"Aaargh!" On the battlefield, Luffy knelt, his eyes unfocused, his mouth agape to its limit. He had fallen into a state of unconsciousness.
Ace lay slumped on his shoulder, a smile on his lips, his eyes tightly closed. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. A gaping hole had been burned through his back and out his abdomen, his internal organs devoured by magma. His body had already lost the spark of life.
Boom! A terrifying shockwave swept across the battlefield. Akainu and Whitebeard clashed once more.
The ground crumbled. Akainu's face was contorted as Whitebeard, using only one hand, pressed him to the ground, unleashing a shockwave directly onto him!
A massive crater spread outward, the ground scorched red. Magma erupted, and Akainu, his face covered in blood, burst out from beneath the earth.
Like a rabid dog, he fearlessly charged at Whitebeard.
"Ace!" The captains of the Whitebeard Pirates roared, their eyes bloodshot with grief and rage.
"Everyone! Protect Ace's brother!"
"Yes!"
Ice and fire collided! Flashes of light darted! The battle descended into chaos!
On the warship in the outer bay, Wilder's expression was calm, but his heart was a tempest. A burning heat refused to be quelled.
"Nyehehehe… I feel a sense of… regret. If I can't leave something behind in this war…"
Wilder's low murmur caused Claire, standing beside him, to glance sideways. She couldn't help but whisper, her voice barely audible: "If it's Boss, you surely can, right?"
"No, I was completely helpless."
"That's because…"
"Because my opponent was Kizaru? Claire, in a battle, they don't specifically pick an opponent of equal strength for you." Wilder interrupted Claire before she could finish. He lit a cigar, his eyes, partially obscured by the smoke, never leaving that direction.
"Boss…" Claire didn't want to feel insignificant when she was by his side.
"Hm?"
"There's something I've always wondered… Why did we come to participate in this war?"
Wilder raised an eyebrow, surprised by Claire's question.
"For fame and profit. This war will allow us to quickly gain prestige and renown. These seemingly unimportant things can play a crucial role at certain times.
Secondly, for benefits. Whether it's information on the ambitious warlords of the seas or the Marines, various strange tales and legends, or even money, these are all benefits. Acquiring these will allow us to quickly establish a firm foothold in this Grand Line.
And then… because we have no other choice. Whether or not that tsunami had happened, this war was the most suitable option for us. Combat, experience, knowledge… we can gain more in this war than at any other time. And most importantly…"
"I told you, Claire. I said I would show you the wonders beyond Impel Down! As a first gift, only fireworks of this magnitude are worthy of you!" Wilder grinned, a confident, almost arrogant smile, glancing sideways at Claire.
"Boss…" Claire's eyes sparkled as if filled with stars. Her cheeks quickly flushed crimson.
"Tch!" Bacon, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but make a sound of disdain.
Thump! A long, straight leg, clad in a high-heeled shoe, instantly connected with his face, leaving a red mark. Bacon grimaced and collapsed.
Claire retracted her leg, her gentle smile returning. She stole glances at Wilder, her gaze full of affection, then, like a startled kitten, she would frequently bury her blushing face in her ample bosom.
"Hmph!" Sherilmo sneered at Bacon's sorry state.
"Be quiet," Ashin's voice came from the top of the mast. He was still holding that strangely shaped long rifle, his eye glued to the sniper scope, watching the distance without moving.
Boom! On the battlefield, the Whitebeard Pirates were beginning to show signs of faltering. Only Whitebeard, shedding his previous ailing state, continued his fierce offensive!
On his slightly wrinkled face, all other expressions had vanished. Only the burning rage and grief in his eyes occasionally flickered through!
The rage transformed into silent fists. His long-handled bisento spun, creating a vortex. Whitebeard's eyes widened, filled with murderous intent! He slashed down with the bisento!
A shockwave swept out, tearing cracks in the air. With a deafening roar, the air became visibly distorted – the shockwave was the result of air compressed to its absolute limit and then released!
Akainu gritted his teeth, struggling to withstand Whitebeard's terrifying assault. Magma erupted from his hand, the surrounding air warped by the intense heat.
"Hound Crimson Lotus!"
A massive amount of magma shot out. Akainu turned and punched, his magma colliding with Whitebeard's shockwave.
Swish! Swish! Swish! The bisento spun continuously. Just as the aftershock passed, he slashed down again!
His eyes obscured by shadows, Whitebeard's face was expressionless. He reached out to grab Akainu with one hand!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Akainu dodged frantically, unleashing bursts of magma in retaliation. His eyes were as ruthless as the magma itself, filled with determination and an unwavering spirit! He showed no sign of retreating from Whitebeard's attacks, meeting them head-on. It seemed that, in this battle, he was the only one who truly shouldered the fate of the Marines!
Even facing Whitebeard at this moment, even being repeatedly suppressed and knocked down, he was like an indomitable, vicious dog. Red and heat were embodied in him to the fullest!
The surging, roiling magma soared into the sky, transforming into giant fists that rained down like a volcanic eruption, or perhaps a meteor shower, densely striking Marineford's plaza.
Countless pirates were blown away, burned, and consumed by the magma. After being suppressed by Whitebeard once more, Akainu unleashed his Meteor Volcano, aiming to comprehensively eliminate the pirates whose fighting spirit had waned.
Crack! The air split open. Whitebeard attacked again. The aura of a king was unleashed without reservation at this moment. The power of the tremors seemed limitless, and all of Marineford began to shake.
"Those who wish to follow me, be prepared to give your lives!" These words, spoken as if facing death with equanimity, came from Whitebeard's mouth.
With a leap, Whitebeard landed on the ground. At almost the same instant, Marineford suddenly trembled violently!
Then, before everyone's horrified eyes, a fissure split Marineford in two, like a man-eating abyss, proclaiming to all: "Cross this, and you die!"
One side was for the family behind him, the other was for the Marines who wanted to pursue. He stood like a great mountain at one end of the abyss, gazing at Marineford, yet also like a protective parent, leaving his back to his family and using his chest to withstand the enemy!
"Everyone! Leave!" Another sentence came from Whitebeard's mouth, contradicting the previous one. All of Marineford fell into silence. … Until a warship slowly sailed into the outer bay, and a group of people swaggered in from the rear of Marine Headquarters.
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