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[Blackbeard's sudden appearance was like a massive boulder crashing into an already raging battlefield, instantly stirring everyone's emotions!]
[Standing below, Sengoku's brows furrowed tightly. A flash of shock and suspicion passed through those sharp eyes that had always read the flow of battle.]
[When his gaze swept over the group of pirates standing beside Teach—each with wildly different appearances yet all radiating an aura of danger—the Fleet Admiral's expression grew more grave than ever before…]
That towering, mountain-like giant shadow belonged to none other than "Giant Battleship" Sanjuan Wolf.
Every step he took caused the ground to tremble slightly, as though even the air grew thin in his presence.
Even more chilling was the face of "King of Evil Governance" Vasco Shot—Bartolomeo Pizarro—now wearing a half-smile that was equal parts arrogance and cruelty.
And "Crescent Moon Hunter" Catarina Devon, her eerie eyes glinting with bloodlust.
"Big Barrel" Vasco Shot's signature liquor jug swayed in his hand; though his eyes were hazy with drink, killing intent lurked beneath.
What unsettled Sengoku the most was the familiar figure standing at Blackbeard's side—former Impel Down Chief Guard, Shiryu of the Rain.
This man's betrayal meant Blackbeard had already seized Impel Down's deadliest secrets.
[When Whitebeard clearly saw the intruder's face, an unprecedented fury ignited in those battle-worn eyes!]
This rage felt even colder down the spine than when Whitebeard had faced Sakazuki earlier.
Marco and the others could clearly sense Whitebeard's massive body trembling—not from pain, but from the deepest anguish and wrath in his heart.
Under the effect of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the air began emitting a low, ominous hum, as though the entire world was responding to Whitebeard's emotional surge!
"Only you…"
Whitebeard's voice was low and dangerous, like the final calm before a storm.
"Only you are unworthy of being called my son!"
The words forced their way through gritted teeth, carrying bone-deep regret and fury.
Whitebeard slowly raised the fist that had once shaken the world. Visible shockwaves gathered on it, compressed, and finally transformed into a heaven-rending, earth-destroying impact.
"BOOM!"
The full power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit erupted in this moment. Wherever the shockwave passed, the sturdy execution platform cracked and shattered, sending debris flying.
The Blackbeard Pirates members on the high platform were caught completely off guard. Amid screams, they tumbled from the collapsing structure.
Blackbeard crashed heavily to the ground. Pizarro tried to maintain his nauseatingly elegant posture even while falling. Devon let out sharp curses. Shot's liquor jug traced an arc through the air, spilling alcohol everywhere…
"You broke the one iron rule on this ship!"
Whitebeard's voice exploded like thunder across every corner of the battlefield.
Every member of the Whitebeard Pirates trembled inwardly at this roar filled with such pain.
They knew all too well the weight of that iron rule. In this pirate crew that called one another "family," harming a crewmate was an unforgivable crime.
Blackbeard struggled to his feet amid the rubble, yet his face still wore that repulsive manic grin: "Zehahaha! Pops, the times have changed!"
His laughter carried a chilling ambition. "The me of today has already obtained power enough to change the world!"
Sengoku watched coldly, his mind racing to analyze Blackbeard's true purpose here.
Was he here to pick up the scraps? Or did he have another goal?
This man's arrival made an already chaotic battlefield even more unpredictable.
What worried him most was that every criminal gathered around Blackbeard possessed terrifying strength capable of standing alone.
Their involvement could very well become the final straw that broke this war.
Whitebeard endured the pain wracking his body and advanced step by step.
With every step, the earth responded to his fury.
His towering figure flickered in and out amid the gun smoke, like a deity walking toward final judgment.
"Thatch's vengeance…"
Whitebeard's low voice echoed across the battlefield!
"And the dignity of every family member you betrayed—today, I will personally reclaim it all!"
At this moment, the entire Marineford held its breath.
Everyone realized that the course of this war would now take an unpredictable turn because of Blackbeard's appearance.
And the fateful confrontation between Whitebeard and Blackbeard was destined to etch the most vivid, ink-heavy stroke onto this blood-soaked battlefield!
Marco spread his wings wide. Azure phoenix flames soared skyward.
He was about to fly across the bottomless chasm when Whitebeard's furious shout exploded like thunder: "No one is allowed to interfere!"
The command was short and absolute—its meaning crystal clear.
Marco's wings froze in midair. The phoenix flames flickered uncertainly between his feathers.
He gazed at Whitebeard's towering back, then slowly landed, choosing to obey his father's will.
"Zehahahahaha!"
Blackbeard's laughter echoed through the ruins, dripping with disgusting smugness.
"Pops, I really did respect you once. But you're old now—too old to even save your own subordinates!"
He spread his arms wide. Thick darkness surged from his body, spreading across the ground like ink soaking paper, devouring everything.
Wherever the darkness reached, even light seemed to be swallowed.
Whitebeard's body began to sink. Those boots that had once trampled countless battlefields were now slowly being engulfed by endless darkness.
"I even deliberately left Ace alive for a bit!"
Teach continued his arrogant rant, the fat on his face twisting with manic laughter.
[Whitebeard tried to activate the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, but the moment the darkness touched him, he felt an unprecedented helplessness…]
That darkness was like a bottomless abyss, absorbing all his strength.
At that instant, Teach's heavy fist smashed brutally into the wound on Whitebeard's chest.
The searing pain made Whitebeard grunt. He swung his fist again—yet it was still swallowed by the darkness.
Even Murakumogiri, which had accompanied him through countless battles, slipped from his grasp for the first time, tracing a powerless arc through the air.
But could a legend of this sea truly submit so easily?
[Just as Teach grew cocky and off-guard, Whitebeard endured the agony, reached out, and firmly caught the falling Murakumogiri.]
[Blade light flashed. The sharp edge struck solidly into Teach's shoulder—blood immediately gushed forth!]
The situation reversed in an instant.
Whitebeard's massive hand seized Teach's throat, slamming the arrogant traitor hard to the ground.
The Teach who had just been so domineering now looked like a chicken being choked—struggling futilely.
"Arrogance… recklessness… those are your weaknesses!"
Whitebeard's voice was like judgment from the abyss.
"Stop… Pops! Spare me!"
Teach began to panic and beg. His appearance was utterly grotesque.
But there was not the slightest wavering in Whitebeard's eyes.
The shockwaves gathered in his hand once more. This time, he would exact justice for every betrayed family member.
BOOM!
The second eruption of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit made the entire island tremble. The ground split into countless bottomless ravines.
Just when everyone thought the outcome was decided, as the dust cleared—Teach was still alive.
And Whitebeard—this once-unbeatable man—finally faltered from his grievous wounds, his movements suffering a fatal lag.
Whitebeard's body began glowing red, as though every inch of muscle was burning its final life force.
He advanced step by step, leaving blood-colored footprints on the ground.
His right fist rose again—this time, he vowed to end this traitor's life.
However…
"BANG!"
A gunshot rang through the air.
No one had expected Teach to suddenly pull a flintlock from his coat and aim it at Whitebeard.
That despicable bullet halted Whitebeard's descending fatal strike.
"Fire! Everyone, fire!!" Teach roared hoarsely.
In an instant, bullets poured down like rain. Every member of the Blackbeard Pirates raised their weapons—blades and gunfire weaving a net of death.
Bullets pierced his towering body. Blades tore into his sturdy arms. Blood bloomed like red lotuses at his feet.
The gunfire lasted a full minute.
When the final shot faded into the gun smoke, Whitebeard still stood tall.
But his body was riddled with holes.
[The sea wind howled across the battlefield, carrying the scent of blood…]
[The greatest pirate of this era now stood like a weathered monument—covered in wounds, yet still proudly upright.]
[Whitebeard's eyes—always gazing into the distance—remained open until this very moment!]
…
"This…"
Watching the light screen, Rocks suddenly whipped his head around. His broad chest heaved violently. Those eyes that had once terrified countless pirates now brimmed with indescribable pain.
"Teach… what the hell are you doing?!"
The roar seemed torn from the depths of his soul.
Rocks's gaze locked dead onto the corner—onto the small boy curled up in his wife's arms.
Rage and bewilderment swirled into a raging vortex in his eyes!
Rage—because though Rocks had committed countless evils in his life, he had always held to one bottom line as a man.
Bewilderment—because no matter how he tried, he could not comprehend how his own blood could fall so low.
"I plunder, I kill—but I have never betrayed or harmed my friends!"
Rocks's voice trembled with emotion. "But you… you actually…"
"Waaah!"
Young Teach was terrified by his father's ferocious expression and burst into loud sobs. His small face buried into his mother Eris's clothes, his thin shoulders shaking nonstop.
In this timid, frightened state, no one could connect him to the heinous Blackbeard of the future.
"Enough, Rocks!"
Just as Rocks was about to continue his outburst, a steady voice interrupted him.
It was Whitebeard. His expression was complex and hard to read.
Looking at his own tragic end on the screen, then at the innocent child before him, he slowly shook his head: "Don't take it out on a child. What does he understand right now?"
Whitebeard's voice carried undisguised exhaustion, yet still held that characteristic magnanimity.
Even after witnessing his own miserable fate, he could still distinguish right from wrong.
What did any of this have to do with the trembling child in front of them?
Eris held little Teach tightly. Tears slid silently down her cheeks.
She gently stroked the child's back, her gaze shifting between her husband and the screen—finally resting on Whitebeard with eyes full of gratitude.
Rocks regained his composure. He picked up little Teach and began apologizing—though his heart remained extremely, extremely conflicted.
He looked at the figure still standing tall amid the rain of bullets on the screen, then glanced at his sobbing son, and finally closed his eyes in pain.
Only the child's intermittent sobs echoed.
In this moment, everyone fell into deep thought—about the impermanence of fate, the weight of choices…
About what kind of distortion a child must endure to become the figure seen in the future.
Whitebeard let out a deep sigh. A faint, almost imperceptible trace of pity flashed through those eyes that had witnessed countless joys and sorrows.
Even when facing the childhood of an enemy who had betrayed him, this man—whose heart was as vast as the sea—ultimately could not bring himself to take out his anger on an innocent child.
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