Send-Off for Pops! The Sea Is Vast, but There's Always a Shore to Come Ashore On!

Under the lens of a global live broadcast, the cherry blossom grove on Sphinx Island is as beautiful as a painting.

Akira and the Whitebeard, sitting on the ground, seemed not to be mortal enemies, but rather old friends who had not seen each other for many years.

The world's attention, through countless screens, is focused on this tranquil scene.

Sudden.

Whitebeard put down the huge, now-empty barrel of sake he was holding.

He slowly stood up, his massive body resembling an awakened volcano; the mere act of rising caused a slight tremor in the ground beneath his feet.

Immediately afterwards, he grabbed the naginata Murakumogiri in the ground, and an incomparably terrifying aura burst forth from his body, causing the cloak behind him, a symbol of an era, to flutter wildly.

Countless people in front of the camera, even those separated by a screen, seemed to feel that suffocating sense of oppression.

Immediately afterwards, the Whitebeard threw his head back and burst into his signature hearty laughter.

"Gulalalalalala!"

"With the Navy Marshal himself coming to see off this remnant of the old era, I can say my life has not been in vain!"

"Come on, Navy Marshal Akira! Let's have a good, satisfying battle!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Akira didn't hesitate at all, and immediately stood up and grabbed the hilt of the knife at his waist.

Accompanied by a melodious whistle, the sword was drawn swiftly and decisively. Centered on Akira, the invisible Three Types of Haki instantly transformed into a tangible domain. The air around him twisted and deformed, and the falling cherry blossom petals were crushed into dust the moment they entered the domain of Haki.

"Huh? This is Conqueror's Haki?" Whitebeard's pupils contracted. "No, it's not just Conqueror's Haki, you've actually fused Three Types of Haki together to create Haki Domain!"

Despite this, he showed no fear; on the contrary, his fighting spirit intensified.

He gripped the naginata tightly in one hand, and with the other hand, he formed a fist, veins bulging on his arm, and punched the air in front of him with ferocity.

"Click--"

The space shattered as if it were a mirror.

He unleashed the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to its fullest extent, unleashing a pure white shockwave that tore through the earth, carrying the power to destroy everything, and hurtling straight toward Akira.

However, the terrifying shockwave that was powerful enough to overturn the island and tear everything apart was completely obliterated the moment it entered the invisible domain surrounding Akira, like a mud ox entering the sea, without causing the slightest ripple.

"What?!"

This scene caused the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates to gasp in shock.

Whitebeard himself was also greatly shocked, but he did not stop his attack. He raised his naginata high and slashed down at Akira's head!

This single strike is enough to cause the heavens and earth to tremble, and to create waves hundreds of meters high in the ocean.

Akira simply stood there calmly, without even raising his knife to block.

The naginata, shrouded in a white aura, was once again blocked by that invisible domain just before it was about to touch his forehead. The blade stopped in mid-air, unable to advance any further.

The destructive power unleashed by the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was completely suppressed by Akira's Haki Domain, causing not even a slight tremor, let alone an earthquake or tsunami.

"Gurala la la la..."

Looking at this silent and eerie scene, Whitebeard suddenly laughed, "So that's how it is. The Haki Domain developed through the Three Types of Haki truly lives up to its reputation as the power that stands at the pinnacle of the world!"

Akira nodded slightly, "Without invincible strength, how dare I presume to claim the end of the Great Pirate Era!"

Upon hearing this, knowing that his Devil Fruit ability had lost its meaning in this area, Whitebeard abandoned using his Devil Fruit ability and instead wrapped all the Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki he had honed throughout his life around his naginata, transforming it into the purest power, and then slammed it down!

Akira finally moved.

He raised his long sword and casually met the attack.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a crisp sound of collision.

At the very moment the two Supreme Grade Sword clashed, the ultimate power collapsed inward and then suddenly erupted.

boom--

A terrifying force, indescribable in words, surged back from the naginata in an instant.

"Um?"

Whitebeard's pupils constricted; he tried to dodge but it was too late, and he could only watch helplessly as the terrifying power engulfed him.

The next second, his massive body was sent flying backward as if hit by a cannonball, crashing through the edge of the cherry blossom grove with a loud bang, and tumbling all the way to land on the open ground in front of Marco and the others.

Bang!

The ground collapsed, creating a giant crater.

The shockwave sent Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the other captains flying, tumbling to the ground in disarray.

"Dad!"

"How could this be! He defeated Dad in a single move—"

Everyone's expression changed drastically as they stared at the Whitebeard struggling to get up from the giant pit, their eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

"Damn it! Let's all attack together!" Diamond Jozu roared, about to charge forward.

"That's right! Let's fight him!"

The captains' eyes were bloodshot; they couldn't accept that their strongest leader had been defeated so easily.

"All of you, step back!"

A weak yet still authoritative shout came from the deep pit.

At Whitebeard's shout, everyone stopped, and several captains, led by Marco, immediately rushed over.

The Whitebeard wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked around at his sons whose faces were filled with worry and grief, and a gentle smile appeared on his weathered face.

Immediately afterwards, he opened his arms and pulled Marco, Jozu, and the others who had suddenly appeared into his embrace.

Before Marco others could react, Whitebeard's voice rang clearly in their ears:

"Though the sea is vast, there is always a shore where you can dock."

Whitebeard's voice was no longer as bold as before, but carried a fatherly tenderness. "My sons, the Sphinx is the shore you must reach."

After a slight pause, the Whitebeard released his grip, straightened up, patted Marco on the shoulder, and then his familiar, hearty laughter rang out once more.

"Gurala la la la!"

Amidst the laughter, the Whitebeard turned to face the young Marshal who was slowly emerging from the cherry blossom grove, sword in hand. He then slowly opened his arms, completely exposing his defenseless chest to the other man. "Come on, Akira!"

"I've traversed the Grand Line for decades, and I've never had a single scar on my back from an escape!"

Akira continued walking, respecting this king of the old era, and thus he would give him the most dignified end.

In a flash, Akira appeared in front of the Whitebeard.

"It's over, Whitebeard!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Akira decisively raised his knife and swung it down cleanly and forcefully at the broad chest of the Whitebeard.

Pfft!

The long sword fell, and blood splattered everywhere.

After slashing down, Akira skillfully sheathed his sword, then looked up at the imposing figure with blood mist rising from his chest.

"Gulalalalala~"

With arms outstretched and blood mist rising from his chest, the Whitebeard let out a familiar, hearty laugh, "Akira little brat, you believe One Piece is real, right?!"

The sudden mention of One Piece caught everyone watching the live stream off guard, their eyes widening in surprise as they eagerly awaited Akira's response—the most powerful and influential young Marshal in naval history!

"Certainly!"

Akira nodded, then blurted out in a startling statement, "One Piece certainly exists!"

These words caused an immediate uproar around the world.

Whether they were ordinary citizens, officers and soldiers at Marine Base, or pirates watching the live broadcast, everyone on the Grand Line and the Four Blues was caught off guard and their eyes widened in surprise, before they were thrown into unprecedented chaos!

The Navy Marshal actually believes One Piece is real?

The most shocked were Saturn, Worcester, and Nusjuro, who were in the Chamber of Power. Even Sengoku stopped chewing his senbei at this moment, and Zephyr suddenly opened his eyes.

"Damn it, what is Akira trying to do!" Saturn was the first to stand up, looking at the young Marshal who appeared in front of the camera in disbelief, and said in a deep voice, "He's already in charge of the World Government, why would he say something like that!"

"Is Akira going to completely shatter the situation that we've managed to maintain?" Nusjuro couldn't sit still any longer, gripping the hilt of his katana tightly, his eyes sharp.

Similarly, Gunko and Imu, who were among the Flower Chamber, were also caught off guard and both looked at the screen opposite them.

"How... how could Lord Akira acknowledge the existence of One Piece?" Gunko asked anxiously, his voice trembling. "Lord Im, what exactly is going on?"

Although Imu hadn't expected Akira to admit to One Piece, she didn't fly into a rage. Her voice was calm as she said, "What are you panicking about? Are you worried that Akira will break ties with Im, or that you won't be able to stay by Akira's side anymore?!"

"Lord Im, I..."

Before Gunko could finish speaking, Akira, appearing on the live stream camera, suddenly raised his voice, "To me, One Piece is neither some Great Treasure nor the historical truth that Roger saw when they went to Laugh Tale!"

"In my eyes, One Piece is freedom and harmony, people living in peace and contentment, and officials fulfilling their duties while the people exert their full strength!"

"Are the people living in peace and contentment? It truly fills me with longing!" the Whitebeard murmured.

Then, he slowly lowered his head, gripping the naginata.

Although life was slipping away rapidly, his eyes were filled with an unprecedented longing.

A sudden sea breeze swept in, lifting the cloak off Whitebeard's body. Whitebeard Newgate, who had traversed the Grand Line for decades, drew the curtain on his long life with a yearning for a new era!

However, even though his life force had completely vanished, his legs remained rooted to the spot like a rock.

The world fell into a deathly silence at that moment.

Whether it was the Whitebeard Pirates members on Sphinx Island or the world watching through the live stream, everyone stared wide-eyed at that proud, unyielding man.

After a brief silence.

"Dad--"

Heart-wrenching cries erupted from the Whitebeard Pirates' captains and dozens of other captains.

The next second, they rushed towards Whitebeard like madmen.

"Stop right there!"

Marco shouted and used all his strength to stop everyone.

Standing in the middle of the procession, his legs went weak, and he could barely stand. Tears blurred his vision, but he knew that this was the ending his father had chosen.

After stopping the crowd, he took a deep breath, silently walked out of the crowd, and stepped forward to the still imposing figure, where he knelt heavily on the ground.

Then, he bent over, pressing his forehead deeply to the ground, suppressing the tearing grief in his heart, and with all his might, shouted hoarsely, "The entire Whitebeard Pirates!"

"Respectfully seeing off Father--"

Upon hearing this, all the Whitebeard Pirates members behind him, who were emotionally agitated and crying incessantly, whether captains or ordinary crew members, all knelt down in unison.

A chorus of sobs merged into a mournful cry that echoed through the heavens.

"Respectfully seeing off Father!!"

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