The battlefield of Marineford was in absolute chaos. Fires raged, the ground trembled, and the air was thick with the screams of soldiers and pirates alike. Luffy stood panting, his chest heaving after his intense clash with Garp, his grandfather. The man who had trained him, raised him, now lay defeated on the battlefield. Luffy's heart ached, but there was no time to linger—Ace still needed saving, and the battle was far from over.
Just as Luffy moved to continue toward the execution platform, a figure loomed in front of him. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, his towering Buddha form glowing with golden light, stepped forward, his face grim. Sengoku's presence alone seemed to suffocate the air, his immense power casting a shadow over the battlefield.
"I won't let you go any further, Straw Hat," Sengoku declared, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "You may have defeated Garp, but this ends here."
Luffy's fists tightened, his Gear 5 form still active, though his body screamed in pain. His chaotic, rubbery movements had pushed him beyond his limits, but he refused to stop now. Ace was so close. Just one more push.
Sengoku's eyes flickered with respect for Luffy's determination, but he had a duty to uphold. He raised his massive golden hand, ready to crush Luffy under its weight.
Before Sengoku could bring his attack down, the ground trembled violently. A deafening crack echoed through Marineford, and a massive shockwave rippled across the battlefield, sending Marines and pirates alike sprawling to the ground. Whitebeard had arrived.
"You think you can stop my sons?" Whitebeard roared, his voice booming with the force of a thousand storms. The old pirate's massive frame towered over the battlefield as he approached the execution platform, his Gura Gura no Mi (Quake Quake Fruit) causing the very air to crack like glass around him.
Luffy's eyes widened as he saw Whitebeard advancing, his presence shaking the battlefield to its core. This was Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world, and even in his injured state, he radiated an aura of unstoppable power.
"Old man..." Luffy muttered under his breath, feeling a surge of hope.
Sengoku's eyes narrowed as he turned to face Whitebeard. The legendary pirate had been wreaking havoc across the battlefield, but now he was making his move toward the platform. Sengoku knew that if Whitebeard reached the platform, the tide of the war could change in an instant.
"Whitebeard," Sengoku said, his voice calm but filled with the weight of authority. "You've caused enough chaos. This war will end today, and so will your era."
Whitebeard let out a deep, rumbling laugh, his bisento resting on his shoulder. His body was battered and scarred, but his spirit was unbroken. His eyes gleamed with fury as he looked toward Ace and Luffy, his sons.
"My era will end when I say it ends," Whitebeard growled. "And if you think you can lay a hand on Ace, you'll have to go through me first."
Without warning, Whitebeard slammed his bisento into the ground, and the very earth beneath them shattered. A massive quake erupted from the impact, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The Marines, caught off guard by the sudden assault, struggled to keep their footing as the ground cracked and split beneath them.
Sengoku gritted his teeth, his massive Buddha form standing firm against the onslaught of Whitebeard's power. But even he could feel the immense pressure of the quake pushing against him.
"Enough of this!" Sengoku roared, his golden hand glowing with energy as he prepared to strike Whitebeard. "Your time is over, Whitebeard!"
But Whitebeard was far from finished. With a roar, the old pirate swung his bisento with incredible force, sending a shockwave so powerful that it split the air. The attack collided with Sengoku's golden hand, creating a massive explosion of energy that sent ripples through the battlefield.
Luffy, still reeling from his fight with Garp, struggled to stay on his feet as the ground beneath him shook violently. He watched in awe as Whitebeard and Sengoku clashed, their powers shaking Marineford to its very foundations.
"Ace... I'm coming," Luffy whispered to himself, his fists tightening as he prepared to move again.
But just as Luffy was about to launch himself toward the execution platform, a figure appeared in front of him—Admiral Kizaru.
"Straw Hat Luffy," Kizaru said lazily, his body shimmering with light. "You've caused quite a stir, but I can't let you go any further. It's time for you to stop."
Luffy's heart pounded in his chest. He knew Kizaru was fast—faster than almost anyone he had ever faced. But he couldn't stop now. Not when Ace was so close.
"I don't care!" Luffy roared, his body twisting as he launched himself at Kizaru, his fist swelling with haki.
But Kizaru was faster. His body flickered with light as he dodged Luffy's attack, reappearing a few feet away with his usual bored expression.
"You're fast, but not fast enough," Kizaru said, his voice dripping with condescension. "You won't make it to Ace."
Luffy's fists trembled as he pushed his body to the limit, his observation haki flaring to its fullest. He could feel Kizaru's movements before they happened, but his body was tiring. Every step, every punch, every dodge felt like it was taking more out of him.
As Luffy prepared to launch another attack, the ground rumbled again, and a massive shadow loomed over them both.
Whitebeard had arrived at the platform.
"Step aside, Kizaru," Whitebeard said, his voice deep and menacing. "This is my fight now."
Kizaru's expression didn't change, but he flickered out of the way as Whitebeard's massive bisento crashed into the ground where he had just been standing.
Luffy's heart soared with hope as Whitebeard turned to face him. The old pirate's face was grim, but his eyes were filled with determination.
"You've done well, Luffy," Whitebeard said, his voice heavy. "But this is where I take over. You need to save Ace. Leave the rest to me."
Luffy nodded, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at Whitebeard. "Thank you, old man!" he shouted, his voice filled with gratitude.
With one final push of energy, Luffy launched himself toward the platform where Ace was still chained, his fists crackling with haki. His heart pounded as he closed the distance, his body screaming in pain from the strain of Gear 5, but he didn't care. Nothing mattered except freeing Ace.
But just as Luffy reached the platform, a powerful wave of heat washed over him. Admiral Akainu, his body radiating molten lava, had rejoined the battle.
"You think you can escape with Ace, Straw Hat?" Akainu snarled, his eyes burning with fury. "I'll burn you both to ash!"
Luffy's fists tightened as he faced Akainu. He knew this was going to be one of his hardest battles yet. But with Whitebeard holding off Sengoku and the other Marines, Luffy knew he had a chance.
"I won't let you hurt Ace!" Luffy roared, his fists blazing with haki as he prepared for the fight of his life.