Next Destination: Holy Land Mary Geoise

The world of One Piece.

Time has returned to the moment the Summit War concluded.

Akainu is dead.

The only Admiral-level combatant who wasn't "acting" is dead.

The death of such a heavyweight figure has completely shattered the morale of Marine Headquarters.

The outcome is already set in stone; Kizaru, Aokiji, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku are all unable to stop the pirate Duyang.

For the hero Garp, since the Whitebeard Pirates were there to save Ace, and his own grandson Luffy was among the participants, he could only "act" as much as possible.

Therefore, in terms of top-tier combat power, the Marines were at a disadvantage.

To continue the encirclement and suppression of the Yonko Whitebeard, while adding an unfathomable, mysterious powerhouse capable of slaying an Admiral, would be no different than turning Marineford into a literal hellish graveyard.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku watched as Ace was taken away by Luffy and his group.

He looked at the devastated plaza.

He looked at the fallen soldiers.

And he looked at that terrifying chasm that had torn the earth asunder.

In the end, Fleet Admiral Sengoku squeezed a command through his teeth: "Cease fire."

"Prioritize rescuing the wounded and tallying the losses."

This order spread rapidly across the battlefield.

The remaining Marine soldiers, after a brief moment of deathly silence, felt as if they had been granted a reprieve, yet also as if they had lost their souls, and began to assist the wounded Marines around them.

However, the expressions on the faces of some Marines betrayed a sense of profound humiliation.

On the side of the Whitebeard Pirates, after a brief moment of shock and wild joy, they quickly assembled under Whitebeard's orders and began their retreat.

They, too, suffered heavy casualties and were exhausted, but with Ace rescued and Pops alive, it counted as a massive victory.

Under the organization of Marco and the others, the Whitebeard pirate fleet began to withdraw in an orderly fashion.

The other Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, saw that the Summit War had ended and did not make an appearance.

The reason for the 180-degree turn at Marine Headquarters was solely due to the appearance of Duyang.

Duyang reminded them of the Pirate King Roger and the former Pirate King Rocks.

He was someone who could potentially carry an entire era on his own.

Time returns to the present.

As for Duyang now, he is temporarily hitching a ride on Whitebeard's ship, sailing toward the distance.

For him, he currently has no interest in Luffy and his crew.

Even Duyang himself does not know that because of his actions during the Summit War, the whole world now knows of the existence of such a terrifying powerhouse.

Duyang stands on the deck.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, blows against the fluttering pirate flag.

The deck is no longer filled with the usual clamor and revelry; instead, it is shrouded in an atmosphere of sorrow.

The war was won, but many familiar faces will never return.

Oars sacrificed himself, and numerous comrades were buried at Marineford.

The Whitebeard Pirates paid a heavy price.

Ace is wrapped in bandages, his face still somewhat pale, and he wears a troubled expression, lost in his own thoughts.

He carries two large mugs of beer, walks over to Duyang, who is leaning against the ship's railing gazing at the sea, and sets one down heavily beside him.

Ace says very earnestly, "Although Pops and Marco have already said it many times, I still want to thank you personally."

"Without you, I, Pops, and many others would have been finished."

He drains the mug in one breath.

However, whenever he thinks of those fallen comrades, tears flow uncontrollably.

Duyang picks up the mug, toasts him in return, and says nothing.

His gaze rests on the distant sea, as if he is contemplating something.

Whitebeard's massive frame sits on his custom-made chair, a giant bowl of liquor gripped in his hand.

His chest is wrapped in thick bandages; the blade from Squard and the heavy blow from Akainu left severe wounds, but his mountain-like presence remains.

"Gurararara." Whitebeard lets out a hearty laugh. "Kid, no matter where you come from or what your goals are, from the moment you stood up for family, you are a member of our Whitebeard Pirates, and you are family."

He pauses, then continues:

"This ship can take you anywhere you wish to go. Here, there will always be a place and a bowl of wine for you. If you need anything, just ask."

At this moment, Marco came running over in a hurry, clutching several of the latest newspapers, his face etched with shock.

"Everyone, look at this."

The front-page headline of the newspaper featured a jarring, bold-faced title:

<The Tragedy of the Navy: Marineford Purgatory, the Fall of the Supreme Combatant Admiral Akainu.>

<Mysterious Swordsman Tears Through Justice, the "Whitebeard" Era Has Not Ended.>

<The World Order Shifts Dramatically: A New Emperor is Born?!>

The report provided a detailed account of the final moments of the Summit War, focusing heavily on the terrifying scene where Du Yang's Conqueror's Haki tore through the sky, clashing head-on against the four strongest combatants of the Navy, and ultimately slaying Akainu.

The World Government described him as the most dangerous and unpredictable criminal in history; following this battle, his bounty had soared into the billions.

The World Government's ultimate assessment of Du Yang was:

"Pending evaluation, extremely dangerous."

At the same time, the newspaper also cryptically mentioned that Fleet Admiral Sengoku had resigned in disgrace, the whereabouts of Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru were unknown, and the morale within the Navy was plummeting as it faced an unprecedented crisis of confidence.

As for the Whitebeard Pirates, although they had suffered heavy losses, their core remained intact, and they had successfully rescued Ace from Marine Headquarters. Their momentum had increased rather than diminished, and many factions in the New World that had been watching from the sidelines began to reconsider their allegiances.

"A new emperor?"

Ace furrowed his brows and looked toward Du Yang.

Du Yang took the newspaper, glanced at it, and tossed it aside.

He had slain Akainu, saved Ace and Whitebeard, and altered the fates of countless people.

Yet, the gears of the world did not stop turning; instead, due to his intervention as a variable, they accelerated toward an even more unknowable future.

To Imu and the World Government, the loss of Akainu was of no real consequence.

Next, Du Yang walked up to Whitebeard and said with great sincerity:

"I apologize, Whitebeard, but I cannot join the Whitebeard Pirates."

Whitebeard lifted a wine bowl larger than a human head, took a drink, and then spoke: "Gurararara, I expected as much. A powerhouse like you would never be content to serve under another."

Furthermore, Whitebeard knew better than anyone that even if he hadn't died at the Summit War, his lifespan was already running out.

His physical condition had already been in a dire state to begin with.

Whitebeard set the wine bowl down heavily, producing a dull thud, his voice low and earnest:

"Kid, possessing such immense power, what exactly do you intend to do next?"

The deck fell silent in an instant.

For a moment, Ace, Marco, Joy, and the others all turned their gazes toward Du Yang.

Du Yang said nonchalantly: "I need to confirm something, so I must go to Mary Geoise."

"Kurarararara~"

Whitebeard's laughter remained as booming as ever; he slapped the armrest of his chair, appearing quite excited, laughing until he was out of breath as he explained:

"What a bold and reckless kid. Do you even know what kind of place the Holy Land Mary Geoise is? It is the core of the World Government, the lair of the Celestial Dragons, and the seat of the Five Elders."