The Curtain Rises

Fire Fist Ace was actually descended from the Pirate King, Roger!

When Sengoku announced this earth-shattering news to the world, the entire world was shaken.

"Fufufufu! The Pirate King's bloodline is still alive? Why not let him go back? I'd love to see what kind of future he'll have!"

Doflamingo let out an evil laugh.

"Don't joke around, Doflamingo! How could that kind of evil bloodline be allowed back onto the seas?!"

From atop the platform, Sengoku continued:

"About two years ago, when you took your mother Portgas's surname and sailed the seas as the captain of the Spade Pirates, relying on your extraordinary talent."

"We finally realized that Roger's bloodline had not been extinguished!"

"But Whitebeard discovered this at the same time as us and took you aboard his ship ahead of time, intending to raise you into the next Pirate King!"

"That's not true!" Ace shouted emotionally. "I joined his crew so that Pops could become the Pirate King!"

Sengoku glanced at him and said coldly:

"You're the only one who thinks that way!"

"If the Whitebeard Pirates hadn't been protecting you all this time, we would have dealt with you long ago!"

Ace's eyes widened. His mouth moved, but he suddenly had no idea what to say.

Sengoku swept his broad coat of justice aside, stepped forward, and shouted:

"But even with Whitebeard's protection, we cannot allow you to run free!"

"Otherwise, with Roger's bloodline and your exceptional potential, Whitebeard will surely raise you to become the pinnacle of the next pirate era!"

"Therefore, carrying out your execution here today holds tremendous significance!"

Sengoku roared, "Even if it leads to an all-out war with the Whitebeard Pirates, we will not hesitate!!"

That resounding declaration of war echoed over Marine Headquarters, setting the blood of every Marine soldier ablaze.

Then, a piercing alarm suddenly rang out in rapid succession!

Sengoku's pupils constricted. Before he could even answer the Transponder Snail ringing against his chest, he saw hazy silhouettes of ships appearing one after another on the distant sea!

"All hands, attention!"

"The Whitebeard Pirates' grand fleet has appeared!"

Before the harbor at Marineford, massive pirate ships advanced toward them in a vast procession, their sails billowing in the wind.

As the shadowy pirate ships continued to emerge, renowned pirate captains from throughout the New World, all under the Whitebeard Pirates' banner, appeared one by one aboard their respective vessels!

"Knight Doma!"

"McGuy!"

"The Decalvan Brothers!"

"Great Whirlpool Spider Squard!"

"A total of forty-three pirate ships! Yet Whitebeard himself and the division commanders are nowhere to be seen!"

With the appearance of the pirate armada, the atmosphere at Marineford instantly became suffocating.

The elite soldiers standing by in the plaza could not help tightening their grips on their weapons, their breathing gradually growing heavier.

"Hehishishishi, what an enormous fleet! If they all became my zombie soldiers, that would be wonderful!"

"Fufufufu, how amusing. Come out already, Whitebeard! I can barely contain myself!"

On the execution platform, Ace's eyes widened.

The Whitebeard Pirates' allied fleet had appeared!

His companions had truly come to save him!

In the plaza of Marine Headquarters, the senior Marine officers all wore grave expressions.

The top combatants silently spread their powerful Observation Haki, closely monitoring every movement on the sea.

Just then.

They seemed to faintly hear the sound of water bubbling.

A few drops of cold sweat appeared on Sengoku's face as he stared intently at the sea ahead.

"No way... They appeared in a place like that..."

Glub, glub, glub...

Glub, glub, glub...

Within the harbor bay, countless bubbles began to rise from the formerly calm sea.

The seawater churned with them, rippling outward in every direction.

At the same time.

Beneath the surface, four enormous shadows gradually grew larger before everyone's eyes!

Garp muttered, "They really appeared from somewhere unexpected. We made a mistake in our deployment."

Sengoku's expression darkened. "So that's it. All their ships were coated, and they've been moving beneath the sea the whole time. No wonder we couldn't find any trace of them!"

The shadows beneath the bay grew larger and larger, like gigantic Sea Kings about to rise from the depths!

In barely a few seconds, the water at the center of the inner bay rose high.

Rumble!

One white and three black—one large and three small—four immense whale-shaped pirate ships burst through the sea and crashed down upon the surface.

Thousands of tons of seawater immediately poured from their broad decks like waterfalls, sending countless sprays of water flying across the sea.

The giant white pirate ship faced directly toward the plaza of Marine Headquarters.

Its distinctive whale-head prow made the ship's name obvious!

"That is... the Moby Dick!!"

"And the fourteen division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates!"

The clamor in the plaza abruptly fell silent.

Everyone, without exception, turned to look at that legendary pirate ship.

Amid that silence, metallic clanging suddenly rang out from the Moby Dick.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a towering, majestic figure slowly appeared atop the high white deck, entering everyone's sight.

The figure was huge and powerfully built.

His bare chest was covered in scars of every shape and size.

A broad captain's coat was casually draped over his wide shoulders.

In his right hand, he held an enormous Pheasant Blade.

Beneath his tall nose was a white crescent-shaped mustache!

The man was none other than!

The captain of the Whitebeard Pirates!

The strongest man in the world!

Whitebeard, Edward Newgate!

"Gurararara..."

"It's been decades since we last met, Sengoku."

"Whitebeard!!"

At the sight of Whitebeard, Sengoku instinctively clenched his fists.

Holding his Pheasant Blade, Whitebeard stood alone at the prow of the Moby Dick,

Ignoring the countless Marine soldiers spread before his eyes.

Whitebeard grinned and said with a smile:

"Are you all right, my beloved son?"

"Pops!!" Ace's pupils dilated as he pulled the chains binding him taut and roared.

"Hold on a little longer, Ace..."

As he spoke, Whitebeard released his Pheasant Blade, crossed his clenched fists before him, bent his elbows, and assumed a strange stance.

"That bastard!" Sengoku gritted his teeth, his pupils instantly widening.

"Gurararara!"

Whitebeard fixed his eyes on the countless Marines before him and suddenly spread his arms wide.

His two clenched fists smashed heavily into the empty air at his sides.

CRACK!