Chapter 64: 64. Ace Is Rescued, Crazy Both Sides
Kizaru let out a sigh of relief as he pondered the situation. If he hadn't acted swiftly and chosen his opponent wisely, he might have found himself facing the infamous straw hat-wearing boy.
While Black Leg Sanji posed a formidable challenge, he paled in comparison to the Straw Hat's formidable abilities, especially his elusive fifth gear. One could handle the present, while the other could knock you out cold no matter how hard you tried.
All eyes on the battlefield were fixed on the falling figure of the straw hat boy. In him, they saw the embodiment of the future, an unstoppable force ushering in a new era. From this moment on, his name would echo across the seas and reach the pinnacle of notoriety.
"Did you witness that, Garp? The scales of victory have tipped," chuckled Whitebeard, his laughter ringing out.
He knew the Straw Hat wouldn't let him down; his resilience was nothing short of miraculous.
"Go on, Straw Hat kid," Whitebeard urged, gracefully wielding his long sword, driving Garp back, and shouting to Luffy, "Save Ace."
Echoes of encouragement reverberated across the battlefield, lifting the spirits of the pirates and casting a shadow over the Marines' morale.
"Come on, Straw Hat!" cheered the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Come on, Luffy!" Zoro's deep voice resonated amidst the clash of swords.
"Come on, Luffy, you've endured enough," Chopper bellowed, sounding almost beast-like.
"You have to rescue your big brother, Luffy!" cried one of the Straw Hats' allies on the Moby Dick, brandishing a marked arm.
"Come on, Ace's little bro, save him!" Marco urged wings outstretched as cyan flames rained down.
Each voice was like a pair of wings propelling Luffy forward. Despite his depleted strength from using fifth gear excessively, his resolve remained unyielding. His heartbeat thundered like a drum, signalling another bout of battle.
And just like that, his shrivelled form filled out once more, bathed in white light as he effortlessly activated fifth gear once again, his determination unwavering.
"Out of my way!" he roared.
The Marines, caught off guard by the sudden charge, stood stunned as Luffy soared above them, landing on the iron execution platform in a few swift bounds.
"Luffy!" Ace exclaimed, tears of joy welling up in his eyes. His younger brother had gone to extraordinary lengths to rescue him.
"Luffy, the Straw Hat."
As soon as Luffy set foot on the execution platform, a brilliant golden light erupted from Sengoku's form, accompanied by a deep, imposing roar. Thump, thump, thump, thump—iron screws were expelled from the platform like bullets, causing it to groan and tremble under the strain. With a solemn expression, Luffy shielded Ace from the impending danger.
Before them stood a colossal golden Buddha statue, unmistakably admiral Sengoku. However, he now emanated a terrifying aura, completely transformed into a golden deity.
"Sinner of the world, Straw Hat boy, do you comprehend the gravity of your actions?" Sengoku's voice boomed as he raised his palm, gathering a formidable shockwave.
"Impact Wave! Face judgment, Straw Hat!" he declared.
In response, Luffy inflated his body into a giant balloon, enveloping it in Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, bracing for impact against Sengoku's onslaught.
Boom! A tremendous shockwave erupted, causing the execution platform to crumble under the immense pressure, sending debris flying.
Amidst the chaos, Luffy, surrounded by white steam, breathed heavily as he swiftly retreated from the platform, leaving the spectators in awe.
Meanwhile, across the globe, people watched in disbelief as the boy named Luffy, with Marine's full force against him, successfully rescued Fire Fist Ace.
With Ace safe, Whitebeard commanded his crew to prepare for retreat, his laughter echoing heroically. With a powerful swing, he repelled the dazed Garp, then unleashed a devastating attack that shook the world.
As Whitebeard's mighty gesture rent the earth asunder, the Naval Headquarters crumbled, and chaos ensued. Pirates scrambled for safety as the sea itself rebelled against the upheaval.
Amidst the turmoil, a call rang out to Luffy, urging him to bring Ace to safety.
On the grand ship beside the Moby Dick, several logistics crew of the Whitebeard Pirates shouted skyward. The crew had already prepared for the seastone handcuffs, knowing they posed a challenge to break directly. Despite being top-notch, these Naval Headquarters handcuffs were still just locks. With the sheer number of Whitebeard Pirates present, opening a cuff without a key took mere seconds. Once the cuffs were off, Ace's survival was almost guaranteed, given his formidable strength close to that of an Admiral.
"I'm on it!" Luffy declared, bounding through the air with his exaggerated fifth gear ability, defying all rules.
However, his progress was halted by an impalpable barrier. A sense of dread washed over him as his body rapidly deteriorated, a consequence of pushing beyond his limits. Despite his incredible feats, his physical endurance couldn't match up to an Admiral's, relying heavily on his Devil Fruit powers to amplify his strength.
In his exhausted state, Luffy's descent was met with worried cries from those watching. Meanwhile, the Marines saw an opportunity to seize Ace.
"Attack Luffy, seize Ace!" Sengoku's command echoed across the battlefield as the colossal golden Buddha rushed towards the fallen Straw Hat Boy.
The broadcast of this intense battle reached viewers worldwide, capturing the attention of countless spectators.
The live broadcast of the war was visible to large islands and countries, witnessing the rescue of Fire Fist Ace, a severe blow to the Marine and the World Government's reputation. If the Whitebeard Pirates managed to escape with Ace, the battle would lose all significance, and the Marines would be left with their honour in tatters.
Sengoku faced a dilemma: either stop Ace and abandon the idea of punishment, resorting to lethal force, or risk the complete annihilation of the Straw Hat and Whitebeard Pirates. The latter option seemed impossible, leaving only the former.
"Marines, do you want to be branded as the shame of the world? Justice is behind us," Sengoku declared sternly, aware that they had reached a point of no return.
His plea rallied the Marines, positioning them on the precipice of redemption or downfall. They had no choice but to press forward and capture Fire Fist Ace, their last hope for redemption.
Meanwhile, Kizaru, despite his reluctance, acknowledged the importance of upholding justice. Despite the weight of their supposed justice, Sanji reminded him of the dreams and comrades they fought for, fueling their resolve.
Sanji's body ignited with flames as he prepared to face Kizaru head-on, his determination unyielding in the face of adversity.
The high-temperature flames, entwined with Conqueror's and Armament Haki, blazed fiercely, casting a dark and ominous hue like the fires of hell upon the world's stage.
Thump, thump, thump—the air resonated with the explosive sound of each footfall, leaving black-flamed footprints imprinted in the sky. Suddenly, a burst of intense light and dark flames engulfed the sunlight, leaving behind only pure fire and golden waves.
"Luffy!" Zoro's voice rang out as he watched Luffy plummet from the sky. In an instant, he vanished before Hawkeye's eyes, leaving the swordsman to silently observe.
Hawkeye made no attempt to intervene, knowing his strength was more than enough to prevent Zoro from rescuing Luffy. Despite his former Marine-hunting exploits and his current status as a Shichibukai, Hawkeye didn't take his position seriously. His involvement in the war was largely due to Whitebeard's participation and his recognition of both Luffy and Zoro.
"You've chosen a new path as a swordsman," Hawkeye remarked, acknowledging Zoro's growth and the emergence of his Asura spirit.
Zoro's resolve solidified, his path as a swordsman clearer than ever, fueled by the will of those before him.
"Hm, the Way of Asura? Intriguing. Until we meet again, it'll be a true swordsman's duel," Hawkeye declared, sheathing his sword.
Witnessing Zoro's development as a swordsman was beneficial for Hawkeye, offering insight into a potential rival.
"Marine's brat, if you lack the will, step aside and leave this battlefield to me," Rayleigh's voice boomed a rare display of intensity after twenty years.
Since Roger's death, Rayleigh hadn't truly unleashed his full strength in ages. While his physical decline wasn't significant, his mental decline was undeniable. Without this war and his encounter with Luffy, his determination to remain strong would have waned.
"Move aside!" Rayleigh's form vanished in an instant, leaving behind a massive hemispherical crater where he had stood. Surrounded by countless sword-like auras, he propelled himself towards Aokiji like a sharp blade, slicing through the ground with each step.
"ICE TIME!" Aokiji's right hand swung fiercely, unleashing an overwhelming wave of cold that froze everything in its path.
As the chaos unfolded and Fire Fist Ace was snatched from the scaffold, both Marines and pirates alike descended into madness.
In Rayleigh's eyes, a crimson light gleamed, reminiscent of a scarlet comet streaking through the sky.
"God Evades!" he bellowed, channelling not only his own power but also the will and techniques of his late comrade, Roger.
In an instant, everything seemed distorted around Rayleigh. The cold shockwave appeared to sink directly into the ground as he reappeared behind Aokiji, his body encased in frost. Nearby, Marines knelt, blood staining the icy surface beneath him.
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