章節 150: Shadow's Emergence

As the Marineford battlefield reaches its peak of intensity, Luffy and Ace reunite and stand side-by-side, fighting off Marines together. Whitebeard's forces rally around them, determined to create an escape route. Admirals and Vice Admirals launch relentless attacks to stop their retreat, including Aokiji, whose ice is countered by Ace's powerful flames.

Whitebeard's ally, Squard, charges in with Whitebeard's extra ship to stall the Marines, only to be halted by Whitebeard himself. Despite their loyalty, Whitebeard gives his crew a final, heartbreaking order: to escape to the New World without him, declaring that he is a relic of a bygone era. He then unleashes a massive quake, causing Marineford to crumble and shift the tides in favor of his allies' escape.

As his allies try to convince Whitebeard to flee, he stubbornly refuses, choosing to hold off the Marines alone. Amidst this chaos, Ace, finally freed, bows to Whitebeard in gratitude. When Whitebeard asks if he was a good father, Ace tearfully responds, "Of course," bringing a rare smile to Whitebeard's face.

Meanwhile, Akainu taunts Whitebeard's crew, branding them as cowards. He targets Luffy, but Ace, outraged by the disrespect toward his captain and father figure, stands his ground. He furiously declares that the current era belongs to Whitebeard. However, Akainu's magma, superior to fire, scorches Ace's hand and pushes him back. As Luffy collapses from exhaustion, Ace heroically throws himself in front of an attack meant for his brother, determined to protect him at any cost.

The moment Akainu's magma-coated fist was inches away from Ace, a black sword with golden thunder engravings, Lunar Tempest, struck the ground between them like a lightning bolt, unleashing a pulse of Conqueror's Haki that blasted Akainu, Ace, and Luffy backward.

Marines and pirates alike froze, shock and confusion spreading as they stared at the mysterious weapon. Relief washed over the pirates, while the Marines readied themselves. But before anyone could react, a young man landed with a dramatic impact, crouched in a superhero pose. Rising to his full height, the 17-year-old stood tall at six feet, draped in a black assassin's outfit adorned with small gold ornaments and intricate gold linings. His hood shadowed his face, keeping his identity concealed.

He turned to Sengoku, voice calm but steely. "Ace has a debt to pay, and I won't let him die before that. If anyone wants to try harm him, they'll have to get through me first." As he spoke, he unleashed a torrent of black and gold Conqueror's Haki, the sheer force causing all Marines below the rank of Vice-Admiral to faint under the raw pressure.

With a growl, Akainu charged forward, his magma-clad fist blazing. But the young man met it with his own pitch-black fist, crackling with golden lightning. His Tempest Breaker technique connected with Akainu's punch, sending the Marine Admiral flying, tumbling across the battlefield until he came to a dazed stop near Whitebeard, unable to comprehend what just happened.

Aokiji, determined to regain the Marine's honor, skated across the battlefield, conjuring an ice ball from his Devil Fruit powers and launching it. A second hooded figure, clad in a white assassin outfit, intercepted him. Her white sword sliced through the ice with ease, sending a razor-sharp, lightning-fast slash toward Aokiji. He barely dodged as he skidded backward, stunned by her strength.

Kizaru, witnessing the fall of his fellow admirals, appeared in front of the shadowy figure with his trademark smirk. "Ever been kicked at the speed of light?" he taunted, kicking at the figure's head. But his foot didn't reach. A third figure, dressed in a blue assassin's outfit, had caught his leg mid-kick, stopping him cold. Kizaru's face twisted in disbelief as the figure, unmoved, delivered a roundhouse kick to his chest that sent him flying into the Marineford wall, his mind reeling from the blow.

The brief clash—one punch, one slash, one kick—left the gathered forces dumbstruck. The Marine's strongest fighters, the Admirals, were thrown back by three hooded teens with an ease that defied belief.

The first figure, now referred to as "Shadow," raised a hand. A black throne materialized before Lunar Tempest, still embedded in the ground. Taking his seat on the throne, Shadow declared, "We won't interfere in the fight between Whitebeard and the Marines. But Ace and Luffy are off the kill list. If anyone dares lay a finger on them, I'll cut off that hand."

With a smirk, he looked over at Whitebeard. "Now, what are you waiting for, old man? Finish your fight and lead your crew to safety."

Whitebeard snorted in defiance, his voice booming across the battlefield. "I don't need a kid to tell me what to do! Sons, retreat to the ships. That's an order!"

As the Whitebeard Pirates turned to flee, Ace and Luffy tried to stay and fight. The blue assassin swiftly delivered karate chops to the back of their necks, rendering them unconscious. Appearing beside Trafalgar Law, the blue assassin handed the unconscious brothers over, nodding for him to treat and evacuate them in his submarine. Law, awestruck by their power, silently complied, moving quickly to carry out the request.

Akainu, furious and unwilling to back down, launched another attack, but Whitebeard's powerful quake-infused punch sent him flying once more. Aokiji and Kizaru moved to assist, the three Admirals now fully engaged with Whitebeard in an intense battle.

Out of nowhere, Mihawk appeared before Shadow, wielding his supreme-grade sword. "Why did you disguise yourself as an old man when we last fought, kid?" he asked, voice filled with respect yet tainted with betrayal. "Were you afraid of embarrassing me?"

A smirk tugged at Shadow's lips. "Didn't want you fainting from shock when you lost to a kid. I figured a little disguise would keep things fair." The Marines and pirates around them murmured in disbelief, astonished that this young man had once defeated the world's strongest swordsman.

Mihawk raised his sword. "Enough with the games. I want my title back."

Shadow chuckled and gestured to the girl in the white outfit. "I'm on a business trip, Mihawk. But allow me to introduce my right hand, the Dragon Empress. She's eager for a worthy challenge." In a flash, the Dragon Empress launched a swift, powerful slash toward Mihawk. Mihawk parried with his own flying slash, the two attacks colliding mid-air, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Impressed, Mihawk engaged her in a fierce duel.

Sengoku and Garp, exchanging silent nods, prepared to confront Shadow themselves. Sengoku, activating his Buddha form, leaped into the air, aiming a massive golden palm at Shadow.

Without missing a beat, Shadow called out, "Titan Prince, take care of Sengoku. I have a fight of my own with the hero of the Navy."

The blue assassin, now identified as the Titan Prince, launched himself toward Sengoku, meeting the Buddha's massive palm with his Haki-coated fist. The two clashed, sending tremors across the ground, neither one giving an inch. Sengoku tried to overpower him with his Devil Fruit's strength, but Titan Prince's sheer might held firm, even countering with his devil fruit Strong-Strong Punch that pushed Sengoku back.

Garp, watching his old friend struggle, laughed. "Sengoku, looks like age is catching up with you." Garp stepped forward, his usual lighthearted demeanor fading as he released his own Conqueror's Haki. He clenched his fist, preparing to deliver his Galaxy Impact.

Shadow, rising from his throne, matched Garp's aura with his own. He met Garp's powerful fist with his Tempest Breaker, their fists stopping inches from each other, creating a pulsating Haki sphere that enveloped them both. The pressure built until Shadow's fist finally broke through, sending Garp staggering back to Sengoku, who caught him, both showing visible exhaustion.

Garp examined his bruised hand, chuckling despite the pain. "Seems like we really are getting old, Sengoku. These kids are something else."

Sengoku grit his teeth, eyes filled with determination. "Then stop holding back! We won't let a bunch of kids tarnish the name of the Navy."

As the dust settled around them, it became clear to everyone on the battlefield that these mysterious warriors weren't to be trifled with. And as Shadow's allies regrouped around him, it was clear they had come with a purpose—a purpose even the combined might of the Marine Admirals and the Navy's strongest couldn't deter.