In the world of pirates, the Paper-Paper Fruit, Chapter 226: Give Me Some Face. Just as Blackbeard's face turned blue and red, unable to advance or retreat.
On the other side of the battlefield:
Clang!
A long sword blocked Akainu's magma fist, stopping his pursuit of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Ordinary weapons would melt into molten iron in front of Akainu's magma, but this long sword remained unscathed because it had a name:
Griffin!
And its owner—
"Red-Haired Shanks?"
Akainu looked at the man who stopped him: wearing a white shirt with only half the buttons done, a black long cloak, brown patterned shorts, red hair, and three scars on his left eye.
"What are you doing here!"
Facing Akainu's question, Shanks held the sword with one hand.
"I'm here to end this war."
"Everyone here,"
The red-haired man with Haki looked around the battlefield, his voice not loud but clear to everyone.
"Please give me some face!"
...
In response to Shanks' words, the entire battlefield fell silent. The last person who didn't give Red-Haired face was the one 'standing' over there, Whitebeard...
Ahem, just kidding. But the deterrent power of Red-Haired and his fully energized pirate crew was something that the injured forces on this battlefield could not ignore.
"If anyone still wants to fight, we'll accompany you!"
---
"Tsk, forget it."
After witnessing the power of the Marine Fleet Admiral and the Marine hero, Blackbeard, who had calmed down from the excitement of the double fruits, was the first to prepare to leave.
"The goal has been achieved, take Burgess, let's go!"
On the other side, Mihawk also turned and left without hesitation.
"I agreed to fight Whitebeard, but Red-Haired was not in the deal."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku,"
A few steps forward, Red-Haired Shanks faced the Marine commander, as well as the bodies of Ace and the still-standing Whitebeard.
"Ace and Whitebeard are dead, the Marines' goal has been achieved."
"Please let me handle their aftermath, don't make a big deal out of it."
"What?!"
The one-eyed elite Vice Admiral Doberman stepped forward, "Only by showing their heads to the public can the Marines claim a complete victory!"
"No problem,"
Sengoku, who had reverted from his 'Buddha' form, waved his hand.
"If it's you handling it... no problem. Red-Haired, you take care of their aftermath."
"Sorry for the trouble."
As the Red-Haired Pirates began to collect the bodies of Whitebeard and Ace, Sengoku looked around and shouted.
"The war is over!!"
"Treat the wounded immediately—"
---
"The Marines won!!"
"Great, the legendary pirate 'Whitebeard' has been defeated!"
Cheers and jubilation echoed in the neighboring Sabaody Archipelago. For most people... no, for 99% of people, pirates are an absolute nightmare!
The news of a legendary pirate and the Pirate King's son being executed by the Marines was definitely a cause for celebration for ordinary people!
As the broadcasted battle ended, the unique individuals in the crowd began to leave for the port: they didn't care much about Whitebeard's death, but his words 'the great treasure exists' made these strong individuals even more excited!
"Set sail, we're entering the New World!"
"In just a blink of an eye, the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates will be in chaos..."
"The key is Blackbeard, he will soon become a big shot in the New World!"
Unlike other eager supernovas rushing into the New World, there is one who is calmly fishing:
The fortune teller.
"Strange..."
"What's wrong, Captain Hawkins?"
Facing his subordinate's question, Basil Hawkins, who was flipping the cards in front of him over and over, casually replied.
"No matter how I calculate it..."
"Straw Hat Luffy's survival rate is not zero."
?!
Captain, you could just say Straw Hat Luffy's survival rate is 100%, right?
I have to say, Hawkins' fortune-telling is really accurate! Because at this moment, on a warship far from Marine Headquarters, all the Marine soldiers had turned into stone statues with heart-shaped eyes. The only one with this ability is:
"How is Luffy?"
Facing the question from the stunning beauty Boa Hancock, the white bear 'Bepo' in a one-piece tracksuit, who had just surfaced from the submarine, patted his chest in relief.
"I thought it was the Marines chasing us, scared me to death..."
"Don't change the subject, you bold beast!"
Under the Empress's scolding, Bepo immediately bowed his head and apologized, "Sorry..."
"What a coward!!"
Amidst the complaints of two Heart Pirates officers, the gloomy Trafalgar Law also emerged from the submarine, along with the pure white armored 'The White Knight'.
"Within the controllable range of the surgery, there is no longer any danger to life."
After speaking, Law glanced at The White Knight beside him. That guy's green paper that can replenish life force is simply a doctor's dream.
"Just enough rest and waking up naturally will be enough."
"Then, Empress."
The White Knight took a step forward, "I'll leave my captain Luffy and Jinbe to you. I have other matters—"
"Leaving Luffy to me... does that mean marriage?~~"
Seeing the stunning beauty starting to daydream, The White Knight shrugged and spread his wings to fly away.
---
"Marco... my condolences."
On the last small Moby Dick, the red-haired Shanks nodded to the dejected Marco, then turned and returned to the Red Force beside him.
The bodies of Whitebeard and Ace had already been placed in the cabin of the Moby Dick, and on the deck:
"Pops... sob, what should we do now?"
"Even Ace..."
"I'm so useless! I couldn't save anyone—"
"Stop it! Everyone did their best, pull yourselves together, do you want the Red-Haired Pirates to laugh at us?!"
Although he said this, everyone, including Marco, understood that they were no longer on equal footing with the Red-Haired Pirates. — Today, they only escaped with their lives thanks to the Red-Haired Pirates.
And Blackbeard! No matter how he took Pops' Quake-Quake Fruit ability, there is no doubt that there will be a battle between him and the remaining Whitebeard Pirates! And the result will probably be...
The entire Whitebeard Pirates were filled with sadness, confusion, and even... despair.
'It's my fault, all my fault!'
In mid-air, an invisible, semi-transparent 'person' stood there, sadly watching the Whitebeard Pirates' captains sitting on the deck, crying softly, holding their heads, and looking lost.
There was a man with black hair and freckles on his cheeks, bare-chested, wearing only a pair of denim shorts.
Portgas D. Ace!
"It's all my fault, if I hadn't..."
Snap,
A big hand landed on his shoulder, making Ace's soul turn around. The tall figure behind him made his eyes instantly wet.
"Pops!"
Behind him was a semi-transparent figure that couldn't be seen by humans. His tall figure was as reliable as ever! His expression was still kind.
"Ace, my son. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
"No!!!"
"Pops, I'm the one who should apologize! I didn't listen to your advice, I caused my own death—"
Snap,
The tall man squatted down and hugged Ace, interrupting his self-blame.
"Silly son,"
"As a parent, isn't it natural to risk your life for your child?"
"I just regret not being able to save—?!"
Whoosh!
Above the sea, a knight in armor with white wings flew towards them. It immediately caught the attention of the nearby Red-Haired Pirates. Just as Yasopp raised his gun, Marco swung a flame in front of him.
"Marco...?"
"Sorry, that's a... friend, please don't shoot."
As The White Knight flew over, the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates quickly wiped away their tears. After all, crying in front of outsiders would tarnish Whitebeard's name, wouldn't it?
Snap,
The White Knight landed on the deck, tilting his head towards the cabin.
"This..."
Marco stepped forward awkwardly, moving his lips. Even though the other party had provided great help to the Whitebeard Pirates, they still didn't know his name.
"We'll talk about my matters later,"
The White Knight pointed to the cabin where Whitebeard and Ace's bodies were placed.
"Can I go in?"
"Huh?"
"I'm here to save someone."
"What did you say!?"
With a clattering sound, the captains, still in their armor, all stood up suddenly, looking at The White Knight in disbelief.
"Hey, hey, hey, put away your Haki..."
The White Knight, whose body started creaking again, waved his hand, "Anyway, let me in first—"
Inside the cabin:
Rustle~~
Sheets of white paper flew out, wrapping around Ace's body. When a sheet with a rolling river drawn on it landed on Ace, Roman, controlling The White Knight, looked up at the sky.
"Huh?"
"That kid playing with paper can see us?—No,"
As one of the world's top experts, Whitebeard instantly judged the truth from the direction of The White Knight... or rather Roman's 'gaze'!
"He... can see you? Ace."
"Yes, Pops. I..."
Just as Ace's soul was thinking about how to explain, The White Knight in the cabin had already looked away.
Good, the body is repaired, and the soul is nearby. Next:
The White Knight touched his chin and clapped his hands mischievously!
Then pressed onto the floor:
"Paper Dance - Edo Tensei!"
Rustle~~~
Amidst the flying papers, the mimic page from Bon Clay turned into Ace's burned heart; the Rumble-Rumble Fruit from Enel turned into tiny electric currents to stimulate the heart to beat; the body, which had been nourished by the blood bottle paper, began to regain vitality...
The most crucial part was the 'Yellow Spring Page' from Brook on Ace's forehead, which started to work its magic! It pulled Ace's soul back into his body.
"Come on, I took so much bone marrow from Brook to make this, don't let me down—"
As The White Knight activated these fruit powers, a force of 'attraction' fell on Ace's soul in the air!
'What is this...?'
'Pops, I—'
Seeing Ace trying to resist the attraction and say something, Whitebeard's expression changed from shock to realization, then to joy!
'Gurara~~~'
'Someone actually played with the Devil Fruit powers like this, very good, very good!'
After saying that, Whitebeard pushed Ace's soul into the paper-wrapped body.
'Pops!!'
In response to Ace's last words, Whitebeard just waved his hand contentedly and turned around.
'Live well, my son...'
The sea breeze blew, and his majestic figure turned into a burst of sparkling light and disappeared into the air!
Unlike Ace, who had half a 'Yellow Izumi Page' protecting his soul, Whitebeard relied entirely on his will to keep his soul in the daylight! Now that he saw his son could be revived, what else could he not let go of?
"Pops!!"
In the cabin, a black-haired figure suddenly sat up from the bundle of paper! At the same time:
'Gurara~~~'
???
The captains in the room were all startled because they all heard that hearty laugh again.
"Take care of yourselves, my sons!"
—————— ----
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