were locked in struggle, single-handedly saving the Marines' face!
The accompanying illustration depicted Ace, wreathed in pale flames, standing proudly upon the melted execution platform. In the background, the Whitebeard Pirates' fleet was in disarrayly retreat, while the Big Mom Pirates watched from a distance, furious yet not daring to act.
It was a good thing Kaido had left early, otherwise Morgans would surely have found a way to sketch him into the scene as well!
....
Before the smoke had even cleared over Marineford,
the entire world was sent into a frenzy over the "Flame Emperor" Ace's astonishing feats. From the most remote taverns in the East Blue to the coating shops of Sabaody, from the cloud-paved streets of Skypiea to the coral forests of Fish-Man Island,
every corner was fiercely debating the same topic—
Next to the Marine base in Shells Town, East Blue,
the "Partys Bar" was packed with Marines just off their patrols. The salty sea breeze mingled with the scent of ale, and the visual Den Den Mushi on the wall was replaying the shocking battle from Marineford.
"I'm telling you! Ace is definitely going to kill Whitebeard!" a drunken Petty Officer Third Class slammed his hand on the wooden table, sending ale sloshing. "Didn't you read the paper? Those 'Great Flame Emperor' flames can even melt stone!"
He waved a crumpled copy of the "World Economic News," nearly poking his neighbor's eye out.
In a corner, a black-haired boy suddenly shot to his feet, slapping the newspaper with his arm. "That's nonsense! Ace would never—!"
Before he could finish, the tavern owner quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Are you trying to get us all killed?!" she hissed in warning. "Do you want the whole town to know you're connected to a pirate?"
The boy struggled as he was dragged toward the back kitchen, his hat falling to the floor and being trampled by a Marine. Through the crack in the door, his muffled protests could still be heard: "But, Makino! Ace clearly… mmmph mmmph!"
"Not another word!"
"..."
....
In a pirate den on an island in the New World, several notorious pirates with bounties over a hundred million Berries were gathered around a newspaper, arguing heatedly.
"I'll bet a billion Berries! Whitebeard faked it!" a Captain with a scar across his face jabbed at Ace's pose in the photo. "Look at that punching angle! It's clearly staged!"
"Bull!" the one-eyed navigator spat. "You think Fleet Admiral Sengoku is blind? This was a real fight! Didn't Akainu pass out from rage?"
Someone else immediately countered, "But Whitebeard was smiling when he retreated!"
"That was a grimace of pain! Didn't you see how he was clutching his chest?"
"But the Moby Dick's coating was completely untouched…"
"That just proves Lord Ace held back!"
...
Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Baltigo.
In the makeshift meeting room, the drafty wooden walls creaked in the sea breeze. The sole intact long table was covered with battle reports from Marineford. Candlelight flickered in a chipped ceramic bowl, illuminating Koala's thoroughly exasperated face.
"Sa! Bo!" She gritted her teeth, crushing the half-piece of black bread in her hand. "You spent our entire food budget for the month on 'Combat Power Boost Packs'!"
She slammed the empty coin purse onto the table. "Now everyone's saying that following Sabo means starving nine days out of ten!"
The angrier she got, the more she wanted to smack Sabo upside the head. "Aren't you afraid you'll starve to death?!"
Sabo seemed not to hear her, his eyes—visible beneath his golden bangs—locked on the news photo. His fingertips gently traced the pale flames dancing around Ace, and a soft chuckle escaped him:
"That idiot… still so reckless…" Complex emotions swirled in his gaze, but a fond curve touched his lips.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you, Sabo!" Koala planted herself right in front of him, but Sabo's attention remained wholly captured by the report on Ace.
He suddenly stood up, his cloak sweeping a pile of bounty posters from the corner. "I need to speed up my plans."
He'd long since spent all the money from his family back in the Goa Kingdom on microtransactions, probably leaving his adoptive brother with a mountain of debt. He was likely still celebrating his own disinheritance and departure.
The thought brought an unexpected surge of amusement to Sabo's heart.
"Chief Dragon!" Sabo pointed decisively at a map of the West Blue. "I'm going to intercept that Marine fleet escorting the Celestial Dragons' tribute! Ace has gotten so strong already. As his older brother, I can't afford to fall behind!"
Dragon silently surveyed their sparse surroundings: the peeling kerosene lamp with its two nearly burnt-out wicks intertwined, the spot on the roof that leaked whenever it rained.
The leader of the Revolutionary Army slowly removed his iconic wide-brimmed hat, revealing the weary wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
"Sabo… I'm sorry." His voice was hoarse, like rusty gears turning. "As your leader… I can't even provide the funds for my subordinate's microtransactions…"
His clenched fist trembled slightly, sending bitter ripples through the rainwater in his coffee cup.
The candle flame suddenly flared, then dimmed.
But Sabo just laughed and threw an arm around Dragon's shoulders. "Chief, what kind of nonsense are you talking?! Once I relieve that Celestial Dragon ship of its cargo, we'll renovate this entire headquarters!"
Koala, fuming, hurled the empty coin purse at him. "Worry about what we're having for dinner *tonight* first, you idiot!"
"Hahaha, I'll go catch some fish right now!"