Even with Big Mom's words, Kaido's resolve remained firm; he stood before her, neither interfering himself nor allowing anyone else to.
In front of them,
"Newgate!" Red-Haired Shanks suddenly roared, the scar over his left eye twisting menacingly, "Are you going to personally destroy the new era that Roger gave his life for?!"
This sentence struck like a heavy hammer, and Whitebeard's movements faltered almost imperceptibly.
But then, an even more intense rage ignited in his eyes: "Gurarara! Don't you dare bring Roger into this!" The power surging through Murakumogiri intensified, "Those who betray their comrades must die!"
The two clashed once more!
The entire Marineford battlefield descended into unprecedented chaos; Marine soldiers stared dumbfounded at the absurd scene before them—the Four Emperors were fighting amongst themselves!
"What in the world... is happening?" A Marine Rear Admiral adjusted his crooked helmet, his voice trembling.
"Is Whitebeard actually on the same side as us now?" Onigumo clearly hadn't recovered from his shock.
Standing on the execution platform, Sengoku keenly realized this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
"All units, attention!" Sengoku's voice, amplified by the Transponder Snail, boomed across the battlefield, "Carry out the execution immediately! Target—Marshall D. Teach!"
Upon his command, the executioner immediately raised his long sword, its cold steel glinting in the sunlight. Teach's eyes widened in terror, his shackles clanking as he struggled: "No... no! Save me! Somebody—"
"Halt!!" Kaido's draconic pupils constricted sharply, his Azure Dragon form thrashing violently in the air, "Ororororo! Teach cannot die yet!"
He suddenly unleashed a blast of Boro Breath, aiming directly for the execution platform.
"Mamamama!!" Big Mom swung Napoleon furiously, "My childbearing plan isn't finished yet!" Prometheus's flames surged, sweeping toward the Marine ranks.
"Ice Age!"
Aokiji's figure materialized instantly, his extreme cold freezing Kaido's Boro Breath mid-air. The steam from the collision of ice and fire enveloped the entire execution platform.
"So scary~" Kizaru twisted his way in front of Big Mom, his Ama no Murakumo perfectly blocking Napoleon, "That's far enough, Big Mom~"
"Out of my way!" Big Mom roared furiously, her Conqueror's Haki erupting. Kizaru's figure flickered under the shockwave, but he held his ground.
At the same time,
Red-Haired Shanks' roar thundered, shaking the entire sea: "Teach must not die!"
His gaze was icy, the black-red Haki coiling around Gryphon's blade seething as if solidifying.
However, Whitebeard Edward Newgate gave him no chance to intervene.
"Gurarara!" Whitebeard laughed maniacally, swinging Murakumogiri. The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit tore spiderweb-like cracks through the air, "I will watch him die with my own eyes today!"
This slash, carrying the force to shatter heavens and earth, cleaved toward Red-Hair. Where it passed, the sea recoiled and clouds split apart!
Red-Hair had to block with all his might. The moment Gryphon met Murakumogiri, a blinding, sun-like brilliance erupted. The clashing Conqueror's Haki formed a terrifying energy storm, capsizing several Marine warships nearby.
"Newgate! You understand nothing!" Red-Hair gritted his teeth against the impact, his arm muscles trembling from the strain, "You have no idea what consequences his death will bring!"
Whitebeard was also breathing heavily; several full-power attacks had taken a toll on his body, but he remained deaf to Red-Hair's words,
"Traitors die! That is my absolute law!"
The power on Murakumogiri surged again, the white aura of vibrations nearly consuming everything.
Red-Hair was forced back repeatedly by this relentless assault, finding no opening to rescue. He realized with fury that even with his strength as an Emperor, breaking through Whitebeard's defense would take time—
And time was the one thing Teach did not have!
On the sea, the battle between the Red Hair Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates had reached a fever pitch. Between the two legendary ships, combat raged, and the explosive roars of clashing Haki were unceasing.
*Bang!*
Beckman's flintlock spat a deadly flame. Seastone bullets infused with Armament Haki pierced through the defenses of three Whitebeard Pirate commanders.
Lucky Roux followed closely, suppressing any enemies trying to advance.
"Don't even think about getting past us to bother the Captain!" Yasopp stood atop the mast, six flintlocks firing at once, bullets carving lethal arcs through the air.
But in the next second, a blue fiery shadow flashed, and Marco, in his Phoenix form, intercepted all the bullets.
"Sorry, Mr. Sniper," Marco spread his wings, blue flames swirling around him, "We have our own reasons we cannot yield."
Diamond Jozu's body fully crystallized as he crashed into the Red Force's hull like a battering ram.
With a loud *boom!*, the ship lurched violently. The Red Hair Pirates' navigator, Bonk Punch, quickly steadied the helm and roared, "Damn it! Brace for impact!"
"I'll take you on!" The Red Hair Pirates' powerhouse, Limejuice, coated his fists in Armament Haki and slammed into Jozu. The deck beneath them splintered instantly, the shockwave throwing several nearby crew members off their feet.
Elsewhere, the Whitebeard Pirates' Fifth Division Commander, "Flower Sword" Vista, was locked in a fierce duel with the Red Hair Pirates' Vice Captain, Beckman.
The clash of twin swords against a flintlock—now morphed into a rapier—sent sparks flying. Amidst the crisscrossing sword slashes, several floating Marine ship wrecks were sliced apart.
"Your swordsmanship has improved," Beckman adjusted his glasses, the muzzle of his gun having transformed into a slender blade.
Vista twirled his swords, smiling, "Likewise."
Below the surface, the Whitebeard Pirates' fishman, Namur, and the Red Hair Pirates' Rockstar were locked in a fierce underwater struggle. Bubbles and mist of blood continuously rose, dyeing the sea a strange pinkish-red.
The battles on both sides were evenly matched; neither could gain a decisive advantage.
"Gurarara! Red-Hair brat, your crew isn't half bad!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, Murakumogiri clashing with Gryphon once more.
Red-Hair gritted his teeth, parrying the blow, a flicker of anxiety in his eyes. He could feel the Marines reorganizing their encirclement. If this stalemate continued...
On the execution platform,
The executioner's long sword gleamed with a cold, deadly light under the sun.
Teach was bound fast by the chains, his face buried in his black beard, contorted with despair and madness. He stared intently at Red-Hair, who was held back by Whitebeard in the distance, and the last vestiges of his hysteria erupted in his eyes.
"Zehahaha... Red-Hair! You can't save me!" Teach's voice was hoarse, like grinding sandpaper, "None of you can save me!"
His laughter suddenly rose to a shrill pitch, as if venting a lifetime of bitterness.
The executioner's sword was raised high, its tip reflecting a blinding light. In this moment between life and death, Teach mustered all his strength and let out a heaven-shaking roar:
"You want my treasure?! You can have it! I left everything I gathered in one place! Now you can have it all—THE ONE PIECE IS REAL!"