"It's time to bring this era to an end!"
Garp, the renowned Marine hero, rose from a rugged heap of rocks, his forehead marred with blood, his determination unwavering.
Ignoring the sanguine stain on his brow, he marched towards Sengoku's side.
"Garp!"
Sengoku's voice deepened as he delivered a stern warning to Garp.
"You're well aware of the consequences if we lose this war. We can't afford to show any mercy, not to Whitebeard, not to anyone."
Sengoku knew that securing victory by taking down Whitebeard was of greater importance than Ace himself. Even if the Whitebeard Pirates' members managed to escape, it wouldn't diminish their triumph.
"Um!"
Garp fell silent, contemplating the gravity of the situation, and finally nodded. After all, he was a Marine Vice Admiral, duty-bound to uphold justice. His familial ties had momentarily clouded his judgment, but now he understood that if Ace failed to escape Marineford, it was a tragic fate sealed by destiny.
At this moment, Garp no longer showed mercy to Whitebeard or his two grandsons.
"Sigh~"
Sengoku took a deep breath and then picked up the Den-Den Mushi to address all the Marines.
"All Marines, listen up! Cease the pursuit of the Whitebeard Pirates and focus your efforts on surrounding Whitebeard!"
"Yes!"
The Marines echoed their affirmation in unison, their resolve unwavering. They swiftly moved into action, encircling Whitebeard, guns and ammunition at the ready.
The three Admirals unleashed their formidable Devil Fruit abilities, advancing toward Whitebeard, who met their fierce gaze with steely determination. Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp, the pillars of Marine might, positioned themselves at the forefront of the Marine force.
At this pivotal moment, the combined might of the Marine forces united as one. Their singular purpose was clear: to take down the formidable figure standing before them.
And that figure's name was... Whitebeard!
In his prime, he was a legendary presence in the New World, known as the mightiest man in the world.
A gentle breeze wafted through, carrying with it the scent of impending battle. The atmosphere was laden with the palpable aura of death.
As the Marines closed in step by step, tension thickened in the air. The hearts of every Marine soldier weighed heavy, as if burdened by a mountain. Cold sweat dripped from their foreheads, and their hearts raced with fear, a paralyzing grip that they couldn't escape.
They clutched their weapons with unyielding determination, finding solace in the familiar weight of their arms.
The relentless sound of footsteps echoed as they continued to advance. They closed in, step by step, inching closer to Whitebeard's position.
The Marines drew nearer, now standing a mere twenty meters away from Whitebeard. At this range, every Marine froze in place, too fearful to take another step forward.
"Whitebeard, just surrender!"
Akainu's arm blazed with molten lava as he shouted with a chilling voice.
"On this island, there's a force that can suppress the entire New World. No matter how strong you think you are, there's no escape."
"Whitebeard, you can't run away!"
Garp's expression turned complex, reflecting the conflicting emotions within him. Though he was a Marine, he had forged deep friendships with Whitebeard over the decades. As the old era's stalwarts began to pass away, seeing Whitebeard in this desperate situation filled Garp's heart with a melancholic pang.
Sengoku fixed his stern gaze on the towering figure before him, his voice resonating with solemnity, "Whitebeard, as remnants of the old era, there is no longer a ship to navigate the new age for you. So, surrender now!"
Ace had managed to escape, but capturing Whitebeard alive and publicly executing him was the ultimate ambition of the Marines. This triumph would elevate their majesty to new heights and strike fear into the hearts of pirates, drastically reducing their numbers.
Whitebeard, however, held a different perspective. He declared, "We are all children of the sea. She won't abandon us easily. As long as the ship of the old era remains afloat, it will sail alongside us, the people of the old era."
"Sengoku, Garp!" he called out, his voice filled with defiance, "If you want my head, come and take it!"
With a hearty laugh, Whitebeard thrust his Naginata into the ground, facing the sea of Marine soldiers without a trace of fear. His laughter echoed through the air, as if to defy the fading of the old era. While the sun of the past might be setting, the old era would never vanish. As long as the ship in their hearts sailed on, so would their journey.
Sengoku clenched his teeth and finally closed his eyes, releasing a thunderous roar that reverberated through Marineford, "All Marines, follow the order... Take down Whitebeard!"
The Marine officers responded with a resounding shout, their collective presence dispelling the looming darkness that had settled over them.
As Whitebeard grasped his Naginata tightly, a card materialized before him. He had been vigilant from the start, well aware of the significance of the three Admirals and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, along with Garp, working together. These five individuals were the world's top powerhouses, capable of challenging any of the Four Emperors singlehandedly. The "Double Combat Power Card" was his ace in the hole, granting him the ability to double his strength for three minutes.
With a burst of warmth and newfound power, Whitebeard declared, "Sengoku... This war should be over." He crossed his arms in front of him, causing the ground to tremble and crack.
As his words rang out, the island shattered and began sinking, while the world around them quaked. Whitebeard unleashed the full force of his Shock-Shock Fruit ability enhanced by the card, causing a cataclysmic upheaval that shook the sky, sea, and land.
A colossal tsunami, towering ten thousand feet high, surged towards Marineford, triggered by Whitebeard's devastating power. He challenged Sengoku, saying, "It's your choice now. Will you take my head or save the remaining Marines as the island sinks and the colossal waves approach?"
Whitebeard's laughter echoed through the chaos, presenting Sengoku with a dilemma. Sengoku had to decide whether to continue attacking Whitebeard and achieve the Marines' goals or pause the attack to allow the Admirals to address the impending disaster, saving the remaining Marine officers but potentially giving Whitebeard an opportunity to escape.
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