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At this moment, Whitebeard in God Valley, seeing Ace in that state, felt extremely pained inside. It was as if something precious had been lost.
"It's probably because the future Newgate and this Fire Fist Ace share an extremely strong bond. That's why seeing this scene now makes him feel so heartbroken!"
Stussy naturally noticed Whitebeard's abnormality as well and began explaining the situation in a soft, gentle voice. Roger and Garp's reactions earlier fit this same pattern.
Roger had entrusted Ace to Garp, so Garp's feelings toward Ace were also profoundly deep. As for Roger… there was even less need to explain.
Even though Ace had never met Roger since birth, the bond between father and son could never be severed.
Hearing Stussy's explanation, everyone present nodded in agreement. At the moment, this was the only explanation that could account for the abnormal reactions of Roger, Garp, and Whitebeard.
"What a lowly emotion. They're nothing but mere pirates, after all!"
Saint Garling watched the scene and sneered with utter disdain. So-called bonds would only become one's weaknesses…
That was why Saint Garling had always treated Shanks and Shamrock purely as tools.
However, seeing his own children being so close to Roger earlier still put him in a very foul mood!
[Just as Ace was escaping from the rear while carrying Luffy, just as Ace knelt to bid farewell to Whitebeard and followed his decision to stay behind and cover their retreat…]
[Back when most new viewers first got into this, they all thought this ending would be the best possible resolution for the war. But Akainu's words suddenly made Ace stop in his tracks. The killing intent directed at Luffy still drove Ace toward that fated conclusion!]
[Under the highest combat power of Marine Headquarters—amid mockery and assault—Ace was ultimately pierced through the body and collapsed into Luffy's arms…]
[At this moment, Ace's life card began burning furiously. The abnormality of the life card meant Ace no longer had any chance of survival!]
In God Valley, at Marineford—everyone was watching this scene.
Garp from two different eras had his pupils shaking violently. Roger's entire body trembled. And young Whitebeard, gripping Murakumogiri, clenched so hard that even the tips of his fingers had turned pale!
"Roger, your son really is an amazing big brother. He saved this Straw Hat kid twice—once from that Blackbeard pursuit, and now this is the second time…"
Golden Lion Shiki looked at Roger and at Ace on the light screen with a grave expression. Normally he would have thrown in some teasing remark, but right now he couldn't utter a single joke.
[Seeing Ace take the hit, all the pirates were stunned. They turned around and charged toward Sakazuki. Division Commander Marco, however, was still bound by Seastone handcuffs and couldn't break free!]
Looking at Marco's appearance and hairstyle, in some inconspicuous corner of God Valley, a pirate was staring fixedly at everything.
[Artillery fire roared endlessly, bullets flew apart. The pirates unleashed all their firepower toward Sakazuki. Though the momentum was overwhelming, once the smoke cleared, the wounds on Sakazuki's body were already slowly healing!]
"Such tenacious vitality… Still not dead even after this? Fire Fist Ace…"
Sakazuki approached the two brothers once again. Seeing that Ace was somehow still breathing, he raised his right fist high once more, preparing to deliver the final killing blow to both of them.
At that moment, the elderly Whitebeard noticed the situation over there and prepared to unleash his ability toward that side to stop Sakazuki.
But in that instant, a laser beam pierced straight through his arm!
Just as the fist was about to come down, Sea Hero Jinbe blocked Sakazuki's death blow.
Jinbe's face was full of determination. Even if it cost him his life, he would not let Sakazuki continue.
Seeing this, Marco could only anxiously watch. At that moment, the surrounding pirates brought over Mr. 3, who had just unlocked Ace's restraints.
"!!!"
In this urgent situation, a Marine at Marineford suddenly stood up and slowly began walking toward Sakazuki…
This scene was witnessed by everyone in God Valley. Ripples appeared in everyone's eyes. That Marine was none other than the elderly Garp, veins bulging on his face!
"Vice Admiral Garp, what are you doing?!"
Seeing Garp heading that way, many Marines at Marineford swallowed hard, while the Marines in God Valley stared dumbfounded at the sight.
"Garp, you bastard!"
Seeing Garp lose emotional control, Sengoku rushed forward and pinned him down hard. Sengoku's strength was immense, pressing Garp's face firmly against the ground.
"Have you gone mad? Snap out of it!"
Looking at the trembling Garp, Sengoku understood his old friend's feelings all too well, but their positions absolutely did not allow Garp to act recklessly.
It would be more accurate to say that Garp wasn't just being pinned down by Sengoku—he was being crushed by the "Justice" standing behind him!
"Sengoku, just keep holding me down like this! Otherwise, I'll kill Sakazuki!"
Even though he was restrained, Garp still glared ferociously at the distant Sakazuki. The killing intent in his voice moved even Sengoku.
"You idiot!"
Hearing Garp say such words, Sengoku broke out in a cold sweat. He pressed down even harder with his arms, restraining Garp with greater force.
[Jinbe blocked Sakazuki's attack, but he himself was already at his limit. Just as Sakazuki prepared to strike again, Marco and Vista stepped in to help!]
[Although the two commanders' attacks this time did have some effect, Sakazuki still wore a mocking expression. Everything they were doing now was meaningless. With that, Sakazuki gestured for everyone to look at Ace…]
[At that moment, everyone turned their heads. But the next sight shocked even these battle-hardened veterans!]
[After the flames on Ace's back vanished, an enormous, gaping blood hole stood out starkly. The Whitebeard tattoo on his back had been completely mangled beyond recognition…]
Looking at the fresh, warm blood on his hands, Luffy held Ace tightly. His voice began to tremble at that moment…
"I'm sorry, Luffy… In the end, I still couldn't escape this fate!"
Ace weakly rested against Luffy's shoulder. His tone sounded ethereal. Hearing those words, Luffy's mouth trembled uncontrollably.
"Ivankov, hurry and save Ace! Use that needle of yours—quick!"
Luffy shouted frantically toward the rear, placing all his hope on this friend who had helped him. But Ivankov stood rooted in place and did not move…
"I'm a doctor—I'm here!"
A pirate doctor from the Whitebeard Pirates came running with a medical kit. The moment he saw Ace's wound, his expression instantly darkened.
In all his years as a doctor, this was the first time he had seen such a fatal injury!
Seeing that the doctor wasn't treating Ace, Luffy desperately urged him on. But at that moment, Ace spoke up and interrupted Luffy.
Ace understood his own condition very well. Most of his internal organs were gone—he was beyond saving…
Luffy still refused to believe it. With a sobbing voice, he begged Ivankov to give Ace the injection. Seeing Luffy like this, Ivankov spoke with great reluctance.
"It's no use! Straw Hat boy… Ace is already…"
Hearing even Ivankov say this, Luffy's last hope was shattered. He shouted loudly that Ace had said he wouldn't die, tears already streaming from his eyes.
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