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Marco's expression changed. Gritting his teeth hard, he leapt high over Jozu's body.
"We'll wait for you on the ship!" Ace's tears welled up, but he forced down his grief and ran past quickly.
"Jozu!" Jozu burst into laughter, his arms trembling as he leaned forward, locking eyes on the two figures ahead.
"Don't worry, I'll be back!" But in his eyes, the resolve of one who expected not to return was clear.
He wasn't Arashi—facing two Admirals, the chance of survival was close to none.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Crocodile slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze fixed coldly on the pirate before him.
"You… you're Squard, right?" A sinister smirk curled on his lips. "You think I'd let you run away from me?"
A swirl of sand erupted, tightly binding the pirate, whose body visibly began to dry out at an alarming speed.
Within moments, Squard froze in place, mouth twitching but voiceless. The moisture in his body had all but disappeared.
Crocodile turned away. Where his eyes landed, a sandstorm swept through. Fleeing pirates fell still, their bodies drying up in real time.
"Vice Admiral Crocodile is too powerful! He's like a natural disaster!"
"His strength might rival an Admiral now!" The nearby Marines were in awe, their eyes filled with admiration.
On another part of the battlefield, Vice Admiral Bullet stood firm. Around him, pirates lay collapsed across the ground—easily over a thousand of them.
"All in just a few breaths? A thousand pirates, taken down by him? He truly lives up to the name 'Demon Heir Vice Admiral!'"
"Even the Dark King Rayleigh was suppressed by him the entire time!" the Marines said in disbelief.
Elsewhere, Rosinante snapped his fingers. A kilometre-wide silence blanketed the area, and terrified pirates realised no sound could be heard.
Then came a single punch. The force of pure silence burst outward, and in an instant, the pirates collapsed without a word.
Standing among them, Rosinante listened to the voice on the Transponder Snail and sighed softly.
A series of furious shouts echoed from the other end. "Everyone, do not let a single one escape! Use all your strength! Stop their retreat!"
"Capture every last pirate!" From the voice alone, the agitation in Sengoku's tone was unmistakable.
"What a cruel war…" Rosinante murmured.
Suddenly, his face tensed as he vanished on the spot. In the next instant,
His foot intercepted a slash of white thread aimed at a pirate.
"Fufufufufufu…Rosinante, you're a Marine. Do you still care about these pirates' lives?" Doflamingo sneered.
"They've already surrendered, Doflamingo," Rosinante said coldly. "There's no need to kill them." He slowly turned to look at the pirates kneeling in fear.
"Even on a battlefield, there is justice!" His gaze swept across the blood-soaked ground. Rosinante's heart trembled. "Too many have died already…"
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed, then he burst out laughing. "So many years, and you still cling to your soft heart? Mercy on the battlefield?"
Rosinante turned, his eyes icy. But he said nothing more. Admiral Arashi had taught him from a young age that true justice requires a line that must not be crossed.
Over the years, he understood the path he wanted to follow.
"Do as you like," Doflamingo muttered, noticing Smoker, Buggy, and others approaching in the distance.
He gave a cold laugh and turned to leave. The Whitebeard Pirates began a full retreat. Many escaped from Marineford, but many more were left behind.
The battle after the defeat was even more brutal and chaotic. But this was their final, desperate chance.
If they dragged it out any longer, the Whitebeard Pirates would suffer even greater losses. "You know you can't stop me!" Arashi threw a punch.
Whitebeard coughed up blood and raised his naginata to strike, but Arashi easily dodged it.
"Gurararara! You think I'm just anyone?" Whitebeard roared. "I'm Whitebeard!"
He sprinted forward and leapt high, slamming his naginata down. Arashi raised one hand and effortlessly caught the blade.
Whitebeard's strength had diminished—Arashi could counter with ease. Seeing this, even Whitebeard sighed inwardly.
He took a deep breath, his eyes fierce. Planting his feet, he stabbed his naginata into the ground and raised both arms.
He had reached his limit. If this were the end, he would use his life to carve out a final escape route for his sons.
"This era no longer has a ship that can carry me. But the future belongs to you my son!" His thunderous voice echoed through Marineford's skies.
Countless pirates turned, eyes wide with shock. "Carry hope, carry fire, carry freedom, and chase your dreams!"
"Live with everything you've got!"
"ONE PIECE… it's real!"
Edward Newgate shouted with all his might, facing the whole world and his retreating crew. Then he turned to Arashi, laughing heartily.
"Thank you, Arashi!"
"You really are different from most Marines. If the world were in your hands… maybe it would be a better place."
He paused, opened his hand as if grasping the air, and pulled with all his strength.
"Buzz…"
Space trembled, cracking open. "But as a pirate, it's hard for me to trust my enemy," he said with a hint of sorrow.
Whitebeard respected Arashi—both his power and his character.
Then, glaring fiercely, he prepared to unleash his final strike, shattering Marineford to give his sons more space to escape.
But Arashi suddenly stepped forward. In an instant, he appeared before Whitebeard.
A blast of black and red lightning burst—his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki exploded.
All of Marineford and a ten-thousand-meter radius turned black and red.
"Boom!" A deafening shock echoed across the island.
A shockwave burst from Whitebeard's abdomen, tearing through the sky and splitting clouds above. Countless eyes turned, trembling.
"Dad!"
"Whitebeard?"
Cries of anguish filled the air. Everyone saw it—at the edge of the abyss,
Whitebeard's cape fluttered in the wind.
His body shook once… then went still. He stood silently like a statue. Faintly, Arashi's voice rang out.
"Put shackles on him." Then, the figure that made all the Whitebeard Pirates tremble in fear and rage appeared—
Arashi, his eyes calm as he stared at them. With just one glance, countless pirates' hearts seized.
"Go! Get out of here! Escape Marineford!"
The pirates scattered in panic as the Marines gave chase. Arashi turned back to Whitebeard's unconscious body. His eyes were closed, and though faint, he was still breathing.
"He's more useful alive," Arashi murmured.
Time passed. The sounds of battle still roared across Marineford. About thirty minutes later, Marco, Ace, and Luffy boarded the Moby Dick with Bista's help.
But to their surprise, Zoro, who had protected Luffy the entire way, hadn't joined them.
"I'm not going back with you," Zoro said with a grin "I'm staying here."
"Why?" Luffy shouted. "Because here… I can become stronger."
The image of Arashi's battle flashed through Zoro's mind. He took a deep breath.
"Luffy," he said seriously, "you and I… we're still too weak. We need to seize every moment and every chance to grow stronger."
"When I'm strong enough… I'll find you, and help you reach the top of this world." Luffy was stunned for a moment, then nodded firmly.
"Okay! It's a promise—two years from now, we'll meet at the place we parted!"
Zoro smiled. "Deal!"
The Moby Dick started up and sailed away.
Meanwhile, the battle still raged on Marineford's plaza. Zoro turned and saw a familiar figure. His eyes focused… and then he smiled.
"We're old rivals, aren't we… Rob Lucci!" But Lucci said flatly, "Don't get the wrong idea, Roronoa Zoro."
"Vice Admiral Kuina is looking for you." Zoro was stunned, exhaled, and didn't resist as CP9 led him away.
Elsewhere on the battlefield…
"Crack!"
A chilling aura froze the bloodstained Jozu into a statue of ice. "He really is one tough guy," Aokiji exhale frost.
"The Whitebeard Pirates… they're monsters," Kizaru nodded. The two exchanged looks and smiled knowingly.
The pursuit continued until dawn on the third day. Thus, the war, later known as the Summit War, finally ended.
The Marines emerged with a decisive victory! The legendary Marine, Arashi, was hailed as invincible.
His reputation reached an all-time high, shaking the entire world. A war that reshaped the world's balance ended in just three days.
With the confidence of their overwhelming strength, the whole battle was broadcast live, letting every corner of the world witness its details firsthand.
Across the seas, people on every island erupted in heated discussion. "The Marines have too many strong fighters!"
"No one expected this war to involve two Yonko crews! Even so, the pirates were utterly defeated. Is the world order changing?"
"Has the Marine force reached its peak?"
"You're right. With Whitebeard captured and Red-Haired Shanks' fate unknown, the Marines are at their strongest in history."
"Surely the world is still trembling from this battle. Legendary Marine Arashi—he truly deserves the title of the Strongest!"
While stunned by the Marines' might, the world remembered one man's name.
His overwhelming strength left many in awe… even fear. Many young people who once dreamed of becoming pirates abandoned that dream after this war.
"What will happen to the Whitebeard Pirates now? Without Whitebeard, how many of his sons can truly lead?"
"With Shanks' fate unclear, will even the Red-Haired Pirates fade away?"
"This war changed everything. The balance of the world is shattered and the Marines now stand as the mightiest force!"
"Whew…"
"I'm even a bit excited. What will this man named Arashi bring to the world next?"
Without a doubt, after this battle, Arashi's reputation had reached its peak. He was now known worldwide and had gained a massive following quickly.
"I've made up my mind. I'm going to join the Marines! With someone as powerful as Admiral Arashi leading the way, the future of the Marines is beyond imagination!"
"What's even more admirable is the justice he upholds! That justice of equality could be called justice for the weak!"
"Looking at Admiral Arashi's history, he's always walked a path of compassion, protecting the weak and the innocent. He stands for true justice."
"He's completely different from most Marines!"
People worldwide discussed it, speculated about the Whitebeard Pirates, admired Arashi, and were shocked at the strength of the Marines.
"I'm more curious about the actual losses on both sides during this war!"
"From the look of Marineford, it probably can't serve as the main headquarters anymore!"
"Whitebeard's power really was terrifying! But what's even more terrifying is Arashi—a man who defeated two Emperors working together!"
"Sigh, as for war casualties, only the Marines and Whitebeard Pirates would know. Such confidential information won't be easily made public..."
The war on the summit had shaken the entire world, throwing it into chaos.
The crushing defeat of both Emperor crews highlighted the strength of the Marines.
Some sharp-eyed individuals even called it "the war that changed the fate of the world."
--Red Line, Mariejois--
"A war that changed the fate of the world? Heh... what a wildly arrogant praise. But in this world, in this era, there can be only one destiny."
A voice laced with cold laughter echoed softly through the palace. "His combat power is unquestionable."
Compared to over a decade ago, he's become even more challenging."
"Whether it's Whitebeard or Red-Haired, as Emperors of the sea, their strength is undeniable."
"The Marines going forward may be even harder to control."
Another voice spoke.
"Under Sengoku's command, the Marines were already drifting from the World Government's grasp."
"If that position ends up in this man's hands..." A sigh followed. All five elders wore dark expressions.
"Then the West Blue is our precedent! After nearly twenty years of cultivation, the Marines in the West Blue have become completely his domain."
"He's developed them into a powerful force with a comprehensive training system."
"What's even more alarming is that he's begun showing signs of interfering in kingdoms and political structures."
The heavy, serious tone deepened. "If he were to control the entire Marine force, the future would be unimaginable."
"As the World Government's sharp blade to balance the seas, the importance of the Marines is self-evident."
"But... what can we even do to deal with him?" Their tone shifted, and the five elders all showed helpless expressions.
They had tried to deal with Arashi more than a decade ago, but his unique bloodline defied logic.
With his power, restraining him had always been near-impossible; now, it was practically hopeless.
"Are we really just going to watch as he takes over the Marines? If that happens, the future will already be set in stone!"
Voices of frustration rang out. Their faces grew even darker. "The Marine's blade might very well turn toward us in the near future!"
Hearing this, their expressions shifted. One of them even slammed his fist hard against the table.
"That fool Sakazuki! He turned out to be the only stain in this war! Ten years, and yet he was still utterly crushed by Arashi!"
The palace filled with anger. It was clear—the World Government had no way to deal with Arashi's remarkable performance in this war.
In everyone's eyes, the Marines had every reason to launch this war and had achieved an overwhelming victory.
Though some pirates escaped, Arashi's defeat of the combined forces of two Emperors on his own was nothing short of extraordinary.
Even more significant—Whitebeard was captured! Edward Newgate, known as the strongest in the world, had stood at the pinnacle since his rise.
Now, he had fallen to the Marines for the first time. That alone made this a world-shaking event, on par with the capture of Roger.
--Marine Headquarters, Marineford--
Many Marines filled the ruined fortress, carrying out cleanup operations. The sunlight overhead was warm and comforting, shining on their backs.
Roronoa Zoro, mop in hand, was cleaning the area assigned to him alongside Rob Lucci and others.
"Zoro-san, I can't believe you're still at headquarters!" Koby said in surprise, his tone excited.
"Yeah. I've got my reasons for staying," Zoro replied without looking up.
It was strange. As a pirate standing among the Marines, the atmosphere was oddly harmonious.
"You stayed to train, right? I heard from Vice Admiral Kuina!" Koby laughed.
Zoro wiped away the blood on the ground, sighed, and muttered with a complicated tone. "A lot of people died."
Hearing that, Koby's smile faded, and he looked downcast. At the start of the war, he'd been filled with fear.
But soon, he recalled something Arashi had once told him. Only by immersing yourself in blood can you truly understand the meaning of justice.
Koby defeated many enemies in this war, earned merit, and even suffered injuries—his abdomen was wrapped in a white bandage.
But above all, after this battle, he truly felt he'd grown. He began to grasp the true meaning of justice.
"Yeah...But the Vice Admirals said this was already the best possible outcome."
"In the end, Admiral Arashi stepped in and stopped both sides from further slaughter, finally bringing the war to an end." Koby let out a deep sigh.
"He's... kind, in a way," Zoro murmured. He slowly lifted his gaze and looked ahead.
The once-grand and majestic Marineford was now in ruins. Even the ground was shattered, full of cracks.
Two massive chasms ran across the centre like great abysses, and the Marines had built two makeshift bridges just to cross them.
Before this war, no one could have imagined such devastation...
No one ever imagined that Marineford, the strongest fortress in the world, would one day fall into such a state.
"What's Arashi doing?" Zoro asked softly after a slight pause.
"He's probably in a meeting," Koby scratched his head. "The war just ended—there's probably a mountain of matters waiting for him to handle."
Though Koby feared Arashi somewhat, he also deeply respected him.
"Yeah... he must be incredibly busy," Zoro muttered with a nod and sighed.
Standing on the battlefield, he had personally experienced the war and undergone a complete transformation.
The vast gap between him and the world's strongest, the merciless bloodshed of reality—it all struck him deeply.
Right now, he felt like a mere speck in the ocean, as light as a feather, unable to change anything.
The overwhelming power of the Marines, Arashi's monstrous strength, and Whitebeard's selfless spirit were all etched deeply into his heart.
"This isn't our era yet... but one day, the blade I hold will shine with a light of its own," Zoro vowed to himself, taking a deep breath.
A deep crack ran diagonally through the centre of the main headquarters building, slicing the structure cleanly in two.
Yet, impressively, the building remained usable despite the damage. The building's quality was outstanding even with cracks all over the walls.
Marines moved back and forth through the headquarters, their faces heavy with concern, their footsteps hurried.
At the highest point, inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku sat at his desk, brows furrowed as he reviewed a thick stack of documents.
His cap had long been removed, revealing his pale hair. "Over 23,000 pirates were killed. Around 58,000 were captured. In total, the Whitebeard Pirates suffered more than 80,000 losses."
Sengoku reported in a low voice. "Of course, these are only preliminary figures. The exact count will take time to confirm."
He raised his head to look at Arashi quietly reviewing another report detailing Marine casualties.
"The Marines lost 12,000 lives in this war," Arashi said calmly. "Another 13,000 were seriously injured, and 28,000 suffered minor wounds."
Sengoku's eyes contracted as he heard this. After a long silence, he sighed deeply.
"I'll handle the arrangements for post-war compensation," he said.
"As it should be," Arashi nodded. War was never a game. Once it began, death was inevitable. The original story never dwelt on death tolls.
The tone leaned more toward freedom, passion, and joy. But in Arashi's eyes, this was the cold, harsh truth.
Behind every number was a real life—one that had now ended. Also in the room were Kizaru and Aokiji, both uncharacteristically alert and focused.
Their expressions were grim as they listened in silence. "Whitebeard," Sengoku said again, his tone low.
"Send him to Impel Down," Arashi replied. Sengoku considered it, then nodded in agreement.
"What about Fire Fist Ace escaping? What do you intend to do?"
Things hadn't gone exactly as planned, and Ace's actions were an act of defection. "Let the dust settle a bit first," Arashi said faintly.
Though Sengoku looked puzzled, he didn't press further. The true goal of the war had never been to execute Ace.
His survival was a relief for both Garp and Arashi. More importantly, the war was a resounding victory.
The captain of the Whitebeard Pirates—Edward Newgate, with a bounty of 5.46 billion Berries—was captured alive.
The 3rd division commander, Diamond Jozu, was captured, as was the 8th division commander, Namur, and the 10th, Curiel.
Many allied pirate crews, captains, and officers, such as Squard the Maelstrom Spider, the Decalvan Brothers, Little Oars Jr., and others, were also taken into custody.
This was a powerful group of pirates. Rough estimates showed the Whitebeard Pirates had lost nearly two-thirds of their overall strength.
Now, only a few young commanders remained in hiding, and without their backbone, their future was uncertain.
Sengoku looked silently at Arashi, the corners of his lips lifting into a faint smile.
The war at the summit had ended in total victory. His career as a Marine had reached its perfect conclusion.
Now, it was time for a new chapter. Old gives way to new. The sun rises, the moon sets. In the Marines, too, legacies are passed on.
"Marineford has suffered heavy damage. It might no longer be suitable as our main base," Sengoku said.
But Arashi shook his head and smiled in disagreement. "Whitebeard may have destroyed it, but I can rebuild it."
"This fortress has stood here for many years. And it will stand for many more."
Sengoku was puzzled. "How will you rebuild it?"
"That's easy," Arashi replied, rising from his seat and walking toward the window.
Without hesitation, he leapt lightly from the windowsill and descended.
The Marines gathered outside the headquarters, frozen when they saw Arashi gently floating down.
"Admiral Arashi!"
"Wow, it's Admiral Arashi!"
Arashi landed gracefully and looked around at the Marines surrounding him. He smiled and spoke.
"Everyone, please pay attention. I'm going to repair the damaged ground of Marineford. There may be a little shaking!"
Before they could react, Arashi bent down and slapped both hands onto the ground.
Buzz!
Invisible ripples spread out swiftly, engulfing the entire fortress. Then, the earth began to rumble violently.
Standing at the window, Sengoku stared in astonishment at the ground rolling, lifting, and shifting rapidly.
"This is...?! The power of the Float-Float Fruit?"
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