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

His gaze (his inner eye) once again turned to that...far wider, and more dangerous...new world!

He knew that place was the true stage for his future! The final battlefield where he could become stronger and achieve his goals!

However, he still had a lot to do before heading to the new world.

He needs to fully recover from his injuries.

He needs to further improve his strength, especially his proficiency and power in Armament Haki.

He needed to carefully study the old nautical logbook he had obtained from Donovan to see if it truly contained key information about special routes to the New World or other secrets.

He also needs to develop a clearer and more specific plan for his next steps.

The Marineford War, while allowing him to "witness" history, also burdened him with even more responsibilities.

His reputation as the "Bloodstained Blade" (although the world does not know the truth, he was indeed the one who delivered the final blow to Ace's death) will inevitably bring him endless trouble and persecution.

He must become stronger and more cautious in order to survive in this coming, even more insane era, and ultimately... forge his own path!

Kai took a deep breath, a cold and resolute light flashing in his eyes (and heart).

He adjusted the patrol boat's course and headed toward an extremely remote and secluded uninhabited island that he had previously marked in intelligence, located near the calm zone.

He needed a completely quiet place to lick his wounds, to calm his thoughts, and to... make final preparations for welcoming that more magnificent, and more cruel and bloody new era!

The cold blade pierced precisely into Ace's heart, which was already severely damaged by the lava.

puff!

A faint sound, almost completely drowned out by the clamor of the battlefield, struck the heartstrings of everyone watching like the heaviest death knell.

Kai didn't stop at all.

In the instant that fatal blow was delivered, he flicked his wrist, and the "Tranquility" staff-blade, covered in Armament Haki, seemed to come alive as it was instantly withdrawn! What came out was the last handful of warm blood from Ace's body!

Immediately afterwards, his body moved like a ghost, without the slightest hesitation, without even glancing at (sensing) the "masterpiece" he had created, and without paying attention to the figures around him who were momentarily stunned by the sudden change, he immediately retreated!

His speed was incredible! His figure was like lightning merging into the darkness, disappearing in a few flashes into the thick smoke and dust and the shadows of the chaotic crowd caused by the battle! Leaving behind only a... cold, resolute, seemingly devoid of any human emotion (if anyone could capture him in that instant).

He was like a master assassin, who, at the most opportune moment, delivered the most precise and fatal blow, achieving his goal, and then... vanished without a trace, concealing his merit and fame (or rather, his crime and punishment).

The moment Kai disappeared, the frozen time seemed to begin flowing again.

Ace...

Kai could clearly sense that with the completion of that fatal blow, the last trace of life within Ace's body, like a candle flickering in the wind, was completely and utterly extinguished.

His body, which had been barely holding on as he tried to say something to Luffy, lost its last bit of strength and, like a puppet with its strings cut, slumped softly into Luffy's arms.

Those eyes, which once burned with fire, full of sunshine and confidence, have completely lost their luster and become dull and lifeless.

Chapter 96 Marineford War! The Straw Hats and Whitebeard are wiped out! My name is—Kai!!!

"Fire Fist" Portgas D. Ace... is dead.

He died completely...

"Uh...ah...ah..."

Luffy...

His eyes, which had become empty and dull after witnessing his brother being pierced by lava, finally reacted the moment he sensed Ace's life force completely disappear, warm blood splattering on his face, and his brother's gradually cooling body collapsing into his arms.

That wasn't a conscious reaction, but rather an instinctive reaction... a complete mental breakdown, a soul being swallowed by endless darkness!

He lowered his head, looking at his lifeless brother in his arms, at the two hideous wounds on his brother's chest, at his brother's eyes that would never open again...

Time seemed to stand still for him at that moment.

then……

"Aa ...

A scream that defied description, a heart-wrenching scream filled with endless despair, pain, anger, and disbelief, suddenly erupted from the depths of Luffy's throat!

The sound was so piercing! So mournful! So...heartbreaking!

It was as if it wanted to roar and shatter his very soul!

The scream, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly pierced through all the noise on the battlefield! Everyone who heard it felt a chill run down their spine!

The entire battlefield of Marineford, whether it was the navy or pirates, whether it was soldiers fighting or powerful figures dueling, was plunged into an extremely brief and eerie silence because of this scream filled with utter despair!

Everyone's gaze (perception) was subconsciously drawn to the straw hat boy who was holding his brother's cold corpse, crying and screaming as if he had lost the whole world!

Then, even greater chaos and shock erupted like a tsunami!

"Ace...is dead?!"

"Fire Fist Ace... is he really dead?!"

"Who?! Who just killed him?! Was it that blind man?!"

"Who exactly is that blind man?! Why did he do this?!"

After a brief moment of shock, the navy erupted in unbelievable elation and a surge in morale! One of their biggest targets had actually been eliminated!

Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates were utterly plunged into endless grief, rage, and...despair! They had fought with everything they had, sacrificed countless comrades, even their leader, Whitebeard, was seriously injured and personally covered their retreat...and in the end...they still couldn't save Ace?! And Ace died at the hands of...a mysterious attacker?!

"Ace—!!!" Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the other captains let out a mournful cry like the lament of a cuckoo! They tried to rush forward, but were held back by the Navy's frenzied counterattack!

The entire battlefield was plunged into unprecedented chaos and madness because of Ace's death!

Kai's fatal blow was extremely sudden and brief, and he himself disappeared into the chaos as quickly as a ghost.

However, on the stage of Marineford, which attracts the attention of the entire world, and under the watchful eyes of countless powerful figures, it is almost impossible to leave no trace whatsoever.

Perhaps it was one of those ubiquitous video Den Den Mushi on the battlefield that, from a tricky angle, captured a blurry, shadowy figure and the outline of the weapon that pierced Ace's heart, gleaming with a cold light.

Perhaps it was Akainu, who was closest to him. Although he was also briefly stunned at the time, with his admiral-level strength and perception, he still managed to detect that unique, cold aura of dominance, as well as the vague features of that "blind man."

Perhaps Marco, Jinbe, and even Doflamingo, who were also on the battlefield and had extremely sharp senses, noticed the unusual "finishing blow" behavior while they were shocked.

Or perhaps, some information that Kai left behind on the naval ship or in the bounty hunter guild is connected to the events at this moment?

In short, a shocking piece of news, as if it had sprouted wings, spread rapidly from the battlefield of Marineford to every corner of the world at a speed many times faster than that of a virus!

"Breaking News! Breaking News! A Shocking Turn of Events in the Marineford War!"

"Fire Fist Ace... confirmed dead!"

"But the culprit... isn't just Admiral Akainu alone?!"

According to witnesses, after Akainu severely injured Ace, a mysterious, seemingly blind swordsman (or assassin) suddenly appeared and delivered the final, fatal blow to Ace!!!

"The identity of the mysterious assassin is unknown! But there are rumors that this person may be the 'blind hunter' codenamed 'Quiet Heart' who has recently risen to fame in the Grand Line!"

"Is 'Blind Hunter' Jingxin suspected of having secret connections with the World Government or the Navy?!"

"There's more to Ace's death than meets the eye?! Why did the blind assassin make his move?!"

……

All sorts of sensational headlines appeared on the front page of the World Economic News! Countless newspapers were sent around the world like snowflakes!

The whole world was in an uproar!

"Blind Hunter" Jingxin! This name, which originally only circulated in the underworld and naval intelligence, is now completely and firmly linked to the explosive act of "killing Fire Fist Ace"!

Whatever Kai's true motives may be, and whether he was the "mastermind" or not.

In the eyes of the world, he has become... the cold-blooded executioner who, under the watchful eyes of the masses, personally ended the bloodline of the Pirate King and brought endless pain to Straw Hat Luffy!

His name (codename) will be remembered by the whole world on this day! But at the same time... he will be hated and cursed by countless people! Especially... those who have deep feelings for Ace, Whitebeard, and Luffy!

Kai, through his own choice, pushed himself into the eye of the storm, and completely severed... all possible paths back.

Deadly lava pierced his chest.

The cold blade pierced his heart.

Warm blood stained the hem of his clothes.

Her brother's gradually cooling body slumped softly into her arms.

Those eyes, which were always full of sunshine and fire, have lost their luster forever...

All of this... was like the cruelest and most real nightmare, violently impacting Luffy's already overburdened nerves!

The moment he sensed Ace's last breath completely dissipate, the moment he saw (or perhaps only felt) that ghost-like black figure, coldly departing after delivering the final blow to his brother...

Luffy's brain... has completely crashed!

The string that had always supported him, called "hope" and "faith," finally... snapped completely!

“Ah…ah…” He made meaningless, hoarse sounds from his throat, like a leaky bellows.

His pupils contracted sharply, then dilated suddenly, and finally... completely lost focus, becoming empty and lifeless!

The immense mental shock, like an invisible hammer, shattered all his consciousness!

Pain? Anger? Despair?

No! These emotions seem insufficient to describe his current state!

He was just... a blank slate.

It was as if the whole world was collapsing and shattering before his eyes, leaving only boundless darkness and... nothingness.