The Dead Pirates and Marines

"Summon forth the souls of the dead."

Kenma stood on the shattered plaza, with Shisui at his side.

When Uchiha Fugaku and the others saw Kenma descend, they had already been waiting below.

After receiving Kenma's order, Shisui signaled to the clansmen at the four corners of the Barrier, instructing them to alter its function.

When Fugaku and the others saw Kenma wave his hand, they immediately rose and stepped forward, speaking respectfully. "My lord, why must you personally attend to such trivial matters? Please remain seated above; we will naturally handle these minor affairs for you."

Having been warned by Kenma before, they knew this was their official first assignment. Fugaku naturally wanted to perform well.

"It is fine. I came to take a look." Kenma waved to those beside him. "These Lost Souls are about to awaken. Go maintain order instead."

"Yes, sir."

The Uchihas stationed at the four corners of the Barrier immediately began moving upon receiving Shisui's signal.

Following the method they had been told earlier, they altered the Spiritual Pressure flowing into it while changing the way they controlled the Barrier.

The characters on the Barrier's surface shifted in formation. Its soul-suppressing effect weakened, enough for the dead Lost Souls to regain consciousness and emerge from their corpses for a brief while.

"Ugh, I... wasn't I dead?"

Whitebeard clutched his head and staggered. After looking around, he saw the Marines cleaning up the battlefield and treating the wounded.

Turning his head, he saw a familiar figure being carried by a group of familiar Pirates toward a pirate ship at the harbor.

That figure lay completely still, with no rise or fall in his chest. Half his head was missing, as was the crescent-shaped mustache on his face. Whitebeard understood at once.

"I really am dead..."

"Then I am now... a soul!"

Whitebeard raised an arm before his eyes. It had become transparent, and he could even see through it to the other side.

He looked at his somewhat illusory body—or rather, his soul—then touched his restored head and mustache. An inexplicable sense of loss welled up within him.

Though he had long prepared himself for death, personally experiencing the reality of his own death still stirred complicated emotions in his heart.

No wonder those Marines cleaning up the battlefield could not see him.

Naturally, the living could not see ghosts.

But now that he had become a ghost, an envoy from the Afterlife would surely come next and take him to Hell to be punished!

After all, he was a Pirate.

A heinous criminal who had committed countless grave mistakes and killed many people.

Once Whitebeard's soul regained consciousness, the many Lost Souls across the battlefield gradually awakened as well.

"I died? Is this what it feels like to be a soul?"

"Ah, we really are dead... We will never see our families again..."

"John, Debet, can't you see me? Don't leave me behind! Aren't we companions?"

"My daughter... Father is leaving just like this, boohoo..."

"Hey, Major! Brother! I am right in front of you! Can't you see me?"

"So this is what death feels like... Ah, Old Man! You are here too."

Whether Pirates or Marines, once they realized their current state, they displayed every imaginable reaction.

Some could not believe it, some wept bitterly, some wore ferocious expressions, and some harbored hatred... Everyone reacted differently.

The Lost Souls instinctively looked around and immediately spotted the highly conspicuous Whitebeard.

The Lost Souls of the Whitebeard Pirates seemed to have found their backbone and quickly gathered around him.

"Old Man, it seems we really are dead... What should we do now?"

"Idiots. Since we are dead, naturally we wait for Yomi's envoy to take us away for reincarnation."

"Hmph, none of us are good people. What chance would we have at reincarnation? We will probably be sent to Hell to suffer."

"Haha, even if we end up in Hell, I will keep following Old Man!"

"That's right, that's right. It is only Hell. With Old Man here, there is nothing to fear."

"At worst, we will overturn Hell itself and let Old Man rule supreme in the Afterlife too!"

The Pirates surrounded Whitebeard. Their dejection from moments ago vanished instantly as they chattered away and gestured wildly.

They had clearly accepted their deaths, yet they remained as free and uninhibited as they had been while alive.

It was as though nothing in this world could make these Pirates feel fear.

Not even death!

"My sons..."

Whitebeard looked at the familiar sons surrounding him, but all he felt was guilt.

For true Pirates, death was the least noteworthy thing.

Yet how could Whitebeard feel nothing as he looked upon the sons who had died because of his decisions?

They were family and companions who had lived alongside him day and night...

The Lost Souls awakening together on this battlefield were not just these Pirates, but also the Marines who had risked their lives fighting the Pirates in the name of justice.

"Damn Pirates, do you still want to commit evil even after death?"

"Unforgivable! Even a Four Emperors pirate crew has no right to be so arrogant!"

"That's right! Even if we are dead, that does not mean justice will perish!"

Faced with the Marines' hostility, the Pirates naturally felt anger and hatred as well.

Enemies who had just been slaughtering one another met again, their eyes red with hatred. Killing intent instantly filled the air.

The atmosphere grew tense, as if another great battle would break out after death.

"Old Man!"

A loud shout drowned out the chaotic curses across the field.

It drew everyone's attention and temporarily halted the fight that was about to begin.

As everyone looked on in confusion, the Pirates parted to form a path leading to Whitebeard.

A young man with his upper body bare passed through the crowd and walked toward Whitebeard.

He had a tall, straight figure, the emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates tattooed across his back, black hair, and a scattering of Freckles across his face.

Such a distinctive appearance made everyone present, Pirate and Marine alike, recognize him at once.

"It is Ace!"

"Ace, you are all right! That is wonderful! Ah, no, you are already dead."

"Idiot, we are all dead!"

Ace walked heavily, step by step, until he reached Whitebeard. He dropped to his knees, his lowered face already soaked in tears.

"Boohoo... Old Man, everyone, I let down the chance you traded your lives for..."

"I had already escaped with everyone's help, but because of one reckless impulse of mine..."

"Old Man, everyone, I am sorry!"

Whitebeard looked at his son, who was also in soul form, and sighed inwardly. Infinite gentleness filled his eyes.

Before he knew it, tears glimmered at the corners of his eyes.

"Foolish son, idiotic son... Did you really think I would blame you for that?"

"Stand up proudly. That is just who you are. If you changed, then you would not be you anymore!"

The Pirates beside them also began speaking up.

"Ace, what are you saying? We are companions!"

"Risking our lives to save a companion is only natural, isn't it?"

"That's right. We have no regrets."

"On the contrary, Captain Ace, if you keep crying like that, you will only make us feel our sacrifices were not worth it."

"Hold your head high. You are Fire Fist Ace!"

Faced with the encouragement and forgiveness of his companions and Old Man, Ace wiped the tears from his face. Just as he was about to say something more, he saw Old Man's expression turn incomparably solemn as he looked up at the sky.

Ace followed Old Man's gaze, and his heart jolted.

In the sky above, five or six pitch-black figures stood suspended in midair.

"It seems you have already understood your situation."

"That makes what comes next much easier."