"My god!!"
The spectators at the Sabaody Archipelago were collectively dazed. What kind of attack was that? Even through a screen, the aftershocks felt as though they were happening right before their eyes. They watched clearly as Whitebeard struck with a casual blow, yet the entirety of Marineford trembled; the sheer pressure left everyone breathless.
"Is this... the power of the strongest pirate, Whitebeard?" A thick sense of dread took root in the hearts of the masses. In this era, having pirates this powerful was a nightmare for ordinary people. They had a premonition that this war would not be won easily, even with the Navy's highest military powers deployed!
People began to pray silently—praying that they, caught in the gears of this era, might find some shred of luck.
Conversely, others were ecstatic. Pirates in the crowds hoped their kind would rise, while journalists didn't care about Justice—as long as it was explosive and eye-catching, they were thrilled!
Rayleigh paused, watching Whitebeard stand alone with his blade, facing the entire field. Did that look like a man with lethal injuries? He felt a bit foolish for having felt sentimental and "sending off" his old friend earlier. If you weren't hurt, you should've stood up sooner. I was mourning for nothing!
However, looking at Whitebeard's back on the monitor, Rayleigh's lips curled into a faint smile. "Better to be alive... it would be too lonely if only I were left behind."
Near Marineford, several pirate ships slowed to a halt. These were the rookies of the New Era who had rushed from Sabaody to witness history. At the helm of each ship was a "Supernova" with a bounty exceeding a hundred million.
VROOM!
Whitebeard moved again. A massive amount of vibration energy gathered on Murakumogiri as he unleashed a slash. His target: the Blackbeard Pirates!
"This is bad! Scatter!" Shiryu's pupils shrank. He shouted the warning while simultaneously retreating at high speed. He didn't care about the lives of the others; he valued his own above all else.
The four newcomers who had just joined Blackbeard from Impel Down—excluding Sanjuan Wolf, the "Colossal Battleship," who was further back—all scrambled to retreat. Burgess, showing the most loyalty, hoisted the unconscious Blackbeard over his shoulder and fled.
KABOOM!!
The gargantuan shockwave swept everything in its path.
"AAARGH!" The Blackbeard Pirates were blasted backward. The weaker members hit the ground and didn't get back up. Even someone of Burgess's caliber was nearly knocked unconscious by the residual shock, blood leaking from his mouth. The Blackbeard Pirates were instantly mangled.
"Whitebeard..." Sengoku could no longer remain on the sidelines. He rushed to the front of the formation. For some reason, Whitebeard's strength had spiked exponentially!
Both Marines and pirates swallowed hard. What exactly had happened? How did this monster return to full health in the blink of an eye, appearing even more terrifying than before?
That was the Marines' internal monologue. Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates were jubilant. They didn't know how it happened, but their Father's power hadn't waned at all. There wasn't a single trace of his previous injuries.
Whitebeard slowly lifted his hand. Everyone else was shocked, but he himself was speechless with wonder.
He could feel power surging through his veins like a relentless tide. He hadn't felt this way since his prime. It was as if every cell in his body had been resurrected. Moments ago, at the brink of death, he had decisively swallowed the Senzu Bean Drake gave him. He had taken the gamble, and it had paid off beyond his wildest dreams. The bean hit his stomach, and his body underwent a total metamorphosis; his wounds closed instantly. If not for the jagged scars left behind, he would have thought his earlier agony was a hallucination.
A divine medicine! That was the first thought in his mind. He immediately associated it with Devil Fruits—usually, any miracle in this world had a fruit at the heart of it.
HUMMM—! The vibrations on his blade hummed softly. He could feel that his chronic illnesses were gone. The deep-seated internal damage from decades of war had vanished. His body was still aged, but its mechanical functions were no longer inhibited.
Standing tall, Whitebeard looked down at the Blackbeard Pirates, specifically at Teach on Burgess's shoulder.
"Leave Teach behind, and the rest of you can go." His voice was absolute.
"This..." The Blackbeard Pirates looked at one another, but they reached a silent consensus: they wouldn't back down! They weren't fools; even if Whitebeard let them leave, would the Navy let a pack of Level 6 criminals walk out of Marineford? Not a chance.
"In your dreams! Marshall D. Teach is our Captain. We don't leave our own behind!" Their response was firm.
As the tension peaked, Ace and Marco moved to stand before Whitebeard.
"Gurararara..." Whitebeard chuckled, waving them back. He stepped forward alone. His speed was so great that it blurred the vision of the onlookers.
Is that really Whitebeard? Is he a fake? the Marines wondered. The old man looks like a completely different person!
Whitebeard appeared before Burgess in a flash, seizing Blackbeard's arm. Being a veteran, he didn't care if Teach was unconscious; his first move was to secure the traitor's hands to prevent any last-minute fruit nullification.
SHING! A blade flashed.
Whitebeard shifted Murakumogiri, blocking the strike with the pole.
CLANG!
Shiryu, a cigar clamped in his teeth, looked on with a grim expression. His sneak attack had been blocked as if it were child's play.
"Brat... you should go home and drink some milk." Whitebeard gathered vibration energy and unleashed a burst that sent Shiryu flying.
He prepared to hoist Blackbeard up, but the rest of the crew swarmed him.
"WIHAHA!" Bang! Bang! Bang!
Heavy punches, slashes, sniper fire—a chaotic barrage of attacks rained down on Whitebeard all at once!
"POPS!" Marco and Ace cried out in alarm, rushing to assist.
The entire battlefield held its breath. Marines and pirates alike watched, wondering: how was Whitebeard really doing? Had his wounds truly healed? They all had their own hopes. The Navy wanted him dead, preferring the two pirate groups to tear each other apart. The Whitebeard Pirates were terrified their Father was being overwhelmed.
KABOOM!!
An earth-shattering impact noise roared across the harbor. In the next instant, the members of the Blackbeard Pirates were all sent hurtling backward simultaneously.
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