"No, that's all..."

"We're saved!"

"That's terrifying!"

Some pirates were so frightened that they collapsed, but thankfully the terrifying, sky-topping seawater disappeared.

“Squarado!”

At that moment, Marco suddenly appeared from the ship, grabbed Squardo's head, and slammed him onto the deck.

"How dare you! How could you do this?!"

Marco's veins bulged, his face contorted with rage.

After resting for a while and feeling that he had regained some strength, he was just about to go out when he saw this heartbreaking scene.

How could a son of his father actually stab his father?

He's even worse than Teach!

"Get out of my way!"

Squardo turned and slashed at Marco, but Marco dodged it.

"You're the ones who forced me to do this! Stop acting, Whitebeard! You've already conspired with the Navy, haven't you? Sacrificing us to protect your Whitebeard Pirates and Ace!"

"Ace was the son of the Pirate King Roger. To protect Ace, you made a deal with the Navy, right? We were the ones in that deal. You made us die so you could stay alive! Now, aren't we the ones becoming the Navy's sitting ducks?"

Squardo pointed behind him, where many of the pirates belonging to the affiliated pirate crew had been defeated by the Pacifistas.

Most of these pirates were affiliated with pirate crews, while most of Whitebeard's elite crew members were unharmed. Upon discovering this problem, the morale of those pirates plummeted.

The facts are undeniable.

Kuro, sipping his cigar, glanced at the demoralized pirates and chuckled, "Pirates... chaotic beings, easily swayed by the smallest things."

These pirate crews included members who had followed Whitebeard for over a decade, yet they were swayed by something like this. It's hard to tell whether they were foolish or malicious.

"How embarrassing, Whitebeard!"

Crocodile's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water, and he roared at Whitebeard as if he were about to collapse: "I don't want to lose to a coward like you!"

The tone wasn't one of disappointment at Whitebeard's injury, but rather one of belief that a hero capable of defeating him shouldn't have committed such a treacherous act.

Crocodile, he believed it too.

"A coward...?"

Whitebeard shook his head, his gaze drifting into the distance, sweeping over everyone present: Marco, Jozu, Vista—his sons who had followed him long ago; Crocodile, the younger generation still harboring ambitions; Ace on the execution platform; the constantly panting Straw Hat, the rising star; and...

That young, floating boy standing on the ice.

Those who venture into the sea will, like the sea itself, experience both high and low tides.

I am old now, and it is time to return to the sea with the ebb tide. After the ebb tide comes the rising tide.

As long as a young life is entrusted to the future, then the rising tide will be the time when a new era begins to emerge!

"What an idiot..."

Whitebeard looked at Squard with no murderous intent, but rather with a hint of elder's pity. He reached out and hugged Squard, saying, "Although you're a fool, you're still my adorably foolish son, Squard. As your father, I don't hate you."

He patted Squardo on the head, used his knife to support his body, stood up, and suddenly punched the air hard.

Bang!!!

The ice walls on both sides were shattered by this punch, and the shattering of the ice surface also opened up the two rooms on the left and right, creating an escape route.

Sengoku remarked, "So you've opened a way out for the pirates? What a cunning old fox..."

Kuro laughed and said, "That's really bold."

"Saying I betrayed my son, guralala!"

Whitebeard stopped on the deck, let out a hearty laugh, and then roared, "As pirates, you are free to decide what you believe in and what you want to do! Choose, whether to retreat or fight, everyone has the right to choose... So those who are not afraid to die, come with me!!!"

This opened a path, giving the pirates the right to escape, which reassured them that their father hadn't betrayed them.

These words boosted their morale, making them even more enthusiastic.

because...

Thump!

Whitebeard leaped with all his might and finally landed on the ice, landing on the deck.

This old guy personally took to the stage!

"Oh~ Whitebeard himself is going to fight? How scary." Kizaru's eyes widened, and upon closer inspection, a hint of solemnity could be seen.

Kuro clicked his tongue and turned back to ask, "Where's the encirclement wall?"

"Report!"

The navy officer closest to him saluted and said, "Because the ice layer is too thick, the encirclement barrier is still activating. There's still a little time left, it'll be over soon!"

"Sooner is fucking fast..."

Kuro turned to look at Whitebeard, who was gripping his Murakumogiri with both hands, assuming a slashing stance, and a shockwave emanated from the blade.

Target: Marineford!

Bang!!

In an instant, a dark shadow attacked. Kuro drew his sword, Autumn Water, and with a flash of golden lightning, struck the slashing naginata blade. The blades clashed, producing a dull thud.

Click!

Several cracks appeared on the ice beneath Whitebeard's feet.

Boom!!!

From Kuro's left and right sides, extending to Marineford, everything was blasted apart. The left and right edges of Marineford were blasted into pieces by the sudden shockwave, destroying a bunch of buildings and the unfortunate marines standing on both sides.

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