Taro turned his head to look at Ace, only to see him pressing his head against the execution platform, his face contorted in pain as tears flowed like a fountain.
After a long while, he finally raised his head again. "I... I won't lose my head anymore. I will grasp the hand that comes to rescue me. Truly, I am so sorry, everyone!"
When you clearly could have escaped, why couldn't you remember this resolve? In the end, you lost your life for nothing, making the sacrifices of so many people in vain.
Taro sighed and looked back at the battlefield. Straw Hat Luffy, leading Jinbe and the others, had already charged to the defensive line held by the Warlord of the Sea.
[5,000 Tile True Punch learned successfully]
[Shark Skin Palm Thrust learned successfully]
[Shark Tile True Punch learned successfully]
Moria faced Jinbe. Both were Warlord of the Sea, yet Moria was knocked down by Jinbe in a single round. The sight made Taro's scalp tingle; Moria's skill level was truly beyond pathetic.
To think that he actually dared to challenge Kaido back then was truly unbelievable.
Under the cover of Jinbe and "Okama King," Luffy, who had broken into the formation, encountered the obstruction of "Hawkeye" Mihawk.
With just a casual horizontal sweep of Mihawk's blade, a peerless and powerful Sword Qi sliced across half the battlefield. The giant wave frozen by Aokiji, which stood like a barrier, was neatly sliced in half.
The strength of the World's Greatest Swordsman was truly terrifying!
[Mihawk Slash: Swing learned successfully]
Taro's eyes widened. This guy Hawkeye really relies solely on basic attacks for his output.
At the critical moment, the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' fifth division, "Flower Sword" Vista, caught up and blocked Mihawk's pursuit, allowing Luffy to continue forward.
"Clomp, clomp, clomp." The Marine liaison officer, that major general, ran up again.
"Fleet Admiral, all preparations are complete!"
"Are the preparations at the bay shore done as well?"
"Yes, all finished."
"Then, prepare to move up the execution!" Sengoku said in a deep voice. "Cut the signal of the visual den den mushi immediately."
"This war concerns the justice of the Marines and the World Government. No matter what means are used, we must win!"
"The tragedy that is about to occur does not need to be broadcast to the world."
"A few hours from now, I only need to tell the whole world those few words: 'The Marines have won.' That will be enough!"
Fleet Admiral, I'm afraid those words won't be so easy to say.
Over there, there's another great god possessed by "Haoshoku Luck," and he still has a visual den den mushi in his hands.
Taro glanced at "Clown" Buggy, his cheek twitching. This guy was clearly in the center of the battlefield, yet he seemed like a transparent person; no one bothered him.
"Haoshoku Luck" was truly domineering! It simply defied all logic!
Just as Sengoku's order was issued, Sentomaru appeared at the entrance of the Marineford bay, leading his Science Unit—the "pacifist."
Twenty pacifists blocked the bay entrance, cutting off the pirates' retreat.
The pacifists continuously poured out golden laser beams from their mouths and palms. Each laser's power was astonishing, with world-shaking explosions accompanied by flames that could incinerate everything.
Soon, the entire bay front was engulfed in a sea of fire, and the pirates could only watch helplessly as their path of retreat was cut off.
"Forgive me, Fleet Admiral, there is one more visual den den mushi that we cannot find no matter what!"
The liaison officer reported to Sengoku with fear and trembling. Sengoku was furious. "Then go find it quickly!..."
Before his voice could fade, "Clown" Buggy had already opened the battlefield's live stream.
"This is the battlefield where a crucial war is taking place. As everyone can see, the ground is covered with the corpses of Marines and pirates..."
"Oh? You're asking who I am? I am the legendary great pirate..."
Sengoku grit his teeth in anger. "Eliminate him immediately!"
The liaison officer hurriedly took the order and left. Soon, Buggy's live stream was showered with countless cannonballs as "gifts."
The Impel Down escapees following Buggy also began to scream and scatter, their "bullet comments" scrolling with "Ah..." and "Ouch..."
Aokiji also arrived instantly, acting as a super-moderator, freezing the streamer Buggy and his live stream.
Taro was enjoying Buggy's stream when Sengoku's voice exploded in his ear.
"And you, Taro! Now that you've rested enough, get out there and fight!"
Taro was about to use his heavy injury as an excuse to keep lingering on the execution platform when he saw two figures sneakily approaching the vicinity of Whitebeard's flagship, the "Moby Dick."
Looking closer, it was actually Mike and Sherman!
Both of them were holding swords. Sherman was in the lead, while Mike followed behind somewhat reluctantly.
Holy crap! Are these two idiots? Are they looking for death?
Taro stood up in shock, leaped off the high platform, and charged straight toward Whitebeard.
He didn't believe for a second that with Whitebeard's strength, he wouldn't notice these two blockheads, Sherman and Mike.
While in the air, Taro noticed that behind Whitebeard, a middle-aged man with long hair, sharp teeth, his tongue sticking out, and a spider tattoo on his forehead was also slowly approaching Whitebeard with a sword.
The "dutiful son," Maelstrom Spider Squard!
Taro recognized this man who, because he was deceived by Akainu, would stab Whitebeard.
However, the situation was critical, and Taro didn't have time to think much because he saw Sherman had already leaped high into the air, swinging his long sword to stab directly at Whitebeard.
Taro retracted his Transformation State, drew thunderstorm, and frantically surged his Internal Energy. Using the momentum of his descent, he swiftly slashed toward Whitebeard.
Whitebeard had long noticed the two ill-intentioned little Marines by his side, but he didn't take them to heart at all.
It wasn't until Taro slashed down that Whitebeard finally lifted his eyelids to glance at Taro and made a move.
He took a step back, his legs slightly crouched, and he extended Murakumogiri behind him. With a swing of both hands, he swept his blade horizontally at the rapidly descending Taro.
Clang!
Ah...
Squelch!
Taro and Whitebeard clashed their Armament Haki between their blades once again, producing a crisp "clang."
The powerful force erupting from the collision between the strong caused Sherman, who was in mid-air, to let out a scream of pain as he was sent flying backward.
Simultaneously, with a "squelch," Squard's blade also pierced into Whitebeard's side.
Because of Taro's sudden attack, Whitebeard had also made an attacking move. Thus, Squard did not attack Whitebeard from the front as in the original story, but instead took the opportunity to sneak attack, backstabbing Whitebeard.
Of course, this stab did not pierce through the center of Whitebeard's chest like in the original story, but was off by a foot, piercing out from under his ribs.
Whitebeard's pale face grew even paler, a few drops of cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and a trace of blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.
Aside from Sengoku, who had devised the plan, Akainu, who had implemented it, and the massive cheater Taro...
This stab from the "dutiful son" Squard shocked everyone on the battlefield.
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