"..."
Ace didn't speak. He simply bowed to Whitebeard, or rather, to the pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates, tears streaming down his face. These weren't tears of sadness, but tears of awakening, of an indescribable feeling that came after a sudden realization.
Was his coming into this world right or wrong? Did it have any meaning? These were the questions Ace always wanted to know, and the questions he was always searching for.
The answer to this question is actually quite simple, yet it is also ambiguous.
In Uya's view, everyone is born with a purpose, but what that purpose is is something that one must seek out for oneself, because everyone's purpose is different.
For Kuina, pursuing the way of the sword is what she believes to be the meaning of her life, and she has steadfastly adhered to it to this day.
For Uya, obtaining the power to protect those he wants to protect is what Uya has always desired, and it is the meaning of Uya existence.
After Uya landed on the execution platform, while watching Hawk-Eye and Kuina's duel, she casually asked Ace, "Do you know the meaning of existence?"
Now, Ace has undoubtedly found the answer.
Whoosh!
Just like the sound of a glass shattering, the Seastone handcuffs binding Ace suddenly broke apart, scattering in all directions.
This scene left both Sengoku and Garp somewhat taken aback.
Ace himself was also somewhat taken aback, even a little bewildered and at a loss, but in the next instant, he looked at his hands, which were no longer bound, and then at the Whitebeard Pirates who were fighting fiercely, and the confusion in his eyes disappeared.
boom!!
The next instant, a ball of flame fell from the execution platform, like a shooting star from outer space, crashing down with a deafening roar.
"You..."
Sengoku watched this scene, a flash of anger crossed his eyes, but more than that, he was puzzled.
Uya's actions are now completely incomprehensible to him.
"Hehe, isn't this quite interesting?"
Uya chuckled, his laughter carrying a hint of something else entirely.
"..."
Facing Uya, Sengoku ultimately only took a deep breath and sighed inwardly.
With Uya's power, stopping this war would have been an easy task, but Uya deliberately chose not to.
Instead of stopping it, Sengoku interfered on the battlefield, and now, quite abruptly, he has released Fire Fist Ace. In this war, Sengoku has lost every ounce of control over the final outcome.
However, since Uya didn't make any further moves, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Surround and eliminate Fire Fist Ace, continue the attack on the Whitebeard Pirates!"
This was an order issued Sengoku.
With the end of Hawk-Eye and Kuina's battle, Fire Fist Ace inexplicably unleashed his power, and the battlefield entered a second, more intense phase.
No one knew what Uya meant. Since they didn't know, they should just do what they were supposed to do. This was the common sentiment of all the strong warriors on this battlefield.
The Whitebeard Pirates ' objective was, of course, to rescue Ace.
The Navy's objective, on the other hand, is to kill as Whitebeard Pirates as possible, exacerbate the Whitebeard Pirates ' losses, and even wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates here.
Ace, being Logia Devil Fruit user, quickly reunited with Marco the Phoenix and others who were there to meet him.
However, safely evacuating the Marine Headquarters and leaving unscathed is now an impossible task.
This is already a total war, and neither side can suddenly turn around and retreat, as that would be tantamount to exposing their backs directly to the enemy.
In this situation, someone must cover the rear for a safe escape.
Almost the instant Marco and the other captains realized this, a low shout suddenly echoed throughout the entire stadium.
Click!!!
The air trembled violently, the atmosphere was torn apart, and the entire earth suddenly trembled violently before collapsing open with a deafening roar.
Whitebeard's figure stood there like a mountain, with a deep abyss behind him, and on the other side of the abyss were the pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates.
This attack directly divided the battlefield.
Since someone needs to cover the rear, for Whitebeard, this choice only has one answer.
Although he wanted to go back with everyone and continue sailing the seas, he ultimately could not overcome time or old age.
It's better to die on the battlefield than in a hospital bed.
This was a choice Whitebeard had already made in his heart before he came to Marine Headquarters!
Born a king, die a king!
"Dad!!"
"Dad!"
The Whitebeard Pirates seemed somewhat bewildered by this scene.
"This is no longer my era... In this era, there is no ship to carry me..." The Whitebeard's expression showed neither sadness nor fear, but rather a sense of pride.
The composure to remain unmoved even in the face of a collapsing sky.
"Navy, your opponent... is me!"
Looking at the Marine Admirals Akainu, Akainu, and Kizaru Aokiji, who were trying to pursue the Whitebeard Pirates, and countless other Marine officers, Whitebeard gripped his naginata with both hands and swung it with all his might.
boom!!!
A terrifying Power of Tremors swept through a semi-circular arc, slamming into the area directly in front, forcefully halting all the navy's pursuit.
Upon seeing the Whitebeard Pirates, many remained standing there, unmoved. Whitebeard turned and shouted sternly, "Do you intend to disobey your captain's orders? Get out of here!!"
This furious roar finally awakened the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Whitebeard Pirates finally began their retreat, amidst blood and fire, tears and sorrow.
However, on the other side of that abyss, there was no sense of sorrow, only an overwhelming aura that seemed insurmountable.
Despite being already covered in wounds.
But Whitebeard, standing there alone, was like an insurmountable mountain.
The ordinary marines were all intimidated and dared not even step forward to attack. Seeing this, Admiral Akainu gritted his teeth, knowing that there was no way to bypass him, and charged forward with a roar.
Kizaru could bypass Whitebeard, but it would be pointless for him to do so alone. It's impossible for one person to hold back the entire Whitebeard Pirates; Whitebeard must be dealt with first.
No one knows what Aokiji is thinking. At this moment, Aokiji is also attacking Whitebeard.
Faced with the attacks of the three admirals, Whitebeard's hidden injuries flared up, and his body was covered in wounds, ultimately making it impossible for him to withstand the onslaught alone.
Even so, Whitebeard did not back down an inch under these circumstances.
Even though its strength was waning, its momentum did not diminish in the slightest; on the contrary, it grew even stronger, as if it had returned to its peak, with an overwhelming force that could roam the seas and be invincible.