Rolan's arrival at Marineford hit like a storm. Watching Luffy's determined expression, Ace was shaken to his core. Tears fell freely down his cheeks. Why did he come for me? I don't want him dragged into this, Ace thought, his voice trembling, This was my mistake alone. I never wanted anyone else hurt in this war.
But Luffy did not waver. He ran forward, shouting over the clamor, "You are the older brother, I'm the younger brother. Didn't we agree we would both reach the top of this world together? If my older brother suffers, then as his younger brother I can't just stand by."
Ace stared at him with wide eyes, torn. "Luffy, you brat, who told you to come save me? Just go back right now!"
Every person listening was affected deeply by the intensity between the two brothers. A younger brother fearless of battle, charging straight into harm to save his older sibling; an older brother forcing himself to refuse help so his younger sibling would leave. No matter how you looked at it, it was a powerful expression of family bonds.
News of this moment spread like wildfire across the seas.
People watching from afar reacted emotionally.
"Wow, that's touching."
"Yes, that's true brotherhood."
"Luffy says he's Ace's younger brother. Could it be that Luffy is also the son of Pirate King Roger?"
"You're foolish. Luffy is younger than Ace by years, so they can't be biological brothers. They must be sworn brothers."
"Oh? Sworn brothers that close?"
At Sabaody Archipelago, in District 13 at Shaki's Rip‑Off Bar, Rayleigh watched Luffy on the screen with surprise. "How did Luffy even get to Marineford? Was he sent by Bartholomew Kuma?"
Shaki, cigarette in hand, shook her head. "Didn't Kuma tell you he's working with the Revolutionary Army? Luffy is said to be a son of Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army. Marineford is a battlefield of enormous danger. One wrong step and he could fall. He shouldn't have done something like this."
Rayleigh paused for a moment, then nodded.
Roger gave his Straw Hat to Shanks, and Shanks gave it to Luffy. That meant Luffy carried Roger's will. Ever since Luffy set sail, Rayleigh watched him with guarded interest. Now in the heart of Marineford, two young figures stood at the center of everything. One was a Captain's son, and the other was a bearer of Roger's will.
Rayleigh reached several times to go to Marineford himself, but every time his hand went to the doorknob, he felt piercing gazes like venomous snakes on his back. His heart twisted with worry. Is Rolan still not going to show up? There's only half an hour before the execution. Ace is Rolan's disciple. Does Rolan plan to sacrifice his own life to save his disciple?
Rayleigh's expression darkened further. Shaki understood exactly what he feared. "Ray‑san, don't worry, Rolan will definitely appear."
Back at Marineford, Sengoku stared at Rolan's sibling figure on the battlefield with frustration.
At that moment, Garp, who had been watching Rolan and Luffy intensely, suddenly sneezed loudly.
"Is it getting cold?" he muttered.
"Admiral Sengoku," Kizaru asked from nearby, "is it possible to go through with all these executions right now?"
Sengoku glanced at Kizaru, understanding his concern. He gave a firm nod. "As you wish."
Garp heard this, turned to look at Sengoku and slightly parted his lips, letting out a sigh. He said nothing else. He knew both Luffy and Ace were pirates — threats in the world — and the Marines stood for justice. He could only blame himself for failing to guide his grandsons properly, leading to this catastrophe. This war was a vortex pulling every soul into its current, and even he, an Admiral, could not control his own fate.
Kizaru stepped forward toward the young challenger, but before he could reach him, another figure moved faster.
"Straw Hat, prepare to die! Today your brother Ace will be executed, and you won't escape either!"
The man wore a crimson suit, a blue tattoo stretching from chest to shoulder, a Marine hat perched on his head, and a cloak of justice trailing behind him. As he ran, his left arm glowed with scorching magma.
In just moments he stood in front of Luffy.
"Akainu," someone gasped.
"It's Akainu!"
The Marine Admiral Akainu clenched his magma‑heated fist and thrust it toward Luffy. Luffy responded with a cool chuckle, showing no fear.
"An Admiral huh? I won't back down," he said.
He infused his Armament Haki into his right fist. Pink swirling energy flickered along his arm as he met Akainu's strike.
Clang.
Their fists met a short distance apart, and the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward. Pirates and Marines alike were blown back by the force, and cracks spread over the ground where they stood.
Akainu raised a brow, slightly impressed. Straw Hat Luffy is stronger than expected, he thought silently. With Luffy's lineage, he could grow into one of the World Government's greatest threats. It was vital to eliminate that threat before it grew further.
He applied even more force and sent Luffy flying nearly a hundred meters back.
In mid‑air, Luffy flipped and landed softly, then immediately brought his flaming hand up and blew on it.
"Ouch, so hot, so hot," he said, as if talking to himself.
He endured the scorching pain thanks to his proficiency with Armament Haki, Ryuo. Without it, he might have been burned alive by the magma.
As the war progressed, Luffy advanced on foot.
"Stop, Akainu!"
"Akainu, quit this!"
All the pirates rushed at Akainu, weapons raised, trying to stop him. But every strike against his magma‑hardened body melted uselessly.
Akainu ignored them completely. His eyes stayed fixed on Luffy — the boy who refused to stay down.
Marco leapt forward to engage Akainu until he ran into Aokiji blocking his path.
Whitebeard jumped from the Moby Dick to join the fray as Kizaru appeared in his way.
With the major forces clashing, no one could hold back Akainu.
Luffy looked up at the admiral with no fear in his eyes and raised his fist once more to clash with him.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Each punch rattled the ground. Rolan watched from the edge of the battlefield, his expression stoic and unreadable, but his eyes flickering just slightly with concern.
Akainu's blows burned deeper into Luffy with every contact until finally he seized him by the neck and lifted him in front of himself.
"Monkey D. Luffy, son of Dragon of the Revolutionary Army, I hereby sentence you to death!"
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