"What on earth is going on? Why, why are those two standing next to Whitebeard? Who are they? Anyone Whitebeard acknowledges and stands shoulder to shoulder with him must be no nobody. Quickly, find out about them! This time, we must report this shocking news before other newspapers, especially Morgans Newspaper!!"
In the Sabaody Archipelago plaza, some reporters who had been watching the entire battle from in front of a large screen saw two unknown people suddenly jump out from beside Whitebeard and stand next to him. They seemed to dare to confront him and didn't care about his status as one of the Four Emperors. With their keen senses, they quickly realized that this was important information and hurriedly copied it down to prepare for printing.
"That's Dark King Rayleigh, right? I never expected him to get involved in this war between the Navy and Whitebeard! It's truly unexpected!"
At this moment, the Supernovas Kid Pirates' captain Kid, Mad Monk Urouge, X Red Flag Drake, and others who were still on the island and had not yet set off, were also watching the three people above and speaking leisurely.
"Hehehe, and if I'm not mistaken, that person should be the Red the Aloof Redfield, who roamed the seas and was famous throughout the world twenty years ago. Even he's been dragged into this battlefield. Straw Hat Luffy is a man who's always causing trouble and controversy; nothing good ever comes from being associated with him, and it's the same now!!"
Urouge gazed at the crimson figure radiating an aura no less powerful than that of Whitebeard and spoke with a slightly solemn expression.
"Wait, no way, Captain, you're not joking, are you? How could that person be him? Wasn't he already... uh..."
Urouge's crew wanted to argue with their captain, but then they remembered something and decided to shut up and say nothing more.
"Hehehehehe, you all guessed it, didn't you? That's right, if I'm not mistaken, that guy Redfield was someone Straw Hat Luffy brought out of Impel Down. As someone from the same generation, even I have to admit that he truly surpassed all of us..."
Urouge spoke with a hint of emotion.
"Captain, you will always be the strongest in our hearts..."
His men were eager to prove their loyalty.
"Don't worry, I haven't lost confidence because of this setback. Straw Hat Luffy is only temporarily ahead of us. With our abilities, I believe we can catch up soon. Right now, our biggest concern is those three... Can the Marine Headquarters withstand the onslaught of three legendary figures?"
As he spoke, Urouge turned his gaze to the three people on the screen.
" Rayleigh, Red, if you two are going to join the fight, then don't hold me back, otherwise even if you're on our side, we won't show any mercy!!"
Whitebeard gently raised his greatsword and slammed it against the deck, warning the two men.
"Heh heh heh, Edward, my affairs are none of your business. I came back here ultimately to repay that reckless Straw Hat Luffy for saving me from prison, and to conveniently deal with a brat who dared to disrespect me. I have no interest in your business. I'm going down now; I should go hunting if I see that brat!"
After finishing his speech, Red dashed away at lightning Extreme Speed, even faster than Shave. To the marines and pirates along the way, all they could feel was a gentle breeze passing by.
"Sword Technique... Startled Dragon!!"
" Secret Technique... Rose Dance!!"
Clang!!
boom...
In the direction Red had gone, Luo Chen gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with his right hand and unleashed a backhand slash, unleashing a white Giant Dragon roar as it charged toward Vista.
In response, Vista gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands and unleashed a spiraling slash, sending a Torrent of Rose Flower crashing into the Giant Dragon.
One Flash of white light appeared, and the two enormous slashes collided head-on, causing the airflow to churn and become chaotic. Strong gusts of air surged wildly, and the ice beneath their feet cracked layer by layer, sending ice shards flying everywhere.
Clang...
Cough cough... Boom!!
Red caught up with Luo Chen and the other man, picked up a cane that looked like an umbrella hanging from his hand, and swung it behind them. A blood-red slash cleaved through the ice and hurtled towards Luo Chen.
"Um..."
Clang!!
Luo Chen, who had just been knocked back by the counterattack against Vista, suddenly trembled as if he sensed a strong sense of danger coming from behind him, and immediately swung his sword to block it.
With a clang, Luo Chen was thrown back by the strong recoil, his feet carving two deep grooves in the ice before he finally came to a stop.
"What, old man, you've been released by the Straw Hat too? You haven't even recovered to your peak yet, and you dare to come and join this battle, even attacking me without knowing your own death? Aren't you afraid your decaying body won't be able to hold on and will collapse here?"
Seeing that it was an acquaintance who had made the move, Luo Chen was neither surprised nor intimidated by his identity, and directly mocked him.
"Hehehe, you sharp-tongued brat, I've come here so you'll know just how terrible the consequences of disrespecting your elders can be!!"
Clang...
As he spoke, another flash of blood-red light appeared, and a crimson wind blade, wielded with pure brute force and no less powerful than a great swordsman's strike, hurtled towards him.
"Sword technique... Tiger Roar in the Mountain Forest!!"
roar...
In response, Luo Chen swung his arm, and a Flying Slash transformed into a Raging Tiger patrolling the forest. The tiger opened its mouth, and its roar rippled through the air like the calm surface of a lake where a small stone had been thrown in. Then, the beast's eyes widened and it swooped down to meet the slash.
Bang...
Specks of white light and blood splattered, and a violent Impact blasted in all directions, blasting away the pirates and marines fighting in the surrounding area.
" Rose Rondo..."
Swoosh...
While Luo Chen's attention was drawn to Red, Vista's voice rang out behind him, and a stream of flower petals blasted towards his back.
" Crimson Breath Dragon Fist!!"
boom...
Luo Chen turned around and threw a punch, the powerful shockwave scattering all the incoming petals, the aftershocks still lingering as they blasted straight at Vista.
" The Rose Flower... are in bloom!!!"
Bang...
Sword energy petals rose around him, annihilating the aftershocks and swirling into the sky like a tornado.
Bang...
The group clashed once more, and the layers of rebounding energy prevented the weaker pirates and marines around them from breaking through the energy barrier and getting close to the three.
"Uh, where did that Crocodile go? I can't see it anywhere."
Meanwhile, on the warship aboard the ship that had been smashed through the sea, after Luffy and the others had regrouped, Joker the Buggy suddenly glanced at everyone and, not seeing Crocodile the Sand Crocodile, asked in confusion.
"Hmm... he was just there a moment ago, where did he suddenly go? Hmm, wait, there he is!!"
After hearing Buggy's question, Mr. 3 looked around and finally spotted Crocodile on Whitebeard's ship. He saw Crocodile transform into his elemental form Extreme Speed towards Whitebeard's back, swinging his golden left hand to hook and stab him.
"What exactly is that guy trying to do? Hasn't his mind changed yet? Does he still want to get a beating from Pops before he'll stop having those unrealistic fantasies?"
Knight of the Sea Jinbe, saw that Crocodile's target was Whitebeard's head and clenched his fists angrily.
Swoosh...
"Got it! Whitebeard, I'll take your head without hesitation!!"
Looking again, Crocodile had already appeared behind Whitebeard, smiling, and thrusting his Golden Hook at him.
"Huh?! It's you, Sand Crocodile. Haven't you learned your lesson and want my brain?"
The Whitebeard with the Golden Hook hook was not flustered or frightened as it was about to pierce his head. In that instant, he glanced at him and spoke.
"Tch!! Don't think I'm still the same man you utterly defeated. I'm a man who's endured countless hellish torments, with only one thought in my mind: to defeat you and claim first place! Die!!"
Crocodile seemed to want to bolster his confidence with words and force himself to calm down, raising his Golden Hook and thrusting it forward.
call out...
Bang!!
However, just as the Golden Hook was about to fall, a pink figure rushed over, extinguishing Crocodile's attack and sending him flying backward, skimming across the ice.
clatter...
Steam rose from Luffy's body, his skin glowing red as he appeared before everyone, continuing his attack stance.
"Hmm... that must be Ace's younger brother, right? He's pretty capable!"
Marco, who had originally intended to go and provide assistance, stopped and looked up at the boy standing in the same spot as his Pops, praising him.
"Hmph... blood? Hmm... looks like you've been on guard against me all along, getting soaked in everyone's mess. Straw Hat Luffy, we've already made our deal, so why are you protecting him?"
Crocodile propped himself up on his arms, squatted down, glanced at Luffy above, and noticed that Luffy was soaking wet. He knew that Luffy had been on guard against him from the beginning, and his tone became indifferent as he spoke.
"This old man really is Whitebeard, Ace he? Ace really likes this old man, so I won't allow you to lay a hand on him!!"
Luffy confirmed Whitebeard's identity from his tone and spoke with unwavering resolve.
"Hmm? That hat, in the East Blue..."
Hey kid, that straw Straw Hat looks a lot like that Red Hair's!
Whitebeard ignored Crocodile and Luffy, whom he saw as mere children playing around, and instead focused his gaze on the straw Straw Hat Luffy was wearing, asking him a question.
"Hmm? Uncle, you know Shanks too? He asked me to keep this for him..."
When someone asked about his hat, Luffy turned around and answered.
"Are you here to rescue your brother?"
"That's right!!"
Instead of Luffy whether he knew Shanks, Whitebeard turned the conversation to him and asked directly about his purpose.
Luffy, being young and fearless, turned around and answered him.
"Gurarararar, you should know who your opponents are here, right? With your strength, you'd better watch out or you'll be in big trouble!!"
Although Whitebeard said this, he was only trying to scare Ace away out of consideration for him, so that he wouldn't get involved and risk his life.
"Stop nagging! My affairs are none of your concern. I know you want to be the Pirate King, right? And I'm the only one who can become the Pirate King!!"
Luffy rudely interrupted Whitebeard's advice and then boldly declared his dream in front of him, the world's number one man. This statement and action shocked most of the people present, both by his dream and by his audacity in standing on this stage and saying it to that man.
"Hey!! What an arrogant brat who doesn't know his place!"
As he spoke, he swung the large knife in his hand and slammed it heavily on the floor, shouting at him.
"If you dare hold us back, I won't let you off the hook, you brat!"
"Enough with the nonsense, I'll do it my way. I'll rescue Ace!"
Luffy was warming up, completely unaware of the true strength of the incredibly powerful man beside him, and utterly indifferent to his identity. This performance greatly shocked everyone.
" Fleet Admiral Sengoku, can these people be sentenced to death?"
Seeing this, even Kizaru, who was lazy, lazy, and prone to cheating, couldn't help but ask Sengoku for instructions.
"Sure!!"
Seeing that even Kizaru wanted to take action, Sengoku naturally agreed to his request.
"Hmm, you said Ace's execution time has been moved up, is that true?"
Here, Luffy, disregarding the difference in their abilities, relayed the information they had gathered on the warship to Whitebeard.
"Well, they said the execution would begin after that, but I couldn't understand any of the other codes. I'm only telling you this because we're both trying to rescue Ace!!"
"Oh, is that so? Thank you so much!"
"Yes, you're welcome!"
The seemingly equal dialogue between the two once again stunned everyone.
"Wow wow wow wow..."
After saying Luffy rushed forward, wanting to rescue his Ace as quickly as possible with his own hands.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard was deep in Luffy had just told him, looking at Sengoku standing solemnly beside Ace, and thinking to himself.
"So you don't have to follow the rules just because the opponent is a pirate? But the key is what to do next. What are you thinking, Sengoku?"
Swoosh...
While Whitebeard was pondering the true meaning behind Sengoku's actions, Marco, who was engaged in a fierce battle with the Navy, received the news and Extreme Speed to his side to inform him of the information.
" Pops, we received news from the Navy that Ace's execution date has been moved up..."
"Yes, I already know. I found out from that kid just now, but let's calm down first. The fact that we panicked might have been part of the plan to deliberately leak information. Accidentally letting the enemy know isn't like that man. The man hailed as the Buddha isn't so incompetent!"
Whitebeard did not lose his composure as the Navy or even Sengoku had imagined. He looked at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who was facing the world on the Execution Platform, and he greatly respected this rare opponent, knowing that he was not that kind of person.
Ta-da-ta-da...
Luffy was running desperately toward Ace when suddenly a blinding light enveloped his vision, forcing him to shield his eyes with the back of his hand as he continued running.
call out...
"If I don't capture you, the Celestial Dragons will keep pestering me, so please submit here!"
Kizaru raised his right leg, his toes radiating a dazzling light, Luffy, before unleashing a beam of yellow laser light towards him.
"Hmm... Danger, Straw Hat Boy, watch out for my Hellfire... Seductive Gaze!!"
Bang...
Seeing Luffy in danger, Okama King Ivankov, quickly used her alluring gaze, powerful enough to deflect Luffy, to shove Luffy away. Then, an explosion suddenly erupted on the spot, more than ten times more powerful than a mortar, blasting away the pirates fighting nearby.