The battlefield of Marineford had barely settled.
Smoke still curled into the sky. The ground was shattered beyond recognition. The echoes of Ada's overwhelming Haki still lingered in the air like a memory no one could shake.
And at the center of it all, two legends stood face to face.
Whitebeard exhaled slowly, his massive frame still standing despite everything.
Across from him, Nyx D. Ada watched quietly.
For a moment there was peace. A strange, fleeting peace.
Whitebeard let out a deep laugh.
"GURARARARA!"
"Lighten up, Ada!" His voice was rough, but warm. "Everybody's gotta go someday."
Ada smiled faintly. Not as an Emperor. Not as a monster feared by the world. Just… as someone saying goodbye. "…So this is it, Newgate."
Whitebeard grinned. "Aye."
Ada's eyes softened. "…Thank you."
Whitebeard blinked. "For what?"
Ada's voice was calm. "For being my friend… back then."
There was no hesitation in her words. No pride. Just truth.
Whitebeard stared at her then burst into laughter again. "GURARARARA! Don't go getting sentimental on me now!"
Then a voice cut through the battlefield. Sharp. Panicked.
"HEY—!!" One of the Vice Admirals, barely standing, pointed toward the distance. "What the hell is THAT?!"
Everyone turned.
Behind the broken Marineford structure, something massive began to rise.
A shadow. A shape so large it blocked the light.
A Marine shouted. "It's huge! Whatever it is—it can't be good!!"
Then a voice echoed from the distance.
"…Oops. They found me."
The ground trembled and the giant stepped forward. A monster among monsters.
A Marine screamed.
"That's—!!"
"The largest creature in the world—!!"
"THE GREAT BATTLESHIP SAN JUAN WOLF!!"
San Juan Wolf grinned down at them.
"Woooow… they even know my name…"
Fear spread instantly.
Another Marine shouted. "T-There's more!! Up on the scaffold!!"
All eyes shifted upward and a voice rang out.
Mocking. Laughing.
"You fellas ain't really observant, are ya?!"
Sengoku's face twisted in anger.
"BLACKBEARD!"
Blackbeard stood there. Grinning. Surrounded. Not alone.
A Marine trembled as he pointed.
"They were supposed to be locked in Impel Down!!"
"They're monsters!!"
Another voice shouted names like curses.
"The Corrupt King Avalo Pizzaro!!"
Avalo Pizarro stepped forward, grinning.
"Now I'm back…"
"Now you die!"
"The Heavy Drinker Vasco Shot!!"
Vasco Shot swayed with a twisted smile.
"The Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon!!"
Catarina Devon licked her lips. "You boys want this? Try me."
"And that's—!!"
"The former Chief Jailer of Impel Down Shiryu of the Rain!!"
Shiryu of the Rain stepped forward, hand on his blade.
The Marines trembled.
"They've all joined… the Blackbeard Pirates…!"
Silence followed for a split second, then panic broke out.
"How are we supposed to fight this?!" one Marine shouted, voice cracking.
"First it was Whitebeard… then Straw Hat and the Impel Down inmates!"
Another staggered backward, eyes wide. "Then the Nyx Pirates showed up!"
"And now Blackbeard too?!"
A younger Marine dropped his weapon, hands shaking uncontrollably. "What the hell is this war…? This isn't a war anymore, this is a nightmare!"
One officer tried to steady the others, but even his voice lacked conviction. "Hold your ground! We're still—"
He stopped. Because even he didn't believe it. Not anymore.
Another Marine looked around at the battlefield at the unconscious Vice Admirals…at the fallen ranks…at the cracked earth…at the monsters standing on both sides and whispered. "…We're going to lose…"
The words spread faster than fire.
"We can't win…"
"There's too many…"
"Two Emperors… and now another former Warlord…"
"How do we fight this?!"
Even seasoned veterans,men who had survived the New World were trembling.
Their morale, shattered. Completely.
One Marine clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stand. "…This… this is supposed to be justice…"
But his voice faltered. Because in front of him, there was no order. No control. Only chaos. Only overwhelming power.
And for the first time the Marines of Marineford truly understood they were no longer the hunters. They were surrounded.
Then Blackbeard threw his head back and laughed. "ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
His eyes locked onto Whitebeard.
"Hey there, Pops! I'm glad I made it to your funeral!"
He spread his arms wide. "You miss me?!"
Whitebeard's grip tightened around his naginata. His voice dropped. "You… fat bastard…"
Behind Ada her crew remained calm. Unshaken.
Bullet smirked. "So he did come after all."
Mihawk spoke quietly. "Someone like him was bound to show up."
Enel scoffed. "Hmph. So he gathered some criminals."
Gild Tesoro adjusted his sleeve. "It doesn't matter. They're still weak."
Perona floated beside him, frowning.
"But did you HEAR that Marine?! He called that battleship guy the largest creature!"
She pointed angrily at Loki. "What about HIM?!"
Lilith smirked. "Well… Teach is right. They really are blind."
Hiyori stepped closer to Ada. "What do we do, Captain?"
Ada didn't hesitate. Her voice was calm. Cold. "Kill him."
The air shifted.
"I can feel it." Her eyes locked onto Blackbeard."Darkness. A man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants."
Then her gaze dropped. To Luffy. Luffy had collapsed. Unconscious. His body had finally given in after everything.
Ada's expression softened for just a second.
Then she spoke.
"Tiger."
"Jinbe."
Fisher Tiger and Jinbe immediately stepped forward.
"Take Luffy away from the battlefield."
"Get him to a ship."
"He needs rest."
Jinbe nodded firmly. "Understood."
Tiger lifted Luffy carefully. "We've got him."
Ace stepped forward. His fists clenched. Fire flickering around him.
"TEACH—!!"
Ace glared with pure fury.
"You bastard!!"
Then Whitebeard stepped forward.
"Ada." His voice stopped everything. "Leave this to me."
Ada looked at him. "Are you sure?"
Whitebeard's eyes burned. "He was part of my crew."
A pause.
"He killed Thatch. Sold Ace out."
His grip tightened. "He's my responsibility."
His voice dropped into something heavy.
"…to fix."
Then, Whitebeard slammed his weapon down.
BOOOOOOM.
The air cracked. The ground split. A massive chasm tore through Marineford separating him…from everyone else. From Ada. From his crew. From the world.
"POPS?!" Marco's voice broke. "What are you doing?!"
The Whitebeard Pirates shouted in panic.
"No!!"
"Don't do this!"
"That bastard—!!"
"Teach!!"
"We should kill him together!!"
Their voices rose. Anger. Desperation. Grief.
But Whitebeard didn't turn back. Not even once. Because this was his fight and everyone knew it.
The tension snapped.
Ace stepped forward, flames beginning to rise around his body, his fists trembling, not from fear, but from rage.
"I'M GONNA KILL THAT BASTARD!!" His voice tore through the battlefield.
Across the divide Blackbeard turned his head and grinned wide.
"Zehahahahaha…!"
"Well, well…Captain Ace!"
He spread his arms mockingly. "So you're still alive?!"
Ace's eyes burned. "BASTARD!!"
He launched forward but before he could take even a full step he was grabbed. Held back. Stopped.
Marco, Jozu, and the other commanders restrained him instantly.
"STOP IT, ACE!!" Marco shouted.
"You can't beat him!!" Jozu added, gripping his arm tightly.
Izou stepped in front of him, voice sharp.
"Don't be reckless!"
Ace struggled violently.
"LET ME GO!!"
"It's all his fault!!"
His voice cracked, not just anger now but pain.
"If it wasn't for HIM—!!"
Silence fell among the Whitebeard Pirates.
Because they all knew.
Every single one of them.
He was right. If it wasn't for Blackbeard—
Thatch would still be alive. Ace wouldn't have chased him. He wouldn't have been captured. This war would have never happened.
Marco gritted his teeth. "…We know."
Jozu looked down. "…We all know."
Izou's voice lowered. "But Pops already decided. He said he'd handle it."
Marco tightened his grip on Ace. "That's his last order!! Don't throw that away!"
But Ace wouldn't stop.
"I DON'T CARE!!"
Flames burst stronger around him.
"I'LL KILL HIM!!"
The commanders struggled to hold him back.
"Ace!!"
"Stop it!!"
"You're going to die!!"
But he kept pushing. Kept fighting. Like a man who had already decided.
Then Ada stepped forward. Calm. Silent. Absolute.
She looked at Ace, really looked at him and spoke. "…You're so much like Roger."
Ace froze for a fraction of a second. Ada's eyes narrowed slightly. "You can't control your temper, can you… Ace?"
Before anyone could react, she moved.
A single step. A single motion.
CRACK.
Her hand struck the back of his neck.
Clean. Precise. Effortless.
Ace's eyes widened then went blank. His body went limp instantly. The flames vanished.
Marco caught him.
"…!"
Everyone froze.
Jozu blinked. "…That was fast."
Izou exhaled. "…Thank you."
Ada didn't look at them. She simply turned her head slightly.
"Pedro."
"Carrot."
Pedro and Carrot stepped forward immediately.
"Yes, Captain!"
"Take him."
Ada gestured toward Luffy's direction.
"Bring him to Luffy."
"He needs to rest."
Carrot nodded quickly.
"Got it!"
Pedro carefully lifted Ace from Marco's arms.
"We'll handle it."
They moved without hesitation.
The Whitebeard Commanders watched them go.
Then one by one they turned to Ada.
Respect. Gratitude.
Marco spoke first. "…Thank you."
Izou nodded. "You saved him from himself."
Jozu added quietly. "…And from interfering with Pops."
Ada said nothing. Her gaze had already shifted forward.
Toward the battlefield.
Toward Blackbeard.
Toward what was coming next.
Because now there was only one thing left.
And everyone could feel it.
The real storm was about to begin.
—————————
Sengoku's patience finally snapped.
"SHIRYU!!"
His voice thundered across what remained of Marineford. "You bastard!"
His eyes burned with fury as he stepped forward.
"What happened to Magellan?!"
"What happened in Impel Down?!"
"How did you criminals get here?!"
The battlefield went tense again. Even with Whitebeard still standing even with Ada present this development was another disaster stacked on top of everything else.
Shiryu of the Rain stood calmly among the chaos. A cigarette between his fingers. Completely unfazed. He took a slow drag. Then exhaled.
"I think…" A faint smirk. "the fact that we're standing here…answers your questions, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Sengoku's jaw tightened.
Shiryu continued casually. "If you're so curious…why don't you go check Impel Down yourself later?"
A pause. Then he rested his blade on his shoulder.
"Anyway… I've allied myself with these fine gentlemen. Try to remember that."
A Marine officer came running, panic written all over his face.
"FLEET ADMIRAL!!"
"I—I received a report!"
Sengoku snapped his head toward him.
"Speak!"
"The Gates of Justice…"
"They opened again!"
Silence.
"And… unknown ships passed through!"
The words hit like a bomb.
Sengoku's eyes widened. "…That must've been them."
His gaze shifted toward Blackbeard.
"But how?!"
"How did you bypass the Gates?!"
"Fufufu~" A soft, eerie laugh cut through the tension.
Laffitte stepped forward gracefully, tipping his hat. "That part…was quite simple."
He smiled.
"I merely hypnotized the Marines in the control room."
The nearby Marines stiffened in horror.
"H-Hypnosis?!"
"That's impossible—!"
Blackbeard threw his head back and laughed.
"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
"That's right!"
He spread his arms wide.
"If I had been recognized as an enemy of the World Government—"
"The Gates of Justice would never open for me!"
"I wouldn't have been able to infiltrate Impel Down!"
His grin widened, eyes gleaming with twisted pride.
"That's why I became a Warlord!"
A pause.
Then his voice dropped.
"But I don't need that title anymore."
"Zehahaha!"
Sengoku clenched his fists so hard his knuckles cracked."So that was your plan…you used the World Government…just to recruit criminals from Impel Down."
His voice turned cold. "You bastard."
Blackbeard's grin stretched even wider. "Zehahaha! Yes indeed! That was my goal from the very beginning!"
He gestured to his crew behind him. "And now…I have everything I need."
His eyes gleamed dangerously. "You'll understand soon enough."
"Enough."
A single word. Heavy. Final.
Whitebeard stepped forward. "I don't give a damn about your schemes…"
His grip tightened on his naginata.
"Teach."
BOOOOOOM.
His fist slammed into the air. The very space cracked. A shockwave exploded forward. The scaffold where Blackbeard stood.
SHATTERED.
Wood splintered. Stone broke apart.
Blackbeard and his crew scattered instantly.
"WOAH—!!"
"That was close!!"
Blackbeard landed roughly, laughing nervously. "You've got no mercy, Pops!"
Whitebeard's eyes were cold. Colder than anyone had ever seen.
"You…are the only one…I refuse to call my son."
Silence fell. Heavy.
"You broke the only rule on my ship." His voice dropped. "You killed your crewmate."
The air trembled.
"I will avenge Thatch."
His naginata lowered. Pointing directly at Blackbeard.
"By taking your life and ending this matter."
"MARCO!!" Whitebeard roared. "Stay out of this!"
Marco froze. "…Pops—!"
"Do you hear me?!"
"…Yes…" But his fists clenched.
The rest of the Whitebeard Pirates shouted.
"POPS, NO!!"
"Let us help you!"
"That bastard deserves to die!"
But Whitebeard didn't look back.
"Let's get it over with…Teach."
Blackbeard grinned. Wide. Excited. "Zehahaha…I've been waiting for this."
Then, darkness erupted. From his body.
Spreading. Crawling. Swallowing the ground itself.
"BLACK HOLE!"
A massive vortex formed beneath him, Pulling in debris, Rubble, Even the air felt heavy.
"This…" Blackbeard raised his hand. "…is the power I stole…by killing Thatch!"
The darkness pulsed violently.
"The most dominant Logia!"
"The Dark-Dark Fruit!"
He leaned forward. Eyes gleaming. "I used to admire you, Pops…I wanted to be like you…"
A twisted smile.
"But look at you now." His voice turned mocking. "You got old. So old…you almost let Ace die."
"ZEHAHAHAHA!!"
Whitebeard moved. No hesitation. He slammed his fist forward. The air cracked. The quake surged.
"VORTEX!!"
The darkness surged upward. Swallowing the quake itself.
The power vanished. Whitebeard's attack was neutralized.
"GOT YOU!!" Blackbeard lunged forward and slammed his fist into Whitebeard.
The impact echoed.
"POPS GOT HIT!!"
"I can't believe it!"
From the Nyx Pirates.
Perona's eyes widened. "So that's his power…?"
Bullet crossed his arms. "The Dark-Dark Fruit…"
His grin faded slightly. "It nullifies other Devil Fruit abilities."
Mihawk's gaze sharpened. "To kill your own comrade…for power."
A pause.
"…how disgusting."
Fisher Tiger growled. "A man without honor…"
Lilith scoffed. "Typical."
Tesoro adjusted his glasses. "A coward's power."
Ada said nothing. She stood still. Her eyes locked on Whitebeard. Unmoving. Unblinking. Watching. Every second.
The battlefield held its breath.
Because this was no longer just a fight.
This was judgment.