Chapter 74 - Inherited Will

"Look, it's Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

Sengoku stood next to Ace on the execution platform with a den-den mushi in his hand.

"I have an announcement for you all."

Sengoku spoke in a powerful voice causing all the marines to become silent.

"Portgas D. Ace. The death of this man today, holds great significance."

Sengoku paused for a moment to let his words set into the hearts of the people.

"Ace. Tell me the name of your father!"

"My father is Whitebeard."

"Not true!"

"It is! My father is Whitebeard! I have no other father!"

"Years ago, we put all our resources into searching for a man. We suspected that he might have a child on a certain island. We relied entirely on this possibility, and Cipher Pol's vague information. Children who had just been born, and children who were going to be born soon. We thoroughly looked into all the mothers but couldn't find him!"

Bob listened to Sengoku speak, but he already knew what was going to happen. However, his words still had an effect on Bob. He couldn't help but feel some sort of emotion being here at Marineford in person.

Watching it on screen and seeing it in person were two different feelings!

"Your mother's name is Portgas D. Rouge! A year and three months after your father's death she gave birth to you. A child carrying the blood of the most evil man in the world. Your father is the Pirate King, Gold Roger!"

"GOLD ROGER?!"

The marines were shocked.

"The blood of a legend still lives."

Bob said with a grin on his face.

All of the warlords that were present looked back towards the platform. The looks on their faces were priceless.

"So… he isn't Luffy's real brother."

Boa Hancock said softly.

The marines were processing what they just heard. To some of them Gold Roger was a legend, but now seeing Ace on that execution stand it felt as if they were seeing the man himself.

"Legends never die. Their will, their blood. All of it is inherited by someone, someone who will carry it on their backs and spark a flame."

Bob said loud enough for the other warlords to hear him.

"But Whitebeard, who realized it at the same time we did decided to raise you to become the next Pirate King."

Sengoku said.

"That's not true! I got on that ship so I could make the old man the Pirate King!"

Ace shouted.

"You're the only one who thinks that! We were careful not to act recklessly because you were under Whitebeard's protection! But left unchecked, you'd undoubtedly inspire a new generation of pirates."

Bob chuckled to himself when he heard Sengoku say those words.

'Jokes on you, Luffy caused a new era to emerge.'

It was something only Bob could laugh at, as he was the only one in this world who understood. It was his own inside joke.

"That is why your execution here today carries such a great significance! Even if we have to go to war against Whitebeard himself!"

The marines cheered loudly.

A war against Whitebeard? Bring it own! They weren't afraid.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

Bob said as he looked out towards the water.

"What do you mean?"

Boa Hancock asked.

Bob didn't reply, but just looked at the water.

"It's qiuet, deadly quiet."

Doflamingo said as he looked towards the sea.

The sirens went off as someone shouted.

"They're here!"

"Like I said. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

Bob said with a grin across his face.

"Don't get too excited, there are 43 ships out there but none of them are Whitebeards."

Mihawk said.

The water started to move right in front of all the marines.

"This guy sure knows how to make an entrance."

A large ship appeared from underwater, the front of it looked like a whale.

"It's the Moby Dick!"

The marines shouted.

Three more ships emerged from the water can came to the bay.

Bob heard Whitebeard coming forward.

'This guy, why is he so tall? Like really, what do you have to eat to get that big?'

Whitebeard said a few words before he stuck his polearm into the boat.

Whitebeard then began to take a pose as if he was flexing his muscles to their limit. The wind blew his coat back and he punched towards the side of him making the air crack.

He caused a seaquake making the water rise high.

Doflamingo did a hideous laugh as he licked his lips.

"I'm getting really excited here!"

He looked at Mihawk.

"You're planning on staying on the sidelines again? I bet you just came to pass time, didn't you?"

Boa Hancok sighed.

"Everywhere I look there are insufferable, scruffy men."

"Hey, we aren't all like that."

Bob interrupted her.

Marineford started to rumble causing everyone to feel uneasy.

'So this is his power! No wonder they call him the strongest man in the world!'

A tsunami came and it was huge. The waves were larger than the highest building on Marineford.

The Whitebeard pirates cheered.

Admiral Aokiji jumped high into the air.

"Ice Age!"

The huge waves of water were swiftly frozen.

Bob watched, this was all exciting for him. Things were playing out just as it happened in the show!

The water was frozen soon.

Wishful Thinking started playing as Bob heard the instrumental.

"I am the shadow, and the smoke in your eyes,

I am the ghost, that hides in the night"

Charles voice sounded out through the various speakers placed all around Marineford.

The cannons stationed on Marineford started firing towards the Whitebeard pirates.

The Whitebeard pirates started rushing towards the marines.

"Wait, wait a minute take a step back

You gotta think twice before you react

So stay, stay a little while

Because a promise not kept is the road to exile"

Charles singing Diamond Eyes by Shinedown.