Who knew what the world would think of Whitebeard if this news spread?
Old rivals like Kaido and Charlotte Linlin would definitely mock him in secret once they heard!
Whitebeard would rather die on the battlefield than surrender in such disgrace.
It was humiliating!
But just as Whitebeard's fury peaked, Kronos spoke again. His next words fell like a basin of cold water, instantly cooling his rage and impulse.
"Have you ever thought about your sons?"
Kronos' words echoed.
That simple sentence struck Whitebeard to his core.
He wasn't alone.
If he truly fought to the death here, what would happen to his sons?
For the first time in this war, Whitebeard hesitated.
Should he fight on?
Or should he retreat?
It was a cruel dilemma.
And just as confusion clouded his mind—
Kronos suddenly stepped forward and drove a fist into Whitebeard's abdomen.
Boom!
The blow sent Whitebeard spitting blood before collapsing unconscious.
But Kronos had held back—using only half his strength. Whitebeard didn't die; he merely fainted.
Marco's face twisted with complicated emotions. He didn't even know whether he should feel relief… or sorrow.
"Dad's life was spared like this… I don't even know if that's a blessing or a curse," Marco muttered, looking at Whitebeard's unconscious form with deep pain.
Kronos' voice cut through the silence.
"Marco. Take your men and leave."
"From this day forward, Beehive Island belongs to me. Do you have any objections?"
His tone was flat, but deadly serious.
How could Marco dare to object?
With a heavy sigh, Marco exchanged glances with his battered crewmates. Finally, he nodded silently, acknowledging Kronos' claim over Beehive Island.
And so, under the crushing weight of humiliation, Marco led the broken remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates away in defeat.
Just days ago, Beehive Island had been their base camp.
Now, in less than a single day, their stronghold was no longer theirs—snatched away and claimed as another's territory.
"This day… I will never forget it for as long as I live!" Jozu roared, his fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped from his palms.
"Damn it all!"
Unlike Jozu, whose heart burned with vengeance, Bista's eyes were filled with bleak despair. He had realized the truth—there was a vast, unbridgeable gap in strength between them and the Kamui Pirates.
Perhaps… there would never be a chance for revenge in this lifetime.
At first, Bista thought they had simply been unlucky. But after crossing blades with Tsugikuni Yoriichi, he knew—he was utterly defeated.
The Kamui Pirates had only sent five members.
Five!
And yet they had crushed the Whitebeard Pirates.
If this was just a fraction of their true strength…
How terrifying would the full might of the Kamui Pirates be?
Bista dared not even imagine.
After the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates finally retreated, Uchiha Madara, who had been silently seething with frustration, turned his head toward Kronos.
"Captain," he said coldly.
"You shouldn't have let them go."
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