"So strong!"
On the execution platform, it wasn't just Sengoku watching the clash between Elior and Kizaru — Ace was witnessing it too.
At that moment, Ace stared at Elior in disbelief. He couldn't comprehend how someone who looked even younger than him could possess such terrifying power. Even when going toe-to-toe with an Admiral like Kizaru, Elior held his ground effortlessly. Not only that, even Vice Admiral Tsuru — one of the Marine's three great legends — had stepped in, and still couldn't gain the upper hand. Elior's strength was undeniable.
"If only I had possessed that kind of power back then... Would Blackbeard even have been a threat?"
Ace couldn't help but feel immense guilt. Not only had he ended up on the execution platform, but he was dragging the entire Whitebeard Pirates into danger. From where he stood, he could see more and more of his crewmates falling in battle — some with limbs severed, others stabbed or even beheaded. The pain and anguish in his heart were beyond words. If only he hadn't been so reckless. If only he'd been stronger. Maybe it wouldn't have come to this.
"How is someone younger than me this much stronger?"
Ace began to question himself deeply.
Meanwhile, Sengoku's full attention was now on Elior. The power the boy had displayed was far beyond his expectations.
"Swordsmanship too? This brat hid it well!"
"And Tsuru's powers... Why didn't they work on him? Even I wouldn't dare touch that ability directly!"
Sengoku was filled with doubt and unease. Elior hadn't just appeared out of nowhere — he was both mysterious and overwhelmingly powerful. His background was unknown, and so was the extent of his abilities. In Sengoku's eyes, Elior had become one of the most dangerous figures in Marineford — possibly second only to Whitebeard himself.
"And... those two observers…? The ones who came from Impel Down."
Sengoku also noticed two elderly figures standing aboard Elior's pirate ship, watching the battlefield just as he was. Though it had been decades since Sengoku last saw them, he recognized them as former giants of the sea — recently freed by Elior from Impel Down. If he hadn't known that in advance, he might not have recognized them at all.
But even just standing there, those two exuded a powerful, intimidating aura.
"Living time bombs" Sengoku thought, feeling a deep sense of foreboding.
This execution wasn't just any operation — the Marine was up against far too many powerful enemies.
While weaker opponents were manageable, there was no shortage of truly dangerous foes from all three factions present.
Compared to that, the Marine was starting to seem... outmatched.
Meanwhile, on the Sabaody Archipelago, the massive plaza was completely packed. Not a single inch of space remained. Everyone was watching the war unfold — so intense that even the most unruly children were struck silent. As the adults whispered, "Will the world still be here tomorrow?" — no one knew for sure.
Civilians, nobles, pirate families, Marine relatives — everyone's attention was locked on Marineford.
There, every minute brought more death. With both the Marine and the pirates together, nearly 150,000 people had gathered at Marineford.
The scale was overwhelming. Even a single shout from the crowd felt like it could burst eardrums.
Journalists couldn't even keep track of how many historic headlines they were capturing. Once the war ended — today or tomorrow — news would spread like wildfire across the world. And deep down, many — especially non-pirates — were hoping that the Marine would win.
Whitebeard must die.
So must Ace.
That was the silent consensus of countless people.
"Roger… So you left behind a child after all…"
Rayleigh sipped his drink, reminiscing. After the Roger Pirates disbanded, he hadn't kept track of Roger's whereabouts. He had known Roger planned to turn himself in — for the sake of revealing the secrets of Laugh Tale to the world. It was Roger's sacrifice.
But what even Rayleigh hadn't known — nor had anyone else — was that Roger had a child. After disbanding the crew, he went to the South Blue and, with a woman from the D clan, fathered Ace… who then went on to become a member of Whitebeard's crew?
That much had escaped Rayleigh completely.
He had never planned to go to Marineford — he no longer had a role in such affairs.
"Still… even the Revolutionary Army showed up. With Whitebeard's pirates too, this force should be enough to rescue Ace, right?"
"But then... what's Elior doing there?"
That was what puzzled Rayleigh the most. Elior wasn't the kind of man to act without a goal. Was he there to save Ace?
Rayleigh couldn't figure it out. And truthfully, he doubted it.
Elior's last appearance had ended with him stopping Kuma from saving Luffy. So why would he help Ace now?
No… it didn't feel like that was his purpose.
"That guy's getting stronger and stronger..."
Back on the battlefield, the Supernovas like Kid couldn't take their eyes off the duel between Elior and Kizaru — swords clashing, power shaking the air.
But even with his speed and light powers, Kizaru was clearly not winning.
The Supernovas were all pirates of the same generation — rising stars of the first half of the Grand Line. Their power levels weren't supposed to differ by much.
And yet Elior was on a completely different level.
They still remembered, vividly, the pain and humiliation of being crushed by Kizaru's light-speed attacks.
Now, even he couldn't get the upper hand on Elior.
There was no denying it — Elior was strong.
And naturally, the Supernovas compared themselves to him.
What they didn't know was that the gap between them and Elior wasn't just large — it was dimensional.
Even if they trained nonstop, they would never catch up.
"If he survives today and makes it to the New World, I swear—I'll be the one to defeat him!"
Kid, who hadn't been crushed by Kizaru like the others, remained confident. He was proud, ambitious—and since becoming a pirate, had never known defeat. That only strengthened his belief that he was near the peak of the world.
Meanwhile, three kilometers off the coast of Marineford, a Marine battleship sped across the waters.
Even from that distance, Marineford was clearly visible—along with the sounds of combat and explosions echoing across the sea.
Onboard that ship were reinforcements from Mary Geoise itself.
Commander-in-Chief Kong and CP0's strongest operative, Kaeya.
These men were among the top combatants of the World Government. And even they were only the tip of the iceberg.
Kong, despite being in his nineties, remained in peak physical health — no illness, no weakness. A martial artist through and through, his combat ability was still more than enough to fight on Admiral-level.
Kaeya, the CP0's supreme commander, was in his prime — around fifty — with strength and precision to match any Admiral.
In addition to them, Kong brought two elite officers comparable to top Vice Admirals, and five CP0 agents. Anyone in that organization was far from weak.
"Almost there."
Kong narrowed his eyes as Marineford came into view.
No matter what, those criminals had to be crushed.
Marineford — the holy symbol of justice and peace in the Great Pirate Era — could not be defiled.
This execution, symbolic as it was, must proceed.
The Gorosei had issued a final order: If the execution could not be completed according to plan — then no matter what, Ace must be killed by other means.
That was one of today's top priorities.
The bloodline of Gol D. Roger… must be extinguished.
Ace had to die—only his death would mark the execution as a success.
And ideally, Whitebeard would die here too. Must die here.
Remembering the Gorosei's words, Kong's eyes hardened.
"I wonder how the battle's going..."
Kaeya stood beside Kong, surprised that once again, the Marine's highest-ranking forces and CP0's strongest had been mobilized together.
"This mission must succeed."
"It will" Kong replied.
Their ship sailed on, carrying power that Marineford's defenders still didn't know was coming.
Back at Marineford, as time passed and Whitebeard's side launched fierce assaults, more and more fighters pushed their way onto the massive central plaza.
"Ace! We're getting closer!"
Luffy, Sabo, and others could see Ace on the execution platform. Their hearts surged with excitement—they were almost there.
"Luffy! Sabo!"
Tears welled in Ace's eyes. Today, he felt an overwhelming love from the world around him.
"Pops—watch out!"
Ace shouted suddenly, as numerous Marine soldiers drove their blades into Whitebeard's body.
Not just Ace — the entire Whitebeard crew cried out in horror and desperation.
After entering the plaza, the Marine charged in desperately, launching a fierce assault against Whitebeard.
Even though Whitebeard had initially shown no signs of weakness after being stabbed by the Squard, it became increasingly clear over time that his body could no longer keep up with his will. Despite continuing to fight, he was clearly struggling.
The legend had grown old.
Realizing this, the Marine's morale soared. They had long suspected that Whitebeard relied on medicine and IVs to keep himself going.
"Focus all fire on Whitebeard! He's past his prime!"
"Victory is within reach for the Marine!"
Sengoku shouted encouragement to rally the troops. Seeing Whitebeard stabbed multiple times in rapid succession, his excitement grew.
Even though Sengoku had only spoken a few words, the effect was powerful. Spurred on by his call, more and more Marine soldiers charged toward Whitebeard, eager to bring him down.
Whitebeard's bounty exceeded 5 billion berries. Taking down a pirate of such infamy — what kind of reward would that earn? How many ranks could one rise through the Marine for delivering the final blow?
Faced with such massive incentives, even the most principled of soldiers couldn't help but act.
"This level of attack is far from enough!"
With a roar, Whitebeard swung Murakumogiri, his naginata infused with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. The air itself cracked under the force. Shockwaves burst forth violently, scattering Marine soldiers like dandelions in a storm. Those clinging to his body were blasted away.
"I am Whitebeard!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield, and for a moment, no one dared come near.
"Pops!"
Members of the Whitebeard Pirates quickly gathered around him. His body, from chest to abdomen, was riddled with wounds — yet he stood firm.
"Be careful, Pops!"
"My beloved sons" Whitebeard said with a bloodied smile, "this is still nothing for me... Now go—save Ace!"