Kapitel 55: Chapter 55: The Summit War Begins

Three days later.

Marineford.

A massive flag fluttered in the wind, emblazoned with the Navy's iconic seagull emblem. Beneath it, tens of thousands of uniformed Navy soldiers stood in formation, ready for battle. Each soldier's stern face reflected unbreakable spirit, exuding intense vigor. This was the Navy's vanguard, ready to fire the first shot of the Summit War.

Around Marineford, fifty warships continuously patrolled, their personnel remaining vigilant, monitoring every corner. Nearby, three hundred warships stood on standby, with an additional five hundred outside the Gate of Justice. Marineford was as solid as a rock.

In the conference room, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's gaze was steady, his expression unreadable but filled with resolute determination. His eyes swept over those present: Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, Garp, Tsuru, and several Vice Admirals. The top echelons of the Navy, its most elite forces, had gathered.

"The time has come. Move out!" With a wave of Sengoku's hand, his cloak billowed dramatically as he led the way. The three Admirals and numerous Vice Admirals followed closely behind. Today, they were determined to eliminate the leader of this era, Whitebeard, from the world.

The gates of Marineford slowly opened. First to emerge were over a dozen giant Vice Admirals, with broad shoulders and powerful builds. They wielded battle axes and spiked clubs, wearing helmets as they took their place at the forefront of Marineford, forming the first line of defense.

Behind them, another group emerged. Leading them was a figure dressed in flamboyant flamingo attire, with a wicked grin and an arrogant stride — Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Next was Dracule Mihawk, carrying the black blade Yoru, with a piercing gaze and a stern expression. Following was Boa Hancock, with her striking black hair, graceful walk, and icy stare, the Pirate Empress. Then came Bartholomew Kuma, silent and holding a book, and Gecko Moria, always with a "keh keh keh" laugh.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea. Though often criticized as the Navy's lapdogs and the scum of pirates, their strength was undeniable. As each heavyweight figure appeared, the Navy soldiers' breaths quickened. Their desire for victory in this war grew even stronger. Their morale soared.

At this moment, the entire Navy felt a tremor of anticipation. Their long-awaited Admirals had arrived! Beneath the execution platform, three chairs were placed for the Navy's three Admirals. Aokiji and Kizaru took their seats from the sides, while Akainu sat in the center. Unlike Aokiji, Kizaru and Akainu crossed their legs in unison, striking a standard Admiral's pose. They sat in silence, their eyes filled with judgment, gazing upon the plaza before them.

"Creak creak..." Finally, with the giant Vice Admirals, the Seven Warlords, and the three Admirals in place, Ace, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, was escorted by naval executioners. Step by step, he walked towards the execution platform. The chains dragging on the ground made a series of sharp, grating noises. At this moment, Ace's eyes were lifeless. Covered in blood, his face haggard, and his hair disheveled, he looked like he had suffered greatly in prison.

He felt deep regret in his heart. If he hadn't been so impulsive, if he hadn't acted alone, it wouldn't have come to this. Seeing the heavily guarded Marineford, with warships far exceeding the Buster Call encircling the area, the consequences of the Whitebeard Pirates rushing in were unimaginable. Ace couldn't bear to think about it. Knowing that countless members of the Whitebeard Pirates would perish because of him was a burden too heavy to bear. He lowered his head, not wanting anyone to see him so weak.

"Regretting it now? Blame the sinful blood that runs through your veins!" Sengoku, seeing Ace's moment of weakness, spoke calmly. Ace said nothing. He just gritted his teeth silently.

Not far away, Garp, witnessing this scene, also lowered his head slightly. Clenching his fists tightly, he endured torment a hundredfold. Tsuru, seeing this, couldn't help but shake her head. She hoped Garp could get through this.

Next, after Ace was secured on the execution platform, Sengoku picked up the Den Den Mushi and gave a speech to boost morale. Finally, he revealed Ace's identity as the bearer of the sinful bloodline. With these words, tens of thousands of Navy soldiers at Marineford and people around the world watching the live broadcast were shocked.

"Sinful bloodline? Could it be... Ace was Roger's descendant?"

"No wonder, no wonder the Navy made such a big deal out of Ace! Turns out he's Roger's heir."

"Who would have thought Roger's heir was still alive. Such a person deserves to die!"

"I see now why Whitebeard accepted the Navy's challenge!"

"Yes, Whitebeard would never allow the Navy to execute someone like that!"

"Portgas? If he's Roger's heir, why doesn't he use Roger's surname?"

"Probably to avoid suspicion! Using that surname, even we would know his identity."

Watching the broadcast were pirates and civilians alike, but mostly ordinary people. Everyone finally understood why the Navy was making such a grand spectacle.

After a series of preparations, the Navy soldiers present, upon learning they were about to execute Roger's heir, the last remaining sinful bloodline in the world, reached an unprecedented high in morale. All they had to do was wait for the Whitebeard Pirates to arrive.

Sengoku glanced at his pocket watch. It was now 9 a.m., three hours until Ace's execution at noon. The question was, how would the Whitebeard Pirates land in this impregnable Marineford? Will they descend from the sky or launch a frontal assault? Inside Marineford, an eerie silence prevailed. Everyone held their breath. The clock's hands ticked forward, second by second.

However, just as Marineford waited quietly, the first piece of bad news arrived. The Navy's Gate of Justice had somehow been quietly opened! The internal management personnel of the Gate of Justice could no longer be contacted! Upon hearing this news, Sengoku's face darkened. No matter how well-prepared the Navy was, no matter how many plans he had considered, there would always be unforeseen issues. But he had not expected the first piece of bad news to come so suddenly.

At that moment, a Navy lookout suddenly spotted a dark shadow on the distant sea. Soon, several more shadows appeared beside the first one. Because they were too far away, it was difficult to see with the naked eye. The lookout raised his binoculars. His pupils contracted sharply as his focus adjusted. The lookout was stunned. Those shadows were the fleets of the Whitebeard Pirates! Who else could they be but the forty-three allied pirate crews?

"Fleet Admiral, the Whitebeard Pirates have appeared!" Through the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku received the report immediately. The moment the Whitebeard Pirates appeared, the previously quiet Marineford suddenly became restless. The confrontation was about to begin! The elite Navy soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, standing ready, eyes fixed on the distant fog.

"Where is Whitebeard?" Sengoku ignored the allied pirate crews and directly inquired about Whitebeard's whereabouts. "This... Fleet Admiral, we don't see him yet!" The lookout scanned the area with his binoculars but found no sign of the Moby Dick.

Before long, the allied pirate fleets emerged from the fog, gradually appearing before everyone in Marineford. Looking around, there were the likes of Squard the Great Whirlpool Spider, Whitey Bay the Ice Witch, Little Oars Jr., and Makugai the Thunder Prince! These were all powerful figures who had swept through the New World!

The Navy lookout was drenched in cold sweat. Likewise, the entire Navy at Marineford began to scan the scene, but still, there was no sign of Whitebeard. Sengoku remained silent. Whitebeard, the man known as the strongest in the world, how would he make his entrance?

As the top forces of the Navy, including the three Admirals, the giant Vice Admirals, and the Seven Warlords, searched for the Moby Dick among the forty-three allied pirate crews, "Bloop bloop!" Suddenly, the bay in front of Marineford began to bubble. The strange sound drew everyone's attention. Sengoku, Tsuru, Garp, Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji, and numerous Vice Admirals all turned their heads. Upon seeing this bizarre scene, they all had the same thought: Here they come!!

The next second, a massive whale-shaped ship burst from the sea. It was the Moby Dick. Sunlight refracted off the Moby Dick, its radiant, colorful light making it hard to look directly. The soul of the Whitebeard Pirates. The Moby Dick had appeared! Moreover, three slightly smaller ships followed, surfacing one after another. Four ships in total, positioned strategically in four directions. Waves splashed, water spraying everywhere, even splashing onto the dozen giant Vice Admirals in front.

On the lead Moby Dick ship, fourteen people stood tall! First Division Commander Marco, Third Division Commander Jozu, Fifth Division Commander Vista, and others were present. Aside from Ace on the execution platform and Lin Yan infiltrating Impel Down, this was the top strength of the Whitebeard Pirates. Fourteen division commanders stood ready, their eyes sharp, their expressions unreadable. Cold, indifferent gazes swept over the Navy soldiers before them!

The Navy had indeed spared no expense to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates. Just by looking at this setup, it was clear the Navy was determined to annihilate the Whitebeard Pirates! But did they really think, with just these forces, they could crush the Whitebeard Pirates' resolve to rescue Ace? Wishful thinking!

As the fourteen division commanders' gazes swept over the Navy, the Navy also observed the fourteen division commanders! Feeling the pressure from the division commanders, many Navy soldiers grew anxious. No matter how much Whitebeard had aged, he remained one of the Four Emperors. The man known as the strongest in the world, a leader of the era with an unmatched reputation. Decades of accumulated power stood before them. The Navy was ready for the ultimate confrontation.

As the eyes of the Marshal, the three Admirals, and numerous Vice Admirals fell on the Moby Dick.

"Step, step, step!"

A series of firm, resonant footsteps struck directly at the heart, reverberating through every navy soldier.

Marineford fell silent as these footsteps echoed throughout the entire bay. Navy soldiers could even hear the breathing of their neighbors. Their hearts pounded in rhythm with the footsteps.

Finally, amid the tense expressions of the elite navy soldiers, Whitebeard, holding his naginata, stepped forward to the front of the Moby Dick.

The navy finally saw the person clearly: a curved mustache, the famed Cape, a distinctive pirate captain's hat, and a towering figure full of visual impact. It was none other than Whitebeard, the leader of the Four Emperors in the New World.

"Gu la la la la!"

Whitebeard slammed his naginata heavily on the ground, then his gaze shifted towards Ace on the execution platform. As he looked at Ace, Ace slowly raised his head, looking back at Whitebeard. Their eyes met, and Ace trembled all over. The previous pretense finally fell away completely, and tears flowed uncontrollably from his eyes. He cried out loudly, "Dad... I'm sorry..."

Hearing Ace's heart-wrenching cry, Whitebeard gently held his naginata and, in a delicate and gentle voice, comforted, "Ace, don't be afraid. Dad is here!"