Just when everyone thought Monkey D. Luffy would be sent flying by Vice Admiral Garp's fist, only Solomon Carl exhaled a slow ring of smoke, unfazed.
"Grandpa, please! Let me go over there!" Luffy's voice rang out as his feet pounded against the stone bridge.
Garp clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. "I won't hold back, Luffy!"
Yet, in the instant his punch was about to land, Garp hesitated. His eyes shut briefly.
Boom!
The fists crossed paths, but Luffy's punch connected, striking Garp square in the face and knocking the Marine hero off the crumbling stone bridge.
Sengoku gritted his teeth, veins bulging. "In the end, he's still your grandson, Garp."
Before the bridge completely collapsed, Luffy sprinted toward the execution platform, gasping for breath. "Finally… finally, I made it!"
Ace's eyes widened in disbelief. "Luffy… you idiot."
Luffy hurriedly pulled out the key Boa Hancock had secretly slipped to him, fumbling to unlock Ace's seastone cuffs.
Below, Admiral Kizaru smirked, his usual lazy tone laced with amusement. "Oh my, I didn't expect you to have something like that~ Straw Hat Luffy."
He casually lifted a finger, a golden light forming at the tip—Pew!
A precise laser shot out, piercing through the key in Luffy's grasp, shattering it into pieces.
"The key!" Luffy exclaimed.
Sengoku's body began to radiate golden light, his muscles expanding as he prepared to activate his Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu form.
Snap!
A firm hand landed on Sengoku's shoulder.
He turned, eyes narrowing in surprise. "Carl?"
Carl's expression remained impassive. "Marshal Sengoku, let me handle this."
Sengoku hesitated, but then gave a slight nod. "Alright."
Carl turned his attention to Luffy. "So, you still intend to save Ace?" His lips curled into a knowing smirk.
Luffy's pupils shrank. "You…!" His body suddenly expanded, steam rising as Gear Second activated, his blood pumping at superhuman speed.
Carl was a Marine monster—an opponent Luffy knew he couldn't underestimate.
"Run, Luffy!" Ace yelled, panic in his voice. "This isn't someone you can beat yet!"
Luffy didn't listen. He clenched his fist. "Gomu Gomu no—"
Sa!
In an instant, Carl vanished from sight.
Luffy's eyes darted around frantically. Then—
Boom!
A kick coated in black Armament Haki struck Luffy's gut, sending him flying. His body spasmed midair, arcs of black lightning crackling around him—his latent Conqueror's Haki reacting to the impact.
"Luffy!" Ace shouted.
Carl calmly snuffed out his cigar, blowing a slow stream of smoke. "You have the Conqueror's Haki, yet you barely know how to use it. Why not try again?"
"Damn it!" Ace gritted his teeth, his wrists straining against his cuffs.
Carl wasn't concerned. He was here for one thing—revenge.
Twice now, he had nearly been struck down by Conqueror's Haki. First by Silvers Rayleigh, then by Vista—both swordsmen, both inconveniently placed in his way.
Carl sat next to Ace, replacing Garp's previous spot. He crossed his legs, retrieving another cigar. "Ace, do you remember me? We met in Alabasta."
Ace's expression darkened. "It's you!"
The Marine who passed him back then—the one with three blades at his waist.
Carl smirked. "Yeah, it's me." He struck a match, the flame flickering as he lit the cigar.
He exhaled a cloud of smoke. "To be honest, I never cared that you're the son of Gol D. Roger." His tone was indifferent. "Your bloodline means nothing to me. Whether you're the Pirate King's son or a commoner, it changes nothing."
Carl's eyes grew cold. "But you chose to be a pirate. That alone determines your fate."
Ace clenched his fists.
Carl continued, voice unwavering. "All pirates are criminals. In that, I agree with Sakazuki."
The Whitebeard Pirates, no matter how noble their reputation, still lived off plunder. Pirates didn't produce wealth; they took it. Even Luffy had freed hundreds of criminals from Impel Down, upsetting the world's balance.
Carl was indifferent to it all—until it landed directly in his path.
Below, Garp remained silent, his face shrouded in shadow.
Carl patted Ace's shoulder. "That's enough talking. Your execution is set. There's no escaping it."
He turned toward Sengoku. "Marshal, reassign two executioners to the platform."
Sengoku blinked, momentarily distracted before grabbing a Den Den Mushi to issue the command.
"Huh? Where am I?"
On the execution platform, Mr. 3, who had been knocked out earlier by Conqueror's Haki, groggily woke up.
Carl barely glanced back, exhaling smoke. "Oh, I forgot about you."
With a casual flick of his wrist—Boom!
A jet-black Armament Haki punch sent Mr. 3 flying off the platform.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Whitebeard swung his massive naginata, sending Marines hurtling through the air. His piercing gaze locked onto the execution platform.
"Ace…"
The situation was grim. Even if his men broke through the encirclement, that young Marine—Carl—was a roadblock far worse than expected.
And then there were still three Admirals, Sengoku, and Garp.
Carl met Whitebeard's stare, tapping ash from his cigar. This war had been stacked against the pirates from the start. The only reason it had dragged out this long was because many Marines were holding back, while Akainu alone relentlessly pushed forward.
And yet, despite it all—Akainu still won.
"Give… Ace… back to me!"
Luffy, barely conscious, forced himself up. His blank eyes were filled with desperation as he dashed toward the platform once more.
"It's useless~"
Kizaru appeared in a flash, his foot glowing gold. "Yasakani no Magatama."
A kick sent Luffy crashing into Marco's grasp.
Suddenly—Boom!
A loud explosion erupted from the harbor.
Everyone turned.
A giant ship, driven by sheer force, bulldozed through Marine defenses, pushing Whitebeard's fleet forward.
On the bow, Squard raised his sword. "Pops! Leave this to us!"
"You reckless fool!"
Marco and the others shouted.
Squard clenched his fists. "After what I did, I have to make this right!"
The ship surged toward the execution platform.
Boom!
It stopped—caught by a single palm.
Whitebeard, his chest heaving, looked at the battlefield. Marines swarmed his crew. His decision was made.
Hummm—
His naginata gleamed as the strongest man in the world unleashed his power.
Akainu lunged. "Inugami Guren!"
Magma spewed forth.
But Whitebeard's blade fell first.
Boom!
The very ground fractured, the air shattered. Marineford trembled as Marines were hurled away.
"Everyone, behind me!" Whitebeard roared.
The pirates hesitated, then retreated.
Whitebeard smiled. "The new era has no ship that can carry me!"
Carl exhaled, watching the legendary man prepare for his final stand.
The beast, cornered, was about to strike its deadliest blow.
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