"Father, I am sorry."
Marco lowered his head as he spoke to Whitebeard, his eyes already brimming with tears.
The losses were too heavy. No one knew how many brothers had sacrificed their lives.
In front of them stretched a sea of flowers, and within that beautiful expanse lay a burial ground, where the bodies of countless Whitebeard Pirates had been laid to rest.
The sea breeze was gentle, and the flowers were lovely, but neither of them could ease the pain in their hearts.
Tens of thousands of simple tombstones stood quietly among the flowers, forming a sorrowful and unique landscape, one that carried the blood and tears of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Surrounded by his sons, Whitebeard had come here to mourn their fallen comrades.
When they first heard that their father was coming, Marco and the others had been excited.
But now that Whitebeard had truly arrived, they could not bring themselves to feel happy at all.
They felt as though they had no face left to meet him, and every member of the Whitebeard Pirates felt the same.
They had been suppressed from beginning to end, and the gap between the two crews had become painfully obvious in every aspect.
"This is not your fault. The Nightfall Pirates are simply too strong."
Whitebeard's deep voice rang out as he looked toward the sea.
He did not deny his opponent's strength. That was Whitebeard's character, and it was also part of his magnanimity.
"Besides, our family died fighting, did they not? On the sea, dying in battle is a glorious thing. They sacrificed themselves for this family of ours."
Whitebeard had long ago accepted that truth.
If he could not accept the sacrifice of his sons, then how could he lead them across this sea?
"Since you know the gap exists, then keep working hard and become stronger. Only then can you better protect this family."
His words reignited the fighting spirit in the hearts of those around him.
People often only develop an intense desire to grow stronger after suffering a setback.
If they cannot regain their fighting spirit, they will sink into discouragement. There were far too many such people on the seas, and Whitebeard had seen plenty of them, even within his own crew.
A pirate crew's morale was extremely important.
That said, his words did not erase the pain. Instead, they left the pain in place, where it would become the force that drove them forward, forcing them to awaken their potential and grow rapidly.
Whitebeard said nothing more, but the rage in his heart only deepened.
These were all his family.
"Crack!"
Whitebeard swung his arm and struck the air, shattering it like glass.
"Do not worry. Father will avenge you."
His voice was calm, but beneath it lay a chilling killing intent.
"I will personally teach Teach a lesson for your sake."
The Whitebeard Pirates had suffered a crushing defeat in this war, but the true strength of a pirate crew still depended on the captain.
The war between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates was not over yet.
Whitebeard clenched his fist, and deep within his eyes, killing intent surged like a tide.
Teach, let me see where you got this confidence of yours. Do not die too quickly.
He would never allow anyone to harm his family.
In the eyes of countless people, there was an unnamed island between the battle lines of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates, and that island had become the center of the world's attention.
By tacit agreement, the Whitebeard Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates had chosen it as the final battlefield.
It had no name, and it did not need one. Everyone understood that after this battle, the island would no longer exist.
The Whitebeard Pirates' fleet had already arrived.
One ship after another, all of them carrying Whitebeard Pirates, stopped about a kilometer from the island.
They did not move any closer.
The Nightfall Pirates also held position on the opposite side.
This was a decisive battle between two men. The other members of both crews were here only to prevent outside forces from interfering with the clash between their captains.
Besides the Whitebeard Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates, many other forces had also arrived in this sea area.
Their purpose was observation.
They had come to witness this grand battle with their own eyes.
Among them were many famous powerhouses from the New World, all drawn here by the impending confrontation.
"Hello, everyone. I am Morgans, president of the World Economic Journal."
The live broadcast had already begun, and the image on screen shifted to Morgans.
With a bright smile, Morgans greeted the Den Den Mushi, then took out a black Den Den Mushi from his pocket.
"Hoo hoo! This broadcast will be personally hosted by me. Let me introduce the Den Den Mushi in my hand."
Countless people's eyes landed on the black Den Den Mushi.
Its body was black and about two sizes larger than an ordinary Den Den Mushi.
Morgans held it up and smiled.
"Soon, the great battle between Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor will begin, and this Den Den Mushi will transmit everything to you."
"This is a battle between two top world powerhouses. Their Haki is strong enough to crush the will of an ordinary Den Den Mushi, making it useless. To ensure everyone gets the best viewing experience, we specially brought out this King Den Den Mushi."
"Like Conqueror's Haki awakening, this Den Den Mushi is also a rare creature, one in a million. It has the best function and the strongest resistance to Conqueror's Haki, so it will not lose consciousness under the impact."
"Of course, Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor both possess world class Haki. To be safe, I will keep my distance and not get too close. Please pray for me so I do not get caught in the battle and die."
Morgans laughed at himself.
His words immediately earned sympathy and gratitude from countless viewers around the world.
As a figure from the World Economic Journal, he was willing to stand near such a dangerous battlefield. That alone was admirable.
Of course, some underworld figures sneered at his performance.
Morgans was not weak. How could he die so easily just because he got caught in the fallout of a battle between monsters?
Not to mention, the predictive ability of his Albatross Fruit would let him sense danger in advance.
After speaking, Morgans opened the sleeping King Den Den Mushi in his hand.
The creature slowly awakened, blinking open its eyes.
Then the screen changed, and the broadcast feed switched to the image transmitted through Morgans' Den Den Mushi.
"Here, there, pay attention, be careful..."
The battle had not yet begun, but Morgans was already directing the other reporter birds to begin positioning themselves on the island that would soon become the battlefield.
The live broadcast itself was his responsibility, but the surrounding scenes were just as important.
Post production would also matter.
Compared to a raw live broadcast, a battle between top powerhouses was too intense. Viewers could easily miss crucial moments.
The destructive force of the battlefield itself also needed to be recorded.
In truth, edited footage was often more visually satisfying and enjoyable than a live battle, making it more suitable for the average viewer.
Morgans used various filming techniques to present the most complete visual experience possible.
All of this was about money.
Once the footage was released, countless people would buy it.
The live broadcast view was limited, but post production could combine footage from multiple angles, making the battle more complete.
Some classic battle videos were so gripping that people watched them repeatedly.
Morgans was incredibly shrewd. Although the price of the footage had dropped, making it affordable to everyone, the viewing rights only lasted for a week.
After that, people had to pay again.
Of course, not many videos were worth watching over and over.
That meant a continuous flow of income.
Even after splitting off a large portion of the profit, he still made the most.
In terms of earning speed, live video broadcasting far surpassed the Battle Pyramid, because it reached the entire world.
Suddenly, Morgans raised an eyebrow, his eyes lighting up as though he had received some excellent news.
"Whitebeard has started moving."
He announced the news excitedly, then spread his wings and flew toward the Whitebeard Pirates' side.
Soon, the Moby Dick sailed out from within the Whitebeard Pirates' fleet.
On the screen, the ship steadily approached.
Whitebeard's massive, towering figure could be seen clearly at the bow, bisento in hand, his white cloak fluttering behind him in the wind.
His iconic crescent mustache, curving upward in a white arc, made his identity unmistakable.
This was Whitebeard Edward Newgate, the Strongest Man in the World.
His name echoed through all four seas, and even children's songs across the world described him as more terrifying than a monster.
A living legend.
"The Dark Emperor is here too."
The screen switched to another Den Den Mushi.
In Morgans' hand was a tablet like device displaying multiple live feeds, allowing him to switch between them at will.
The Nightfall Pirates' main ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, appeared on the screen next.
Its ferocious three headed dragon figure, enormous hull, and chilling array of cannon ports made it look like a monstrous warship.
The Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick was magnificent, but someone still had to steer it.
The Queen Anne's Revenge, however, had only one person aboard, and no one was at the helm.
Many people assumed the ship was being controlled through the Dark Emperor's power.
In truth, they would never have imagined that the ship was alive.
The Queen Anne's Revenge possessed its own consciousness, a ship spirit named Lucky.
Looking down from above, one could also see a wide deck and a huge lawn.
At the very center, in a magnificent throne room, a figure sat meditating with closed eyes.
He wore a luxurious black pirate coat trimmed in gold and embroidered with dragon patterns.
Inside, he wore a dark blue shirt left open at the chest, revealing powerful muscles.
On his head sat a black captain's hat marked with the Nightfall Pirates' flag.
His slightly curly black hair fell around him, and his whole body radiated pressure and authority.
This was the captain of the Nightfall Pirates.
The leader of the new generation of pirates.
The Dark Emperor, Marshall D. Teach.
The screen kept shifting between the two figures.
The two protagonists of the coming battle were about to meet.
The world watched in silence, each person lost in their own thoughts.
"Whitebeard, Dark Emperor."
Inside Dadan's house in Windmill Village, many mountain bandits were gathered around the live broadcast, including a seven or eight year old child.
He had freckles on his cheeks and watched the screen very intently.
Though still young, he was unusually mature.
Ace stared at the two figures on the screen and silently repeated their names.
The broadcast had given him a far clearer understanding of the world.
He often used money stolen from bullying thugs to watch battle videos, especially those involving strong people.
Those terrifying scenes had shaken him to the core.
They showed him how vast the world really was.
They showed him that there was always someone stronger.
They showed him that human power could reach such heights.
And the man who stood at the peak, destined to become Pirate King, naturally possessed such terrifying strength.
Through those videos, he had also seen the battle footage of that old man.
He had never imagined that the annoying old man who always demanded he join the Marines could be so strong.
A top world powerhouse.
A monster among monsters.
That was the impression Ace had formed from countless videos.
The battle had not yet started, but Ace's heart was already pounding.
One side was a legend on par with that man.
The other was the Dark Emperor, whose crew possessed horrifying overall strength and who had shaken the seas.
Also in Windmill Village, many villagers crowded into a bar and watched the broadcast with full concentration.
Even in a small village like this, such events drew attention and helped pass the time.
By now, watching a live broadcast when a major event unfolded had become a worldwide habit.
Among the crowd was a child of about five years old.
When he noticed his cup was empty, he lifted it and said, "Makino, a glass of milk, please."
"Of course, Luffy."
Makino smiled gently and poured him a glass.
Luffy was the grandson of Marine Hero Garp.
Since Garp was rarely at home, Luffy had practically been raised by the entire village.
He usually stayed at the mayor's house for care.
"What a huge ship, sugoi! It is even bigger than Grandpa's iron ship!"
Luffy was still too young to understand the gravity of the situation.
Unlike the others, he was not nervous at all. His attention was completely fixed on the massive ships of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates.
Both the Moby Dick and the Queen Anne's Revenge were among the greatest pirate ships in the world.
They had been built with the finest materials and the skill of the best shipwrights.
Everyone smiled at Luffy's words but said nothing.
Their attention remained fixed on the battle about to begin.
Even through the screen, they could feel the pressure radiating from Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor.
On the tables, drinks and food had already been prepared.
Some people even brought mats and blankets, planning to sleep in the bar.
That was normal.
Battles between monsters often lasted for days and nights.
Makino's bar had stocked enough food and drink in advance.
Scenes like this appeared in bars across the world.
Whenever a battle of this scale was broadcast, bars filled to capacity.
It was a guaranteed source of profit.
On the island of Arkas, inside a small medical clinic, three people were watching the broadcast.
Modi stood by the window with his arms crossed.
Monica sat on a chair, her eyes shining as she watched the figures flashing across the screen.
Beside her sat a child with a maturity far beyond his years.
He had inherited Teach's naturally curly hair and Monica's hair color.
His eyes were exactly like Teach's.
In appearance, he resembled Teach by about thirty percent, though he looked even more like his mother.
Staring at the figures on the screen, he asked quietly, "Is that my father?"
In truth, he already knew the answer.
The child's name was Saga.
He was the son of the Dark Emperor, carrying Teach's bloodline.
Saga, meaning legend.
That was the hope Teach had placed on him.
Teach's body was unusual and special.
After Saga was born, Modi and Monica discovered that he had inherited that same physique.
Which meant that, like Teach, he could not sleep.
They knew all too well how much pain Teach had endured in the past.
Monica certainly did not want her child to suffer in the same way.
With Teach's secret help, they developed a harmless medicine that allowed Saga to sleep.
It gave him two hours of sleep per day.
That was the limit.
As his body adapted, the medicine's effect would gradually weaken.
By then, they believed Saga would have overcome the side effect.
Even so, the child still suffered quite a bit.
Yet Monica stayed by his side, and Saga persevered.
Because of that, he had matured early.
He had never met Teach, but he had known who his father was from a very young age.
His mother and grandfather never hid anything from him.
Monica collected every newspaper, every battle video, every bounty poster, and every photograph related to Teach and the Nightfall Pirates.
Because of that, Saga understood Teach very well.
He even asked about his father on his own initiative from time to time.
Gradually, a clear image of Teach formed in his mind.
For many people, Teach was already a legend.
His growth, his rapid rise, the formation of the terrifying Nightfall Pirates, and the vast territory under his rule all inspired admiration.
People wanted to stand in his place.
For Teach, this battle was also crucial.
Whether he could become an Emperor depended entirely on his performance and strength, because standing opposite him was the world's strongest man, a title that had remained unchallenged for years.
Saga had never rejected the identity of the Dark Emperor's son.
He knew that even if Teach was not physically by his side, he was still protecting him in his own way.
Modi often brought back precious medicinal herbs and many training journals, allowing Saga to develop properly and build a solid foundation.
Those things had all been secretly sent by someone.
Naturally, that person was Teach.
Saga never asked when Teach would come.
His grandfather had once told him that Teach would take him away when he turned seven, and that he should prepare himself.
Having seen a wider world and carrying Teach's blood in his veins, Saga naturally would not be satisfied with an ordinary life.
Sooner or later, he would walk the same road as Teach.
He had already made up his mind.
He also did not worry about his mother being lonely, because his younger brother and younger sister were both already asleep.
Before he could remember much, Teach had already visited once, and perhaps had already considered this possibility.
By sheer luck, he managed to kill two birds with one stone, and fortunately the children were not physically abnormal, so they were able to grow up peacefully.
They could also accompany their mother more fully.
His younger brother was Gallon, and his younger sister was Migella.
His sister looked very much like their mother, while his brother resembled him almost exactly, though the difference was easy to tell because his brother had black hair.
Returning to the broadcast, Whitebeard had already landed on the island.
The Dark Emperor used gravity to fly into the air directly.
The Moby Dick and the Queen Anne's Revenge both returned to their respective fleets after their captains landed.
Teach floated to the center of the island and slowly descended to the ground.
Then he stood quietly and waited.
A few minutes later, Whitebeard emerged from the jungle and walked up to him.
The two men stood about fifty meters apart.
The two kings had met.
They looked at one another in silence.
Morgans, filming from the sky, sensed the atmosphere and shivered.
He flapped his wings and rose higher into the air.
Below him, terrifying Haki burst from both men.
Before the battle even began, they greeted each other with Conqueror's Haki.
The world immediately changed color.
The two Haki auras expanded like living shields and collided head on.
A Conqueror's Haki that devoured everything like an abyss.
A presence so immense it shook the entire world.
The sky seemed to split into two colors.
The ground trembled and fractured.
At the center of the collision, where the two forces met, black lightning flashed again and again like sparks striking in midair.
Terrifying shockwaves swept outward in every direction.
Then the sky darkened instantly.
A suffocating pressure descended.
Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and purple arcs of electricity filled the heavens.
The two Conqueror's Haki auras divided the sky in half and remained perfectly balanced.
Teach, in terms of presence alone, was no weaker than Whitebeard.
Even before either man moved, the world was already shaken to its core.
Viewers watching the broadcast felt a spiritual shock just from the clash.
The ground cracked further and further until it became a spiderweb of shattered earth.
Conqueror's Haki attacks the spirit, and plants and trees are especially vulnerable because all living things possess spirit and breath.
Within Teach's Conqueror's Haki domain, life could be seen withering away.
Even ordinary strong people found it hard to endure. Fragile souls were crushed with ease.
Leaves fell.
Plants dried up.
People noticed this and felt genuine fear.
That was the true nature of Teach's Conqueror's Haki, now even more refined and destructive because of its special effect on the spirit.
Many experts immediately understood the meaning of what they were seeing.
The Dark Emperor's Conqueror's Haki was different.
It had an extraordinary quality.
"Captain, it seems you are not the only one with that talent, though his direction is different."
Beckman's voice was calm as he spoke to Shanks beside him.
He understood very well that his captain's Conqueror's Haki was remarkable, powerful enough to affect matter, something usually only seen when two Conqueror's Haki users clashed directly.
Watching Teach, Beckman knew at once that Teach possessed a similarly special talent.
Teach's black pirate coat fluttered in the wind.
Within the realm of Conqueror's Haki, and amid the chaotic scene surrounding him, he looked like a demon rising from the abyss.
Then the sky suddenly cleared, and everything returned to calm.
Many people gasped for breath, their bodies drenched in sweat.
That brief clash had felt much longer than it really was.
Their minds had been completely absorbed by it.
"Not bad, Teach. To possess such a presence."
Whitebeard praised him.
Teach's presence was truly equal to his own, and that alone placed him at the world's highest level.
More importantly, Whitebeard could feel that his own Conqueror's Haki had already reached its limit, while Teach's still had room to grow.
Such a terrifying spiritual force was unique in the world.
"Of course."
Teach accepted the praise naturally.
Darkness surged around him, and two small wine jars emerged from it.
He controlled one of them and sent it flying toward Whitebeard.
Whitebeard raised a hand and caught it steadily.
"What, are you trying to go easy on me, Teach? You did not poison it, did you?"
Whitebeard chuckled as he opened the jar.
A rich fragrance of wine immediately drifted out.
Teach ignored the joke and opened his own jar, taking a small sip.
"You are Whitebeard. Besides, this wine could not be bought for even a hundred million Berries. You never had the habit of treating others to drinks, so I brought this myself."
Whitebeard was not annoyed.
He simply threw back his head and laughed.
"Gurarararara!"
No one knew why Whitebeard laughed like that except the members of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Teach understood.
Whitebeard was very poor.
He donated all his wealth to his hometown, so he never had much money.
He also never treated people to drinks, always preferring to drink the sake his sons brought.
No one expected the two sides to start chatting before the battle even began.
After laughing heartily, both men drank at the same time, finishing the Monkey King Wine in one gulp before tossing the jars aside.
Whitebeard had already felt the effects of the wine, though they were not very strong.
For a monster like him, the Monkey King Wine was not miraculous enough to show immediate results. Its full effect required long term consumption.
"How is it? Not bad, right? This battle should last a little longer."
Teach looked at Whitebeard and smiled.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
The meaning hidden in his words was clearly provocative.
"Gurarararara! This is the first time I have tasted such fine wine! I hope you do better in battle than in conversation, Teach!"
Whitebeard stretched his neck and grinned.
"Zehahaha. I have been looking forward to this battle for a long time. Let's fight before you get old. There may not be another chance in the future."
Teach tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he smiled.
"After all, the next era is mine!"
Those words were as clear as a declaration.
Whitebeard's peak would soon pass, and age would inevitably come for him.
That made many people realize something.
Even someone as powerful as Whitebeard was still mortal.
How long could such strength truly last?
Whitebeard was already fifty-eight years old.
His decline was not far off.
As for Teach's words about his own era, they sounded like an open proclamation.
It was calm.
Confident.
Domineering.
Completely convincing.
Just hearing it made people's blood run hot.
The Nightfall Pirates erupted in cheers.
Of course, not everyone was pleased.
Some of the other Emperors were already reacting.
"Jihahahaha! I am not old yet!"
Golden Lion Shiki laughed and openly countered Teach's words.
"But that brat is right. Newgate is old. I like that arrogant attitude of his, Jihahahaha!"
Whitebeard grinned.
"Come and try it, Teach. Do not get slapped in the face. I am Whitebeard, and it is not your turn to boast!"
"Do not die on me."
"Then let's go!"