In the New World, the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates — the Moby Dick — and the vast fleet under its banner had already finished assembling.
And yet, at this very moment, just as they were about to surge out of the New World, they were forced to halt.
There was no helping it.
Ahead of them lay the outer waters of G-10's sphere of control — territory firmly held in the grasp of Gern Reginald Sigmar.
To leave the New World and reach Marine Headquarters at Marineford, the key sea routes toward Fish-Man Island controlled by G-10 were nearly unavoidable.
This was the strategic groundwork Gern had laid years ago during his aggressive expansion.
You enter the New World — I control it.You leave the New World — I still control it.
Under normal circumstances, as long as no trouble was stirred, a "toll" of one or two hundred million Beli would see you safely through.
But now Ace's execution had been publicly announced.
The Whitebeard Pirates could not gamble.
And so G-10 stood like an invisible wall across their path.
On deck, the atmosphere burned with tension.
Third Division Commander "Diamond" Jozu slammed his fist against the railing with a thunderous crack.
"Pops! What are we waiting for?! Let's smash straight through!It's just G-10! You think they can stop us from saving Ace?!"
"Jozu!"
Marco cut in sharply. "Calm down! That's not 'just' G-10!
"Our priority is rescuing Ace. If we wage all-out war here, forget whether Gern himself makes a move—just his direct subordinates, those so-called 'Natural Disasters'…"
Marco's voice tightened.
"Hawk-Eye" Dracule Mihawk, Bullet, Snake Princess Boa Hancock, Enel Enel, Kuma Bartholomew Kuma… Any one of them is enough to drag us into a brutal fight!"
"And once we're entangled, we might… never even reach Marineford before suffering devastating losses. Worse…"
He paused, voicing the possibility no one wished to imagine.
"It's possible all of us could fall here. And then saving Ace becomes impossible."
(No one in the New World yet knew that Gern was already at Marineford. As far as the pirates were concerned, he remained at G-10.)
"Then what do you suggest?!" Jozu shot back, frustration raw in his voice."If we don't pass Fish-Man Island, don't cross these waters, how do we reach Marineford?!
"We can't advance, we can't retreat! Are we just going to stand here and watch Ace—"
His words faltered.
Every commander and crewmate turned their gaze toward the towering figure at the prow.
Whitebeard stood tall, gripping Murakumogiri. His deep, steady eyes fixed on the sea ahead — waters belonging to G-10.
He knew Marco was right.
Forcing their way through would cost too much.
If he were still in his prime, he could lead his sons in a charge without hesitation.
But now?
He could not afford to waste himself against Gern here.
Because against the Gern of today… he truly might lose.
After a long silence, Whitebeard spoke.
"Marco."
"I'm here, Pops!"
"Use that Den Den Mushi."
The words stunned not only Marco, but the surrounding commanders as well.
"Pops!" Marco couldn't help himself. The person that Den Den Mushi contacted — and the weight of the favor behind it — he understood too well.
It was one of the trump cards Whitebeard had left for his sons.
Seeing their reactions, Whitebeard lifted a hand gently.
"No need to say more.Kurararara…"
He let out a low laugh.
"The timing isn't perfect. But when he rampaged through Mary Geoise without a second thought…"
Mary Geoise
"I stood before his territory and blocked others from invading his rear. I ensured he had no worries behind him."
"That debt… he owes."
"And besides…"
There was trust in his voice — trust reserved for true monsters.
"A man like him… may be domineering. Ruthless. But when it comes to real promises and real deals… he keeps them."
Marco saw the resolve in Whitebeard's eyes.
He nodded heavily. "Understood!"
He turned and rushed into the captain's quarters, carefully retrieving a meticulously maintained Den Den Mushi.
All eyes followed the small snail as Marco inhaled deeply… and dialed.
"Buru— Buru— Click."
The call connected almost instantly.
But there were no pleasantries.
No negotiation.
No conditions.
The Den Den Mushi's face shifted, taking on a stern expression as its eyes opened.
A calm, clear voice came through.
Emotionless.
Just two words.
"Pass through."
Click.
The line went dead.
Silence swallowed the Moby Dick, broken only by the howl of sea wind.
That was it?
No obstacles. No price. Not even an extra sentence.
Whitebeard's lips curved faintly.
As expected.
Gern had been waiting for him at this very step.
Even the favor from the "Holy Land Incident" years ago had been calculated into his design.
Whitebeard cast one more glance over the New World's waters.
Gern's arrangements… step by step… had already made one thing clear.
Once he left—
He would not return.
But so what?!
He was going to bring his son home.
"Kurararara! Raise anchor! Set sail!!"
"OHHH!!!"
The vast fleet of the Whitebeard Pirates surged forward without further hesitation, entering G-10's waters in grand formation.
Along the way, every G-10 patrol vessel that should have appeared had already received the highest directive.
They silently withdrew, opening a clear and unobstructed sea lane.
Yet just as the fleet passed through G-10's territory—
At the prow of the Moby Dick, a sudden change erupted.
An arrogant, domineering wave of Haki crashed down from the sky.
Whitebeard's expression, which had just begun to relax, hardened instantly. His grip on Murakumogiri tightened.
His gaze shot upward. His left hand gathered the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Before he could strike—
A golden figure dove from the heavens at terrifying speed.
Wild.
Unrestrained.
Exuding an aura that looked down upon the world itself.
The figure halted in midair directly before the Moby Dick.
When Whitebeard saw him clearly, even his battle-hardened eyes narrowed sharply in shock.
That mane of golden hair.That ferocious, arrogant face.
It was him.
Shiki — the Golden Lion.
But this was not the shattered man from years ago.
No ship's helm embedded in his skull.
No swords serving as makeshift legs.
Before them stood a Golden Lion restored.
His head free of restraints. His eyes burning with vitality.
Most astonishing of all—
He stood in the air on two intact legs, twin legendary blades resting at his hips.
"Shiki?!" Whitebeard's voice carried rare astonishment.
This old rival who had vanished for over a decade — rumored to be crippled even if alive —
Had returned.
And not merely returned.
He seemed… reborn.
"Jahahahahahaha!!!"
The Golden Lion's laughter rang wild and triumphant.
"Long time no see, Newgate!"
His gaze swept across the vigilant Whitebeard Pirates before settling on Whitebeard himself.
"So you really are heading to Marineford, huh?"
He licked his lips, grin turning dangerous.
"But if this grand feast goes on without me…"
"Wouldn't that be far too dull?!"