Chapter 2
Walking up to Marco the Phoenix, Ren said quietly,
"I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels it — Blackbeard has an agenda. He didn't come here just to watch.
I'll take on Blackbeard if I can. You handle the rest of his crew.
If I die here… then this is where my flame ends."
Marco's expression darkened.
"Can you really do this? He's not the Teach we used to know," he asked, concern in his voice.
Ren nodded. "I know."
They turned toward the old man standing tall amidst the battlefield.
As Whitebeard roared his final words —
"THE ONE PIECE… THE ONE PIECE IS REAL!" —
Ren leapt to his side. The Blackbeard Pirates wasted no time, attacking whitebeard savagely.
Ren swung his blade, sending a flying slash toward them. The force of it ripped through the ground, forcing the Blackbeard crew to scatter backward.
Whitebeard looked down at Ren, a flicker of regret in his weary eyes — regret for the promises he could never fulfill.
Closing his eyes briefly, he hurled his naginata, the legendary Murakumogiri, toward Ren.
Ren caught it midair — the moment he gripped the weapon, a crushing resistance surged through his body. But by pouring nearly all his Haki and will into it, he subdued the raging energy.
He stared at the weapon in awe.
"It really is worthy of being a Supreme Grade Blade," he muttered.
Turning back to face the Blackbeard Pirates, Ren's expression hardened.
"You didn't learn well from Pops," he shouted. "So I'll be your teacher this time!"
The crew burst into laughter.
"Zehahahahaha! Ren, right?" Blackbeard sneered. "I remember you — the weakest division commander! You should run before I change my mind."
Ren smirked. "Come at me if you dare."
With a flash, Shiryu of the Rain dashed toward him, his sword aiming for Ren's neck.
But Ren bent backward at an inhuman angle, the blade slicing harmlessly through the air.
"Wow… that's unreal," Shiryu muttered around the cigar in his mouth.
Before he could recover, Ren's naginata came swinging down — the impact sent Shiryu crashing through debris.
Blackbeard's grin widened.
"Zehahahaha! Looks like I underestimated you!"
Dark smoke coiled around his fists as he leapt forward, launching a crushing punch.
Ren met him head-on.
"Sorry, but if you think that trick works on me, you're dead wrong!"
Their attacks collided with a thunderous BOOM!
Both were blasted backward, the ground cracking beneath them.
Snarling, Blackbeard shouted,
"Attack!!!"
His entire crew surged forward.
Before they could close the distance, a calm but cold voice rang out —
"Pops… we know you've always protected us since the beginning. But this once, we'll disobey your orders — and show them what the Whitebeard Pirates are made of."
It was Marco, his wings blazing with blue flame as he and the remaining commanders leapt into battle.
Each one faced off against a member of Blackbeard's crew — division commanders versus darkness.
Marco clashed with Shiryu, their weapons sparking violently.
Jozu and the others fought ferociously, their rage fueling every strike.
Standing afar, Whitebeard watched with faint pride.
As his "sons" fought not just for him — but for their name, for their family, for Whitebeard's legacy.
He let out a slow, deep breath as a faint smile creased his face.
"So… you've all grown up," he murmured.
As he watched Ren fighting alongside them, Whitebeard's memories drifted — to a time when they were younger, to a white-haired boy with reckless fire in his eyes.
And for the briefest moment, amidst the chaos, there was peace.