"Teach…"
Whitebeard's expression darkened the moment his gaze fell on the figure before him.
A nearby vice admiral, recognizing the danger, shouted grimly,
"Those men… they're the worst criminals from Level Six of Impel Down! Every one of them has been stricken from the records—erased by the government because their crimes were too horrifying to remember!"
The Marines turned their eyes toward the notorious figures, each one clad in the tattered remains of prison uniforms:
"That towering giant is San Juan Wolf, The Battleship—no other being on this earth is that massive!"
"There's Avalo Pizarro, the Corrupt King!"
"Catarina Devon, The Cresent Moon Hunter!"
"Vasco Shot, The Heavy Drinker!"
"And that's Shiryu of the Rain… the former head jailer of Impel Down who betrayed his post!"
The names alone sent shivers down the spines of seasoned warriors.
"Every last one of them is a walking disaster that should never have seen daylight again!"
As tension spiked, another voice rang out through the rubble—calm, yet carrying unmistakable authority.
"So… you've come to ruin my duel, huh?"
Jack stepped forward, emerging from the debris. His navy coat was in tatters, scorched and torn from his battle with Whitebeard, but the look in his eyes made it clear—he hadn't lost an ounce of strength or resolve. The Marines parted instinctively, still in awe from witnessing his clash with the pirate legend.
Whitebeard gave Jack a rare, grim nod.
"Gurararara… kid, now's not the time for our fight."
He turned his gaze toward Teach, voice heavy with fury.
"That man… Teach… He is the one person I will never call my son. He broke the one law on my ship and murdered Thatch—my Fourth Division Commander. I will kill him with my own hands… for Thatch and for the family he betrayed!"
Thanks to Jack's earlier interference, Whitebeard was in better shape than he had been during the original war. Akainu hadn't landed his devastating "Hellhound" strike, so Whitebeard's face remained intact. Yet, even with that reprieve, his body bore deep wounds—both from past clashes and from Jack's powerful blows in their duel. His condition was uncertain, but his will remained ironclad.
Then, Jack turned and walked straight to Sengoku, eyes sharp.
"Sengoku-san," he said, his voice steady but firm, "this is the perfect moment. Let Whitebeard and Blackbeard settle their grudge. Meanwhile, I recommend you mobilize forces to aid Mariejois. I can hold the line here alone."
"I give you my word—Whitebeard will fall by my hand. As for Blackbeard Teach, I request his title of Warlord be revoked immediately. And those Level Six criminals? They must either be executed on the spot or dragged back to the depths of Impel Down where they belong."
Jack's words struck with the weight of strategy and conviction. The next chapter of the war was already unfolding—and there would be no turning back.
"Don't let your guard down, boy," Sengoku said quietly, his gaze fixed on Jack. "Even without Whitebeard's warning, you should know—those criminals aren't the type you can underestimate."
Jack exhaled, his voice carrying a trace of frustration.
"What's done is done. We can't turn back time. Right now, our priority is salvaging the Navy's dignity."
He glanced around and added, "Luckily, the video Den Den Mushi have all been cut off. At least the world won't see what happened here at Marineford..."
But before his sentence even finished hanging in the air, Sengoku, Garp, and Jack all froze—eyes locked on Buggy, gleefully broadcasting the battle to the world in real time. A vein twitched on Jack's temple as his face flushed.
"That damn red-nosed clown...!" Jack muttered through gritted teeth.
"Enough," Sengoku said sharply. "Garp, we're ending this circus now. Sakazuki, head to Mariejois immediately. Aokiji stays behind to assist. No matter what—it ends here. Whitebeard must not leave Marineford alive."
Just as the orders rang out, the air trembled.
"Close…!"
Whitebeard and Blackbeard had clashed. Though still monstrously powerful, Whitebeard's age and injuries slowed him. He could barely keep up with Teach's vicious assault. Yet Blackbeard, despite his bravado, was far from unscathed—the old titan's blows had clearly taken their toll.
"Marco, wait!"
The first division commander seethed as he watched Whitebeard fighting alone. He took a step forward, fists clenched—only to be held back by fellow commanders.
"Now's not the time. If we jump back in, the Navy won't spare us again. This might be our only chance to retreat," one warned.
Their forces were in tatters. Joz had been frozen solid by Aokiji; Ace was wounded from Akainu's strike. Marco was one of the few still able to stand, and even he was far from uninjured.
Amid the brutal clash, Blackbeard grinned, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth.
"What's wrong, 'Dad'? Can't activate your quake powers anymore?" he jeered.
Suddenly, a shadow dropped in from above.
"It was you, wasn't it? You're the one who freed those monsters!"
Jack appeared in a flash, landing a powerful kick that sent Teach skidding across the battlefield.
"What's the current state of Impel Down?" he demanded, anger simmering in his voice.
Whitebeard let out a low, raspy chuckle as he caught his breath.
"You interfering in my fight now, kid?"
Jack stood firm.
"Wrong. Whitebeard, your life is forfeit. The Navy will take your head."
His gaze turned to Blackbeard. "As for you, Marshall D. Teach—by the authority of the Navy, I hereby revoke your title of Warlord. Surrender immediately!"
Jack subtly glanced toward Buggy's camera, Den Den Mushi, positioning himself like a symbol of justice. His voice rang out clearly—he knew the whole world was watching.
Blackbeard let out a low, mocking laugh.
"You think I care about titles?" he sneered, wiping the blood from his chin.
"I'm a pirate. Being at odds with the Navy is just part of the job description. I've already gotten what I wanted—titles mean nothing now. So go ahead. Strip it away."
Jack narrowed his eyes.
"So be it."
He cracked his knuckles, a deadly smirk forming on his face.
"Marshall D. Teach—by the will of the Navy, I, Jack, sentence you to death."
Without hesitation, he charged.
"Rear Admiral Jack, don't overestimate yourself," Blackbeard sneered, blood staining his grin. "You're no match for me now. Walk away while you still can—otherwise, I won't hesitate to kill you."
He hadn't anticipated Jack turning his back on Whitebeard to confront him instead. Teach had come to Marineford to carry out the most crucial part of his plan. With Whitebeard on the verge of death, victory was within reach—until this unpredictable fool appeared.
Jack moved in close, his voice low but firm.
"You think I don't know what you're after, Teach? Dreaming of stealing the Tremor-Tremor Fruit? Keep dreaming."
Before Teach could fully process the words, Jack struck.
"Ultimate Galaxy Fist!"
A resounding blow hit Blackbeard squarely in the chest, sending him crashing backward.
"Captain!" the original Blackbeard Pirates shouted in alarm.
Shiryuu eyed Blackbeard's crumpled form calmly.
"Hmph. So much for being unstoppable. Still, let's wait and see—if he pulls off what he came for, then everything changes."
Jack turned his gaze to the notorious criminals who had escaped from Impel Down. His voice was cold, commanding.
"So? Are you planning to fight me or return to Impel Down in chains? Either way, you've forfeited your chance. For betraying the Navy—you're sentenced to death."
"Captain, he's mine, right? Dededede!"
Vasco Shot laughed maniacally, pointing at Jack.
"Let me take him out!"
Blackbeard, blood pouring down his face, staggered to his feet.
"Fine. Do it. I won't let him ruin everything."
Though it was unclear how Jack had uncovered his plan, Teach had come too far to back down now.
Suddenly, Blackbeard shifted focus, his eyes locked on Whitebeard.
"Old man, it's time for you to die."
From the sidelines, Garp frowned.
"Something's off, Sengoku."
He squinted at the battlefield, trying to make sense of the strange dynamics unfolding.
It was as if Jack and Whitebeard were unconsciously aligned against Blackbeard. And yet Teach, despite Jack's direct attacks, seemed more fixated on finishing off his former captain. Garp's instincts stirred—this wasn't just a battle, it was a reckoning.
"Didn't Blackbeard betray Whitebeard for the Dark-Dark Fruit?" Garp muttered. "Why ignore Jack—the one threatening your life—just to chase down Whitebeard?"
Meanwhile, Avalo Pizarro, the so-called Evil King, clashed briefly with Jack and was forced back.
"What terrifying power... meow~" he muttered with a twisted grin.
Off to the side, Buggy clenched his fists, teeth grinding.
"That monster's gotten even stronger... Damn Monster."
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