Garp's Collapse, Whitebeard's Fury

The dead silence lasted only three seconds.

After those three seconds came a violent uproar that swept across the globe.

"Are you kidding me? How could Captain Ace possibly die?"

"What's the Paramount War? Are the Marines going to war with the Whitebeard Pirates?"

"These choices are ridiculous! How could Vice Admiral Garp possibly get his own grandson killed?"

"It has to be Blackbeard, that traitor."

Den Den Mushi rang nonstop across the world. Reporters from major newspapers scrambled madly to secure the headline, while betting pools in the Underworld opened instantly, their odds shifting wildly around the four choices.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"Silence."

Sengoku used Haki, his voice booming like a great bell as he forcibly quelled the chaos in the square.

But cracks had already appeared in their trust.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is definitely an enemy plot intended to undermine our morale."

Akainu Sakazuki's voice was icy, his eyes seeming ready to spew magma. "Listing Mr. Garp as an option is an especially malicious slander."

"Oh?" Kuzan glanced lazily at Garp beside him and said pointedly, "I don't think it necessarily came out of nowhere."

Everyone's attention fell on the former Marine hero.

Garp stood motionless like a weathered stone statue, his forehead covered in cold sweat that soaked his Justice Coat.

The "what if" he had buried deep in his heart, one he had never even dared to contemplate, that ultimate conflict between blood ties and allegiance, had now been laid bare, bloody and undisguised, before the entire world by this mysterious livestream.

He would get Ace killed.

The thought gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

Meanwhile, in the New World, aboard the Moby Dick.

"Bastard! I'm going to kill Blackbeard!"

"It has to be a Marine trick. Let's charge into Marineford right now!"

The furious "sons" clamored to go into battle, their killing intent making the surrounding seawater churn.

"All of you, shut up."

Whitebeard raised a hand, silencing the uproar.

Though his enormous body was hooked up to IV lines, the imposing presence he radiated was still that of the World's Strongest.

"Gurararara! Don't jump to conclusions yet. I want to see for myself what this so-called 'god' has to say."

His laughter held none of its usual boisterousness, only suppressed fury.

Just then, the text on the sky screen changed again.

[Answering rules: First-response mode activated. Countdown: Three minutes. All intelligent beings in the world may attempt to answer]

[Countdown started: 2 minutes 59 seconds]

For a moment, countless voices rose toward the sky.

"I choose C, Blackbeard!"

"I choose B. It's definitely that madman Akainu!"

[Incorrect answer]

[Incorrect answer]

The system's cold, merciless notification sounded again and again.

Sabaody Archipelago.

"Ace won't die!"

After a brief moment of confusion, Luffy was seized by overwhelming panic and anger. He shouted at the sky with all his strength, "You bastards! Ace isn't going to die! I'm going to save him!"

The system picked up his shout, but it was not judged to be a valid answer.

"Calm down, Luffy."

Dark King Rayleigh held down his trembling shoulder. Even this legendary pirate, who had weathered countless storms, had a flicker of shock in his eyes.

He realized that what the screen revealed was likely an irreversible, predetermined "future."

The countdown ticked away, second by second, and the whole world waited with bated breath.

Three minutes passed quickly.

[Countdown ended. No correct answers]

[The correct answer will now be revealed]

A golden light burst across the screen, and everyone's heart rose into their throat.

Then a giant letter appeared, fixed against the sky.

[D]

The world erupted.

"How is that possible?"

"Garp the Hero, the one responsible for getting his own grandson killed?"

"This is absurd. I don't believe it."

Countless people thought it was a fairy tale, even harder to believe than news that Gol D. Roger was still alive.

At Marine Headquarters, Garp swayed, nearly losing his footing.

Sengoku and Tsuru's expressions turned grim.

Yet before anyone had time to question or discuss it, the livestream's icy voice rang out again.

[The answer explanation will now be played]

The image on the sky screen changed. Instead of text, it now showed moving images so clear that it felt as though the viewers were there.

The scene showed Marineford in the future, with flames raging around the Execution Platform.

A figure wearing a straw hat, none other than Luffy, was charging desperately toward Ace, who was bound with seastone.

Garp, wearing his Marine Justice Coat, stood in Luffy's way.

"If you want to get past me, you'll have to step over my dead body, Luffy!"

The future Garp roared, his face twisted in anguish.

But when Luffy, tears in his eyes, threw a punch at him, he closed his eyes and let the not particularly powerful blow send him flying with ease, clearing a path to Ace.

At that point, the whole world understood.

He had held back.

It was a grandfather's love for his grandson, a family bond he could not sever.

But immediately afterward, the scene changed.

Just before Luffy could save Ace, Marine Admiral Akainu appeared. His words provoked Ace, who stopped to defend Whitebeard's dignity.

Then Akainu aimed his magma fist at the weakened Luffy.

In the end, that searing fist pierced the chest of Fire Fist Ace, who had turned back to protect his younger brother.

The two scenes had been seamlessly edited together.

They formed an irrefutable and profoundly shocking chain of cause and effect.

It was Garp's moment of hesitation and restraint because of their family bond that had allowed Luffy to reach the Execution Platform.

And it was Luffy's appearance that gave Akainu the opening to provoke Ace and ultimately find a chance to kill him.

It had all started with Garp.

The video ended, and the world fell into dead silence once again.

This was no longer speculation, but ironclad proof.

At that moment, a huge crack appeared in the image of the Marine "hero."

Aboard the Moby Dick, everyone fell silent.

They understood that the enemies in this war were not all out in the open.

Just then, the livestream's mechanical voice rang out for the third time, carrying an entirely emotionless note of judgment.

[Answer explanation complete]

[Rewards and punishments will now be issued to those involved in this incident]

The whole world's heart rose into its throat once more.

What would this unprecedented "divine punishment" and "divine grace" be?