One Piece: The Multiverse Simulator

Both Marco and Sengoku possessed Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits, but in terms of raw power, Marco was clearly outmatched by the Fleet Admiral.

A massive golden palm descended from above, accompanied by a shockwave of immense force.

Marco's Phoenix Fruit granted him extraordinary regenerative abilities, allowing him to recover from even the gravest injuries in a short amount of time.

However, regeneration didn't mean immunity. While Marco could heal from the damage, it didn't mean he wouldn't feel pain or sustain injuries.

Sengoku's shockwave attacks targeted the internal body, where Marco's regenerative speed was far less effective compared to external injuries.

In their direct clash, Sengoku's massive Buddha form merely swayed slightly before regaining composure. Marco, on the other hand, his blue-flamed phoenix form visibly faltering, spat blood as he was sent hurtling nearly a hundred meters away by a single strike.

But Marco's sacrifice wasn't in vain. The time he bought allowed Luffy to unlock Ace's handcuffs, and the two brothers began their escape at lightning speed.

With Fire Fist Ace freed, the pirates erupted into cheers and began retreating en masse like a tidal wave.

After all, their sole objective had been to rescue Ace. Now that the mission was accomplished, they had no intention of lingering to try and capture Marineford itself—it would be suicidal to even consider it.

"All forces, hear my command! Stop Fire Fist Ace or prevent him from leaving this island—by any means necessary!"

Sengoku, still in his golden Buddha form, amplified his voice using the shockwave of his abilities, ensuring it echoed across every corner of the battlefield.

The urgency in Sengoku's voice was clear—he couldn't afford to fail. The Marines had gone to great lengths to make a global spectacle of this execution. First, they exposed Ace's true lineage to the world, then deployed defensive walls and placed undercover agents. They had used every strategy imaginable.

If Ace managed to escape now, not only would all their efforts have been in vain, but the Marines themselves would become a laughingstock.

A failure of this magnitude would irreparably damage the Marines' reputation. The common people of the seas would lose faith in them, and without that deterrent, the oceans would descend into greater chaos.

In short, Ace had to die here. If not, Sengoku might find himself demoted to planting crops on some remote island, and the Marines would lose all credibility.

Upon hearing Sengoku's orders, many Marines who were locked in battle abandoned their opponents to pursue Luffy and Ace.

Aokiji and Kizaru exchanged glances, fully understanding the stakes if Ace escaped.

However, when they turned their eyes back to Wood, they hesitated. It was clear Wood wouldn't simply let them leave.

Sensing their hesitation, Wood spread his hands and spoke innocently. "Admirals, if you want to chase after Ace, feel free. I won't stop you."

Originally, Aokiji and Kizaru had intended to abandon their fight with Wood, but hearing his words, they both froze, their suspicion deepening.

Wood's statement had the opposite effect—it made them doubt his intentions even more.

After all, Wood had defeated Mihawk, cut through the defensive walls for the Whitebeard Pirates, and held back two of the Marines' top combatants. His alliance with Whitebeard's crew seemed solid.

For someone who had gone to such lengths to help Whitebeard's forces, Wood suddenly claiming he wouldn't stop them from pursuing Ace felt far too suspicious.

"Enough, Aokiji and Kizaru! You two go after Fire Fist Ace. Leave Wood to me!"

Frustrated by the situation, Sengoku couldn't bear to watch Aokiji and Kizaru hesitate any longer. With a sharp rebuke, he ordered them to pursue Ace while he stayed to handle Wood himself.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I don't mean to question your strength, but this Ancient Weapon, Wood… His power—"

Aokiji, while lazy by nature, was genuinely concerned about Sengoku's well-being. He wanted to say that Sengoku, in his older years, might not be able to handle someone as formidable as Wood.

"I'm not retired yet! Do you think this old man has already lost his edge? Who's the Fleet Admiral here, me or you?"

Hearing Sengoku's retort, Aokiji and Kizaru had no choice but to comply.

Especially Kizaru, who, after being reprimanded and having his salary docked over the Sabaody Archipelago incident, wanted to avoid giving Sengoku any further excuses to punish him. He took off faster than a rabbit, leaving Wood behind without a second thought.

"Wood, I brought you here to secretly support the Marines, not to trip us up!

In this war, you've done more damage to us than Whitebeard himself!"

Sengoku's expression was one of utter frustration as he glared at Wood. Initially, he had invited Wood as an insurance policy—a hidden trump card for the Marines.

But instead of aiding the Marines, Wood had essentially become the MVP of the pirate forces. Sengoku was beside himself with anger.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you saw the situation earlier—it wasn't my fault!

Mihawk came to challenge me because I'm a master swordsman. Cutting through the defensive walls was an accident.

And as for Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru, I don't know if they have a personal grudge against me, but they wouldn't let me go!

I've tried to explain multiple times that I'm on your side, but no one believes me!"

Wood's explanation was outrageous, but Sengoku had seen enough of the events firsthand to know there was some truth to it.

With a heavy sigh, Sengoku responded, "Fine. Just stay here and don't cause any more trouble. At this point, I don't even expect you to help us anymore—just don't make things worse."

Sengoku was left with no choice. Wood hadn't technically done anything wrong, but as an undercover agent, he had been far too convincing in his role.

Even if he announced to the world right now that he was a Marine Vice Admiral codenamed "Dark Jiao," no one would believe him.

Without Wood as a major combatant, Ace managed to escape. However, the situation for the pirate forces remained grim.

Whitebeard, having been stabbed in the back by Squard, was already struggling against Akainu alone. Now, to cover Ace and Luffy's escape, he voluntarily stepped in to block Aokiji and Kizaru as well.

While Kizaru's combat style became notably less aggressive against his own allies, he still maintained a steady level of power. After unleashing a devastating Yasakani no Magatama AoE attack, he reengaged in a "difficult battle" with Marco and a few other commanders.

Even without Kizaru, the combined pressure from Akainu and Aokiji was enough to overpower the aged and injured Whitebeard.

Realizing he wouldn't make it out alive, Whitebeard decided to use the last of his life to pave the way for his sons. With a final, booming declaration, he delivered the iconic line:

"I am a remnant of the old era. There is no ship in the New World that can carry me.

Carry on my will and seek it out—One Piece is real!"

After unleashing a soul-stirring roar, Whitebeard seemed to enter a state of final brilliance, a desperate surge of power before the end.

Faced with the sheer might radiating from Whitebeard in this state, even Aokiji couldn't help but show admiration and wisely chose to back off.

But Akainu? He was too stubborn and hotheaded to retreat. To him, Whitebeard was just another pirate—a criminal who was spouting nonsense even in his dying moments. How could he stand for it?

Years ago, when the Pirate King Roger announced the existence of One Piece at his execution, it had plunged the world into the "Great Pirate Era."

Now, after so many years, Whitebeard—the man regarded as the strongest in the world and closest to becoming the next Pirate King—had declared the same thing. To Akainu, this was nothing short of encouraging chaos, luring ignorant fools into becoming pirates in pursuit of that treasure.

To Akainu, pirates were the root of all evil. Whitebeard's actions, in his eyes, were sowing new seeds of crime. This had to end, and he would be the one to sever it.

So, despite his age, Akainu's fiery determination propelled him forward, straight into battle. Unfortunately, his righteous resolve quickly earned him a painful lesson.

Taking on the world's strongest man, who was prepared to die and burning through his final reserves of strength, was sheer madness. But Akainu, being Akainu, charged in headfirst.

"Hellhound!"

A massive, fiery red dog made of molten magma roared as it surged toward Whitebeard.

But Whitebeard, his eyes cloudy yet his body rejuvenated by his final burst of energy, firmly gripped his Supreme Grade sword, Murakumogiri. With a single, thunderous downward slash, he cleaved the flaming magma hound cleanly in half.

In the same motion, his other hand summoned a translucent, white quake sphere, grabbing Akainu by the head mid-swing. Before Akainu could recover from his attack's delay, Whitebeard slammed his head into the ground with earth-shattering force.

"BOOM—————!"

The deafening sound echoed across Marineford as the entire battlefield shook violently. A massive fissure extended from beneath Whitebeard's feet, stretching all the way to the Marine Headquarters' towering walls, inscribed with the bold letters "MARINE."

"Set sail with your dreams, my sons!" Whitebeard roared, his voice filled with unyielding pride and determination.

With a single hand, Whitebeard had utterly humiliated one of the Marines' strongest, nearly bringing the entire Marineford to its knees with that final, devastating attack.

The sheer terror of Whitebeard's power in his prime was enough to make even the bravest Marines hesitate. As he stood unmoving, no one dared to step forward.

In the end, it was Akainu, battered and bloodied, who recovered from his brief unconsciousness. Without a second thought, he launched a fiery magma fist straight through Whitebeard's chest.

It was only then that the Marines realized—the strongest man in the world had already died standing.

Whitebeard hadn't fallen to Akainu's hand. He had perished moments earlier, using his last ounce of strength to carve a path for his sons to escape.

As Akainu withdrew his searing magma fist, his face was smeared with blood—his own and Whitebeard's. Of all those who fought in the war, Akainu was undoubtedly one of the most relentless.

If not for his quick reaction in coating himself with Armament Haki and using his Logia powers to dissipate the impact of Whitebeard's final blow, his head would have exploded like a watermelon.

Standing before Whitebeard's lifeless body, Akainu was visibly irritated. Despite his relentless effort, he hadn't claimed the kill.

Judging by the events so far, the MVP of this war wasn't him but Wood—the man who had defeated Mihawk, fought two Admirals simultaneously, and disrupted the Marines' plans at every turn.

Akainu, despite his brutal efficiency, had accomplished little compared to that. Beaten and bruised, he hadn't earned the glory he sought, and it frustrated him to no end.

Shifting his focus, he saw Ace and Luffy nearing the escape point. Fueled by bitterness, Akainu began his psychological warfare, spewing venomous words aimed at provoking Ace.

To the Whitebeard Pirates, their captain was a godlike figure, revered above all. And for Ace, who had just been rescued, Whitebeard was his greatest idol.

When Akainu started insulting Whitebeard, calling him weak and accusing him of fleeing like a coward, the pirates were enraged.

But it was Ace who snapped. Unable to bear hearing his father figure defamed, he turned around and charged back toward Akainu.

Watching Ace run headlong into Akainu's trap, Wood remained calm and showed no intention of intervening.

Many had lamented Ace's tragic end in Wood's previous life, but he felt no sympathy for the man. In his eyes, Ace's death was entirely self-inflicted.

They were all adults. Every decision carried consequences, and Ace had to bear the weight of his own choices.

Passion and loyalty weren't inherently bad, but there was a time and place for everything. What Ace was doing now was nothing short of throwing his life away.

Why had the Whitebeard Pirates risked everything to confront the Marines? Was it because they had a death wish?

No—it was because Ace had been captured and sentenced to execution. To save one of their own, they gambled their lives.

From the moment Ace was freed, his life no longer belonged solely to him.

Countless lives had been sacrificed for his rescue. Figures like Little Oars Jr. and many unnamed pirates had fallen for his sake.

Even Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world, had willingly laid down his life to ensure his sons' escape.

And now, Ace, the man whose freedom had been bought at such a steep price, was throwing it all away because of a few taunts.

This wasn't bravery. It was betrayal—a betrayal of everyone who had fought and died to save him. There was no justification for such reckless behavior, only the hollow tragedy of wasted lives.

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