Chapter 65 Encountering The Whitebeard Pirates, The Brave One Wins When They Meet On A Narrow Road

Under Whitebeard's Command

Dozens of affiliated pirate groups under Whitebeard's command were heading toward a specific sea area. Such large-scale movements couldn't go unnoticed.

Across the New World, whether in streets, alleys, pubs, or ports, countless people were whispering about it.

"Hey! You'd better avoid going to sea lately. The sea is crawling with Whitebeard's pirate ships!"

"With such a massive mobilization, are they gearing up for war?"

"I heard Whitebeard recently led an attack on Impel Down with a hundred thousand men and defeated the Marines."

"No way! Are they really going to war with the Marines again so soon?"

It wasn't just the common folk sensing the tension. Pirates throughout the New World, key figures in the underground world, and various nations, both allied and non-allied with the World Government, were quick to learn of the situation. Their first reaction was disbelief, but once they confirmed the news was real, they were shocked.

Marineford, Marine Headquarters

In the office of the Marine Marshal, Sengoku slammed a report down on his desk, his head throbbing.

"Damn it! The war just ended, and now this guy is gathering his forces again. What is Whitebeard planning?"

The Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates had been defeated. Of the three emperors ruling the New World, only Whitebeard remained. The recent war had left the Marines with heavy losses, but the Whitebeard Pirates weren't much better off. Sengoku couldn't fathom why Whitebeard would gather his forces so soon after.

"Is he planning to take on Kaido? Or maybe he's trying to expand his territory?" Sengoku mused, but then shook his head. Whitebeard wasn't known for being a conqueror.

Tsuru, who was standing nearby, suddenly asked, "Sengoku, where are Carlos and his fleet now?"

Sengoku's eyes widened in realization. He quickly pulled out a map of the New World from his drawer.

"Judging by their route, they should be nearing the waters of Dressrosa…" His expression darkened. "Damn! Could Whitebeard's real target be Carlos?"

Everyone in the room shared a grim look.

"It's not impossible," Tsuru said. "After all, Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin were both part of the Rocks Pirates crew…"

Akainu spoke in a deep voice, "So what are we waiting for? Do you want to sit here while Carlos gets killed?"

As much as he hated to admit it, Akainu recognized Carlos's achievements. Despite only being a Vice Admiral, Carlos had done what even the Admirals couldn't—defeating the Big Mom Pirates and capturing Charlotte Linlin alive. Akainu, who respected strength above all else, couldn't help but admire the young man's capabilities. In comparison, Kizaru's lackadaisical attitude and Aokiji's laid-back demeanor irritated him. He'd much rather work with Carlos.

Akainu knew how powerful the sea emperors were. Carlos must have expended considerable effort to defeat the Big Mom Pirates. How could he possibly have the strength left to face Whitebeard?

"Don't worry," Sengoku said, rubbing his temples. "We can't be sure if Whitebeard's target is Carlos. Besides, the World Government has recruited two of the Shichibukai to escort him. That should be enough."

The recent war had given Sengoku a new perspective on the Whitebeard Pirates' strength. He doubted two Admirals alone could secure a victory. Akainu and Aokiji hadn't fully recovered from their injuries, and sending Garp and Kizaru would leave the first half of the Grand Line and the Sabaody Archipelago vulnerable. Pirates were running rampant, and Marine morale was low. It wasn't the time to gather a large force and provoke another war with Whitebeard.

If the Marines were defeated again, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"What? Shichibukai?" Akainu's face turned livid, his aura becoming menacing as if a volcano were about to erupt. "Sengoku, as Marine Marshal, you'd rather trust pirates than your own men?"

He picked up the intelligence report from the desk, scanned it quickly, and strode toward the door.

"Sakazuki! Where do you think you're going?" Sengoku called, stepping in front of him.

Akainu didn't look back. "To the New World, to pick up Carlos."

"No! Do you realize the consequences?" Sengoku shouted. "The war just ended, the Marines need to recover, and the World Government won't agree to this."

Garp, Tsuru, Aokiji, and Kizaru also tried to dissuade him.

"Sakazuki, calm down. Your injuries haven't healed. Even if you go, it won't help," Tsuru said.

"Don't forget, we still have to deal with the escaped prisoners from Impel Down. Now is not the time to start another war with Whitebeard," Aokiji added.

Akainu glanced at everyone, his disdain evident. "Carlos took down two of the three sea emperors on his own! As an Admiral candidate, he's accomplished what even our Admirals couldn't. And now, when he's in danger, you all want to sit back and do nothing for your reasons. I'm disappointed!"

He turned his gaze to Sengoku. "And you, with all your power, you still refuse to leave Marineford. It must be nice to be a Marshal."

"Why, you…!" Sengoku was left speechless as Akainu stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Two Days Later, New World, Somewhere at Sea

It seemed a fierce battle had just taken place. Charred shipwrecks floated on the sea, bobbing with the waves. The air was thick with the stench of burning and sulfur.

Five Marine warships surrounded a pirate ship. On its deck, a tall man in a red suit and a Marine cape of justice lifted a pirate captain by the throat. It was none other than Admiral Akainu. The left half of his body had turned into molten lava, black smoke billowing around him. Lava dripped from his body, burning holes into the deck.

"Tell me everything you know," Akainu demanded, his voice icy. "Or die."

The pirate captain, trembling with fear, stammered, "I'll talk, I'll talk! Dad ordered us to gather at this coordinate." He pulled a navigation chart from his coat and pointed to a red X.

An adjutant stepped forward and took the chart from him. Akainu continued coldly, "Why?"

"To intercept a Marine warship…"

"Aaah!" The pirate captain's scream was cut short as he was reduced to ash in the intense heat.

"Change course immediately and head to this coordinate!" Akainu ordered, standing at the bow of the ship. The sea breeze blew his cape of justice behind him as he gazed into the distance, his eyes full of concern.

"Let's hope we're not too late. Carlos, please… don't die."

Sengoku received the news from Akainu and confirmed that Whitebeard's target was indeed Carlos. Over thirty affiliated pirate groups under Whitebeard's command were rushing to the designated area from all over the New World.

In the marshal's office, a tense atmosphere pervaded the room as Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, Tsuru, Aokiji, and Kizaru gathered.

"Damn it! The worst-case scenario has happened."

"How did Whitebeard learn of Carlos's movements?" Sengoku grumbled, slumping over his desk, clearly frustrated.

Carlos had only recently joined the Marines, but his abilities were already legendary. With just a few warships, he had taken down the Big Mom Pirates and captured the Yonko herself! Everyone present had seen the future of the Marines in this young man.

Carlos couldn't afford to be put in danger now.

But now, they were facing the imminent threat of the Whitebeard Pirates. The power of Whitebeard's crew was something the Marines had learned about the hard way. This legendary pirate, who once stood toe-to-toe with the Pirate King, was far beyond what Carlos and his men could handle!

"Send out a first-level combat alert and notify the logistics department to prepare for war. The intelligence department should immediately calculate the best evacuation route for Carlos and the others!" Sengoku ordered.

"All fleets on duty are to terminate their missions and remain on standby!" He continued, his voice stern. "Additionally, I will personally contact the World Government to request additional support."

Orders were swiftly issued from the marshal's office, and Marine Headquarters sprang into action.

The New World

Several Marine warships sped through the sea, escorted by ten pirate ships bearing the Donquixote family flag. On the deck of one warship, the sudden ringing of a Den Den Mushi shattered the afternoon calm.

"Marshal Sengoku?" came the response as the connection was made.

Sengoku's voice, filled with urgency, crackled through the receiver, "Gion, I have bad news."

"The Whitebeard Pirates have targeted you. Over thirty pirate crews are converging on your location. Change course immediately and await Marine support!"

Sengoku's words drew the attention of everyone on the deck, even catching the eye of Dracule Mihawk.

Before Momousagi could respond, the lookout shouted from above, "Pirate ships spotted ahead! There's a huge number of them!"

Momousagi quickly grabbed her telescope and scanned the horizon. Directly ahead, at the edge of the sea, she saw a dense fleet of three-masted ships flying the Whitebeard Pirates' flag. They formed an unbroken line, completely blocking the sea ahead.

At the center of the formation was the enormous flagship, the Moby Dick.

Everyone on the ship tensed at the sight.

"It's the Whitebeard Pirates!" someone exclaimed.

"There are six subsidiary pirate crews alongside the main ship, totaling fifteen ships in all," Momousagi reported.

Carlos sighed softly and took the Den Den Mushi.

"Marshal Sengoku, we've encountered the Whitebeard Pirates," Carlos said grimly.

"What?! This..." Sengoku's voice trailed off, heavy with concern.

Momousagi moved to Carlos's side, her expression serious. "Carlos, our route is blocked. We'll make contact in ten minutes. My suggestion is to turn back immediately, return to Dressrosa or Wano Country, and wait for Marine reinforcements."

Carlos thought for a moment, then shook his head decisively. "Order the ships to speed up and prepare for battle!"

"What?" Momousagi, Ain, and others nearby gasped in shock.

For decades, Whitebeard's name had struck fear across the seas. Not even Kaido or Big Mom, other Emperors of the Sea, could compare to him. In addition to Whitebeard, his division commanders like "Phoenix" Marco and "Diamond" Jozu were legendary figures in their own right. Even the captains of the fifteen affiliated pirate crews had bounties in the hundreds of millions.

The strength gap between the two sides was massive, and engaging in a naval battle on the vast, open sea seemed like an almost suicidal mission.

Sengoku's frantic voice rang out from the Den Den Mushi, "Carlos, don't be reckless! Retreat immediately and wait for Marine reinforcements!"

"It's no use," Carlos replied firmly. "They've already tracked our movements and are closing in. The longer we wait, the worse our situation will get. Besides, such a large movement won't go unnoticed by others. If Kaido catches wind and arrives, we'll be finished. Our best chance is to engage quickly, break through, and leave the New World as fast as possible to regroup with you."

Everyone fell silent, knowing Carlos was right. But the thought of charging into a fight against the Whitebeard Pirates still sent shivers down their spines.

Carlos suddenly turned to Mihawk, who was standing quietly at the bow of the ship, his black blade already drawn.

"Hey, Mihawk, do you want to face Whitebeard?" Carlos asked.

Mihawk didn't look up, gently stroking the blade as he calmly replied, "I've long wanted to meet him."

Though his tone was composed, Carlos could sense the excitement and battle spirit brimming beneath it.

"In that case, let me witness the clash between the world's greatest swordsman and the world's strongest man," Carlos said, a grin tugging at his lips. "All ships, full speed ahead!"

At his command, the warships broke from the fleet, white waves rising behind them as they charged toward the Whitebeard Pirates.

Meanwhile, on another ship

"Young Master, what should we do? Should we charge in as well?" Diamante asked, uncertainty clear on his face as he watched the warships speeding ahead.

Doflamingo stood on the deck, pacing nervously, his forehead slick with sweat. "Attack the Whitebeard Pirates? Is that guy insane?"

He jammed his hands into his pockets, the stress clearly getting to him. Normally, he'd avoid such a confrontation at all costs, but Carlos's ruthlessness had him hesitating. If he ran away now, he knew the consequences would be dire.

"Damn it! I knew this mission wouldn't be simple!" Doflamingo cursed under his breath. "We have no choice. Follow me!"

As the distance between the two sides shrank, they could now clearly see the enemy ships.

On the deck of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard stood tall, gripping his massive bisento, Murakumogiri, in his right hand. A sneer spread across his face as he watched the approaching ships.

"Gurararara!" Whitebeard's laugh boomed across the sea. "So, they're not running away but charging straight at us? Looks like I've underestimated them after all..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can visit my Patreon page:

Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel

There are 50+ advanced chapters available for you to read.

Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Check out my new One Piece fanfic!

[Marvel: My Luck Is A Hundred Million Points Better!]