"And Sengoku and Garp, who still haven't made a move and are sitting firmly atop the platform!"
"Then there's the Shichibukai!"
A careful reckoning of the Marines' current fighting strength was enough to inspire despair. Before anyone realized it, their combined might had reached a terrifying level.
Even two crews of the Four Emperors joining forces could barely hold their ground against them.
The battlefield stalled at that moment, the pirates wavering in uncertainty.
They didn't know whether they should truly obey Whitebeard and retreat.
"What are you standing around for?"
"There's no point fighting a war that's already been decided!"
Whitebeard spoke coldly.
His towering figure stood on the battlefield, firmly blocking Xia Le's path, with a vast chasm behind him.
"Pops!!"
Marco hovered in the distant sky, beating his wings as he called out anxiously.
"Marco, well done. You seized the right moment and saved that Red-Haired brat!"
Whitebeard looked up and smiled.
"Now lead everyone out of Marineford! Get them out of here!"
At that, he took another deep breath and looked at Ace, who stood dazed nearby. His eyes softened.
"No one will blame you, Ace!"
"For the Whitebeard Pirates, for your comrades, you tried everything, holding nothing back—not even your life or freedom!"
"You did well!"
"That's my beloved son!"
Standing nearby, Ace trembled at his words, tears spilling from his eyes.
"Pops!!!"
Whitebeard turned back to face Xia Le.
"I was the one who sent you to capture Teach."
"So the blame for this war should fall on me!"
"You did nothing wrong!"
Ace's heart trembled. He heard something different beneath those words, and his expression changed abruptly.
"Go home with Marco and the others, Ace!"
"I have high hopes for you. I've always believed you're the one who can inherit everything I have!"