Sengoku's words instantly spread to every corner of the world through the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi.
"Your father is! The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"
The moment that man's name was spoken, the entire world shook.
In front of the outdoor screens on the Sabaody Archipelago, the previously clamoring crowd fell into a deathly silence. Countless people gaped in shock, completely oblivious to the food dropping from their hands.
On a certain island in the New World, the smiles of reveling pirates instantly froze. Wine glasses slipped from trembling hands and shattered on the ground.
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the pampered Celestial Dragons watched the scene through massive screens, twisted, sickly excitement creeping onto their faces.
Below the execution platform, disbelief washed over the faces of countless Marines.
The sheer impact of this news was simply too massive.
However, atop the execution platform, an overwhelming sense of unease surged in the heart of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
There were only two hours left until the execution.
Yet, the Whitebeard Pirates had still not appeared.
Furthermore, the sea seemed far too quiet right now.
Meanwhile, outside Impel Down, Yang Yi and his crew had silently sailed into the restricted waters surrounding the great prison.
Yet, no one had noticed them.
Standing at the bow against the wind, Yang Yi glanced at the distant prison that loomed like a steel behemoth and lightly snapped his fingers.
*Snap.*
Inside Impel Down, "Buggy the Clown" was still fuming over his recently interrupted sweet dream, while "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe remained seated cross-legged, deeply worried.
In the next second, a mysterious force instantly enveloped their bodies, and the two vanished into thin air.
When they regained consciousness, they had been transported from the prison to a ship's deck. The long-lost sea breeze brushed against their faces, carrying a hint of freedom.
"Hahaha! It's Boss Jinbe! And... that red nose!"
An energetic voice rang in their ears.
Buggy and Jinbe snapped their heads up, only to see a drastically transformed Luffy.
He was pure white all over, his hair floating upward like white flames. Right now, he was flashing an exaggerated, wide grin, laughing as he waved at the two of them.
"S-Straw Hat?!"
Buggy's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he pointed at Luffy's hair.
"Why did your hair turn white?! What the hell is wrong with you! Did you get hit by some kind of curse?!"
Although Jinbe didn't lose his composure like Buggy, a storm of shock raged in his heart.
He could clearly sense that the "Straw Hat" standing before him harbored a terrifying power within his body—one potent enough to make even his own heart palpitate.
What shocked him even more were the people standing beside Luffy.
Every single one of them possessed a formidable strength that far surpassed his own!
Just who were these people?!
Upon hearing that Luffy was heading to Marine Headquarters to save Ace, Jinbe immediately offered to go together.
"Mr. Ace has shown me great kindness. I am willing to lend a hand!"
On the other hand, the moment Buggy heard the words "Marine Headquarters," he was scared out of his wits.
*Are you kidding me?!*
*That place is a death trap!*
*Go there to save someone? How is that any different from suicide?!*
His eyes darted around, and he immediately turned to dive into a wooden barrel to escape. He would rather drift aimlessly in the Calm Belt than go to Marineford to die.
However, just as he took a single step, a calm voice leisurely echoed behind him.
"Are you not planning to realize your dream of becoming a 'Yonko'?"
Buggy froze in place, cold sweat instantly breaking out across his forehead.
*H-How does he know about my dream?!*
*No, wait! I don't want to be some Yonko! I just want treasure, and that's enough!*
However, Yang Yi's words had already taken root in his heart.
The great Lord Buggy's ambitions began to grow wildly, and in the end, he didn't leave.
...
In the bay of Marineford, massive amounts of bubbles suddenly erupted from the previously calm sea surface.
On the execution platform, Sengoku's pupils shrank drastically.
"They're here! To think they came from the bottom of the sea!"
The next moment, dozens of massive, coated ships burst forth from the ocean depths, sending water spraying into the sky!
And right in the center of the fleet, a colossal whale-shaped battleship, the *Moby Dick*, breached the surface, kicking up monstrous waves capable of overturning everything in their path!
At the bow stood an incredibly massive man. Despite having various medical IV tubes plugged into his body, he stood tall and proud, exuding an unparalleled, domineering aura.
It was the undisputed legend of this era, the strongest man in the world—"Whitebeard" Edward Newgate!
"Gurarararara! Sengoku, it's been a few years, but you still look exactly the same!"
Whitebeard's voice echoed through the clouds. He then looked toward the figure bound in chains on the execution platform, his tone filled with unshakable affection and power.
"Wait for me, Ace! Pops is here to take you home!"
"Whitebeard!"
Sengoku roared in response, a golden, Buddha-like radiance faintly appearing behind him.
"Today, Marineford will be the graveyard of the Whitebeard Pirates, and your life will come to an end right here!"
In the New World, on a certain unnamed island.
Kaido, who was chugging strong liquor, saw that familiar figure on the live broadcast.
A fanatical fighting spirit instantly ignited in his eyes.
"Worororororo! How can a grand festival like this go on without me, Kaido?!"
He abruptly stood up and transformed directly into a massive Azure Dragon that blotted out the sky. Smashing through the tavern, he flew toward Marineford at breakneck speed!
"Whitebeard! Marines! Let me in on the fun!"
...
The battlefield of Marineford.
"Marco the Phoenix," "Diamond Jozu," and the other commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates took the lead, charging at the Marine defense lines with tens of thousands of elite pirates.
The war erupted in an instant.
However, Whitebeard himself remained standing at the bow.
He grinned, clenched his fist coated in Armament Haki, and threw a vicious punch at the empty air in front of him!
*Crack—!*
Space shattered like a mirror struck by a heavy hammer!
A terrifying shockwave expanded wildly in all directions with him at the epicenter!
The entire island of Marineford began to tilt violently. The seawater on both sides was pulled back by an invisible force before surging into the sky.
Finally, two terrifying, sky-blotting tsunamis emerged!
The apocalyptic scene looked as if it would completely swallow all of Marineford!
Countless Marine soldiers stared at the colossal tsunamis, their faces painted with despair.
From his seat, Admiral Aokiji slowly stood up, exhaling a breath of freezing air.
In the next second, his figure vanished.