28 C28 : War of the Best |Part 1|

• [Somewhere on Red Line] {Year : 20.5} •

[87.5%]

Ryu kept on climbing the Red Line, a tall and gigantic mountain. He was currently thinking of what he should do after arriving to the Celestial Dragons' territory.

"Free all slaves that the Celestial Dragons obtained through time? Kill all of them?" Ryu thought out loud. Excitement coursed through his body, but contained because he could not find a way to release it. "Killing all of them would be bad since there are several good World Nobles... Freeing all slaves when they could potentially become criminals due to their past as slaves of Celestial Dragons or just suicide..."

Shaking his head in disappointment, Ryu decided.

"I guess I'll just rack up a trouble when I arrive either way. The Celestial Dragons already hates me for blatantly insulting them, so if they were to see me in their territory..." He chuckled as he climbed upwards. Ryu took a glance around him. He could've took a day to climb the Red Line, but he just decided to stretch the time needed and relaxed.

*Ding*

[War of the Best - Battle of Marineford]

[Currently live-streaming over the world with snail transponders. A UI has been created for you to watch the war, as well as several functions for you to use.]

A transparent thin screen appeared in his consciousness, Ryu could see this but the others couldn't. He was momentarily surprised but didn't mind this since it would be like watching War of the Best Arc all over but different since he himself had changed the future anyways.

'Thanks.' He thanked his system, knowing that if it didn't create such feature, he wouldn't have known at all.

Ryu still kept on climbing as he watched the livestream that went over the world. Currently, Portgas D. Ace was being taken to the execution stand in middle of Marineford. Two executioners were the escorts, carrying their sharp and long swords. The Fleet Admiral of Marines, Sengoku, was standing on the execution stand, awaiting while Vice Admiral and Hero of Marines, Monkey D. Garp, was with him. Garp looked like he was going through a tribulation of his life, though his face showed stoic and nothing else other than his eyes that showed his griefs.

"A pity." Ryu shook his head, disappointed. Monkey D. Garp chose his job over family, resolute in his beliefs of righteous actions. Yet, choosing his job over family was not considered as a righteous action... "If I was him... I would've been sent to Impel Down for rebelling."

Shrugging, Ryu just pitied the man. He had to watch the man who he considered as a son get called out and executed, simply due to his bloodline.

Portgas D. Ace finally arrived to the execution stand with his executioners. The Marines stood readied down on the ground, looking prepared and solemn, after all, a war could potentially—no, it will happen. Civilians who lived in Marineford were already escorted out, showing that the Fleet Admiral expected a war raging on their land.

"Here he starts." Ryu looked at Sengoku opening his mouth when Ace was now kneeled with the two executioners on their respective sided, ready to kill.

[89.1%]

• [Marineford, near Red Line] •

Minutes ago...

Three Admirals of Marines sat on their respective chairs. Admiral Akainu sat in middle, Admiral Aojiki on his left with Admiral Kizaru on his right.

"Hm. Justice will finally be served to Gol D. Rogers' bloodline when his spawn is executed." Admiral Akainu's emotionless face gave off a small smile, thinking so before reverting to emotionless.

"Mmn." Admiral Aojiki just nodded off as he hung his head, his arms lazily supporting himself on the chair. He was bored and tired.

"Got~ta be pre~pared~." Admiral Kizaru muttered, covering his right hand with his left, supporting himself on the arms of his chair.

Marine's Elite and Famed Officers from all over the world, rigidly stood in lines, looking solemn and serious. After all, their lives could be forfeited in the upcoming war. Those with families were even more serious and prepared, they had their family to come to.

Fifty battleships of Marines hung their anchors in the sea around the large Marineford as a whole, ready to use their cannons. Countless heavy cannons in the coast bay of the Marineford were also prepared and visible upon the coast.

"No matter what happens, in three hours time..." A tall and gigantic Marine Officer spoke. "This will all be over!"

The almost one hundred thousands of Marine's Elite and Famed Officers cheered and roared as they brought their weapons upward. This was the least they could do, relieving their nerves.

At the foremost of the Marine's troops stood five pirates who were part of the Royal Shichibukai. They were Bartholomew Kuma, Dracule Mihawk, Boa Hancock, Gekko Moriah, and Donquixote Doflamingo.

They were in their combat clothes, ready to kill. Their faces showed nothing but preparedness, even Donquixote Doflamingo. This war was where his rank as a Shichibukai would be determined. He had lost his kingdom and was considerably weakened due to the Solitary Pirate, Ryu. Doflamingo gritted his teeth, remembering him.

But even though he had been weakened after that one-sided battle, Doflamingo grew stronger and even more ruthless. Controlling a child to kill their parents? So what?! He would make them do so through his String String Fruit, having evolved them to its next level through his harsh training out of anger.

Boa Hancock just stood aside with her snake. She coldly peered through the sea, having known of 'their' plans yet not revealing such information. She only came to ensure the safety of her kingdom, Amazon Lily, from the Marines. The higher-ups of Marines knew where it was and would easily ravage it if they so desired to. Hancock felt angered at such obvious threat. They were practically saying that either she went or she would be the reason why her Amazon Lily fell and why the women of her kingdom would be slaves.

Bartholomew Kuma stood with his purple book and sunglasses covering his eyes. No one but several higher-ups of Marine knew, but he was no longer the same. In fact, he was simply a robot puppet now. His thoughts? It didn't matter to anyone except those who cared when someone ordered him to do something that he didn't want to. Kuma was simply a robot puppet and eventually a slave for the Celestial Dragons. However, he at least got to keep a command for himself and would—no, WILL do it. After the command ended, his entire body was theirs then.

Dracule Mihawk's hawk eyes looked through the sky and then at the sea. With his eyes and Observation Haki, he easily found 'them' out but did nothing to stop them. Honestly, he didn't even care and only wanted a battle. His Yoru trembled in excitement for blood, wanting to kill and grow. Through several comprehension of their battle with Ryu, Mihawk had eventually finally grew to the next level and was in need of battles to solidify his foundation again. Growing strong meant that his basics would also become strong and needed more control than before.

Finally, Gecko Moriah. His face showed a naive smirk. Even though he lost to Monkey D. Luffy, he still hadn't lost his Shichibukai rank, but if he failed in the war, he definitely would. However, his train of thoughts made him unconcerned of such possibility, for he was 'too important for them'. Moriah's giant body menacingly waited for more shadows to control and dead bodies to gather in secret.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku finally moved and muttered to Vice Admiral Garp behind him. "Garp... I'm going to reveal everything to them."

"...Do as you like, I'll be down below." Vice Admiral Garp stoically responded. He moved to walk away. Though he didn't really like the fact that they were only killing a man for being blood related to his parent, Garp still held Marines in his mind. It was right to do so. ...Right?

Seeing his shadow of back, Sengoku sighed and shook his head. He knew of Garp's internal battles but did nothing to help. It was his battle to end. Turning around, he commanded to the two executioners as he walked to the front. "Move aside for a moment. I have something to speak of."

"Yes, sir!" They nodded, stepping back. Portgas D. Ace shifted slightly, hearing them.

'He can't be telling them...' He panicked internally, thinking that Sengoku was going to reveal his bloodline for the world to know. Ace shook his head slightly, willing to decline it and only view his Pops as the father.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" Someone spoke in the lines of Marine's Elite and Famed Officers. They turned to look and saw that he had something to announce, so they paid attention. Sengoku grabbed a Snail Transponder that amplified the speaker's voice to louder.

"Men, I have something to tell you all." He started. "Something about the truth of Portgas D. Ace... meeting his end here!"

Several Marine's Officers looked confused at this, they thought that he had originally done this due to Whitebeard Pirates... but it turned out to be another reason?

"Ace." Suddenly talking to the man who was about to be executed today, Sengoku demanded. "Tell them whose son you are."

"...!" Ace had expected anything but this, asking him to reveal his father? He just chucked. "Haha... my father? His name is... Whitebeard!"

"He is not!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku shot back immediately, having expected this. "Your-"

"Yes he is!" Ace interrupted, stubbornness filled his voice. "Whitebeard is and will be the only father I have! I have no other!"

Ignoring his outburst, Sengoku continued. "Back then, we searched high and low... for the child of Gol D. Roger based on nothing but the tiniest leads of Cipher Pol. We investigated every pregnant mothers over the world and found nothing, however, we still killed them."

The Marine's officers already knew of this and began to gather the hints. It couldn't be that Ace was the child, right? The people who were watching the livestream were mortified, angered, and... disgusted.

"We thought that the child of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, was gone... but there was a certain woman who had tricked us! She risked her life to perform a certain trick regarding her birth. This was how she tricked us and still birthed the spawn of Pirate King... in the South Sea, a island named Baterilla."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku took a moment to breath.

"The mother's name was Portgas D. Rogue. Out of devotion, her birth was stalled for twenty months! She left the world as the child entered."

He walked to the front, becoming more clear of his large body.

"A year and three months from the father's death... A child with his accursed blood was found! The child was Portgas D. Ace!" Suddenly, he turned to the man with his accursed blood. Intense eyes peered through his soul. "Do you not claim that you were not aware of your bloodline?!"

His voice became more harsh and louder before dropping a huge bomb for the world to rock.

"Your father is none other than Gol D. Roger!"

Silence descended.

"Fire Fist Ace... is Gol D. Roger's son?!" One of them sputtered out.

Soon, Marine's Elite and Famed Officers yelled out curses and reliefs that the spawn was found and would die today. Those who originally had ideas of running away, no longer had them. They were proud to be involved in such event, ending one of accursed bloodlines in the world.

"Demon!" One of them shouted, with others following.

"Bastard child, you're going to die today no matter what!" Harsh and harsher sentences were spouted.

"Not even the Strongest Man in World will save your life!" Becoming braver and bolder, they involved Whitebeard's title.

"I'm proud to be part of this!" If they were going to die, they decided to declare they were not without regrets though most of them lied.

Portgas D. Ace gritted his teeth, intense pressure coming upon his shoulders as many of hated and disdain glares came his way. He didn't care if he was insulted but as long as his Pops or anyone important of his weren't insulted, he did not move to retort.

…

People who were watching the livestream were astonished and shocked, though they had been expecting so due to the hints. Several reporters returned back from the bomb and became boisterous as they moved.

"This is huge news! Send words back to the main offices!" One of them shouted.

"We're running extras of this!" Another reported excitedly declared.

…

"What...?" The Royal Shichibukai were not excluded out of astonishment. Boa Hancock being the only one to show the emotions on her beautiful face, with Gecko Moriah just simply jaw slackened.

"I see... this certainly would shake the world..." She chuckled, remembering Ryu's words when he left her island.

Mihawk just glanced at Portgas D. Ace and moved his hawk eyes away.

Hearing the announcement, Doflamingo widened his eyes and chuckled before returning to emotionless. 'No wonder they said this war would decide my position...'

Bartholomew Kuma didn't even budge. He was a puppet whose thoughts did not matter to others.

Returning to Fleet Admiral Sengoku as the curses were heard around the Marineford, he continued through them.

"Choosing his mother's name, he moved through the years and grew..."

The curses died on as he spoke, not wanting to lose any information and paid attention. Sengoku looked up at the sky momentarily before returning his gaze at the hundred thousand troops of his.

"Portgas D. Ace rose with frightening speed and remarkable power as the captain of Spade Pirates, it was then... we realized that the accursed bloodline of Gol D. Roger lived on!" He said. "But just as we came upon this realization, so did Whitebeard! Instead of killing him, he took on the son of Gol D. Roger as his own! Perhaps to raise him so that he could become the next Pirate King!"

"No! I joined his crew so that I could make Pops the Pirate King!" Ace interrupted, not wanting Sengoku to twist the truth.

"You're the only one who believes that. We were unable to lay our fingers on you from that moment forth on." Fleet Admiral Sengoku explained to him and the world. "You were being protected by Whitebeard himself!"

His shouts became stronger and louder.

"If we allowed you to continue growing and become stronger... we were sure that you would become capable of taking the throne of Pirate King!" Sengoku said. "That is why it is absolutely required that we take your head here and today!"

Then his next declaration roused the world, Sengoku boomed out loud and boldly.

"EVEN IF THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO GO WAR AGAINST THE WHITEBEARD HIMSELF!!!"

The people over the world were glad they lived in the times, watching one of the accursed bloodlines end. The reporters moved to report so that their companies would become popular thereby making them richer. The Marine's Elite and Famed officers cheered, excitement and battle intent boiling through their bodies. The Royal Shichibukai just ignored them, with the exception of Gecko Moriah grinning like a mad man.

Suddenly, a Marine Officer approached Sengoku. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku! I bring an urgent report!"

Hearing him, the Fleet Admiral turned with a serious questioning face, prompting him to continue.

"The Gates of Justice are opening without any authorization! We can not obtain any contact with the control room!"

Gathering the clues, Fleet Admiral Sengoku became urgent. "What?! They're coming?!"

He looked around and was stupefied. Sure he had found out that the Gates of Justice opened, but surely they didn't have any speed boosters?! The Gates of Justice were far away from Marineford, and yet!

"Damn it! They're here!" Sengoku shouted as countless pirate ships approached them. The hundred thousands of Marine's Elite and Famed Officers roused and moved to begin the war. "Where is Whitebeard?! We need confirmation!"

Water bubbles appeared in middle of the crescent bay of Marineford, invoking a reaction between those with high expertise of Observation Haki. Sounds suddenly rang out through the Headquarters of Marine, confusion came from the officers.

"What's that?"

"Hm?"

"Where is it coming from?!"

A dark and large shadow suddenly appeared in the sea within coast bay.

Vice Admiral Tsuru annoyedly rolled her eyes with Vice Admiral Garp chuckling. "Haha, it's just like him to pick an outrageous location to appear!"

Tsuru was annoyed due to such disgusting formation. She herself liked formations to use for battles and things like that, so she was annoyed with Whitebeard.

Realization dawned on Fleet Admiral Sengoku as well as others when they saw the large and enormous ship of Whitebeard Pirates coming out of the sea.

"So they used the coated ships to appear!"

*WOOOSH*

Moby Dick of Whitebeard Pirates surged forth loudly and the Marines just watched on stupefied at such usage. Other three ships surged forth as well, snapping others out of their daze.

"It's the Moby Dick!"

"Fourteen captains of Whitebeard Pirates spotted!"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku gritted his teeth. It seemed that he truly was going to need to battle it out with him. "Whitebeard...!"

"Gurarara..." A large and muscular figure laughed, his voice ringing out the Marineford. "How long has it been... Sengoku?"

He moved up the stairs, coming forth on front of the Moby Dick.

"My son... has better been safe and sound!" Though it was supposed to be a question, it sounded like he was demanding as he became clearer to the others. He was Whitebeard, with his Bisento, Murakumogiri, in his right hand! He even looked like he wasn't even sick or aged! Whitebeard looked at the execution stand and at Ace. "Gurarara! You just hang in there for a bit, my son...!"

"OLD MAN!!!"