18 Chapter 18 : Whitebeard's Will
[BOOM!]
Ace's body slumped to the ground, a stark black hole of blood on his back.
Luffy trembled all over, struggling to accept or believe the scene before him.
After everything they had been through, why did it end like this?
It took a few seconds for reality to sink in.
Ace had sacrificed himself to take that blow for Luffy.
Ace... was truly gone.
Luffy's cries echoed through the sky, his voice piercing and devoid of tears. His eyes remained dry despite the overwhelming sorrow.
Wasn't this level of sadness enough to warrant tears?
No!
On the contrary!
Every observer understood.
In this moment, the world of Luffy shattered into pieces, consumed by a darkness called Despair.
Perhaps even in the depths of hell, the boy wouldn't experience such misery.
In the Hokage's world, Naruto wept uncontrollably, unable to come to terms with the fact that Ace had saved him only to perish himself.
And Sasuke, the lone survivor of the Uchiha clan, quaked with emotion. His eyes turned blood-red, reminiscent of the Sharingan!
Through this loss, he could empathize with Luffy's anguish.
The skys were collapsing!
His sorrow was immeasurable! He wasn't just unwilling for himself, but for Luffy too!
Why was their fate so cruel!
In the shadows of a cave, Itachi felt an unexpected surge of emotion. He wished he could return to Sasuke and reveal everything.
In the Pirate World, on board the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard's patience reached its limit. With a furious command, he ordered a relentless search for Ace!
The future hadn't been written yet; there was still time to alter the course!
Grief consumed everyone. Luffy's spirit waned as he crumbled.
Akainu launched another attack, only to be thwarted by Marco.
In accordance with Ace's final wish, the order was given for a retreat, Luffy was escorted away from the battlefield.
Akainu's expression turned icy and menacing. He desired to eradicate these two brothers!
[BOOM!]
A colossal silhouette cast a shadow, obscuring the light and enveloping Akainu.
Akainu froze, his pupils dilating. He recognized who stood behind him.
Edward Newgate, known as Whitebeard!
Inside a meeting room, Sengoku exchanged a glance with Kizaru.
Kizaru shrugged helplessly. "There's no stopping Whitebeard's might. I wouldn't even try."
In an instant, Whitebeard's boundless rage transformed into a terrifying force. A brilliant white light gathered around his fist, aimed at Akainu's head. The blow came down with thunderous power!
The very air distorted as Akainu found himself defenseless, slammed into the ground, his form distorted.
The ground cracked and trembled with the force. The entirety of Marineford shook violently.
After the punch, Whitebeard leaped high, a white light igniting on his feet. He descended with immense force!
[BOOM!]
The ground caved, shattered. Akainu struggled to counter, but Whitebeard made no attempt to defend, striking Akainu to his core.
Akainu resembled a beaten dog, reduced to a state of utter defeat. But Whitebeard was on the brink of death, and Akainu seized the chance.
With a single strike of his Dark Hound technique, Akainu struck Whitebeard's chest again.
In the realm of pirates, Akainu smirked, confident that this blow was fatal, more powerful than the one that took Ace. Whitebeard's innards must be charred to a crisp!
The world watching collectively believed this punch to be the end of Whitebeard.
Whitebeard knelt, leaning on his sword, a searing wound still aflame.
Akainu wore a smug grin, believing victory was certain.
Yet, in the next heartbeat, Whitebeard's eyes snapped open.
Simultaneously, his hand seized Akainu.
Akainu, bloodied and battered, stared in disbelief.
Whitebeard, thought to be dead, stood once more.
Amid shocked gazes, Whitebeard hurled Akainu, who was at his limit.
In an instant, white light illuminated Whitebeard's left hand again!
"How... can he still have this much power?" Akainu questioned, disbelieving.
Even observers from other worlds found this scene unimaginable.
They couldn't fathom how Whitebeard could move.
But the astonishment continued.
[BOOM!]
Whitebeard bellowed in fury, striking Akainu with intense determination.
The fabric of space shattered again, cracks riddling Akainu's body like shattered glass. He shattered like water droplets.
Akainu's face twisted in agony, blood spewing.
Meanwhile, a tremendous force radiated outward.
A seismic quake rocked Marineford, the solid ground crumbled, and a wounded Akainu plummeted into the chasm.
The previously collapsed Marine tower split anew from an immense force.
Yet, the most astonishing sight was the chasm behind Whitebeard.
Marineford fractured. The battlefield cleaved in two.
On one side stood the Whitebeard Pirates.
On the other, Whitebeard faced the entire Marine force alone.
This was their final farewell, a father's ultimate guardianship over his child.
*****
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