67. I Come To End This War

"Shiryu."

Sengoku glanced behind Blackbeard, spotting the towering figure clutching a renowned sword.

In that instant, it dawned on him why Blackbeard, with his might, could navigate the treacherous depths of the sea prison guarded by Magellan.

If Shiryu, who possessed immense power, was in cahoots with them from the inside, along with the antidote brewed within Imper Prison, it could indeed breach Magellan's defences.

But what puzzled Sengoku was why Shiryu had sided with Blackbeard. 

After all, as the warden of Imper Prison, Shiryu had minimal interaction with the outside world, practically living within its confines permanently. 

What had Blackbeard promised him to forsake everything and join his crew?

"Hey, Admiral Sengoku, your gaze could pierce through steel."

Shiryu drawled, puffing on a cigar, regarding Sengoku with a nonchalant air.

"Hey, Sengoku, don't shoot us those looks, aren't we comrades?"

Blackbeard chuckled.

"Comrades?"

The Marine couldn't help but laugh incredulously. They had stormed Imper Prison, freed its inmates, and now Blackbeard had the audacity to call them allies?

A golden aura began emanating from Sengoku's body.

Kong and Garp clenched their fists, their presence crackling like a brewing storm.

If it had not been for Whitebeard and his crew's presence, they might have attacked Blackbeard right then and there.

"Hey, hey, I'm a Shichibukai, Sengoku."

Seeing the menacing glares from both sides, Blackbeard panicked momentarily, hastily waving his hands to explain.

"Furthermore, your current task is to deal with Whitebeard and his crew, isn't it? If you don't execute Ace or let him escape, you'll have a lot of explaining to do to the whole world."

"My aim is also Whitebeard. Isn't it more urgent to handle him than to deal with me? Haha, priorities, my friends."

Truth be told, Blackbeard was feeling the pressure, too.

Under normal circumstances, his plan had factored in the strength of both sides.

He should have emerged now to seize the opportunity and clean up the aftermath.

But reality proved different from his expectations.

The Whitebeard Pirates had unexpectedly prevailed.

Not only had they rescued Ace, but their combat prowess remained undiminished.

Whitebeard, Rayleigh, these seasoned warriors posed formidable challenges.

Meanwhile, the Marines were in disarray without Akainu, and even Kizaru and Aokiji seemed uneasy.

This unforeseen turn had thrown Blackbeard off guard.

Nevertheless, as a cunning opportunist, he managed to spin his words convincingly.

In just a few sentences, he had Sengoku contemplating.

Because, begrudgingly, what he said held truth.

Sengoku was all too aware of Blackbeard's current transgressions.

Yet, the breach of Impel Prison had already occurred, and there was no turning back.

Moreover, the impending public execution of Fire Fist Ace loomed large.

Though the live broadcast had been cut off, if Ace were to escape, it would be a severe blow to the Marines' reputation.

So, as Blackbeard had pointed out, dealing with Whitebeard took precedence.

Considering Blackbeard's formidable force, cooperation seemed inevitable.

The tension hung thick in the air on the battlefield, and many things remained unresolved for the Marines, especially for Garp, who couldn't quite accept the situation. Truth be told, Sengoku wasn't thrilled about cooperating with Blackbeard either.

At this critical juncture, the atmosphere seemed to stagnate.

There were numerous factors Sengoku had to weigh, and mere cooperation didn't seem to cut it. 

Suddenly, a formidable CP0 agent held a phone bug, speaking in hushed tones. Minutes later, he leaned in to convey something to Sora.

"I understand. Your name is Blackbeard, correct?" Sora stepped forward, his imposing figure commanding attention. "This isn't cooperation, Blackbeard. As a Shichibukai, you're obligated to heed the compulsory call and join the battle against the Whitebeard Pirates."

Sora's declaration furrowed the brows of Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru, but they refrained from comment. They knew this was an order from higher-ups, one they couldn't dispute.

"It's just empty rhetoric, typical of those corrupt superiors," Doflamingo sneered. "My part in this is done." With that, Hawkeye turned away from the fray, his interest waning.

"This is what I've been waiting for, Teach," Whitebeard's voice rang out, icy and resolute. His gaze, sharp as ever, pierced through the chaos, and his aura surged to its zenith, reminiscent of his prime.

"Dad's truly riled up," Jozu murmured, awed by Whitebeard's overwhelming presence.

The intense aura emanating from Whitebeard's body was akin to steam, a manifestation of his power pushed to its limits—a sight even Kizaru found daunting.

"It's almost time, Pineapple Head," Luffy said, mustering his strength. With a deep breath, he stood tall once more, his companions rallying around him.

As Luffy joined Whitebeard on the frontlines, Usopp appeared, his resolve unwavering. "Kid, get Ace out of here. You've done enough," Whitebeard urged Luffy, concern etched in his voice.

"You got it. Your pain is written all over your face. Let's step back," Luffy replied calmly, pressing his straw hat with a reassuring smile.

"Hmph, you're a stubborn brat. This little injury won't stop me. You've got a lot to learn," Whitebeard chuckled, undeterred.

The tension on the battlefield reached a palpable peak, and neither side was willing to make the first move. They all knew that once the fighting resumed, there would be no turning back—a desperate clash awaited them all.

As tension reached its peak between the two opposing sides, uncertainty hung heavy in the air.

Just as everyone's nerves were stretched taut, a warship surged forward, breaking through the standoff between the Whitebeard Pirates' ships and the Marine vessels. 

With a deafening crash, the ship careened uncontrollably, slamming into the protective wall and engulfing the area in a cloud of dust and debris.

"Hey, Buggy, can't you steer this thing properly? What's with the reckless driving?" A commanding voice cut through the chaos.

"Don't blame me for this! The old man hit the throttle too hard. How am I supposed to control this beast at full speed? Just getting us to the island in one piece is a miracle!" Buggy's panicked voice echoed amidst the commotion.

"Do you want to get us all killed, you red-nosed brat?" Another voice, seasoned and grizzled, snapped.

The familiar tone caught the attention of those who had lived through the bygone era—this voice was unmistakable.

"Where are we headed, Mr. 1?" Another voice, dripping with malice, interjected.

Zoro and Sanji exchanged knowing glances. They recognized the voice—it belonged to the Crocodile of Alabasta.

With a powerful gesture, Crocodile dispersed the smoke and dust, revealing the figure on the warship that had caused the disturbance.

"Are you Bullet?" Rayleigh's surprise was evident as he beheld the towering figure before him.

"It's been a while, Vice Captain Rayleigh," Bullet replied, a fierce grin spreading across his face. He had spent years honing his skills in the Great Prison and now sought a worthy opponent in Rayleigh.

"Whitebeard," Crocodile's gaze lingered on the legendary pirate, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes.

"Rayleigh, it's been too long," Crocodile chimed in, his tone tinged with nostalgia.

Amongst the powerful figures, a trembling Buggy spotted Rayleigh and rushed over, seeking solace in the presence of his former crewmate.

"Long time no see, Buggy," Luffy greeted with a laugh.

"It's you, Straw Hat!" Buggy exclaimed, grabbing Luffy by the collar, a mix of anger and relief evident in his expression.

"All because of that rubber bastard! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have ended up in that hellhole of Impel Down!" Buggy seethed, his eyes locking onto Zoro and Sanji with disdain.

Zoro and Sanji merely sneered in response, their disgust evident.

"Surprisingly, fate has brought us together again. One day, I'll wipe those smug looks off your faces," Buggy spat venomously.

"You too. I thought you were long gone," Whitebeard remarked with disdain, addressing the old man before him. "Byrnndi World."

Byrnndi World, the infamous World Destroyer who had garnered fear from the World Government, was presumed dead after a joint effort between Marines and pirates. His sudden appearance now hinted at a different fate—a silent imprisonment within Impel Down.

"Demon Heir, Douglas Bullet."

"Former Shichibukai, Crocodile."

Marine's elite Vice Admirals recoiled in shock at the revelation of these legendary figures joining the fray.

The situation seemed increasingly dire. Among them, Crocodile was the least of their worries—these two were true legends.

Byrnndi World, a formidable pirate who had rivalled the likes of Whitebeard and Rayleigh, and Douglas Bullet, hailed as the successor to the legendary pirate Gol D Roger, were forces to be reckoned with.

These were not the lackeys Blackbeard had previously enlisted; they were on a completely different level, capable of easily dispatching Blackbeard's sixth-floor lackeys.

"Looks like you've lucked out, facing a big showdown right after your prison break," Byrnndi World jeered, his toothy grin unsettling.

"As annoying as you are, Whitebeard, you're a sight for sore eyes compared to the lapdogs of the World Government," Byrnndi World continued, his laughter echoing.

"Shut your trap, Byrnndi World. One more word, and I'll toss you into the sea," Whitebeard growled, his disgust evident.

"I'm more interested in taking down the Marines than exchanging banter with Vice Captain Rayleigh," Bullet chimed in, his grin widening.

Rayleigh couldn't help but be taken aback by Bullet's immense aura. The once-genius boy had transformed into a force to be reckoned with, surpassing even Rayleigh himself.

"Sengoku, you scoundrel," Sengoku seethed with rage, itching to tear Blackbeard apart. 

Opening the gates of Impel Down had unleashed not just a few lackeys but true monsters like Douglas Bullet and Byrnndi World, causing a headache for everyone involved.

Blackbeard chuckled softly, but deep down, he knew things had spiralled out of control.

The unexpected rescue of Ace by the Whitebeard Pirates and the arrival of Bullet further complicated matters.

Marines found themselves at a significant disadvantage, even with Blackbeard's crew and their blessings.

As a red ship raced towards Marineford, bearing the emblem of two crossed knives on a skull with three scars over its left eye—the insignia of the Red-Haired Shanks pirate crew—Sengoku knew the battle was lost.

The Red Force, though smaller than the ships of the Whitebeard Pirates, commanded immense respect and power.

Sengoku closed his eyes, resigned to the inevitable defeat of the Marine.

Moments later, the ship docked, and a one-armed man with fiery red hair stepped onto the shores of Marineford.

"I've come to put an end to this war," Shanks declared solemnly.

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