Chapter 173

### **Chapter 173**

Roger **retrieved his gaze**, his heart **heavy** with a single thought.

**"We can't fight anymore!"**

**BOOM!**

Carl and Whitebeard's **battle raged on**, their blows shaking the battlefield.

Sengoku, seeing an opportunity, **joined in**—and with **both men working together**, Whitebeard was pushed back, step by step.

Just as Carl was about to **deliver a decisive blow**, a **massive wave of sword energy** cleaved through the battlefield—**crackling with Haki.**

Whitebeard's **eyes lit up**.

Roger was back in the fight!

Or so he thought—until Roger's next words **shocked him.**

**"Newgate, it's time for us to retreat!"**

**"What!?"**

Whitebeard **stared at Roger**, disbelief written all over his face.

For a moment, he even had the urge to **punch Roger himself.**

Gritting his teeth, he growled,

**"Roger, are you joking!?"**

Roger turned his head, his tone **grave**.

**"The Navy's reinforcements have arrived. We can't win this. If we keep fighting, I don't know how many more of our men will die here!"**

Just as he finished speaking, Carl **lunged forward again**.

Roger had no choice but to **fend him off**, all while **shouting his command**—

**"Everyone, RETREAT!!!"**

For a moment, Roger's pirates **froze in shock.**

Then—

**"AAAAHHHH!!!"**

Buggy was the **first to react**.

Without **wasting a second**, he **bolted** toward the **Oro Jackson**, his coat **flapping behind him**.

But in a rare moment of **righteousness**, he turned back and **shouted at Shanks**—

**"Didn't you hear, you idiot!? Captain Roger said RETREAT! Stop standing around like a fool!"**

But Shanks **didn't move.**

Instead, his gaze **locked** onto a wounded figure lying **not far away**.

**Sunbell.**

The **fishman lay still**, his chest barely **rising and falling**.

Shanks **rushed toward him**, determined to **carry him back** to the ship.

But in his **desperation**, he lost track of time.

Before he could react, **a group of Navy officers surrounded him**—

**And a Vice Admiral stepped forward.**

The officer **raised his leg**, aiming for a devastating **Rankyaku** strike.

Shanks **lifted his sword**, trying to block—

**But he was still too weak.**

**BAM!**

Even though he **protected his vital spots**, the impact **sent him flying**, his body crashing **heavily** onto the ground.

---

**Meanwhile—**

Roger **fended off Carl**, but his attention kept **drifting** toward his crew.

When he saw **Shanks go down**—

His **expression darkened.**

Roger **cared deeply** for Shanks.

Later, he would even entrust him with his **precious straw hat.**

But right now—**right now—**

He couldn't let Shanks **die here.**

**"SHANKS!!!"**

Roger **abandoned the fight**, **rushing toward his fallen crewmate**.

In the process, Carl's **blade slashed across Roger's side**, carving a **deep wound**—

**But Roger didn't stop.**

**His only focus was Shanks.**

---

Carl, hearing Roger's **desperate cry**, paused for a moment.

His **eyes flicked** toward Shanks.

Then, without a word—

**He vanished into the shadows.**

The Vice Admiral, unaware of Carl's presence, raised his hand to deliver a **Shigan**—

But before he could strike—

**"Dark Vortex."**

A **dark spiral** formed between them, **distorting the air**.

The Vice Admiral's body **froze**.

Carl **reappeared.**

Shanks, still **dazed**, looked up—and his breath **caught**.

Carl was **right in front of him.**

For a long moment, Carl **stared down at him**, expression unreadable.

Then, in a voice as **cold as ice**, he said—

**"It's too early for you to be on this battlefield."**

Roger was **sprinting closer**, his voice **booming**—

**"Black Dragon! I'm your opponent! Stay away from him!"**

A **wave of Conqueror's Haki** erupted from Roger—

Several Navy officers **collapsed instantly**.

Carl, without looking back, gently **pressed his foot against Shanks' stomach.**

And then—

**BOOM!**

With a single **controlled push**, he sent Shanks **flying through the air.**

---

**On the Oro Jackson—**

Buggy, having just climbed aboard, wiped the **sweat from his brow**.

Muttering to himself, he scoffed—

**"Shanks is such an idiot… doesn't even know how to retreat."**

But before he could finish his thought—

A **dark shadow** loomed over him.

**Swoosh!**

A **red-haired figure crashed into him.**

**"AAAAAGH!!!"**

Buggy **screamed**, pinned beneath **Shanks**.

**"GET OFF ME, YOU BASTARD!!!"**

Shanks, dizzy from the impact, quickly **jumped up**.

Seeing Buggy flailing, he **helped him up.**

Buggy scowled.

**"I didn't know you were so fast. I was worried about you!"**

Shanks shook his head.

**"What speed? Carl kicked me over here."**

Buggy **froze.**

**"…Ah!? He saved you again!?"**

Shanks didn't respond.

This time—**this time—**

He **felt something different** about Carl.

Despite Carl's **fearsome reputation**, he had—

**Spared Shanks' life.**

And not just that.

He had ensured **Shanks wouldn't be hurt** during the retreat.

Shanks **couldn't shake the feeling**—

That Carl was treating him… **with an odd kind of kindness.**

---

**Meanwhile, on the battlefield—**

Carl sent Shanks **flying to safety**—

Just as **Roger arrived.**

Seeing Shanks was **unharmed**, Roger was about to **breathe a sigh of relief**—

But Carl **charged at him once more.**

Sword in hand.

Roger **gritted his teeth.**

He had **no intention** of continuing this fight.

He just needed to **buy time**—until Rayleigh and the others **secured a way out**.

At the same time—

**Whitebeard was struggling against Sengoku.**

His crew had suffered **far heavier losses** than Roger's.

If they continued, he knew—**he'd soon be fighting alone.**

Finally—

**BOOM!**

With a mighty **earthquake punch**, Whitebeard **sent Sengoku flying**.

Taking a deep breath, he roared—

**"RETREAT!!!"**

The moment **Whitebeard gave the order**, his crew's morale **crumbled completely.**

Marco and the others **led the charge back** to the Moby Dick.

But—

Even as Whitebeard **used his Tremor-Tremor Fruit** to clear the way,

**Many pirates were cut down.**

Many more were **captured by the Navy.**

---

On Roger's side—

Rayleigh and Bullet **forced Akainu and the others back**, creating a window for escape.

Carl, now **nursing an aching arm**, **flapped his wings**, soaring into the air.

Then—

With a mid-air **flip**, he landed near Sengoku.

Kuma stepped forward—

And with his **Paw-Paw Fruit**, he removed Carl's pain.

Meanwhile—

Roger and Whitebeard **leaped back onto their ships.**

But as the two ships **sailed away—**

It was clear to all.

Their **crews were smaller.**

Their **forces were broken.**

**They had lost.**

---

**+115 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg**