Kapitel 115: Chapter 115: How To Die In Shame! Whitebeard, One of the Four Emperors, Defeated!
Crash!
The waves roared, churning under the Marine warships, lined up on either side with Admiral Sengoku's flagship positioned in the center.
"Keep our distance!"
"Adjust positioning!"
"All ships, stand by!"
The voices from the Den Den Mushi echoed through the command room, reporting status updates from the fleet below.
"Admiral Sengoku, news from Hachinosu!"
Taking the report, Sengoku's expression hardened.
"Huh? It's over?"
He had prepared the Marines for an assault by the Red-Hair Pirates on Hachinosu Island, ready to intervene if a chance to exploit their weakness arose. Yet things hadn't gone as planned.
"Captain John… dead? Betrayed by his own?" Sengoku murmured, a mixture of disbelief and resignation. Who could have foreseen it? The once-notorious Captain John, infamous for his arrogance and greed, meeting such an ignominious end.
"The Red-Hair Pirates left Hachinosu Island without taking control… What are they planning?"
The unexpected turn disrupted Sengoku's plan to strike during the aftermath, and he couldn't help but frown.
"What of the Hunter's Guild and the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Both vanished from the sea before dawn. Our ships couldn't track them."
"So, they're settling their scores on some remote island," Sengoku mused, scanning the horizon.
"Retreat!"
"Yes, Admiral!"
Navigating the New World was no easy task. Some islands weren't even recorded on Log Poses, relying solely on the guidance of Vivre Card. Leading a fleet into the unknown waters without specific coordinates was far too risky, especially when the New World itself posed dangers even Sengoku hesitated to face.
Admiral Sengoku always calculated his moves precisely. Choosing the safer path of retreat now felt prudent with so much uncertainty.
On a Frozen Battlefield
A brutal battle was already underway. The freezing landscape shook as Whitebeard unleashed his full power, his skin flushed and steaming like Luffy's second gear, pushing himself to his physical limits. Even Leno, formidable in his own right, felt the pressure of Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit abilities.
Whitebeard's power surged by nearly 40%, creating shockwaves that threatened to tear apart anything close. Every tremor shook Leno's core, yet he stood his ground, facing Whitebeard head-on, refusing to back down.
This encounter was one for the ages—a final, desperate showdown.
Whitebeard wasn't one to hold back, and neither was Leno. With a respectful nod to his opponent's resolve, he called upon every ounce of his strength.
Observation Haki, Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki— they clashed, intertwining and sparking flashes of light across the battlefield. Murakumogiri and Dragon Sparrow, their legendary blades, collided, each strike creating fractures in the ice and shattering the frozen ground beneath them.
Boom! Boom!
As they charged, the air crackled with energy, the shockwaves ripping through the frozen battlefield, widening the cracks across the surface.
Their relentless duel drew the eyes of everyone nearby. Hancock, Marco, and the others watched in awe and terror. This wasn't merely a fight; it was the clash of titans.
"Dad can't… win this alone?"
The disbelief was clear in the eyes of Atmos, Commander of Whitebeard's 13th division.
"That man… he doesn't fall, does he?" murmured Marco, his worry unspoken but felt by all around him.
The toll on Whitebeard was mounting, the cost of forcing his heart and lungs to such extremes, risking everything he had left. If he continued at this rate, he might not walk away from this battle.
Another explosive impact split the sky, scattering shards of ice as Whitebeard and Leno crashed backward, carving deep trenches in the broken ground.
Panting heavily, Whitebeard's chest wound bled openly, his breath labored. Even Kaido's defenses might have failed against Leno's relentless onslaught.
But rather than fear, Whitebeard laughed.
"Gu ra ra ra! It's been ages since I felt like this! Nothing gets the blood going like a fight where your life's on the line."
Time had taken its toll, his body worn from countless battles, but Whitebeard's spirit remained unbroken. There was pride in his eyes, the pride of a man who'd once stood at the top of the world. He wasn't ready to relinquish that glory without a fight.
"Come on, Whitebeard," Leno murmured, steadying himself, wiping the sweat and blood from his brow. His youthful vitality gave him an edge, but he couldn't afford to underestimate the sheer force of Whitebeard's will.
"How long can you hold out like this?" Leno challenged.
Whitebeard only grinned, his body already lunging forward, Murakumogiri raised high.
"Long enough to take you down!"
With a roar, Whitebeard brought his head forward, slamming into Leno with a headbutt charged with Haki. The impact shattered the air, sending Leno flying as the collision distorted the space around them.
But as Whitebeard skidded back, Leno rose again, standing tall amid the destruction. Marco and the others watched in dread as their father's mighty foe appeared nearly untouched.
"What… is he? He's as unbreakable as Kaido!" Izou muttered in disbelief.
"No… he's worse," murmured Jozu. "He takes our strongest blows like they're nothing."
Their hope wavered as Whitebeard struggled back to his feet, still clutching his sword, blood trickling from his lips.
Although Leno was the one sent flying, Whitebeard bore the brunt of the damage, pushing himself to the edge.
As expected, after another clash, Whitebeard stumbled, his strength waning.
"If this keeps up, Whitebeard… he'll die!"
"They have to stop!"
"No more fighting!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Marco's blue flame wings flared as he prepared to fly over and intervene.
Suddenly—bam!—a foot, crackling with Armament Haki, kicked Marco back.
Hancock landed in front of him, declaring proudly,
"I will never let you dirty scoundrels disturb Leno's sacred battle!"
"Marco!"
Vista and the other Commanders could no longer hold back their emotions.
"We're here to help!"
"Hold them off!" Luwell ordered sharply.
Killing Whitebeard here would shake the world to its core. He was a towering pirate, feared by all!
A flash of steel burst forth in a sweeping Slash Wave.
Vista blocked it with his blade, bracing for the impact.
Meanwhile, Kuina lunged forward, sword in hand, clashing with Vista.
Lucci transformed, his Devil Fruit power heightening his speed as he shot a powerful kick at the burly Atmos.
"Fish-Man Karate!"
Fukaboshi launched his attack, striking the fish-man Namuel.
"This is fate!"
From a distance, Van Augur took aim, firing rapidly.
Whoosh! Custom bullets whizzed through the air.
Luwell and Izou both drew their guns, hesitating for a moment as they caught each other's gaze, then unleashed a flurry of shots.
Though Luwell had a Zoan Devil Fruit power, her weapon of choice was her twin pistols, and her sharpshooting was unmatched.
Izou, the renowned cross-dressing warrior of the Whitebeard Pirates, was also a skilled gunman, valuing marksmanship even over swordsmanship.
To him, being a "samurai" was more than wielding a sword—it was a way of life!
Bullets from four flintlock pistols filled the air as they dodged each other's shots.
With her Spider's ability and Observation Haki, Luwell's dodging was impeccable. She'd even sparred with Hancock, and with these skills, even Hancock found it hard to land a hit.
A talent that seemed weak on the surface had developed into something potent and unpredictable.
The battle continued.
Marco, who wanted to aid Whitebeard, found himself locked in combat.
Hancock squared off against Marco, her Haki stronger than ever after rigorous training under Leno.
Marco held his own, but only barely.
Leno and his crew had gathered intelligence on the Whitebeard Pirates.
Whitebeard's Division Commander were formidable, but ranking didn't always indicate strength. Marco's first division served as medics, Vista's fifth division specialized in swordsmanship, while Jozu's third division led the main combat force.
Still, as Kuina and Lucci fought them, they were surprised.
"These guys… they're not as tough as we thought?"
Kuina and the others had trained tirelessly, pushing their limits to prepare for this showdown.
And now, facing the commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, they found the fight more balanced than expected.
True, Leno's relentless "special training" had toughened them, preparing them for high-intensity battles.
But Whitebeard's protective leadership had left his commanders with little motivation to improve on their own.
Even Ace, a fierce fighter, had grown complacent within Whitebeard's crew, failing to hone his Haki.
Without Whitebeard's shield, the remaining commanders struggled against Blackbeard's crew after his death.
Sixteen commanders may sound imposing, but only a few truly stood out.
Notable warriors like Marco, Joze, Vista, and Ace were the exceptions.
Under Whitebeard's shelter, they hadn't had to face many worthy adversaries, and their skills hadn't evolved.
As Hancock, Kuina, and the others fought on, Leno held back, prolonging his clash with Whitebeard to watch his crew's progress.
Whitebeard, sensing Leno's intentions, growled,
"You little brat, we're not done here!"
Yet, without his power boost, Whitebeard couldn't keep up with Leno.
Half an hour later, with Kuina and the others showing results, Leno raised his hand and slashed a powerful, precise Slash Wave, striking the exhausted Whitebeard and bringing him down.
"Dad!"
Whitebeard's crew cried out in anguish.
"Leno is amazing!" Hancock said, her gaze filled with admiration.
Whitebeard lay on the ground, a diagonal wound stretching from his shoulder to his waist, blood pouring out, yet his eyes shone brightly.
"What a thrill…"
Growing old felt like sinking into quicksand, weaker and weaker, as if drowning slowly. He'd never considered this until illness struck, reminding him he was human too.
It wasn't death he feared, it was dying in bed, weak and useless, like Captain John, whose legacy faded with age.
"Cough!"
Whitebeard staggered, hands pressing against the ground as he struggled to rise, but his body had reached its limit.
Even the power of his Tremor-Tremor Fruit had its boundaries.
So, Whitebeard slumped to the ground, panting heavily, watching the young man who had defeated him approach.
"Gu ra ra ra... Well, if it's you, take my head… let me die like a true warrior!"
Whitebeard laughed, closing his eyes.
-----------
+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein