"Call forth the souls of the dead."
Kenma stood on the shattered square, with Shisui by his side.
Uchiha Fugaku and the others, seeing Kenma descend, had been waiting respectfully below.
After receiving Kenma's command, Shisui sent a signal to the clansmen at the four corners of the barrier, indicating for them to change the barrier's function.
Fugaku and the others at the side saw Kenma wave his hand, and immediately rose and approached, their faces respectful. "My lord, why must you handle such trivial matters personally? If you would remain on the high platform, we will naturally take care of these things for you."
Having been warned by Kenma before, this was their official job, and Fugaku naturally wanted to perform well.
"It's nothing. I just came to have a look." Kenma waved his hand at the people around him. "These souls are about to awaken. You should go and maintain order."
"As you command."
The Uchiha at the four corners of the barrier received Shisui's signal and immediately began to act.
Following the previously instructed method, they changed their spiritual pressure input while also altering the way they controlled the barrier.
The arrangement of the characters on the surface of the barrier changed, and the soul-pacifying effect of the barrier weakened, enough to allow the souls of the dead to regain consciousness and move about for a short time.
"Ugh, what's this... wasn't I dead?"
Whitebeard staggered, clutching his head. After looking around, he saw the marines cleaning up the battlefield and treating the wounded.
He turned his head and saw a familiar figure being carried by a group of familiar pirates towards a pirate ship at the harbor.
The figure was motionless, with no rise and fall in its chest, half of its head missing, and the familiar crescent-shaped mustache on its face. Whitebeard instantly understood.
"I really am dead..."
"Then I am now... a soul!"
Whitebeard raised his arm and looked at it. His arm had become transparent, and his vision could even pass through it to see the other side.
He looked at his somewhat ethereal body... no, soul, and then touched his now-intact head and mustache. At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.
Although he had already prepared himself for death, to personally feel the fact that he was dead like this, complex emotions couldn't help but stir in his heart.
No wonder the marines cleaning up the battlefield couldn't see him.
The living naturally couldn't see ghosts.
'But since I've become a ghost, then I'll soon meet the envoys of the afterlife, who will take me to hell to be punished!'
'After all, I am a pirate.'
'A great villain who has committed many great wrongs and killed many people.'
After Whitebeard's soul regained consciousness, the many other souls on the battlefield also gradually awakened.
"I'm dead? Is this a soul state?"
"Ah, we're really dead... we can't see our families anymore..."
"John, Dibetto, can't you see me? Don't leave me! Aren't we comrades?"
"My daughter, Father is leaving just like this, sob, sob, sob."
"Hey, Major! Brother! I'm right in front of you, can't you see me?"
"So this is what it feels like to be dead... Ah, Pops! Pops, you're here too."
Whether pirates or marines, upon realizing their current situation, they showed all sorts of reactions.
Disbelief, loud crying, ferocious expressions, hatred... everyone reacted differently.
The souls subconsciously looked around and saw the rather conspicuous Whitebeard at a glance.
And the souls of the Whitebeard Pirates, as if they had found their backbone, immediately gathered around him.
"Pops, it seems we're really dead... what do we do now?"
"Idiot, since we're dead, we naturally wait for the envoys of the underworld to take us to be reincarnated."
"Hmph, we're not exactly good people. What chance do we have for reincarnation? I'm afraid we're going to hell to suffer."
"Haha, even if I go to hell, I will continue to follow Pops!"
"That's right, that's right! It's just hell. With Pops around, there's nothing to be afraid of."
"At worst, we'll just overturn hell and let Pops rule in the afterlife too!"
A group of pirates surrounded Whitebeard. The gloomy mood from just now instantly dissipated as they all chattered and gesticulated wildly.
Even though they had realized they were dead, they were still as free and unrestrained as when they were alive.
It was as if there was nothing in the world that could make this group of pirates feel fear.
Not even death!
"My sons..."
Whitebeard looked at the familiar sons surrounding him, his heart filled with nothing but guilt.
For a true pirate, death was the least of their worries.
But looking at these sons who had died because of his decision, how could Whitebeard not be moved!
These were the family and comrades he had spent every day with...
And the souls that had awakened on this battlefield were not just this group of pirates, but also the marine soldiers who had fought and died for justice against them.
"Damn pirates, do you still want to do evil even after death?"
"Unforgivable! Even the crew of an Emperor will not be allowed to be so rampant!"
"That's right! Even if we are dead, it doesn't mean justice will perish!"
Faced with the hostility of the marines, the pirates were naturally also filled with anger and hatred.
Enemies who had just been killing each other were now seeing each other again, their eyes red with fury. A murderous aura filled the air.
The atmosphere became tense, as if another great battle was about to break out after death.
"Pops!"
A loud cry rose above the noisy curses on the field.
It attracted everyone's attention and temporarily halted the impending fight.
While everyone looked on in confusion, the pirates parted a path to Whitebeard.
A bare-chested young man walked through the crowd towards Whitebeard.
The man was tall and straight, with the Whitebeard Pirates' emblem tattooed on his back. He had black hair and a few freckles on his face.
Such a striking appearance made everyone present, both pirates and marines, recognize him at first glance.
"It's Ace!"
"Ace, it's so good that you're alright! Ah, wait, you're already dead."
"You idiot, we're all dead!"
Ace walked with heavy steps, one by one, until he was in front of Whitebeard. He fell to his knees, his lowered face already streaked with tears.
"Sob, sob, sob, Pops, everyone, I've failed the chance you all gave your lives for..."
"I had already escaped with everyone's help, but because of my momentary impulse..."
"Pops, everyone, I'm so sorry!"
Whitebeard looked at his son, who was now also a soul, and sighed, his eyes filled with infinite gentleness.
Before he knew it, tears were glistening in the corners of his eyes.
"Stupid son, foolish son... do you really think I would blame you for this?"
"Stand up proudly. That's just your personality. If you changed, you wouldn't be you!"
The pirates at the side, seeing this scene, also spoke up.
"Ace, what are you talking about? We're comrades!"
"Isn't it only natural to risk your life to save a comrade?"
"That's right, we don't regret it."
"On the contrary, Commander Ace, if you keep crying like this, it will only make us feel that our sacrifice was not worth it."
"Straighten up! You're Fire Fist Ace!"
Faced with the encouragement and understanding of his comrades and his Pops, Ace wiped the tears from his face. Just as he was about to say something more, he saw his Pops' expression suddenly become incredibly solemn as he looked up at the sky.
He followed his Pops' gaze and was startled.
In the sky above, there were now five or six dark figures, standing in mid-air.
"It seems you all understand your situation."
"Then things will be much easier."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]