"That Straw Hat Luffy can also use Conqueror's Haki?"
"That's insane!"
"That ability only one in a million people can possess!"
"His Conqueror's Haki is actually comparable to Old Man's? That's terrifying!"
Ace muttered under his breath as he watched, "Luffy, sure enough, you really have it…"
Garp sat off to the side, expression calm, as if he already expected Luffy to possess Conqueror's Haki. If he didn't, Garp would probably doubt whether he was truly his biological grandson.
Whitebeard blinked, slightly stunned, "He sure is arrogant, isn't he!"
Luffy planted his hands on his hips and replied casually, "If I'm not arrogant, then I'm not a young man."
Whitebeard's gaze didn't waver, "Brat, saving someone isn't about hot‑blooded bravado alone!"
Luffy met Whitebeard's eyes, voice steady, "Mind your own business, do whatever you want, just don't stop me from saving Ace."
"Is this guy insane?"
"Does he actually dare talk back to the Old Man like that?"
"As expected of Ace's brother, he's just as reckless as Ace."
Everyone among the Whitebeard Pirates stared at Luffy in disbelief at his boldness.
Ivankov shrugged and said in his usual tone, "As expected of that man's son, he says exactly what he wants."
Marco sent a Marine Vice Admiral flying with a kick before turning to look at Luffy confronting Whitebeard, nodding in respect, "Is this Ace's brother? He's strong."
They had often heard Ace speak of Luffy while aboard the ship. Every time Luffy's name was mentioned, Ace would speak of him with fond admiration, praising his strength without restraint. Now it seemed Luffy's presence alone carried even more powerful presence than Ace's.
And somehow both of them, born in the same world, wielded a Haki strength that made others whisper about their backgrounds.
Luffy turned toward Ace and shouted loudly, "Ace, hang on a moment, I'm coming to save you!"
With that, he launched himself forward toward the execution platform.
Like a raging bull, he barreled through Marine fodder, sending soldiers flying with every step he took.
"Sugoi!"
"The strength of Ace's brother? That's ridiculous!"
"Everyone, follow Ace's brother! Charge toward the platform!"
Seeing Luffy's ferocity, every pirate on the field seemed injected with blood‑boiling energy and surged after him. For a moment, all the pirates on the battlefield trailed behind Luffy like the blade of a sword cutting a massive opening through the Marine defense line.
Sengoku watched the scene, brows tightening, "This Luffy really is a menace."
The Marines had been in control until the Straw Hat's appearance ignited the fighting spirit of the pirates. As the tide lifted one side and suppressed the other, Marine morale began to slip — exactly what Sengoku did not want to see.
He barked orders, "Stop that Straw Hat Luffy! Don't let him reach the platform!"
All Marines redirected their efforts toward Luffy, abandoning other engagements to intercept him.
"You pathetic pirate, you have no right to be so arrogant!"
A blade flashed toward Luffy's face as the words dropped.
Luffy simply stomped back several meters.
Clang!
The blade struck the ground, forming a deep crack in the stone.
He looked up at the figure before him, a Marine Vice Admiral with narrowed eyes and a sword in his left hand, his right sleeve fluttering empty in the wind.
It was Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Yamakaji, whose right arm had been severed during the last encirclement by the Ion Tempest crew.
"A Vice Admiral? I don't have time to play around," Luffy said, already condensing Armament Haki into his fist before swinging a powerful blow toward Yamakaji's face.
Compressed air and force radiated from the punch as it shot forward.
Yamakaji raised his blade hastily to block — but the impact blasted him dozens of meters back, crashing violently into the ground.
Without wasting a moment checking on Yamakaji, Luffy surged forward again.
Whitebeard watched his reckless advance like someone stepping into a no‑man's land. "Marco," he called, "don't let that kid die."
Marco nodded once and transformed into a Phoenix wreathed in blue flame, flying toward Luffy with purposeful speed.
Meanwhile, Vice Admirals Momonga and Ghost Spider exchanged startled looks. Even weakened, Yamakaji was still a true Vice Admiral, and a single strike sending him flying was enough to shock them.
They nodded to each other and launched at Luffy from both sides.
Their speed was astounding. In a blur of coordinated motion, using Soru‑like steps, they reached Luffy's flank in an instant.
One struck downward toward his face, the other rose to attack his midsection.
To conserve stamina, Luffy didn't constantly activate Observation Haki, and by the time he registered their approach, both blades were already within striking range.
He slammed his foot into the ground, spinning his body in midair so he passed between their swords. The edges skated along his clothes, but then a gleaming blade hung with a cold sheen slashed toward his waist.
In the split second he had, he coated his abdomen and waist with Armament Haki.
Clang!
The sound echoed as the strike connected, and Luffy was sent flying dozens of meters backward by the force.
He twisted his body and landed on the ground, eyes fixed on the three Vice Admirals before him.
"Taking on three Vice Admirals at once is a bit rough," he muttered under his breath.
Ace watched from afar as Luffy was struck back and urgently called out, "Luffy, don't come here!"
His voice boomed across Marineford, drawing the attention of Marines, pirates, and Shichibukai alike.
Ace continued in a firm, strained voice, "You know that you and I are pirates with our own paths. I have my journey and my crew, and you have yours. You have no reason to drag yourself into this."
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed slightly at Ace's words, but Ace didn't falter.
"Do you really think I'd let someone like you come to save me?" he continued, voice tight with emotion. "Anything more humiliating than this doesn't exist. Go back now, Luffy! Why did you even come here?!"
After speaking, he lowered his head and shut his eyes, gritting his teeth and whispering, Please, Luffy, go. I don't want to drag you down.
Garp turned his head toward Ace, fully understanding what his son was feeling. Ace didn't want Luffy to suffer because of him…
But Luffy rose from the ground and reappeared before the three Vice Admirals again in a flash of speed.
"Gum‑Gum Whip!" he called out.
His leg shot forward as if spring‑loaded, extending and striking out to force all three Vice Admirals backward.
Then Luffy's gaze lifted, eyes burning as he shouted toward Ace, "Because I'm your brother!"