Ace's death struck deep within the hearts of Whitebeard and his crew.
Whitebeard's rage was palpable, coursing through every pirate on the ship.
"Sakazuki, you dare to take Ace's life!"
"Prepare to face my fury!"
"I am not the man I once was..."
Whitebeard's visage contorted with fury as he rose from his seat.
Thanks to the rewards he had received previously, coupled with the healing of old wounds and ailments, Whitebeard had reached the pinnacle of his strength.
He was as formidable as he had ever been in his youth.
During the live broadcast battle, his weakness was solely due to his injuries. But now, he was different.
If he were to encounter Akainu again, Whitebeard was confident he would emerge victorious.
Meanwhile, Ace, unlike his enraged comrades, showed only mild surprise upon seeing his own demise.
For he knew he had died protecting Luffy.
Even if faced with the same situation again in the future, he would not hesitate to do it all over again.
...
In Water 7, the reaction mirrored that of the Whitebeard Pirates upon witnessing Ace's death.
Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Zoro, Usopp, and the others stood frozen for a moment.
They gazed at the sky in disbelief, unwilling to accept the harsh reality that had unfolded before them.
Moments ago, they had been cheering for Ace's rescue, unable to comprehend how swiftly the tide had turned against them.
But in the next moment... something like this occurred!
It felt surreal...
Of course, the one who reacted most fiercely among them all was Luffy.
"Ace..."
Luffy gazed at the sky, his mind nearly shutting down.
He couldn't fathom what happened next... witnessing his brother's death right before his eyes.
Such agony was beyond comprehension...
[There's no denying that Ace's demise is unfathomable for many witnessing it!]
[Even Garp, revered as a Marine hero, couldn't contain his shock.]
[His face twisted with astonishment, giving way to uncontrollable rage!]
[Then, he advanced. Though his steps were measured, his gaze remained fixed on Akainu.]
[His murderous intent was palpable!]
[Seeing this, Sengoku, as Garp's longtime comrade, instantly grasped Garp's intentions...]
[He too lunged forward, knocking Garp aside!]
[The impact was immense, cracking the stone slabs beneath Garp's head instantly.]
[Garp struggled to lift his head, speaking each word with effort.]
["Just keep me down, Sengoku, or else I won't be able to stop myself from killing Sakazuki..."]
Garp's declaration once again stirred countless viewers tuned into the live broadcast.
They had no doubt that as the Marine hero Garp, these words weren't mere boasts!
He possessed the power to take down Akainu!
After all, Ace was his grandson!
Witnessing his grandson's death right before his eyes, anyone could comprehend the fury coursing through him...
Even Akainu of the Navy Headquarters, at this moment.
As he gazed upon Garp's visage in the image, an involuntary shiver ran down my spine.
Indeed, after Ace's demise, Garp harbored intentions to avenge him!
Had it not been for the intervention of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he might have dealt a fatal blow amidst the chaos of war...
**********
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