According to Whitebeard's explanation, Jotaro and the others had mistakenly strayed into another route.
Now, if they wanted to return to the route toward Alabasta, they could only reach it by using the Eternal Log Pose to go to HighWest.
HighWest was also called the Peak of the Western Heavens. From there, one could enter Sky Island, and only by crossing Sky Island would there be a chance to head toward Alabasta.
"Sky Island, as the name suggests, is an island in the sky, located several thousand meters above the White Sea."
"The air there is thin, and for ordinary people it's an extremely dangerous place."
Whitebeard gave a faint smile.
"But with your strength, passing through there won't be difficult. I once went to Sky Island myself, but that was already decades ago."
"This Eternal Log Pose was obtained back then, and now I'll give it to you."
Seeing Jotaro slip the Eternal Log Pose into his pocket, Whitebeard suddenly shifted the topic.
"Wait a second, I never said I'd give it to you for free. You have to exchange it with that fine liquor you had earlier."
Jotaro paused mid-action, speechless, but not stingy.
His storage space held plenty of white liquor.
He himself rarely drank it, usually preferring canned beer.
Giving all the white liquor to Whitebeard wasn't a big deal.
He waved his hand, and bottles filled with white liquor piled high, covering the entire deck.
Whitebeard's eyes lit up.
"Sons, it's party time!"
"Oooooohhh!!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates howled in excitement.
With their enthusiastic hospitality, Jotaro also accompanied them for a few drinks.
But Vivi, after learning that Crocodile was preparing to move against her country, had been worrying nonstop about Alabasta's situation. She couldn't lift her spirits at all.
Jotaro noticed this and decided to set out for HighWest immediately, so he rose and bid farewell to Whitebeard and the others.
"Alright," Whitebeard laughed heartily, "I'll wait for you in the New World. That is your true stage."
"Pops!" Marco suddenly stood up. "Navy warships are approaching this way, more than one!"
Whitebeard cast a glance.
On the distant sea, several warships sailed in perfect formation. On the lead ship stood a three-meter-tall man with a fierce face.
He wore a dark red shirt, with the signature coat of a Navy Admiral draped over him. His aura was oppressive, giving off an extremely dangerous feeling.
"What's the Navy up to?"
Whitebeard had seen every kind of scene before, so of course he didn't feel fear. He was only curious as to why the Navy would send an Admiral.
Could it be they wanted to start a war with him?
The thought flashed through his mind.
But he didn't believe the Navy would be that foolish.
"I want to see what medicine they're hiding in their gourd!"
The warships drew closer. Whitebeard stood up. Though heavily wounded, the aura he released was in no way weaker than Akainu's.
Akainu faced him directly.
A glint flickered in his eyes.
He raised his hand high.
The Vice Admiral beside him shouted loudly, "Stop the ships!"
With the order given, all the warships instantly halted.
"Akainu! What wind blew you here?" Whitebeard grinned, baring his teeth. "Surely you're not planning to start a fight with us at this moment?"
Akainu let out a cold snort.
"Whitebeard! One day, I'll personally execute you! But not today. We're here for another purpose, one that has nothing to do with you!"
"Oh? Nothing to do with us?" Whitebeard's face carried a mocking smile.
"On the first half of the Grand Line, who else could possibly warrant the Navy Headquarters sending out an Admiral?"
"Of course there is! This person is an even greater threat to the world than you! I must eliminate this 'evil' before it grows any stronger."
Akainu noticed Jotaro's ship beginning to move, as if preparing to leave.
He stepped forward.
"Today, I don't have time to bother with you. As long as you don't get in the way, I'll act as if I never saw your pirate crew."
Whitebeard said nothing. At this moment, not only he, but everyone else also felt shocked.
On the first half of the Grand Line, was there really an enemy who required an Admiral to deal with?
Akainu suddenly roared.
"Leave that ship behind! At all costs, fire the cannons!"
At his command, the Navy soldiers manned the artillery, aiming directly at Jotaro's vessel.
A deafening barrage followed. Countless cannonballs burst from their barrels, blotting out the sky, raining down upon Jotaro's position.
Whitebeard's pupils shrank, his face changing drastically.
'Could it be, the Navy's target is him!'
———
After saying his farewells, Jotaro had taken Nami and the others off the Moby Dick, setting sail for HighWest.
But just as the ship turned around, the sky filled with cannonballs rushing at them.
"Ahhh… What's going on? Why is the Navy attacking us!"
Nami stared at the incoming shells, her soul nearly leaving her body.
At their ship's speed, there was no way to dodge so many cannonballs.
Jotaro himself was still confused about the situation.
But now was no time to think.
"Star Platinum!"
The moment he summoned Star Platinum, violent tremors shook the surroundings.
The Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Whitebeard spread his legs, lowered his stance, and released a terrifying aura.
At the same time, space itself trembled, cracks opening in every direction.
Under this power, the sky full of cannonballs instantly turned into fireworks.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
Explosions thundered one after another.
Whitebeard looked once and laughed, "Now this is a fine farewell ceremony!"
His blade rested at his side, his back turned toward Jotaro as he shouted loudly, "Go quickly! I'll hold off these Navy dogs for you!"
Jotaro gazed at Whitebeard's back, his expression deeply moved.
He knew he couldn't refuse now.
To do so would be trampling on another's dignity.
He turned silently, speaking calmly, "Nami, get up. We're leaving here."
With the cannon fire blocked by Whitebeard, Akainu flew into a rage.
"Whitebeard, what are you doing! I already said this has nothing to do with you!"
Whitebeard raised his head proudly. "What I, Whitebeard, choose to do, still isn't for you to decide!"
"Sons! To battle! Hold off this Navy scum!"
At his call, Marco, Jozu, Thatch, and the other division commanders all stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder at his side. Their eyes locked on the Navy fleet ahead, like a mountain immovable.
"Damn it!" Akainu cursed under his breath. "Why would Whitebeard help that guy! Vice Admiral Tsuru clearly said they'd clashed before, they should be enemies!"
Whitebeard's inexplicable actions had completely disrupted their plan.
Akainu stopped obsessing and immediately considered other tactics.
The threat Jotaro posed to the world was obvious. He could never allow him to grow stronger.
Today, he had to be killed here.
Akainu's eyes turned blood-red as he roared, "Engage!!!"
At his order, the Navy fully mobilized, clashing with the Whitebeard Pirates.
In an instant, flashes of blades, storms of blood, and a world of carnage.
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