Chapter 79: Summit War
At dawn the next day, the sun rose over the eastern horizon. The first light pierced the sky, banishing the darkness over Marineford and illuminating every corner of the island.
A hundred thousand elite Marines stood ready on the forts flanking the bay, weapons in hand, prepared for battle. Hundreds of Marine Rear Admirals watched the distant coastline with stern expressions, anticipating the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The tension was palpable among the newly-promoted Marine Vice Admirals, including Koby and Bellumebo, as they nervously scanned the waters, unsure from which direction the enemy would strike.
More than a dozen veteran Vice Admirals, such as Flying Squirrel, Doberman, and Onigumo, remained calm, meditating in preparation for the impending clash against the mightiest pirate crew led by the most formidable man on the sea.
Hina and Peacock, newly minted Admirals, sat alongside the three established Marine Admirals.
Admiral Kizaru lounged with his hands behind his head, yawning nonchalantly. Aokiji sat with crossed legs, appearing uninterested, while Sakazuki sat upright, eyes closed, conserving his energy.
Among the Admirals and the two new candidates, one seat remained vacant.
The sound of footsteps broke the tension as Chiba finally appeared, taking his seat next to Sakazuki and Hina.
Sakazuki opened his eyes slightly, casting a sidelong glance at Chiba. His dry eyes revealed a moment of surprise, sensing Chiba's newfound strength, which even he couldn't completely gauge.
"Sakazuki, I'll remember the 'gift' you sent my way. I'll repay it in kind," Chiba remarked calmly.
"Gift? What gift?" Sakazuki feigned ignorance, hiding his irritation at Chiba's directness.
"The 'gift' you sent via Blackbeard. Forgotten so quickly?" Chiba replied with a smile, confident in his enhanced abilities.
"I've had no dealings with pirates like Blackbeard, Chiba. Don't falsely accuse me," Sakazuki retorted, inwardly cursing Blackbeard's failure.
"Enough, both of you. The Whitebeard Pirates will soon be here. We need to present a united front," Sengoku's voice intervened, quelling the dispute.
Chiba and Sakazuki fell silent as Sengoku turned his attention to Garp, sitting quietly beside him, eyes closed. No one could tell what was going through Garp's mind.
Sengoku worried that if Garp, with his immense power, decided to aid Whitebeard in rescuing Ace, the outcome would be dire.
"Garp, you're the hero of the Marines, a symbol to the world. You must not act against justice or risk alienating millions from the Marines," Sengoku warned.
Garp remained silent and unmoving, deep in thought.
Sengoku sighed, shifting his gaze to the assembled Shichibukai—Empress Boa Hancock, the world's greatest swordsman Mihawk, Gecko Moria, Bartholomew Kuma, and Doflamingo.
With the might of the Marines and Shichibukai combined, Sengoku felt confident that even Whitebeard, the strongest man at sea, would fall.
The anticipation was thick as everyone awaited the appointed time for Ace's execution.
Suddenly, the wail of sirens shattered the calm, and the Marines tensed, eyes fixed on the sea. A black dot on the horizon rapidly grew larger, propelled by a strong sea breeze, closing in on Marineford's perimeter in mere minutes.
A fleet of over forty massive pirate ships, bristling with pirates armed to the teeth, approached. Among them were over a dozen infamous men with bounties exceeding 50 million Berries, each capable of fighting thousands of Marines.
Yet, Sengoku remained uneasy. Whitebeard and his powerful captains—Marco, Jozu, and Vista—were nowhere to be seen. Their absence was troubling, as was Whitebeard's.
"Kizaru," Chiba began, "if I were Whitebeard, I'd use those ships as a distraction and sneak in from underwater to catch the Marines off guard and get closer to the execution platform."
Kizaru's expression shifted. "Brother Chiba, you might be right. Whitebeard may indeed use that strategy."
As Sengoku heard this, he realized his defensive setup on the bay's coast could be rendered useless if Whitebeard attacked from below.
Just then, bubbles began to surface in the bay, confirming Chiba's prediction.
"Oh my, it seems you were right, Brother Chiba," Kizaru commented, amused.
All eyes turned to the bay as bubbles grew larger, and suddenly, three pirate ships erupted from the water, bearing the emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Standing on the deck was Whitebeard himself, brandishing his supreme blade, Murakumogiri. He roared, "Ace, my foolish son, your father is here to save you!"
"Don't worry, Ace! We're here!" Marco shouted, joined by cheers from Jozu, Vista, and the rest of the crew, their voices resonating across the water.
"Dad!" Ace cried, trembling with emotion, tears welling in his eyes.
"It's my fault, I got caught, and now you're all risking yourselves to save me," Ace lamented, consumed with guilt.
"We've been outmaneuvered," Sengoku admitted, realizing the Marines still held the advantage in sheer numbers and firepower.
Moria laughed maniacally among the Shichibukai. "On one side, the Whitebeard Pirates; on the other, the Marines with their Admirals, Shichibukai, and legends like Chiba and Garp. Who will prevail?"
Doflamingo chuckled, fingers twitching with excitement, while Mihawk focused intently on Whitebeard, eager to measure himself against the world's strongest.
Hancock, caught in a dilemma, thought, "Ace is Chiba's brother, Chiba is a Marine legend, and I'm a Shichibukai. What role should I play in this battle?"
Whitebeard's surprise maneuver prompted a rapid Marine response. Sengoku seized the moment to address the troops, amplifying his voice through loudspeakers to reach every Marine and pirate, even broadcasting to the world.
"Ace, name your father."
"My father is Whitebeard."
"No, your father is someone else."
"No! My father is only Whitebeard!"
"Your mother's name was Portgas D. Rouge. Driven by love, she carried you for twenty months before giving birth and dying in the process. You were born a year and three months after your true father died. That man was Gol D. Roger."
Gasps echoed across Marineford. Ace, Roger's son?
A stunned silence gripped the crowd before a roar of cheers erupted from the Marines. They had executed Roger and would now extinguish his bloodline.
"Kill Ace! Execute the evil bloodline!"
The Marines, emboldened by Sengoku's revelation, clamored for justice, their morale soaring.
"Hahaha," Whitebeard's laughter boomed, rivaling Sengoku's amplified voice, quelling the Marine cheers and bolstering pirate spirits.
Whitebeard fixed his gaze on the execution platform. "Sengoku, you're not as sharp as you think."
Sengoku, sweat beading on his brow, acknowledged Whitebeard's strength surpassed his expectations. His appearance belied any rumor of illness.
Hina and Peacock exchanged wary glances, understanding now that despite their own growth, they were no match for Whitebeard.
Kizaru and Aokiji regarded Whitebeard with newfound seriousness, while Akainu focused intently on the towering figure wielding Murakumogiri.
Chiba assessed the situation, confident in his enhanced abilities but aware of Whitebeard's formidable power. He wasn't sure he could defeat him alone.
Whitebeard acted swiftly, casting aside his cloak and charging his fists with the power of the Gura Gura no Mi. His muscles bulged as he unleashed his might, cracking the very air with his blows.
"Whitebeard is the strongest at sea, wielding the power to command the sea itself. Be cautious!" Sengoku warned as Marines braced for impact.
The sea receded ominously, and a massive current surged towards Marineford.
Rayleigh, Jinbei, Crocodile, Ivankov, and Luffy clung to their ship, caught in the rushing water.
"This current is insane! Jinbei, what can we do?" Ivankov shouted, while Luffy urged, "Jinbei, do something!"
"It's just the tides. Hold on, it'll pass," Jinbei reassured them.
As predicted, the current receded, only to return more forcefully, propelling their ship towards Marineford like a missile.
Back at Marineford, the water level rose rapidly, massive waves towering over the bay, casting it into shadow.
The Marines, faced with impending doom, feared the waves would obliterate them.
Chiba, understanding the peril, prepared to act, but Aokiji leaped into the fray first.
"Ice Time!" Aokiji shouted, extending his hands towards the encroaching waves. The water froze under his power, transforming the waves into towering icebergs.
"Damn that freezing brat," Whitebeard cursed, frustrated that his attack was thwarted.
Aokiji retaliated, forming ice spears and launching them at Whitebeard, who shattered them with a single punch, freezing the bay in the process.
Kizaru, sensing Aokiji's plight, sprang into action, hands forming symbols over his chest.
"Yasakani no Magatama," Kizaru announced, unleashing a barrage of light towards Whitebeard.
Whitebeard scoffed, "Blinding light boy," as Marco shielded him, taking the brunt of the attack before countering Kizaru with a powerful kick.
Kizaru crashed into a mountain, and Chiba observed, amused, "That old fox is holding back too obviously."
[•———•———•———•]
𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:
• 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮
• 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝
• 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗲
𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟭𝟴𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!
👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
💬 𝘼𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝘼𝙫𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩! 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 $30—𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 10% 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩! 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚: 𝗚𝗢𝗗𝗢𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥.
𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙂𝙋𝙏 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣-𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮, 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨, 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!
👉𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽: 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧/𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥