Curtain Call, A New Era Is About to Arrive

"Look... that ship!"

"It's one of the Four Emperors! What's he doing here?!"

"'Red-Haired Shanks'!!"

The sailors stared at the newcomer with shock and disbelief.

Garp gritted his teeth and said, "Shanks?! The man who led Luffy onto the path of piracy!"

Sengoku's expression was grave. "Just yesterday we were fighting Kaido in the New World... and today we're here..."

Shanks, wearing a half-buttoned white shirt and a black cloak, calmly swung his rapier forward, forcing Akainu back several steps. "Stop. This will only increase the casualties..."

"Just a little bit more..." Akainu stopped in his tracks, his face grim. "Shanks, you bastard..."

"Yata Mirror..." In the distance, Kizaru clasped his hands together in front of his chest, gathering a beam of yellow laser light, and locked onto Ace, who was carrying Whitebeard.

"Don't move, Kizaru..." Ben Benn Beckman, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, pointed a gun at Kizaru's head with one hand.

"Ouch~~ Ben Benn Beckman..." The laser in Kizaru's hand suddenly dissipated, and he slowly raised his hands above his head.

Aokiji, his face icy, looked at Shanks and the Whitebeard Pirates behind him. "This is troublesome..."

"Shanks..."

As the effects of his Tension Hormone gradually wore off, Luffy's face was filled with exhaustion. After glancing at Shanks with delight, he collapsed from exhaustion and was then carried on the shoulders of the Whitebeard Pirates, who carefully protected him.

Jinbe breathed a long sigh of relief. "Looks like they've come to help. It's unbelievable... but this is really great! Ace and Luffy are saved!"

"Hey, Buggy, long time no see..." Shanks turned to look at Buggy, a faint smile playing on his lips. "These years seem to have flown by in the blink of an eye. It's been a long time!"

"It's been a long time, Shanks ..." Buggy turned to look at Shanks and calmly replied, "But there's always a voice inside me telling me... when I see that hateful face, I'm going to beat him to a pulp."

"You're still hung up on that treasure map, aren't you? So many years have passed..." Shanks said. "But it's alright, I'll give you another treasure map later!"

"Stop teasing me... you rascal."

"So you've been found out...?" Shanks smiled without the slightest embarrassment. "It seems you've undergone a complete transformation over the years!"

"To actually look down on the [Four Emperors], no wonder he's Captain Buggy..." The escaped prisoners, overhearing the conversation between the two, immediately conjured up a series of stories in their minds. Tears welled up in their eyes, and they were incredibly excited. They faced Buggy with reverence, almost kneeling down, "Please, please let us join your ranks!"

Dracule Mihawk, standing in the plaza, looked at the person approaching and turned to leave, only to be quickly stopped by the surrounding marines, who cried out, "Mihawk! Where are you going?!"

"I agreed to fight Whitebeard ..." Dracule Mihawk turned his head slightly, revealing half his face, "But [Shanks] is outside the agreement..."

"Shanks, are you trying to protect these two [the most evil bloodlines in the world]...?"

Akainu's face darkened. "It won't be as you wish! Today I will surely slay those two remnants who have caused endless trouble!!"

"If this battle continues, it will only go on indefinitely, with casualties constantly mounting..." Shanks said. "If you haven't had enough, we... will fight you!!"

"...!!"

At this moment, the Red Hair Pirates stood behind Shanks. Their sheer presence was enough to intimidate and frighten even the elite marines, causing cold sweat to bead on their foreheads!

Shanks looked at Blackbeard, "How about it, Teach... no... Blackbeard!"

"You bastard..." Blackbeard's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty as he looked at Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates. After assessing the situation, he finally said, unwillingly, "Fine... it's too early to fight you now. Remember, Shanks... and that Red Nose, I'll settle this score with you one day..."

Having said that, he angrily led his crew away, "Let's retreat... my men!"

Shanks surveyed the entire Marineford. "Everyone here... please, for my sake, let this war end..."

"Don't even think about it... Only the son of the dragon and the son of Gol D. Roger must die here!" Akainu sneered, about to pounce and launch an attack!

At that moment, Sengoku roared, "Stop, Akainu!"

"...!!"

Upon hearing Sengoku's order, Akainu halted his attack, turning back in surprise. Even Kizaru, Aokiji, and the other Marine Vice Admiral were puzzled as to why Sengoku had suddenly stopped them. "Fleet Admiral..."

"This is an order from the World Government..." Sengoku said gravely, "End this war immediately..."

"An order from the World Government..."

"What exactly happened?!"

The naval officers were very confused, but they could not ask Sengoku for detailed documents and orders at this moment.

"Fufufufu--" Donquixote Doflamingo chuckled to himself, "What are those old guys up to again? Are they afraid that what's going to happen next will be exposed to the world...? It seems they can't withstand the impact of this war!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding marines glared at Donquixote Doflamingo with hatred. Although the latter's words made sense, they instinctively rejected them.

"Is what he said true?" Buggy glanced at Donquixote Doflamingo. "Something just doesn't feel right... The World Government is intervening in this war under the current circumstances..."

Apart from Donquixote Doflamingo's intervention, no one else spoke up to stop them. Even the Akainu, under the orders from the World Government, could no longer continue his attack.

Shanks said calmly, "Since none of you have any objections... this war is over... excuse me!"

After saying this, he led the Red Hair Pirates, covering the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates and all the other pirates as they slowly retreated...

Finally...

It's over...

The greatest war since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era — the Marineford War —has come to a close!

The screens in Sabaody Archipelago Plaza went completely black, all live broadcasts were interrupted at that moment. If this war had to be debated and a result determined, it could only be said that there were no winners... Whitebeard died, but his subordinate, the Second Division Commander Portgas D. Ace, was saved...

"Both the Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates suffered heavy losses..."

"Why, why couldn't we wipe out those pirates?! Damn it!!"

"[The bloodline of the Pirate King] still remains in this world..."

The island's civilians were disheartened and dejected.

"Was it Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, who ended this war...?" Drake lowered his hat brim. "But what exactly happened in the end? Why did the World Government issue the order to end the war...?"

"The key is that Red Nose Buggy ..." Apoo said, "And Blackbeard, who commands the [level 6] prisoners; they'll soon be big shots!"

"In the blink of an eye..." Capone Bege stood on the deck, listening to the message on the Den Den Mushi, clutching the pain in his chest as he looked out at the sea, "Whitebeard's [territorial waters]... will be turned into a sea of blood!"

"It's all that kid's fault!!" Jewelry Bonney ordered her men, her voice a mixture of anger and agitation. "Find him right now! Let's go! To the New World!!"

Hawkins stood up and paced away. "The prophecy of [the world] is about to be fulfilled, isn't it? Buggy the Clown, how long will your luck last? Let's wait and see..."

"The outbreak of war has a huge impact on the world... but Whitebeard is dead, and now it's over..." Killer hung up the Den Den Mushi and gazed at the sea.

"Hahaha... What did you say was over?!" Eustass Kid laughed maniacally. "The New World is the territory ruled by the Four Emperors: Shanks, Kaido, Big Mom... Now the balance has been broken, who knows what will happen next... It's about to begin, an unprecedented New Era!!"

Beside the stone pier.

"Rayleigh, you're crying..." Shakky stood beside Rayleigh, silently watching him.

"Whitebeard is gone..." Rayleigh took the sake flask from his lips. "He was a worthy opponent..."

Shakky comforted him, "The deceased is gone, try to let it go..."

Large swaths of news reports were scattered across the world as News Coo flew by. The newspapers gave a very vague account of the general course of the Marineford War, rarely mentioning the words "[Naval victory]", instead focusing on Whitebeard's death as the main point of the entire report, attempting to downplay the seriousness of the event.

However, under the cover of the World Government, people all over the world were overjoyed and wept when they heard the news of Whitebeard's death. They paid no attention to the outcome of the war. In their eyes, the death of the great pirate whose name resounded throughout the era was a joyous occasion. Its greatest significance was that it allowed them to at least sleep a little more peacefully at night.

At this moment, in the ruins of Marineford, which was almost destroyed, Sengoku sat on a stone, dejected and staring blankly at the ground.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, so you're here!" Colonel Brannew, in charge of intelligence, quickly saluted. "The situation at Impel Down Hell has been confirmed..."

Sengoku lowered his head and asked, "Is Magellan alright...?"

"His injuries are severe, he's on the verge of death... The medical team is currently providing him with intensive treatment. He's a very serious man, constantly saying he wants to take responsibility... If he were able to move, he might very well commit suicide to atone for his sins..."

"Tell him... please don't do anything foolish!" Sengoku said with some pity, then asked, "What exactly happened in prison...?"

"Judging from the results, Level 6 suffered the most. Blackbeard used a method of infighting to select some of the most vicious criminals in the world from Level 6 and took them away... but he only took four criminals... while the actual number of criminals who disappeared from Level 6 was significantly higher than that..."

"Is that so... Then quickly confirm the identities and names of the Level 6 escapees, and immediately issue worldwide arrest warrants. If these people infiltrate any country, they will inevitably cause unimaginable harm!"

"But... but... the World Government has demanded that this be kept secret if the situation at Level 6 escalates, otherwise it will damage the government's credibility..."

"Reputation... Wasn't what happened in Mariejois enough for them to cause trouble?! They only care about the Celestial Dragons' affairs, and ignore everything else?!" Sengoku roared angrily, "You get this sorted out right now!!"

On the Black Whale, somewhere along the Grand Line.

"How is Luffy's injury...?" After laying Whitebeard's body to rest, Ace, suppressing his grief, rushed over. "I hope he's alright!"

"Alas... his injuries are extremely serious. Of all the patients I've seen in my life, those injured to this extent are basically beyond saving. Although he is still breathing..." the ship's doctor sighed and said truthfully, "But with my abilities... it's very difficult to save him. Even if I manage to save him, he will likely remain unconscious for the rest of his life..."

"How could this happen... Please, you must save my brother!!" Ace almost knelt on the ground, pleading desperately.

The ship's doctor shook his head. "There's nothing I can do. With current medical technology, it's unlikely we can do anything to improve his injuries..."

Just then, a pirate walked in. "Ace! Someone's here. He says he wants to see Straw Hat Luffy. He says he has a way to save Straw Hat Luffy!"

Startled by this, Ace jumped to his feet and ran outside. He saw a small boat docked beside the Black Whale, and on board stood a man wearing a leopard-spotted hat. Ace quickly asked, "Excuse me, did you say... you could save my brother?!"

The man calmly looked at Ace and said succinctly, "You must be the Straw Hat leader's older brother. I can save him... Give him to me!"

Ace paused for a moment, then said, "It's yours..."

"I need a quiet environment... a rough sea isn't suitable for surgery."

Ace hesitated. He had never met the other person before and didn't know how credible their words were, but his concern for Luffy's injuries made him ask, "How can I trust you?"

The man said calmly, "Because... my name is the same as his, it also has a [D]..."

At that moment, Jinbe also came out of the room and stood beside Ace. "He's the Surgeon of Death, Trafalgar Law, a rookie pirate with a bounty of 200 million. I've heard he does indeed possess extraordinary medical skills..."

Trafalgar Law said, "If you're confident you can save the Straw Hat Pirates, then of course I won't be 'in the way' anymore. But if you can't, why not let me try...?"

After a few breaths of consideration, Jinbe looked at Ace, "Ace, let him try. This is Luffy's chance to live... I'll go with him to protect Luffy and prevent any accidents."

"If it's Jinbe, I can rest assured... Then I entrust my brother to you!" Ace said gratefully to Jinbe, then looked at Trafalgar Law below, "If you can heal my brother, I will definitely repay your great kindness!"

"No need..." Trafalgar Law looked at Ace calmly, "This was simply my own choice."

Under Jinbe's escort, they finally brought the unconscious Luffy onto Trafalgar Law's submarine, which then sank to the bottom of the sea and disappeared.