The Going Merry sailed slowly across the sea. A hawk swept overhead, dropping a lifeless figure.
"Oh, there he is."
Lina leaped up and caught Whitebeard's body. After landing, she laid him flat on the grassy deck.
His entire body was riddled with bullet holes and slash wounds. Akainu had also blown two holes through his chest, and nearly all his blood had drained away.
Even the man known as the strongest in the world, the one who had come closest to claiming the title of Pirate King, had met his end in battle.
Lina placed a hand on his shoulder. Azure Flame slowly spread over his entire body.
After a long while, the cold flames withdrew into her palm, turning into a flickering ember.
Fighting three opponents at once—the Blue, Red, and Yellow Admirals—Whitebeard had died a glorious death, hadn't he?
After all, aside from Luffy, there probably wasn't anyone else who could stand up to all three head-on and survive.
She quietly watched the ember in her hand, sensing the information it contained.
A moment later, a trace of disappointment showed in Lina's eyes.
"What a shame. He can't fuse with the War Ogre."
Despite Whitebeard's enormous size, he didn't have a trace of giant blood.
If she could use the War Ogre's power to wield the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, she could probably shatter Marineford with a single punch and send it beneath the sea.
Then Lina would have to charge into the New World ahead of schedule.
Still, Whitebeard himself had been incredibly strong. It was just a shame that he'd grown old.
"Lina!"
A shout came from far away.
The Whitebeard Pirates had broken through the blockade of warships. Luffy stood at the bow, waving at her.
Looking farther back, she saw Akainu chasing after them from