On the execution platform, Ace saw that familiar face and heard those words—his expression completely froze.
"S–Sabo?!!!" His voice trembled. "You're still alive?!!!"
Overwhelming joy flooded him!
The brother he had thought died years ago… was actually still alive.
And not only alive—but here, standing beside Luffy to rescue him.
Of course, if this reunion hadn't taken place at Marineford—with him about to be publicly executed—he would've been even happier.
After the initial surge of emotion, Ace forced himself to calm down.
This was not good news…
"Sabo's alive… that's great… Even if I die here today, Luffy will have Sabo to look after him."
But no matter what, he couldn't drag his brothers down with him!
"Luffy! Sabo!" Ace roared with all his strength. "Get out of here! Leave me alone! It's too dangerous! Sabo! Take Luffy and go! Protect our otouto!"
Luffy and Sabo completely ignored his shouts!
Luffy was currently locked in combat with a Marine Vice Admiral. It wasn't as easy as knocking out a small fry with one punch.
After all—
The cannon-fodder Marines had already been knocked unconscious by the earlier clash of Conqueror's Haki.
His attacks were blocked again and again. The fight was tough.
Hearing Ace's voice, he shouted back without hesitation:
"Ace! You're my big brother! I'm not leaving you behind!"
In contrast, Sabo appeared much more at ease.
His supreme-grade iron pipe, coated in Armament Haki, whistled through the air, effortlessly knocking aside incoming Marine attacks.
He pushed forward steadily while keeping an eye on Luffy. Their goal was clear—
The execution platform!
"Luffy's right!" Sabo swept aside a Marine officer blocking his path. "Ace! You're our brother! We will never abandon you!"
Hearing the unwavering words of his two brothers, Ace could no longer hold back his tears.
To have brothers like them—was the greatest blessing for someone who shouldn't even have existed.
He pressed his forehead against the ground so they wouldn't see his face.
But the exchange between the three brothers shocked the conscious Marines and pirates across the battlefield.
"Brothers? They called Ace 'big brother'?"
"What?! Don't tell me those two are also Gol D. Roger's sons?!"
"That bastard Roger… how many kids did he have?!"
"Doesn't matter whose sons they are! It's criminal blood! We can't let them go! Leave them all here!"
"That's right! Attack together!"
Hearing the speculation from both Marines and pirates, Garp's face on the execution platform darkened.
"Bullshit! Since when did my grandson become Roger's son?!" he cursed inwardly.
Which idiot changed his family name?!
Before Garp could say anything, Sengoku's fluctuating expression hardened with resolve.
"Garp, don't blame me."
He picked up a Den Den Mushi. His deep voice boomed across all of Marineford through the broadcast system.
It was time to explain.
"Everyone! Straw Hat Luffy, Monkey D. Luffy, is the biological son of the Revolutionary Army's leader and the world's most dangerous criminal—Monkey D. Dragon!"
"And the other one is the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff and second-in-command—Sabo!"
"Along with Portgas D. Ace, the bloodline of Pirate King Gol D. Roger!"
"These three, who carry the most dangerous bloodlines and identities in the world, must be completely eradicated today! To prevent future disaster!"
Sengoku's announcement ignited the Marines' killing intent.
Good grief—these three brothers had backgrounds deeper than the ocean!
All enemies of the Marines. Not a single one could be spared.
Now everyone understood.
Merely executing the Pirate King's son wouldn't have warranted such a massive mobilization.
So the true goal was to lure out the other two and execute them together.
As expected of their righteous Marines!
Unfortunately—
They were thinking a bit too much.
Still, aside from the more dovish faction, nearly every Marine now had their eyes locked onto Luffy, Sabo, and Ace.
And when it came to such matters, how could Akainu possibly be absent?
Even he hadn't expected these three brats to have backgrounds more outrageous than the last.
"All unstable factors must be completely eliminated!" Akainu said coldly, his killing intent overflowing.
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right!"
Leno nodded repeatedly from the side, looking as though he wholeheartedly agreed.
"Go kill them already! Stop wasting time with me!"
Without another word, Akainu's magma-wreathed fist blasted straight toward Leno!
"Eliminating traitors is just as important! I'll start with you!"
Leno raised his fist to block. A dull bang echoed as both men stepped back half a pace.
He looked exasperated. "Hey, focus on the main point, will you? Shouldn't your primary target be the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Akainu remained unmoved. Magma churned once more.
"A Navy traitor like you is at the top of my list as well!"
"Damn it. I forgot this bastard Sakazuki's justice is absolute justice," Leno cursed inwardly.
He wasn't here to help Whitebeard rescue anyone. There was no way he'd keep tanking an Admiral for him.
He had to shake off this persistent nuisance.
His gaze swept across the battlefield and landed on Whitebeard at the prow of the Moby Dick, leaning casually on Murakumogiri.
Leno immediately felt annoyed.
Wait a second—this isn't right!
You're the one here to rescue someone!
And I, the spectator, am the one drawing an Admiral's fire? That won't do!
An idea formed in his mind.
While blocking Akainu's attacks, Leno subtly shifted his position toward Whitebeard.
Akainu pursued relentlessly, his attacks growing increasingly ferocious.
As they neared Whitebeard, Leno seized the opportunity and slipped aside with a nimble step—
Sliding directly behind Whitebeard's massive frame.
"Whitebeard, he's all yours!"
Seeing Leno hide behind Whitebeard, Akainu didn't hesitate in the slightest.
His attack still blasted forward!
In his eyes, both Whitebeard and Leno were enemies that had to be eradicated. Taking them down together was even better!
But from Whitebeard's perspective, this was infuriating.
Even if he didn't want to shield Leno, there was no way he'd let Akainu's attack hit him.
"You magma brat! Trying to light a candle for me?!" Whitebeard snorted angrily as he swung his fist.
Buzz—!!!
That enormous fist was not only wrapped in the white glow of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—
It was also entwined with black-red arcs of Conqueror's Haki.
He didn't hold back at all.
BOOM!!!
Whitebeard's fist collided head-on with Akainu's magma!
At this point, facing a Whitebeard who had recovered seventy to eighty percent of his condition—and who was using Conqueror's Haki infusion—Akainu was still lacking.
"Ugh!" He grunted as he was blasted backward, tracing a graceful arc through the air.
Only after landing did he barely steady himself.
His expression was grim. He could clearly feel Whitebeard's monstrous strength.
"That old man… his condition really has recovered!"
After sending Akainu flying, Whitebeard immediately turned his head, intending to settle accounts with that scheming brat who had used him.
Although he had originally wanted to take Leno as a son, being used like this was still irritating!
But when his gaze swept the area—
There wasn't a trace of Leno.
"Gurararara… That brat sure runs fast!" Whitebeard wasn't truly angry. Instead, he found Leno rather clever.
In his eyes, the boy would be his son sooner or later anyway.
He stopped wasting time and leapt down from the Moby Dick.
"My sons! With me—rescue Ace!"
"OOOOOOH—!!!"
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