Gura Gura no Mi

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"The death row prisoners from Level Six of Impel Down!"

"How are they here?!"

"Each of them has committed unspeakable crimes so heinous that their existence was erased from public memory."

"They are criminals so vile they should never be allowed to walk the earth again!"

"That's the colossal battleship Sanjuan Wolf!"

The crowd watched in shock as a massive figure loomed behind Marineford's headquarters, its sheer size rivaling the height of the Marine headquarters itself.

"Corrupt King Avalo Pizarro!"

"Heavy Drinker Vasco Shot!"

"Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon!"

"And former warden of Impel Down, Shiryu of the Rain!"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku's expression twisted with fury as he glared at Shiryu. "What is the meaning of this?! Shiryu! What happened to Magellan?! What about Impel Down?!"

Shiryu sneered dismissively. "Figure it out for yourselves. Long story short, I've joined forces with them. From now on, I'm not with you."

A panicked Marine ran up to Sengoku, urgently reporting, "Fleet Admiral! I didn't get a chance to report earlier—just moments ago, the Gate of Justice opened again, allowing an unregistered warship to pass through!"

"It must be them! But how?! The engine room should only contain Marines. There shouldn't have been any anomalies!"

The Demon Sheriff, Laffitte chuckled darkly. "Hohoho! My apologies. It's simple—I hypnotized the Marines in the engine room before departure. I ensured that the gate would open for any ship. It seems this trick helped a few others as well."

Blackbeard burst into laughter. "Zehahaha! As pirates, we're always enemies of the government. Unable to open the Gate of Justice or infiltrate Impel Down... That's why I joined the Seven Warlords in the first place! Otherwise, that title? I'd never have cared for it!"

"Your goal was to free those criminals?!"

"Zehahaha! Of course! From the start, that was my only objective! And soon, you'll understand why. It will change everything!"

"Teach!!!"

Whitebeard roared in fury, slamming his fist toward Blackbeard's location.

Boom!!!

The execution platform exploded into rubble.

"Not holding back at all, eh, old man?"

"You are the only one I'll never call my son, Teach! You broke the only rule on my ship—you murdered a comrade!"

"Teach!!!"

From the distant ships of the Whitebeard Pirates, crew members watched with burning rage, ready to charge and tear Blackbeard apart.

It was Blackbeard who had murdered Fourth Division Commander Thatch. He was also the one who captured Ace and handed him to the World Government, setting everything into motion. Every member of the Whitebeard Pirates loathed him with every fiber of their being.

"For Thatch's sake, I'll end you myself, you bastard! Let's settle this once and for all!"

"Zehahaha! I'd love to see you try!"

"Dark Vortex!"

Blackbeard slammed his palm into the ground, releasing a torrent of darkness that swallowed everything in its path.

"Thatch is dead. Ace is dead too, isn't he? Old man!"

"I used to admire you, truly. But you're old now!"

"You couldn't even save a subordinate about to be executed! I even spared him at Banaro Island!"

Whitebeard didn't respond. His fist clenched as he swung toward Blackbeard.

"Black Vortex!"

The blow was halted by Blackbeard's darkness, nullifying the power of Whitebeard's Devil Fruit.

"It's useless! In my presence, all abilities are meaningless!"

"Zehahaha! What's wrong? Can't use your quakes anymore, can you?"

Blackbeard laughed triumphantly—until Whitebeard slashed his shoulder with his blade.

"Aghhh! Damn it! That hurts like hell!"

Blackbeard writhed on the ground, clutching his wound.

"Arrogance… recklessness… those are your greatest flaws," Whitebeard declared coldly.

Grasping Blackbeard's head in his massive hand, Whitebeard prepared to unleash the power of the Quake-Quake Fruit.

Blackbeard's smug expression turned to sheer terror. "Stop! Old man! You wouldn't really kill your own son, would you? Aaaahhhh!"

Whitebeard hesitated for a brief moment, his body finally succumbing to its limits. Blackbeard seized the opportunity to escape, scrambling away.

"This stubborn old monster! He won't die quietly! Finish him off!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Blackbeard Pirates unleashed a barrage of bullets, riddling Whitebeard with gunfire.

"Old man!!!"

The Whitebeard Pirates cried out in agony as they watched the scene, their tears streaming.

When the bullets finally stopped, Whitebeard, still standing, spoke his final words.

"You're not the one..."

Blackbeard recoiled in shock. "How is he still alive?!"

"Roger's will… it won't be carried by someone like you, Teach…"

"Just as someone inherited Roger's will, someone will inherit Ace's. Though not bound by blood, the flame of their lives will never be extinguished."

"This has always been the way of things, passed down through generations. And one day, someone who bears the weight of centuries of history… will challenge this world."

"Sengoku… the World Government… you will be gripped by fear when the great war finally arrives!"

"Though I care not for it, that treasure will one day be found, and the world will be turned upside down."

"The One Piece…..is REAL!!!"

With that final declaration, Whitebeard passed away, standing tall and proud. His death, broadcast across the world, left an indelible mark on history.

"Whitebeard… you've passed on too…"

On the Sabaody Archipelago, Silvers Rayleigh watched with tears streaming down his face as yet another legend from their era departed.

"Old man!!!"

The Whitebeard Pirates wept in anguish, their grief overwhelming.

"Teach! Damn you! I swear, I'll kill you!" Marco shouted through his tears. For him, Whitebeard wasn't just a captain—he was family. Watching his father-figure murdered by Blackbeard filled him with a rage he couldn't contain.

"Zehahaha! Finally, he's dead! Now, let's begin!"

The Blackbeard Pirates covered Whitebeard's body with a black cloth.

"Damn it! What's Teach planning now?!"

Under the cover of darkness, Blackbeard used the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit to extract the essence of the Quake-Quake Fruit, transferring it into a fresh fruit.

Moments later, the transformation was complete, and the fruit in his hand changed shape.

"Zehahaha! Finally, it's mine! Now, I'm invincible!"

But just as he was reveling in his triumph, the fruit vanished from his grasp.

Turning around, Blackbeard saw Uchiha Kitaro standing behind him, holding the Quake-Quake Fruit.

"You?! Give it back!" Blackbeard lunged at Kitaro.

Whoosh!

Kitaro's figure disappeared.

He reappeared above the execution platform, the Quake-Quake Fruit glowing in his hand.

"So, this is the Quake-Quake Fruit?" he mused, gazing at his prize.

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