A Loser from a Bygone Age?

_________________

"The feeling of being surpassed by generations is truly unpleasant… ending your life after accepting that is fair enough."

Crocus set the sake cup aside after wiping his mouth, his eyes gleaming with a sad expression as he looked at the 'half-dead' Whitebeard in the manga.

Rayleigh looked at him and nodded, saying, "That's right, a legend like Whitebeard has already been surpassed by the era, but his existence itself is a whole era."

"… That's right… ah~ I wonder why a legend like me hasn't appeared at all so far…"

"Although I'm from the previous generation in the manga, it's unfair that you, Rayleigh, and you, Crocus, have appeared… but not me…"

Gaban drank a large cup of Sake, expressing his frustration. He was also saddened by Whitebeard, who seemed to be on the brink of concluding an entire era.

After all, the title of the chapter they were all reading at that moment was; This era will be known by Whitebeard's name.

"Well, it's not just you, Gaban, all those guys behind you haven't appeared or been mentioned yet… 'not yet,' that's what I mean…"

Rayleigh smiled in response to Gaban's frustration, pointing to all the members of Roger's crew gathered in the art store in Baterilla, well, except for the trainees Buggy and Shanks, who, fortunately, had already appeared at the beginning of the story.

Hearing this, Shakky smiled silently as she hugged Rayleigh's waist.

She was enjoying these moments with this wonderful man who was also considered an old man from the old generation in the manga. No, in fact, he was also a legend from Whitebeard's generation.

"Wahahaha! The broadcast is back! The legendary Buggy is happy to serve you, dear viewers~!"

At this moment, Buggy burst out laughing when he saw the broadcast being restored using the Den Den Mushi that Aokiji had frozen earlier.

Once again, Buggy was the first to appear on the screen of the Sabaody Archipelago, causing the viewers there to erupt in anger.

"Pfft! Hahaha! This is fun!"

Shanks couldn't maintain his calm expression either, bursting into laughter when he saw this scene and the readers' comments from around the world on the global forum.

"Marineford is drowning under Whitebeard's hands, and the pirates are being exterminated under Akainu's magma, and there you are still fooling around with the viewers in the archipelago… Legendary Buggy? Seriously? Who wants to see your face at a time like this…"

"Oh… what is Ace doing? Why isn't he escaping? Why did he stop for Akainu's provocations?"

"This doesn't bode well…"

"Strange…"

The Roger Pirates felt tense at this moment… the plot shouldn't unfold this way… should it?

…

•———•———•———•———•

Chapter's Events:

—————————

"Let's go!! The old man is prepared!!!" Luffy called out to Ace, who was standing and looking at the proud old man.

"…!! I know!! I won't let it be in vain!!!" Ace said to Luffy.

…

"Get the hell out of my way!!!"

"Uwaaah!!!"

The cries of the pirates caught Whitebeard's attention, who was annoyed to see the familiar magma.

He turned to the other side and saw Ace kneeling.

"I don't need your words… but let me ask you one thing…" Whitebeard said to Ace. He continued, "Was I… a good father?"

"Of course!!!" Ace exclaimed without hesitation.

"Gurararara…" Whitebeard laughed after receiving the answer.

…

"Run! Get to the ship!!!"

"Ace!!! Luffy, get in front!!!" Jimbei appeared to lead them away.

"Jimbei!!" Luffy shouted.

"They're gunning for you!!"

"The boss wants as many people to survive as possible!!" Jimbei clearly stated Whitebeard's intentions.

…

"We stole a battleship!!! Quick, get on!!!" Some of Whitebeard's pirates managed to seize a Marine battleship and the rest were running towards it.

"Hurry, Luffy!!!" Hancock was worried about Luffy's safety.

…

"Admiral Sakazuki!!"

"Do they really think they can escape?!! How adorable…" Sakazuki mocked as he watched the pirates flee in all directions.

…

In the Sabaody Archipelago, viewers were surprised to see the execution platform disappear.

"The execution platform is being destroyed!!"

"What happened to Ace!!? Show us Whitebeard!!"

…

"Look out!!! It's Akainu!!!"

"Uwaaah!!!" A massive fist of magma descended on the fleeing pirates, burning most of them.

"They save Ace and then immediately run away?"

"What a bunch of cowards you are, Whitebeard Pirates." Akainu sneered, poker-faced.

His words were highly provocative, showing no regard for the pirates' feelings as he continued, "But he is the captain… I guess there's no helping it!!"

"After all, Whitebeard… is a loser from a bygone age!!!"

Hearing this, Ace stopped running, his expression darkening.

"Ace!!" Luffy also stopped, surprised.

"A loser? Haa… Haa…" Ace turned to face Akainu, responding to his blatant provocation.

•———•———•———•———•

"No… no… don't do it…"

Not far from the art store, in Rouge and Roger's house, Rouge felt extremely worried about this scene.

"He was a good father to you… right?"

"Everything was going well… why did you stop then? He's just provoking… of course, he'd call Whitebeard a loser, what do you expect from a dog?"

Veins popped on Roger's forehead after seeing this scene too.

"What a vile admiral… I fought against Sengoku, against Zephyr… against Kong too and against Garp… none of them provoked their opponents in such a rude way."

Roger felt nostalgic as he recalled his previous battles with all these strong opponents, none of whom were as vile as Akainu. They all truly represented justice… none of them had the twisted justice of this dog admiral.

"Forget about him, Ace… keep running, please…" Rouge turned the manga page to the next scene, hoping to see a different turn of events instead of the scene she saw in Rob's memories… she didn't want to see it at all… she didn't want to experience that sorrow truly.

(N/B: Well, Rouge's situation since the beginning of this arc is quite clear, the events have already been spoiled for her.)

…

"Whitebeard is a loser from a bygone age?"

"Is that true, my sons?"

On Sphinx Island, Whitebeard looked at his sons, who all had ugly expressions on their faces, and asked calmly.

"Of course not! Whitebeard is the pinnacle of an entire era!"

"That's nonsense! Oyaji is the strongest man in the world, as testified by their fleet admiral!"

"That vile bastard is saying that to provoke enthusiastic people like Ace… he's a cunning villain…"

Whitebeard nodded after hearing his sons' opinions, all of whom he agreed with.

He wasn't really angered by how Akainu described him as a loser, but what angered him was how this villain used his name to incite resentment among his sons and influence Ace, who was one of the most enthusiastic about defending Whitebeard's reputation, especially in a war like this where Whitebeard himself was sacrificing his life to save him.

"That scoundrel! What the hell is he saying! And why did Ace stop?"

Marco was extremely angry at how Akainu described his father. But he was also drawn to Ace's anomaly.

This was against the boss's orders after all, which were 'to escape and retreat safely to the New World.'

"Actually, I would have stopped too when I hear that dog say that about Oyaji… I would try my best to cut his tongue with my sword."

Vista expressed his deep displeasure.

"Sigh… this doesn't work… we have completely lost."

Whitebeard felt deep sorrow to the extent that he hesitated to turn the page to the next scene.

_________________

Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):

_________________

Chapter 743: Whitebeard could have become king, but he didn't want to.

Chapter 744: Moments Before the Shock.

Chapter 745: The Death of Portgas D. Ace! (Part 1)

_________________

BlackStar_BH:

Join my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/BlackStar_BH to support me and unlock advanced chapters. Get ahead with up to 30 chapters in advance:

- 5 advanced chapters for $5

- 10 advanced chapters for $10

- 15 advanced chapters for $15

- 20 advanced chapters for $20

- 30 advanced chapters for $30 (New)

Don't miss out on this exclusive content and dive into the epic Marineford arc in One Piece!

(The Marineford arc has already ended on Patreon!)