Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

When the last knife pierced Whitebeard's heart, his massive body jolted violently! But he still did not fall!

He slowly raised his head and looked up at the distant sky, as if he saw something.

Then, with his last ounce of strength, he uttered those final words… words that resounded like thunder throughout the world and ushered in a new era:

"ONE PIECE...is real!!!"

After saying that, a satisfied and relieved smile appeared on his face (Kayi could clearly sense that emotion)!

Then, his presence completely vanished.

But his body, like a monument, still stands tall on the battlefield of Marineford! Standing... dead!

An era has officially come to an end with the fall of this legendary pirate!

Kai witnessed this historic moment with incredibly complex emotions! He knew that from this moment on, the sea... would enter a new era of greater chaos, turmoil, and fierce competition among powerful nations!

However, what happened next shocked Kai (and everyone present) like never before and filled them with...fear!

After confirming that Whitebeard was completely dead, Blackbeard Teach actually... took out a huge black cloth and covered himself and Whitebeard's corpses together!

No one knows what happened under that black cloth! All that can be felt is an extremely evil, extremely dark energy fluctuation that seems to devour everything, surging wildly within it!

A moment later, when Blackbeard emerged from under the black cloth again, his face bore an indescribable, almost manic smile of ecstasy!

Then, he suddenly raised his hands!

In his left hand, there remained the dark power capable of devouring everything!

And his right hand... actually... also unleashed the same terrifying shockwave power as Whitebeard's, enough to shatter space and cause tsunamis!!!

"Hahahaha!!! I did it! I did it!!!" Blackbeard roared with maniacal laughter. "From this day forward! I am... the strongest in the world!!!"

He stole it?! Blackbeard actually... stole Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit power using some unknown method?!

This... how is this possible?! This completely violates the ironclad rule that "a person can only possess one Devil Fruit ability!"

Kai's mind was once again struck by this earth-shattering fact! He could clearly sense the terrifying power emanating from Blackbeard—a power that was a mixture of darkness and vibration, expanding to its extreme! That power even made him feel waves of...heart palpitations and fear!

He knew that a new "emperor"—more dangerous, more unpredictable, and more evil than Whitebeard—might have already been quietly born on this blood-stained battlefield!

This world... is really going to go completely out of control!

Kai's heart was filled with solemnity and... an unprecedented sense of crisis! What unpredictable impact would Blackbeard's rise have on his future plans and path?

Whitebeard's death was like the end of an era, bringing a brief, suffocating silence to the entire battlefield.

Both the navy and pirates were deeply awestruck by the legendary pirate's world-shaking last words and his unyielding figure.

However, once the machine of war is started, it will not be easily stopped because of the death of one person.

Especially on the Navy's side, the Admiral Akainu, who upholds "complete justice," has eyes that burn not with admiration or regret, but with... an even colder and more ruthless killing intent!

Whitebeard may be dead, but his "sons" are still alive! Especially "Fire Fist" Ace, who inherited the "Pirate King's" sinful bloodline, and "Straw Hat Boy" Luffy, who wreaked havoc on Enies Lobby and openly declared war on the World Government! These two absolutely cannot be allowed to leave Marineford alive! This is the best opportunity to completely eradicate the "evil" of pirates!

Kai clearly sensed that while the Whitebeard Pirates were still immersed in the immense grief of losing their father and preparing to follow their captain's final orders to cover Ace and Luffy's retreat, Akainu's aura, as scorching as hellfire and filled with destructive intent, had already locked onto Ace and Luffy, who were retreating, like a leech!

"Halt! Pirate remnants!" Akainu's voice was icy cold, filled with undeniable authority and...malicious provocation! "'Fire Fist' Ace! And Straw Hat Luffy! You think...you can escape like this?!"

Ace and Luffy ignored him and, under the cover of Jinbe, Marco, and others, desperately retreated towards the pirate ship (which had not yet been completely destroyed) that was moored in the distance.

They knew that now was not the time to linger in the fight; they had to get out of this hell as soon as possible!

However, Akainu clearly had no intention of letting them off so easily.

While he relentlessly attacked the Whitebeard Pirates captains (such as Marco and Vista) who were blocking his way with lava, he continued to provoke his target, Ace, whose weaknesses he had long since seen through, with vicious words!

"How pathetic! 'Fire Fist' Ace!" Akainu's voice was like a poisoned knife, piercing precisely at Ace's most vulnerable spot. "Your old man, Whitebeard, was nothing but... a loser from the last era! In the end, didn't he die here like a stray dog?! He couldn't even protect his own 'son'! What a... coward!"

"shut up!!!"

Just as Akainu predicted! This blatant insult to Whitebeard instantly ignited the flames of grief that had been burning within Ace since losing his father!

Kai clearly sensed that Ace had abruptly stopped his retreat! He turned around, flames raging on his fists, and his eyes, which were once full of sunshine and confidence, were now bloodshot with boundless rage!

"You're not allowed to...insult Dad!!!" Ace's voice trembled violently with rage! "Dad...gave us meaning in life! He gave us a family! He's the only hero of our time! You...don't even deserve to mention his name!!!"

"Ace! Don't stop! Go!" Marco and the others shouted anxiously from afar, trying to bring Ace back to his senses.

Luffy was also anxious because Ace suddenly stopped, but he was already severely exhausted from the previous battle and the mental shock (witnessing Ace almost being killed and then seeing Whitebeard die in battle), and even had difficulty standing up! To make matters worse, just when Ace suddenly turned around and stopped, the Vivre Card (Luffy's Vivre Card), which Ace had always carefully kept and which symbolized the bond between brothers, actually... slipped out of Ace's arms and floated to the ground not far away!

"Ah! A Vivre Card!" Luffy exclaimed instinctively, trying to bend down to pick it up!

All of this was clearly seen by Akainu 637, who was as cold and sinister as a venomous snake!

The opportunity is coming!

A cruel and smug smirk curled at the corner of Akainu's mouth.

He knew that he had achieved his goal of provoking Ace! And the Straw Hat boy, who exposed a huge weakness by going to pick up the Vivre Card, was the perfect target delivered right to his doorstep!

He continued to attack Ace's deepest pain with even more vicious and hurtful words!

"Hero? Don't be ridiculous!" Akainu's tone was full of disdain and mockery. "Whitebeard, that kind of pirate trash, dares to call himself a hero?! And you! 'Fire Fist' Ace! What do you think you are?! You're nothing but... the bastard child left behind by that evil 'Pirate King' Gol D. Roger, despised by the whole world!!! Your very existence is a sin! You should be completely eradicated!!!"

"Roger's son!" This identity, which was like a taboo and had always been regarded by Ace as the greatest shame and source of pain, was thus exposed by Akainu in front of the whole world (through a Den Den Mushi broadcast)!

"What...what did you say?!" Ace's body trembled violently! The flames burning with rage in his body became even more violent, but also...even more chaotic! His reason seemed to have been completely ignited and burned away at this moment!

"I'm going to... kill you!!!" Ace roared like a wounded beast! He completely forgot the order to retreat, forgot his brother behind him, forgot all the danger! He had only one thought—to burn this bastard who had insulted his father and reopened his wounds to ashes!

"Fire Ring·Fire Pillar!!!"

Ace concentrated all the remaining power within him into his right fist! It transformed into a gigantic pillar of fire that seemed poised to scorch the heavens! It slammed fiercely towards Akainu!

Kai's Observation Haki reached its peak at this moment! He could clearly "see" everything that was about to happen!

Although Ace's flames were ferocious, they were still at a disadvantage against Akainu's lava, which was hotter and more destructive!

Akainu easily blocked Ace's fire pillar attack with lava, and even... swallowed Ace's flames in return!

Then, Akainu seized the huge opening that Ace had created when he unleashed his full power!

His target wasn't Ace, who was blinded by rage! Rather... it was Luffy, who was not far behind Ace, bending down to pick up the Vivre Card that had fallen to the ground due to exhaustion and mental confusion!

Killing two birds with one stone! It can both thoroughly enrage Ace and conveniently eliminate the huge threat that is Straw Hat Luffy! Akainu's scheme is ruthless to the extreme!

"Die! You bastard son of the Pirate King! And your equally damned brother!" Akainu grinned maliciously. His enormous fist, transformed into molten lava, was like a scythe of death, carrying the force to destroy everything. It wasn't aimed at Ace, but... directly at Luffy, who was completely unprepared behind Ace!

Chapter 94 General Kai! Kills Ace! Shocking the Summit!!!

Time seemed to slow down infinitely at this moment.

Kai's "insight" clearly reflects:

Akainu's face was filled with a destructive will and a cruel smile!

When Esna saw her brother in danger, her anger instantly turned into fear and despair in her eyes!

Luffy's expression was one of bewilderment and helplessness, a result of his weakness and shock.

And... that giant lava fist, carrying terrifying heat and power capable of melting steel and piercing through everything! It was hurtling toward Luffy's heart with unstoppable force!

Everything seems to be set in stone!

however!

In that one-thousandth of a second!

Just when everyone thought Luffy was doomed!

Ace!

He made a choice that moved Kai without hesitation!

He didn't even have time to think! His body was acting purely out of... instinct to protect his younger brother!

He whirled around! Spreading his arms wide! Using his not-so-strong body, even scarred from the previous battle, he resolutely stood as a shield... blocking Luffy's path!!!

Pfft——! ! !

There was absolutely no obstruction!

Akainu's massive lava fist, capable of melting anything, pierced Ace's chest as easily as a red-hot iron piercing through thin paper!

The scorching lava instantly burned his internal organs, destroying his life!

Blood, mixed with charred tissue, gushed from his chest and back!

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

The entire battlefield of Marineford fell into a deathly silence because of this sudden and extremely tragic scene!

Everyone stared in disbelief at this scene! They watched as the dazzling "Fire Fist" Ace, to protect his brother, actually... used his own life to block a fatal blow from a Marine Admiral!

Luffy's mind went completely blank! He stared blankly at his brother, who was standing in front of him, his chest pierced by lava and blood gushing out. Those eyes that were always full of vitality instantly lost all their luster, leaving only endless...emptiness and...despair on the verge of collapse!

Akainu, on the other hand, wore a cold and cruel smile after successfully landing a blow (although the target wasn't Ace, the result seemed even better?).

Kai, hidden in the distance, also "saw" everything clearly.

His heart was also stirred up by this shocking scene!

Ace... he actually... died protecting Luffy?!

This kind of "foolish" behavior—sacrificing one's own life for others—is...