Shhk!!!
Sakazuki's magma fist finally punched clean through Whitebeard's heart, sending blood gushing out.
"Gurarara!"
Even with a gaping hole in his chest, Whitebeard still laughed at the top of his lungs, desperately keeping his Devil Fruit power working until the very end, as though he could feel no pain at all.
His arms never loosened their grip in the slightest.
At that moment, everyone present watched the scene in utter shock.
They watched Whitebeard hold on until his very last breath faded away. Only then did his booming, heroic laughter slowly fall silent.
Only then did his world-shattering Devil Fruit ability cease.
Yet even in death, his towering body remained upright, firm and unyielding.
As Sakazuki slowly landed after enduring those devastating tremors, he could not help dropping to one knee, panting slightly.
He took a full second to recover before standing again.
He gazed deeply at Whitebeard's imposing figure, which would rather break than bend even in death, then turned and left without a word.
For Whitebeard to have reduced him to such a sorry state with the strength of the old era, he deserved that much respect.
Whatever happened next had nothing to do with him as Fleet Admiral.
"Splendid. Absolutely splendid!"
Seated high upon his throne, Ross also smiled approvingly and gently clapped a few times.
He lowered his gaze with interest, looking at Whitebeard's corpse, and said softly:
"Give him a proper burial."
With that, he, Gion, and Stella vanished into thin air.
The show was over.
There was no need for him to remain here.
As for the survivors, even Marco and the others had their own tasks to carry out as they went on living.
After all, it would be best for those who had witnessed Luffy's spectacular little interlude today to spread