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

He knew that the most crucial moment was about to arrive.

And he himself... should also prepare... to make his move.

He has always had only one goal.

The successful liberation of Ace, who fought alongside Luffy, was undoubtedly one of the most exciting turning points in the Marineford War.

The power of fire and rubber intertwined, unleashing tremendous force, like two sharp knives piercing the heart of the Navy, and igniting the hope of victory in the hearts of all Whitebeard Pirates members and allies!

"Charge! Cover Captain Ace and Luffy!"

"Victory is within reach! Fight your way out!"

The pirates' morale soared, and their offensive became even more ferocious, as if they were about to unleash all the pent-up frustration and sacrifices they had made!

However, the navy is, after all, the world government's most powerful military force, possessing an absolute advantage in both manpower and terrain.

Under the calm and ruthless command of the Sengoku period commander, and with the relentless and all-out resistance of the three admirals, the navy's defenses, though initially shaken, were quickly restored to their former strength.

Admiral Akainu, in particular, seemed to unleash all his anger on Ace and Luffy.

He transformed into a moving volcano, continuously erupting devastating lava attacks, aimed directly at the brothers who were trying to escape! His attacks were so dense and violent, so terrifying in power, that even Ace's flames, capable of burning everything, paled in comparison to Akainu's even hotter and more corrosive magma!

Kai was able to clearly perceive all of this from his vantage point.

He saw (sense) that although Ace and Luffy had displayed amazing fighting power together, their escape route was still extremely difficult, even... hopeless, under the Navy's relentless encirclement and the three admirals' focused "care".

Every step they take comes at a huge cost, with new wounds constantly appearing on their bodies.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates were also fighting desperately to clear a path for them, but under the overwhelming force and firepower of the Navy, their casualties were increasing rapidly.

What alarmed Kai even more was that he could clearly sense that his father, Whitebeard, who was like a pillar of strength, was losing his life force at an irreversible speed!

The stab wound Squard had inflicted on him was clearly a fatal one! Coupled with his advanced age and pre-existing health problems, the fact that he was now forcibly unleashing power beyond his limits to fight against a Marine Admiral and countless elites... his life force was already like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment!

Whitebeard himself was clearly aware of this.

Just when the battlefield was at its most brutal and stalemate, just when everyone thought Whitebeard would continue to lead them in the fight, this legendary emperor who had stood atop the seas for decades suddenly... issued his final order as captain!

"Listen! My men!" Whitebeard's voice was still full of authority, but it carried a hint of... unprecedented weariness and... resolve! "This is... the final captain's order!"

Upon hearing these words, all the Whitebeard Pirates members who were fighting fiercely froze in their tracks! They looked at their father in disbelief!

"All of you! You all... muster your strength and live!!!" Whitebeard roared with all his might, his voice like thunder! "To safely... return to the New World!!!"

"Dad?!" Marco and the other captains exclaimed in surprise and disbelief!

"Retreat?! How can we retreat now?! Ace, he..." The other pirates were also filled with confusion and resentment!

"This is an order!!!" Whitebeard's voice brooked no argument, carrying an almost tragic authority! "My era... has ended! The new era... has no ship capable of carrying me!!!"

Then, he slowly turned around, his back to his companions who were like his own sons, and alone, he faced the naval army that was like a steel torrent! His figure, though scarred and covered in blood, was still as upright as a mountain, as if he wanted to shoulder all the storms and dangers behind him!

"I've decided... to stay here!!!"

"Daddy!!!"

Countless pirates let out heart-wrenching cries! They finally understood! Their father... was going to use his own life to... cover their retreat! To pave a path... for them to a new era!

Kai, perceiving all of this from above, was deeply shocked, experiencing an unprecedented level of impact!

The captain's final order... was... a full retreat?! And he himself chose to stay behind, to face the wrath and power of the entire Marine Headquarters alone?!

What a magnanimous heart! What profound understanding! What... fatherly love as solid as a mountain!

Kai could clearly sense the extremely painful struggle the Whitebeard Pirates members felt upon hearing the order! On one hand, there was the captain's command, which could not be disobeyed; on the other hand, there was the deep emotion of being unable to abandon their father, who was like a father to die alone!

Loyalty and emotion, reason and impulse, clashed fiercely in their hearts! In the end, under the strong restraint and tearful persuasion of captains like Marco, most of the pirates, though filled with endless sorrow and resentment, still... began to carry out the last and cruelest captain's order, preparing to retreat!

Whitebeard, the legendary great pirate, chose to sacrifice his own life to ensure the survival and future of his "family"!

Just as Whitebeard made the decision to cover the retreat, and the entire battlefield was plunged into a tragic and chaotic atmosphere due to this sudden change, an extremely evil, extremely dark, greedy, ambitious, and extremely unsettling devouring aura, like a demon crawling out of the abyss of hell, suddenly descended upon the battlefield of Marineford without warning!

Kai's "Mind Network" jolted! It immediately probed towards the source of the evil aura!

He "saw" (senses) that in a certain area outside the port of Marineford (perhaps they infiltrated during a gap before the encirclement wall rose?), several figures, like ghosts, silently appeared at the edge of the battlefield!

The leader was exceptionally tall, with three pistols at his waist. His face wore a smile full of ambition and cruelty, and he appeared to be missing a few teeth.

The aura emanating from him was terrifying, like a black hole capable of devouring all light and hope, filled with pure darkness and gravity...

It's "Blackbeard"! Marshall D. Teach!!!

Kai's heart skipped a beat! He instantly recognized the aura! It was the very culprit who had murdered his comrades, defected from the Whitebeard Pirates, and defeated Ace, handing him over to the Marines! He... was here too?! And... at this most chaotic and crucial moment?!

What does he want to do? !

What shocked and chilled Kai even more was that behind Blackbeard 4.4 Teach, there were several other figures whose auras were equally terrifying, filled with overwhelming ferocity and despair!

Each of those auras was so powerful it was suffocating! Each one seemed to be a legendary demon that had crawled out from the deepest part of hell! The terrifying aura emanating from them... the aura of someone imprisoned for countless years, accumulating endless resentment and a bloodlust, even made Kai feel a chill run down his spine!

Kai immediately realized! These people... were probably the monsters that Blackbeard released from Level 6 (Infinite Hell), the place where legendary criminals were imprisoned, during his intrusion into Impel Down!

Shiryu of the Rain! Catarina Demi! The Evil King! A Giant Battleship! The Crescent Moon Hunter… These terrifying criminals, existing only in legends and each capable of giving the World Government and Marine Headquarters a major headache, have actually… been subdued (or temporarily united?) by Blackbeard, forming his new pirate crew?!

Blackbeard Teach! Not only does he possess the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, capable of devouring everything, but he has also assembled a terrifying force from hell! He chose to appear suddenly at this moment when the Marineford War is about to end, Whitebeard is exhausted, and the Marines are also worn out... His ambition is blatantly obvious!

This guy... is the most deeply hidden and most dangerous... final boss in this war?!

Blackbeard's sudden appearance was like dropping a nuclear bomb, capable of overturning everything, onto an already chaotic chessboard! Both the retreating Whitebeard Pirates and the Marines, who were doing their utmost to suppress him, were stunned by the appearance of these uninvited guests!

Blackbeard Teach, however, was completely unconcerned about the shocked and hostile gazes around him.

With that signature confident and cruel smile on his face, he walked straight toward that... heavily wounded but still unyielding, mountain-like figure—Whitebeard!

Chapter 93 Blackbeard? He's nothing but my lackey!

"Hahahaha! Old man! Long time no see!" Blackbeard's laughter was full of hypocrisy and provocation. "It seems... your era is truly coming to an end!"

Whitebeard slowly turned around, looking at the culprit he once regarded as his "son," who had now betrayed him and caused all this tragedy. His eyes (perceived) were filled with uncontrollable anger and... a trace of barely perceptible sorrow.

“Teach…” Whitebeard’s voice was low and hoarse, filled with endless weariness, yet still brimming with authority, “You… unfilial son!!!”

"Unfilial son? Hahahaha!" Blackbeard let out another ear-piercing laugh. "Father, you're wrong! I'm not your son! Never in the first place! I was just... waiting for an opportunity! An opportunity to replace you and become the new overlord of this era! And now... the opportunity has arrived!"

Blackbeard's eyes burned with ambition and greed as deep as a black hole! He no longer concealed his purpose! He wanted to take advantage of Whitebeard's passing to completely end this king of the old era and seize everything from him!

A clash between old and new eras! A fateful showdown! At this moment, it is finally unavoidable!

"You want to replace me?" Whitebeard stared at the ambitious "rebellious son" before him. Although his body was nearing its limit, the pride and domineering aura of the world's strongest man remained undiminished! "You... dare to challenge me?!"

Before he could finish speaking, Whitebeard suddenly raised his naginata! Even with countless wounds and his life hanging by a thread, he still intended to... cleanse the house!

Blackbeard grinned maliciously and activated his Dark-Dark Fruit ability, which could devour everything!

Kai remained hidden in the distance, focusing all his senses on this... final showdown that represented the transition between the old and new eras!

The battle, or rather, the final "execution," has begun!

Although Whitebeard was on his last legs, his life force as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, he was still the "strongest man in the world" who had stood atop the ocean for decades! The remaining power within him was still world-destroying!

He roared, brandishing his naginata and unleashing the full power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit! Each strike was accompanied by the shattering of space and terrifying tremors! It seemed as if he wanted to tear the entire Marineford apart!

Although Blackbeard possesses the Dark-Dark Fruit, which allows him to absorb Devil Fruit abilities, he still appears extremely disheveled when faced with Whitebeard's almost life-burning, pure physical attacks and Haki assault!

He was cleaved in the chest by Whitebeard's sword! Blood gushed out!

He was slammed into the face by the white-bearded man's fist, which was imbued with the power of vibration! Teeth and blood splattered everywhere!

He was even grabbed by the head by Whitebeard and slammed to the ground! His arrogant and domineering attitude vanished in the face of Whitebeard's last remaining power!

If it weren't for the unique constitution of the Dark-Dark Fruit (which allows Blackbeard to absorb damage, but also means enduring double the pain), he would probably have been completely killed by Whitebeard's frenzied outburst before his death!

however……

Whitebeard, in the end... his life was over.

His injuries were far too severe! Squard pierced his chest, Akainu's lava pierced his body, and he was subjected to a barrage of attacks from countless Marines... His blood had already stained the ice beneath his feet! His life force, like the last grain of sand in an hourglass, was about to slip away completely!

Blackbeard, though badly beaten, survived thanks to his cockroach-like resilience and the Dark-Dark Fruit's ability to counter all Devil Fruits (including the Tremor-Tremor Fruit)!

"Zehahaha...cough cough..." Blackbeard struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth, a more crazed and cruel smile spreading across his face. "Father...you...you truly are the strongest in the world...but...your era...is over!!!"

He suddenly waved his hand!

"Men! Charge! Send Father...on his final journey!!!"

With Blackbeard's command, the legendary prisoners he had brought from Impel Down Level 6, like demons from hell, swarmed forward like hyenas, launching a final assault on the legendary figure who was already teetering on the brink of collapse but still stood firm!

Knives! Guns! Swords! Halberds! Poison! Fire! All sorts of despicable and deadly attacks poured down on Whitebeard's already battered body like a tidal wave!

puff!puff!puff!

Blood splattered continuously! New wounds kept appearing!

But Whitebeard never fell!

He still stood tall, like a giant reaching for the sky! With his last strength, he wielded his naginata, sending the enemies who rushed at him flying!

His eyes (in my perception) were still filled with an air of domineering arrogance and... an expectation for a new era?

Kai silently "watched" (perceived) all of this.

His heart was filled with complex emotions that were difficult to describe.

There is admiration and regret for Whitebeard, the hero who met his end, as well as contempt and... deep fear for Blackbeard, the despicable villain!

at last……