Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!
Whitebeard was wracked with coughs, and fresh blood trickled from his mouth.
His subordinates watched him in utter panic.
"Father! Father, are you alright?!"
"Father! How are you holding on?!"
Marco immediately rushed over and began examining him with intense concern.
But soon, his furrowed brow relaxed.
"It's not as serious as it looks! He's just completely drained of energy. He needs absolute rest and quiet to recover." Marco announced to the group.
The pirates all let out a collective sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, nothing grave had happened to their father.
Whitebeard sat back down on the ground, a look of regret on his face. "This old body of mine... it's far too useless."
He looked up at El, full of regret. "I am truly sorry, El!"
"My body has grown so weak, I can't even shout loud enough to be heard anymore."
"Please... you take care of this for me!"
El nodded in understanding.
Since Whitebeard was no longer physically capable, it was only right that he give the orders to these pirates instead.
He had just stood up when suddenly...
He sensed something was wrong.
Someone is coming.
Whitebeard felt it too.
The two men looked at each other and smiled knowingly.
"Alright then... seems I won't need to step in after all." El said, smiling as he looked out toward the distance.
Suddenly, a vast and overwhelming burst of Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire battlefield!
The sheer pressure of this Haki shocked both the Marines and the Pirates to their core!
Both sides immediately assumed reinforcements had arrived for the enemy.
Even those who didn't faint from the sheer weight of the presence instantly lowered their weapons, standing on high alert and eyeing each other warily.
Then, a figure with flaming red hair appeared, rushing toward the center of the battlefield at incredible speed.
It was Red-Haired Shanks!
He had come specifically for one purpose: to put an end to this war.
Behind him, his crew members also arrived, aiming their weapons directly at the top-tier fighters still engaged in combat.
"Don't you move an inch, Kizaru."
Benn Beckman held his pistol pointed straight at Kizaru's head.
Kizaru raised both hands, feigning surprise and submission.
"My, my... how terrifying... Benn Beckman!"
Almost every other key figure present received similar treatment.
Shanks stood firmly in the center of the battlefield.
Faced with one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, neither Marines nor Pirates dared to step forward.
Even the most aggressive and hot-headed fighters instantly froze, halting their attacks.
"I have come here to bring this war to an end!" Red-Haired Shanks declared to everyone present.
His voice wasn't loud or booming, yet it rang clearly in the ears of every single person there.
Now that Shanks had arrived... people wondered whether this would benefit the pirates or the marines?
Sengoku, Kizaru, Aokiji, and the other high-ranking officers stepped forward.
They represented the will and stance of the entire Marine force.
Shanks looked at them.
"Have you people... not lost enough yet?!"
The faces of the Marine leaders hardened.
At the same time, they were burning with frustration and anger.
Sengoku stared back at Shanks.
After a moment of thought, he spoke: "Red-Haired Shanks..."
"This battle has reached a life-or-death stage. It is not something you can simply say 'end' to!"
Upon hearing Sengoku's words, everyone watching was stunned.
What does Sengoku mean by that?
Ending the fighting right now was clearly the best possible outcome for them.
Yet Sengoku seemed completely unwilling to accept it!
Did he really want the Marines to be slaughtered to the last man before he would be satisfied?!
Shanks obviously felt the exact same way.
"Hasn't the Marine Headquarters sacrificed enough already, Sengoku!" He looked sternly at the man and spoke in a heavy tone.
Sengoku shook his head helplessly.
"When exactly this war comes to an end..."
"...is not for me to decide. Nor is it for you to decide, Shanks!"
He stared directly at Shanks, then raised a hand and pointed toward a different direction.
Toward El!
"He is the one who decides! Isn't that right?!"
Sengoku's words silenced everyone present.
That's right!
In this battle, the strongest man of all...
The man who had completely changed the tide of the war... hadn't spoken a single word yet!
El!
He was still sitting there calmly, watching everything unfold.
Whitebeard let out a few coughs, then grinned. "Gahaha! Looks like you can't avoid stepping forward now!"
El shook his head and stood up.
The moment he moved...
Every pair of eyes in the area locked onto him. Everyone held their breath.
Waiting to hear what he would say.
El walked slowly toward the center of the battlefield.
His pace didn't look fast, yet in just a few strides, he arrived right beside Red-Haired Shanks.
Marines, Pirates...
Even the Admirals themselves...
All watched El with anticipation.
Waiting for the words that would change the world.
El swept his gaze across the crowd.
Then, he spoke clearly: "In this war... the Pirates have won a complete and total victory."
"I declare... the war is over!"
As soon as his words left his mouth...
The pirates erupted in joy, throwing their weapons and hats high into the air!
"Hurrah! Yeahhh!"
"We won!"
"Long live the Pirates!!!"
They cheered wildly, jumping for joy in absolute excitement.
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off