The End of the Old Era, Whitebeard's Final Curtain!
The Whitebeard's bold words had not yet faded in the wind, and the heavens seemed to still echo his words—
"The Whitebeard Pirates will never perish!"
"Bang--!"
Marco was blasted away by Roy's punch like a meteor, crashing heavily into the Scorched Earth!
The Blue Flames shattered, the wings scattered, and the once Phoenix lay motionless, its chest heaving violently, but it was no longer able to fight!
Marco?!
The Whitebeard's eyes widened in fury as he struggled to step forward, but the moment he lifted his foot, he saw—
Roy had Teleportation back to his position, standing shoulder to shoulder with Sakazuki, like two gods of ice and fire, looking down upon him, the crumbling "old king."
At that moment, Whitebeard even felt that the sky no longer belonged to him.
"Ace, Enel."
Roy's tone was calm as still water, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority:
"Tie Marco and Teach..."
"Clear."
Ace erupted in flames, leaped into the air, and streaked the flames with a long trail of fire as he rushed toward the unconscious Marco.
Enel, enveloped in lightning, mercilessly stomped on Teach's charred back, sneering:
"Run? Try running one more time?"
The lightning bolts struck Teach's wounds, producing a sizzling sound, but he didn't even have the strength to groan.
The Whitebeard was about to speak again.
"Hell Hound!!"
Sensing that the remnants of Whitebeard's crew had escaped, Sakazuki flew into a rage and attacked, his lava-filled right arm erupting like a volcano, hurtling towards Whitebeard!
"Boom--!"
The giant lava fist pierced through half of Whitebeard's head!
The intense heat instantly burned the flesh, and a burnt, foul odor immediately filled the air!
"Cough... gurgle..."
The Whitebeard staggered backward, one of his eyes burned through, blood streaming down his beard, yet he continued to laugh wildly!
"Gurara la la...!!"
He mustered the last of his strength, Murakumogiri, and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was released with a roar!
"I'll shatter you, you little bastard!!"
"Bang!!"
Sakazuki was so shocked that he staggered back several steps, his battle robe ripped apart on his chest!
Just as Whitebeard was about to give chase--
"Thump--!"
Roy's Iron Fist has arrived!
A powerful punch, condensed from the starlight of the Milky Way, pierced through the Whitebeard's abdomen, the fist protruding through his body, and blood gushed out like a waterfall!
Whitebeard knelt on the ground, his massive body like a broken mountain peak. Murakumogiri was driven into the Scorched Earth, and he used it to support his broken body, his chest heaving violently!
"Is this... the end...?"
"Cough... but at least..."
He looked up at the distant horizon—
It's as if I can see the Moby Dick cutting through the waves, struggling to escape the storm's edge!
"At least... the children... escaped..."
Sakazuki stepped forward, the lava coalesced once more, and he raised his fist to end his life!
Roy raised his hand to stop him and shook his head.
Sakazuki snorted coldly, withdrew his fist, and stepped back.
This emperor of a bygone era was still breathing slowly, like the last old lion, fighting to the very last second.
Roy silently stared at the Whitebeard, his fingertips slightly raised.
"Whoosh--!"
Space rippled and vibrated, and the next second, Roy, Sakazuki, Ace, Enel, along with the unconscious Teach and Marco, were all transported to a high altitude!
--Like an external observer!
Below, the final natural disaster has arrived!
"Boom--!"
Two tsunamis roared and crashed in from the left and right!
Standing hundreds of meters tall, it resembled the palm of a god or demon descending from the sky!
The already shattered island was torn to pieces by the impact of the tsunami!
Shattered islands rolled over, mountains collapsed, and the afterglow of thunder and flames was swallowed by the waves!
The massive figure in the center of the island, still kneeling with a knife in hand—
The entire island, along with the ocean, was swallowed up!
The waves gradually calmed down, and the light of day returned.
The Thunderclouds dispersed, and the sea of fire was extinguished.
Whitebeard, the name that supported the entire old era, has finally returned to the abyss of the sea.
High Above: The Aftermath of the War
Roy, Sakazuki, Enel, and Ace stood silently above the sky, where Thunderclouds intertwined.
Beneath my feet lies Deserted Island in the sea that has long since collapsed and sunk.
The air still retained the acrid smell of the shockwave and the residual heat of the electric arc.
As the sun sets, a crimson glow spreads across the sea, like a final funeral for an old era.
The afterimage of the Moby Dick had long since disappeared into the horizon, leaving only lingering smoke, and all was silent.
Roy stared at the remaining sea at his feet, his eyes deep, and remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking in a low voice:
"... Have we gone too far?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to pierce through the entire sky, causing the surrounding winds to howl.
Sakazuki snorted coldly, molten steam rising from his shoulders, his tone resolute. "A young woman's kindness!"
"If Whitebeard doesn't die, it won't just be us who die! It will be millions of oppressed civilians who die!"
"This is war, Roy."
Enel stood with his arms crossed, golden lightning rings slowly swirling around him, but he remained silent.
A slight smile played on his lips, but unusually, he abandoned his mockery, as if contemplating some higher dimension of destiny.
Ace kept his head down; the flames had long since died down, but blood was still seeping from the wound on his shoulder.
His fists were clenched tightly, but he didn't utter a word.
No one spoke, but everyone understood.
This was a war that would determine the course of the world.
Warships are approaching from afar, cutting through the waves...
Warship deck
"Whoosh--!"
The space trembled slightly, and the four of them, along with the unconscious Teach and Marco, appeared on the deck of the Warship.
With a whoosh, the naval officers and soldiers who had been waiting all the way saluted in unison, their voices filled with excitement:
"Admiral Sakazuki! Vice Admiral Roy! The results have been confirmed!"
They looked at Marco and Teach, bound by shackles of lightning and fire, with eyes filled with awe and fanaticism.
Sakazuki glanced at the two disheveled figures and asked in a deep voice, "What do you plan to do with these two?"
Roy said calmly, "They're still useful to me, so hand them over to me first."
Sakazuki raised an eyebrow, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded.
"Good."
"I'll contact Fleet Admiral Sengoku first."
He turned and strode towards the communications room, a low voice behind him saying, "Take that brat to get his injuries treated, then come back."
Roy watched him leave, then said to Enel, "Lock them up with Seastone, lock them in the hold, and keep a close watch on them."
"Especially that fat black one."
"I understand."
Enel grinned, lightning engulfing the two of them. "I'll take good care of them~"
The iron gate slowly opened.
"Click--"
With a lightning bolt, Enel, a chilling smile on his face, kicked the unconscious Teach into a solitary confinement cell;
Marco was thrown heavily into another compartment, his face pale and unconscious.
The door slammed shut, and darkness immediately engulfed the two former members of the Four Emperors' crew.
Warship Medical Room
"Hiss--"
Ace sat on the hospital bed as the medic carefully cleaned the charred wound on his shoulder.
The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and blood.
"Tick-tock... tick-tock..."
Blood dripped onto the pristine white bandage, spreading in concentric circles.
Click.
The door was gently pushed open, and Roy walked in.
The military doctor immediately stood up, saluted, and quietly withdrew.
Only the two brothers remained inside.
Silence spread between them like a tide.
After a long silence, Ace finally whispered, "... Roy."
He didn't add any more pointless questions like "Are you alright?"
His voice was hoarse and heavy. "Did we really... do the right thing?"
Roy walked to the window, the sea breeze gently blowing his cloak, the mark of Justice gleaming coldly in the setting sun.
He said slowly, "In this world, there is no absolute right or wrong."
"Only choices that must be made."
He turned to Ace, his gaze icy. "Whitebeard... must die."
"His old era must end."
Only in this way--
Only then can we establish a new order.
Ace lowered his head, clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.
Blood seeped out again from the unhealed wound and dripped onto the ground.
He gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "The order of New Era..."
Roy stared at him, remaining silent for a long time.