Time: 11:00 AM.
Only four hours remained until the public execution of the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates—Fire Fist Ace.
But on Sabaody Archipelago, at Grove 32, the atmosphere was already exploding with noise and excitement.
Because before the execution began, another massive, history-making event was about to unfold.
From this moment on, every minute, every second, there was a chance the Sea Emperor Whitebeard could appear.
This was unmissable.
To witness such a world-shaking event, reporters from all over the globe had gathered—
hands trembling in anticipation, ready to document history.
Curious nobles and wealthy onlookers surged toward the plaza, determined to witness this grand moment of the era.
And at the high platforms overlooking the square, pirate crews who had survived countless hardships to reach this place gathered as well.
Through the giant live broadcast screen, they stared at Marineford's formation—
awestruck by the overwhelming display of power.
The plaza buzzed constantly with voices of shock, disbelief, and excitement.
"A-ba-a-ba-ba-ba!"
Scratchmen Apoo, a Supernova with a bounty of 198 million Belly from the Longarm Tribe,
was dancing and shouting wildly on the platform.
"You damn noisemaker! Shut up for a second!"
shouted Capone "Gang" Bege, the Mafia godfather and captain of the Fire Tank Pirates.
"A-ba-ba! At a time like this, how can I possibly stay calm?!"
Apoo bellowed back.
"Look at this, people! It's the entire Marine Headquarters—all hands on deck!
The three top Admirals, the living legend Sengoku, Vice Admirals, and even the Shichibukai!
This is a once-in-a-century—no, once-in-a-millennium—mega showdown!"
"You're not wrong."
Mad Monk Urouge, captain of the Fallen Monk Pirates, nodded with a faint smile.
"The full might of Marine HQ gathered in one place... It's beyond words.
No matter which pirate crew faces them—even Whitebeard—this lineup is way over the top."
Urouge was clearly impressed.
"No! That's not right."
X Drake, the fallen Marine-turned-pirate, with a bounty of 222 million Belly, shook his head with a serious expression.
"We're talking about Whitebeard here. No amount of preparation is ever enough."
"Hm?"
Nearby, Basil Hawkins, the Magician, suddenly frowned.
Drake flinched, thinking he had said something wrong.
But then he noticed Hawkins was staring intently at his tarot cards.
That frown had come from a foreboding omen on one of the cards.
"Strange... Why did that card appear? It shouldn't be possible!"
Hawkins furrowed his brow.
He didn't understand why the cards were warning him of an incoming blow.
"A-ba-ba-ba! Look! The drama's here!"
Apoo suddenly pointed excitedly.
"Isn't that Captain Eustass Kid... and... Massacre Soldier Killer?"
Capone raised an eyebrow. "That Killer... looks a bit different than before."
"Compared to a few days ago... he's changed quite a bit, hasn't he?"
Urouge observed with a knowing smirk.
"Kid's left arm... I've never heard of him losing it. And why is Killer not wearing his helmet today?"
Drake questioned.
"A-ba-ba! With a guy as annoying as him, even losing an arm or randomly blowing up wouldn't surprise me!"
Apoo mocked without restraint.
"Hey Kid, tell us how you lost that arm! Come on, make the crowd happy!"
Apoo's taunt was loud and crude.
But what happened next was far from expected.
Everyone who knew Kid well thought he'd explode in rage.
After all, that was his trademark.
Yet now—
He simply smiled.
The reason?
He hadn't heard a single word Apoo said.
---
Back in the Onigashima War, Apoo had used his Paramecia Sound-Sound Fruit to devastating effect.
First, he knocked out Luffy and Zoro with sonic blasts.
Then he clashed with Kid and Killer, even managing to hold his own.
He fought off both Zoro and Drake together.
And later, he escaped from powerful CP0 agents and Drake again.
All of these feats were, in a way, impressive.
They earned him the nickname "Apoo emperor."
His victories weren't just due to luck—
his Devil Fruit, which weaponized sound, was uniquely dangerous.
Even future-seeing Kenbunshoku Haki Luffy was nearly caught off guard.
However—
Once you understood the mechanics behind the Sound-Sound Fruit...
It wasn't nearly as threatening.
And this time, Kid and Killer had come prepared.
They both wore noise-canceling earpieces to block out all external sound.
If they couldn't hear it, they wouldn't be affected.
No sound = no rage = no reaction.
---
"A-ba-ba! I don't know who beat that Kid brat up,
but at least now he seems a little more well-behaved!"
Apoo laughed.
He had no idea the beatdown was coming.
Capone, Urouge, and Drake all stared curiously at the unusually quiet Kid.
The next second—
Their pupils shrank in shock.
As if Kid would ever stay calm because of a lost arm?
Impossible.
Zzzap!
Clank!
Purple electricity crackled from Kid's remaining hand.
The full force of his Jiki Jiki no Mi (Magnet-Magnet Fruit) erupted.
His magnetic field surged outward, attracting metal from all directions.
Countless weapons and scraps flew to him, fusing into a massive mechanical arm—
Towering high and howling in the wind.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
"What's going on?!"
"Pirates! The pirates are fighting again!"
"Damn it! Right at the critical moment!"
"What the hell are they doing?!"
"We said no fighting here!!"
"Captain Eustass Kid, STOP!!"
"If the screen gets smashed, no one can watch!!"
---
The giant mechanical arm loomed over the plaza like a falling mountain.
Sabaody Plaza descended into chaos.
"Damn it, Kid! Why are you flipping out all of a sudden?!"
Capone, Drake, and the others were shouting in shock.
"Even if you're going to start a fight, take it somewhere else!"
Urouge's usual smile faded slightly.
But Kid, who had blocked his hearing, couldn't hear any of their words.
Even if he had—he wouldn't have cared.
The towering mechanical arm raised high into the sky—
With the force of a mountain crashing down—
And swung directly toward Apoo's platform.
BOOM!!!
KA-BOOM!!!