"Heh heh, long time no see."
The seemingly ordinary pirate smiled as he casually tossed a wine bottle toward Whitebeard. His tone carried a faint sigh, as though reminiscing.
"The first time we met, it was an intergenerational friendship. This time, we meet again at your grand funeral. Life really is unpredictable."
"Bastard!"
Marco's expression darkened instantly. The moment the stranger referred to this battlefield as Whitebeard's funeral, a surge of fury exploded in his chest.
"Are you some prisoner who escaped from Impel Down? How dare you speak so rudely to Pops!"
Blue flames erupted across Marco's body as his anger flared, his Phoenix flames blazing while he launched himself straight at the unfamiliar pirate.
Slap!
Without even turning his head, the man lifted his leg and kicked casually.
Marco was sent flying like a broken kite.
"What…?"
He spun several times in midair before barely stabilizing himself. When he dove back down, ready to attack again, he froze.
On the deck, Pops was calmly clinking wine bottles with the stranger.
"Ah!!!"
Whitebeard tilted his head back and downed the alcohol in one gulp. He tossed the empty bottle aside and burst into thunderous laughter.
"Gurarararara!!! Good wine! Those barrels you sent me last time, I finished them all in no time!"
The pirate finished his own bottle as well, then glanced toward Ace on the execution platform and chuckled softly.
"Heh, I should have left you a few more barrels."
"Huh…?"
Marco landed on the deck, stunned, staring at the unfamiliar figure in disbelief.
Anyone who could drink with Pops as an equal was definitely not an enemy.
And yet, Marco was certain he had never seen this man before.
Having followed Whitebeard for so many years, he knew every ally and old friend. This face was completely unfamiliar.
"Brat," Whitebeard said with a hoarse laugh, his face pale but relaxed, "I didn't get to drink properly last time. Before I die, I finally got my wish."
As he spoke, he suddenly clutched his chest, his breathing turning heavy.
"In the future, if the Whitebeard Pirates run into trouble, I hope you'll lend a hand."
"Pops… you'll be fine…"
Marco's eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill as he heard words that sounded too much like a final request.
"Shirogai, brat."
Whitebeard laughed weakly, pointing at Marco.
"Since you call Marco your brother, then you're my junior. You wouldn't refuse an uncle's request, would you?"
Shirogai?
Arrogant Emperor Shirogai Yamikuro?
Marco stared at the man whose appearance was completely different and suddenly understood.
This was a monster level powerhouse who possessed the Talent Fruit. Changing his appearance would be trivial.
"I won't interfere in the internal affairs of the Whitebeard Pirates," Shirogai said calmly after examining Whitebeard's condition. "But lending a hand is fine."
He smiled faintly.
"With your current body, if you rush to save Ace, you'll die of exhaustion halfway there."
"No."
Whitebeard stepped forward slowly, his voice deep and resolute.
"Until Ace is rescued, I will not die."
"I… I…"
Whirlpool Spider Squard trembled violently, wishing the blade he held had pierced his own heart instead.
"I can temporarily restore your peak strength."
Shirogai raised his hand. His fingernails extended, forming five sharp, syringe like points that glowed faintly red.
"This is the Hormone Hormone Fruit, wielded by Ivankov."
His tone remained calm and precise.
"One of its abilities, Rejuvenation Hormone, burns the body's remaining potential and forcibly stimulates every last trace of vitality. It can return you to your peak combat power for ten minutes."
He paused, then continued evenly.
"After ten minutes, you will die from complete exhaustion. There is no saving you."
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard stared at the glowing tips of Shirogai's fingers and laughed loudly without the slightest hesitation.
"What an unexpected gain! Do it, inject me!"
"No!!! Pops!"
"Don't!!!"
Heart wrenching cries echoed from the Den Den Mushi Squard had dropped onto the deck.
"Pops!!!"
Two of Whitebeard's sons rushed forward in panic, shouting for him to stop, but Whitebeard raised his hand.
"That's enough. I know my own body."
He turned to them and smiled gently.
"Even if today hadn't happened, my time was already coming. If my life can protect most of you, then it's worth it."
He nodded at Shirogai.
"Do it."
"No!!!"
"Pops, we're enough to save Ace, please don't…"
"Pops… I doubted you… I…"
Amid the sobbing pleas from the Den Den Mushi.
Puff!
Five crimson needles plunged into Whitebeard's ribs.
Gurgle… gurgle…
The burning hormone surged into his body, violently stimulating his muscles, bones, and blood.
"Pops!!!"
Squard slapped his own face repeatedly, tears streaming as his voice broke.
"I was wrong! I was completely wrong! Let me go with you to save Ace!"
"You fool!"
Whitebeard turned sharply, his eyes blazing as he shouted.
"A son dying before his father is the ultimate disrespect! Do you want to be an unfilial child?!"
"I… I…"
Squard collapsed in shame, unable to speak.
"Hmph! Sengoku, truly insidious."
The hormones roared through Whitebeard's veins like ignited gunpowder. Old scars faded, weakness evaporated, and power surged back into his ancient body.
It was a sensation he had not felt in decades.
That overwhelming strength, capable of shaking the world with a single swing, returned in a final blaze.
"Gurarararara!!! This feeling… it's been a long time."
Whitebeard stared at his restored physique in astonishment. His Observation Haki sharpened to an unprecedented clarity.
"Has the power I lost returned?"
Gripping Murakumogiri, which felt lighter than ever, he stepped forward and addressed his sons in a booming voice.
"Pirates trust their own instincts, not the lies of others!"
"Use your own will to judge this world!"
"Whether pirates are evil or Marines are righteous, everything is proven by actions, not words!"
Whitebeard clenched his fist, aimed toward the execution platform, and threw a devastating punch.
"Everyone dies eventually, but some deaths are heavier than the Red Line, while others are lighter than a seagull's feather!"
Boom!!!!
The air twisted violently, shockwaves rippling toward Marineford.
Bang!
Garp stepped in, his arms coated in ferocious Armament Haki as he forcibly intercepted the quake.
Crack!!!
The space around him folded repeatedly before finally dispersing.
"Hm?"
When the vibration vanished, Garp stumbled back several steps, his eyes wide.
Thump, thump, thump.
He steadied himself and stared in disbelief at Whitebeard, who had already leapt from the Moby Dick and charged into the battlefield.
"How is this possible?"
"That old man was on the brink of death… how did he become this strong again?"
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