World Center — Holy Land, Mariejois
"Excellent!"
"How thrilling!"
"If I'd known it would be this spectacular, I would've gone straight to Marineford myself!"
"That's right! Watching it live must've been so much better!"
"The Marines really outdid themselves this time!"
"What 'Whitebeard'? What 'strongest man in the world'? He talked big — but in the end, he died just like everyone else!"
"I thought that Whitebeard guy was supposed to be incredible. Turns out he was nothing special after all!"
"Hah, what a pity. If only Whitebeard had been spared — I'd have made him my invincible slave!"
"Hahaha! Aren't there still a few of his captains alive?"
"I remember hearing that Marco the Phoenix was captured. I want to build a cage just to keep him as a pet!"
"Idiot, that phoenix is mine!"
"I'm not after the phoenix. I want the one who can turn into diamond — he'd make a stunning ornament!"
In the grand social square of Pangaea Castle, the arrogant Celestial Dragons gossiped and laughed, their shrill voices echoing through the marble halls.
Meanwhile — Inside Pangaea Castle, Five Elders' Conference Room
The atmosphere in the chamber was tense — suffocatingly so.
Despite Marine's apparent victory, there wasn't the slightest trace of joy on the faces of the Five Elders.
Because they had already realized something terrifying.
They were completely cut off from the outside world.
And worse — the entire Holy Land might no longer be part of the real world.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on?"
The blond, bearded Elder slammed his palm against the table.
"Who's behind this? Who dares to toy with us like this?"
The swordsman Elder's killing intent flared like a blade drawn from its sheath.
"Lord Imu would never leave the Flower Room — yet we didn't see any trace of them there just now. Which means…"
"This world isn't real," the Elder with the dark beard said grimly.
"I just hope," murmured the bald Elder with a scar, "that the person behind this isn't who I think it is…"
"Unfortunately," sighed the white-haired Elder, his face like carved stone, "fate rarely spares us disappointment. And I can't think of anyone else who could pull this off."
At that very moment—
BOOM!
A deafening thunderclap split the sky over Marineford.
It wasn't thunder. It was Vice Admiral Garp — the Marine legend himself — finally losing control.
"That bastard…!" one of the Elders spat, eyes wide with fury.
Marineford — Above the Battlefield
The war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates was over.
Now came the grim aftermath — tending to the wounded, collecting the dead, and rebuilding what could be salvaged.
"Vice Admiral Ghost Spider, sir! What should we do with the body of Emperor Whitebeard?"
A young Marine looked toward the towering corpse of Edward Newgate and involuntarily shuddered.
"Do you even need to ask?" Ghost Spider replied coldly. "Cut off his head. We'll send it to the world as proof of our victory!"
"Yes, sir!"
The sailors saluted and stepped forward—
—but before they could get close, an invisible pressure descended upon them.
The air grew heavy. The ground cracked beneath their boots.
"Nani?!"
"What—what's happening?!"
"Is Whitebeard… still alive?!"
"That's impossible!"
Panic rippled through the ranks.
"Stand back, you cowards! He's dead!" Ghost Spider barked, stepping forward himself.
But before he could raise his sword—
The same crushing pressure slammed down on him.
Even as a Vice Admiral, one of Marineford's elite, his knees buckled under the weight.
"Marshal Sengoku!" shouted Commodore Brandon, his green hair disheveled. "Something's wrong! Whitebeard—Whitebeard's corpse is reacting!"
Sengoku didn't respond.
His eyes were locked elsewhere — on his old comrade, Garp, who was striding toward the main headquarters building.
Dark red and black lightning — Conqueror's Haki — crackled violently around Garp's clenched fists.
"Garp, what are you doing?" Sengoku shouted, his voice hard and commanding.
He thought Garp had simply lost control, overwhelmed by grief.
After all, Ace was his grandson.
To watch his own blood executed before his eyes… even Garp's legendary will could only bear so much.
But this wasn't just venting rage.
And even if it was — this was the Marine Headquarters.
That building had stood for centuries, a sacred symbol of Justice, built upon the legacy of generations of fallen Marines. It wasn't something that could be destroyed in a fit of emotion.
"Garp! Stop this! That's enough!" Sengoku roared again.
"Don't stop me, Sengoku!" Garp's voice thundered, shaking the plaza. "I'm here to tear away the veil of this false war! It's time… for the truth to be revealed!"
He leapt into the air, his fists glowing like molten iron, wrapped in the spiraling storm of Conqueror's lightning.
"Fist Bone… Impact!"
BOOM!
RUMBLE!
The punch landed like divine judgment.
The already-crumbling Marine Headquarters — the heart of the world's military power — collapsed completely, reduced to dust and rubble under the might of the Hero of the Marines.
"Wh… what?!"
"Why?! Why would Vice Admiral Garp attack the Headquarters?!"
"That building was the symbol of justice!"
"Mr. Garp—what are you doing?!"
All across Marineford, sailors screamed in disbelief.
"Look—look over there!" someone shouted.
Sabaody Archipelago — Live Broadcast Plaza
"Hey! Something's happening again at Marine Headquarters!"
"What the hell?! Vice Admiral Garp… he… he just destroyed the entire building with one punch!"
"Has he gone mad?!"
"Why would a Marine hero attack his own base?!"
The square erupted into chaos once again.
People screamed, argued, and speculated wildly as the image crackled on the giant broadcast screens.
"Wait—look! Someone's appearing above the ruins!"
"Huh? Who is that?"
"There—above the debris!"
"No way… it can't be!"
"It is! It's him!"
"The man standing there—he's from Fairy Tail!"
The air itself seemed to freeze.
"The President of Fairy Tail—the Second Emperor of the Sea—Sugisawa Yuuto!!!"
"The second Emperor… has appeared!!!"
"No, wait—Sugisawa Yuuto just came out of the Marine Headquarters! Does that mean…?"
"Don't tell me… he's been on the battlefield all along!!!"