Prelude to the Summit War

Six days have passed since the Celestial Dragons incident.

Marineford, Marine Headquarters, noon, three hours before Ace's execution.

Hundreds of steps formed a passageway leading to the execution platform, where a forlorn figure was escorted step by step by two naval soldiers.

"Luffy... listen carefully! You must live this life without regrets."

"Um!"

"One day, we'll set sail and explore the seas! We'll live according to our own will..."

Ace was lost in thought. He stared at the Execution Platform door that had been opened for him, and the words echoed in his mind, "We should be freer than anyone else!"

As time passed, a thick layer of sea fog rose over the ocean, shrouding the crescent-shaped island of Marineford in even greater mystery. Aside from the Golden Lion who stormed the island fifty years ago, no pirate had dared to venture here since...

Now, the island's defensive walls are equipped with countless heavy cannons, gathering all the combat power that the navy can mobilize, ready for a battle that could break out at any time in the next three hours. This battle will be even more intense than the one fifty years ago, and regardless of who wins or loses, it will become a turning point for the entire era!

The Shichibukai — Bartholomew Kuma, Gecko Moria, Donquixote Doflamingo, Dracule Mihawk, and Boa Hancock— are all present.

The Navy's top combat force, Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji, guarded the Execution Platform. Vice Admiral Garp, Chief of Staff Tsuru, and Smoker, Hina, Jonathan, and Dalmatian, whom Buggy had encountered before, were also present. In addition, there were a large number of Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, and colonels from the headquarters. This unprecedentedly powerful force was enough to make the whole world tremble with fear!

"Bring me Den Den Mushi." Sengoku stood beside Ace, and the moment he took the Den Den Mushi, the live broadcast of this public execution would be transmitted to every corner of the world via the Visual Den Den Mushi!

"I have something to announce to everyone: it concerns the profound significance of Portgas D. Ace's execution..." Sengoku said, "Ace, state your father's name!!"

"My Pops is 'Whitebeard'!"

"Wrong!"

"That's right! It can only be Whitebeard, no one else!!"

"We searched that island with all our might, because we heard that person's flesh and blood were there. Based on the meager information we got from CP9 and that tiny possibility, we searched every newborn and unborn child, but to no avail... No wonder, your birth was bought with your mother's life. That woman was beyond our imagination. She spent twenty months carrying the child in her womb, and after giving birth to you, she died on the spot from exhaustion."

"..." Ace's expression immediately stiffened, and he remained silent.

"One year and three months after your father's death, a child who inherited the most evil bloodline was born—that child is you. You couldn't possibly not know..."

Sengoku roared, "Your father is the Pirate King [Gol D. Roger]!!"

For a moment, all the Marines were shocked. Garp's heart sank into a deep sorrow, and he vaguely recalled the moment Roger entrusted his children to him, those words: "Garp, the children in your womb are innocent. I consider you my best friend. Please protect them. I entrust my children to you!"

Donquixote Doflamingo, Shichibukai, mercilessly exposed the truth, saying, "I heard that everyone connected to the Pirate King back then was executed, but now it seems there's a new situation..."

The live broadcast was transmitted to all corners of the world via Den Den Mushi, causing a global sensation: Portgas D. Ace... is the son of the Pirate King!!

Sengoku continued, "Whitebeard, who realized this at the same time as us, went so far as to bring the son of his former rival onto his ship in order to train you to become the [Pirate King]..."

Ace retorted, "No, I joined the crew so that my Pops could become the Pirate King."

"Only you think this way, right? Actually, we haven't dared to act rashly because Whitebeard has been protecting you, letting you run wild. Your talent will eventually help you reach the pinnacle of the next era, so taking your head here today is of great significance! Even if it escalates into a full-scale war with Whitebeard, we're willing to pay the price!!"

Not long after the words of the Sengoku Marineford spoken, a series of ripples appeared on the sea surrounding Marineford, followed by the emergence of a large fleet of forty-three ships, each carrying a captain who had become a renowned figure in the New World!

At this moment, in the central inner harbor of Marineford, four enormous pirate ships suddenly surfaced, the leader being none other than the Moby Dick, led by Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors of the New World!

"Kurarararara--" Whitebeard laughed loudly, "Sengoku, it's been decades since we last met!"

Sengoku's expression was serious. "Whitebeard..."

"My beloved son, are you alright... Kurararara..." Whitebeard looked at Ace on the Execution Platform, "Bear with it a little longer... Ace!!"

After saying that, he put down the broadsword in his hand, a confident and slightly arrogant smile appeared on his lips, and his two arms, with bulging veins, crossed and clenched into fists, and suddenly swung to the sides!

The surrounding air suddenly shattered like smooth glass, with cracks spreading outwards from the center of the fist. Even light was cut apart by the broken space, creating eerie refractions!

The sea trembled restlessly, as if an invisible hand was constantly pushing the surface upwards, instantly forming a colossal, towering wave, like the gaping maw of an ancient beast, ready to devour the entire Marineford!

"It's a tsunami!"

All the naval soldiers watched in terror as the tsunami was about to engulf the entire island. At that moment, Aokiji, guarding the Execution Platform, leaped into the air, his body radiating an icy chill. He briefly hovered in the center of the tsunami on both sides, like an eagle spreading its wings, shooting towards the extremely thin ice of the overwhelming tsunami from both sides. "Ice Age!"

Using thin ice as a conductor, all the waves rapidly cover the ice layer, and in the blink of Lightning Flash, they are transformed into exquisite ice sculptures!

The temperature in Marineford instantly dropped by nearly ten degrees Celsius, and a hazy chill permeated the surroundings, biting to the bone!

Not only did the tsunami stop, but the seawater in the harbor also froze into a thick layer of ice.

Whitebeard: "Aokiji... you brat..."

"Partisan!" came the reply from Aokiji, who fired two sharp ice spears from his hand.

Whitebeard clenched his fist, but suddenly sensed something and loosened it slightly. "Hmm...?"

The ice spear aimed at Whitebeard exploded in mid-air, turning into countless harmless ice shards!

"You've arrived just in time..." A voice that shouldn't have been heard rang out.