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•———•———•———•———•
Chapter's Events:
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"It's not you… Haa…" When Whitebeard opened his eyes from his memories, he said to Teach.
"… You're still alive!!?" Teach was shocked to see him still standing tall.
"The man Roger is waiting for… is definitely not you, Teach…" Whitebeard said calmly.
"What!?" exclaimed Teach.
"There are those who inherited Roger's will."
"And one day, someone will appear who will inherit Ace's will… As long as that 'bloodline' survives, their flames will never die…" Whitebeard continued, this time louder, as if he wanted the whole world to hear.
"That will has been passed down from long ago!! Haa… and in the future… someday, a man will appear, bearing the weight of centuries of history on his shoulders, to challenge the world!!"
"Sengoku… Your world government is afraid… afraid of the coming war that will engulf the world!!!"
Hearing this, Sengoku's expression turned grim.
"I wasn't interested… but when someone finds that treasure… the world will be shaken to its core!!"
"Somebody will find it… that day will certainly come…"
"ONE PIECE IS REAL!!!"
These words were broadcast and heard by hundreds of thousands of viewers.
•———•———•———•———•
They also transitioned from the pages of the manga to the minds of every reader who read these lines worldwide.
Because of their power, readers felt as if they heard them aloud, as if the great Whitebeard was standing before them, and despite his bloody injuries and tragic condition, his voice echoed strongly as if he wasn't dying at all.
Among the readers who felt this, were the five elders and their lord.
Marigoa, Pangaea Castle:
The five elders looked at each other with shocked expressions.
"…What the hell! What is he saying!" Saint Warcury shouted angrily, his mustache trembling.
"These words will have a significant impact in the manga world, no less than Roger's words during his execution… their influence will extend to our world…"
"How many readers do you think believe in the existence of One Piece now?"
Saint Nasjuro asked with a cold expression.
"Although they haven't seen it… many, there are many who believe in the existence of One Piece, and the reason is the One Piece manga itself."
Saint Saturn spoke slowly after reviewing the forum and seeing the buzz about One Piece and Whitebeard's final words.
"Why didn't he just die and be done with it? Was it necessary to leave behind such a large amount of final words?"
Saint Ju Peter said with hatred.
"Whitebeard's era in the manga is over… his words won't change anything in reality, that person he talks about hasn't appeared yet… and even when he does, he won't reach the level that allows him to bear centuries of history on his shoulders and unleash the great war."
Saint Mars spoke calmly.
"Fufufu~"
A seductive laugh spread in the grand hall, making the five elders adjust their seating positions.
Lord Imu seemed to be interested in Whitebeard's final words… this was the thought of the Gorosei.
"Magnificent… such great words… such an end for a great character…"
"He truly deserves the title of the world's strongest man… this Whitebeard. What a man…"
"To know so many secrets and not care about them… and to focus only on family instead of seeking those secrets… now I understand why you lived long enough to see the man who inherited Roger's will…"
"Fufufu~ Sometimes, greatness may result from cowardice."
Hearing the last line of her words, the five elders felt enlightened.
That's right, it seems that Whitebeard's greatness came from his lack of courage to seek the truth.
This too can be considered a special kind of greatness… so it's no wonder their lord described Edward Newgate as a great man.
'No doubt the lord is angry…'
This was the thought of the five elders after realizing the meaning behind Imu's words.
"One Piece is real? Huh…! Of course it is… I'm sorry I drowned it by mistake."
Her red eyes turned into a smiling crescent, at this moment she looked strangely gentle, but anyone who saw her now would feel intense fear instead.
…
New World, Sphinx Island:
"I'm here now seeing the end you wrote for me and drinking the sweet wine your store sells… man, you're unbelievable. Gurararara!!"
"But… my sons' tears over my death are something sad…"
It seemed the wine had taken effect at this moment.
After laughing for a moment, Whitebeard couldn't hold back his tears anymore, this time he was extremely sad.
He wasn't the only one crying, all his sons were too… Rob watched this in silence.
"I've always wanted just a family… treasures? I enjoyed them at some point in my life… getting a new son meant more to me than getting all the treasures in the world."
"Family bonds are priceless…"
Saying that, Whitebeard focused again on his last moments in the manga… he couldn't prevent a smile from forming on his face nonetheless.
This exact scene was enough to convey everything he wanted to or still wants to say to his sons but never knew how to express it.
•———•———•———•———•
Forgive me, my sons… I left behind this huge fool…
Everything I have I got from you.
Marco and the others were crying bitterly at this moment.
("How can a pirate not be interested in treasures?")
("What exactly, do you want?")
The memory from that time when he was a young pirate appeared in his final moments.
("Hey, Newgate!!")
His young voice was clearer than ever in his mind.
"There's something I've wanted… ever since I was a kid."
"Oohh!! Tell us what it is!"
Newgate's crew mates were surprised and really wanted to know what this strange man wanted… he was very strong but didn't like treasures… what did he want then? This piqued their curiosity greatly.
Newgate, who didn't have a mustache yet, smiled as he looked at the blue sea, putting his hand on his cheek, then answered quietly.
("A family.")
("What!!? That's ridiculous! Gyahahaha…")
He didn't care about the pirates' mockery on the ship, because he wasn't answering them, but himself.
…
You have my thanks, farewell my sons…!!
The last thing on his mind was to thank his sons for giving him that warm family.
"Hm?"
"… Ah!…"
"… H-he died standing there!!"
This was Teach's reaction to Whitebeard's death standing without falling or staggering.
"…!! Boss…!!" And his sons' reaction was tears and wailing.
[Whitebeard has died!!]
[Even after he died, with his face half gone, his body would not yield.]
[Cutting his enemies down, he was the very image of a monster.]
[In this battle, he suffered two hundred sixty-seven sword wounds, as well as one hundred fifty-two bullet wounds and forty-six cannon wounds.]
[But on his proud back… and indeed, in his life as a pirate, he did not suffer a single coward's injury!!!]
•———•———•———•———•
"Whitebeard died standing…"
"Without suffering any injuries on his back."
"The man who belonged to my hometown Sphinx… and who gave everything to this poor place without asking for anything in return…"
"Died thanking his sons for giving him a family… the only thing he considered everything."
"What a great man… I'm crying…"
"Blackbeard the coward… when will he die! I want to see him dead now!"
"He took care of him and raised him all those years, and this is his reward!? Such great evil!"
"This betrayal is unforgivable!"
The readers on Sphinx Island were extremely emotional at this moment, the scene of Whitebeard's death was filled with genuine emotions.
After Ace's death, Whitebeard's death came quickly but was expected… he endured all those bullets, swords, and cannons… or rather, they didn't affect him at all compared to the betrayal of his son whom he thought was such.
Rob looked at Whitebeard who still had his blonde hair and bulging muscles, he was more alive than ever.
"Man… killing the old version of you was extremely difficult…"
"How terrifying would it be to hunt an enemy now, I mean it would be much harder for some people to sleep in the coming days."
Rob said, smiling.
"Death is not the end… Whitebeard's will shall live on, burning in those sons."
Whitebeard said while wiping the tears of his wife, Stussy, who was crying bitterly because of her intense emotions towards the scene.
…
Urura Island:
"Can the last moment be so great?"
"He died… but he seems very alive to me, Wororororo!!"
Kaido laughed as he sipped his drink.
"So that's how the Summit War ended, huh?"
"It was really an incredibly strong summit… I didn't expect it to be this amazing!"
"Captain Kaido… it's not over yet, the Marines will surely wipe out the remnants of Whitebeard's pirates." King said.
"Eh? Who cares… if even Whitebeard died… then everyone else should follow him to death… he shouldn't be left alone."
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 755: I'll Give You the Ultimate Show!
Chapter 756: Ace is gone, but you must live.
Chapter 757: Two Powers in One Body.
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