[192] : [BONUS] - Countdown to Execution! Announcing to the World! The Great Incident!
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Marine Headquarters!
Countless warships arrived from Marine branches all over the world. Famed Marine officers from every sea gathered at Marine HQ.
"Smoker. Long time no see," Hina greeted Smoker as he disembarked from a warship.
"Captain Smoker," Tashigi, now promoted to Marine HQ Commander, saluted Smoker.
"Commander Tashigi. You've made progress," Smoker replied, a faint smile touching his lips upon seeing his former subordinate.
Tashigi was now directly under Vice Admiral Gion's command.
"Hehe," Tashigi rubbed her head with an endearing, clumsy grin.
"How have you been?" Hina asked, looking at Smoker. The body that had withered after Rowen stole his power was now filled with strength once more.
"Endured some hardships at Vegapunk's place," Smoker exhaled a stream of smoke.
After Rowen stole his Smoke-Smoke Fruit ability, he was sent to Vegapunk's research institute for study. Vegapunk was incredibly interested in an individual who had survived having their Devil Fruit stolen. Though it was tough, Smoker's physique had at least recovered, even stronger than before.
Previously, he had tried to emulate Admiral Kizaru's fighting style, relying on his Logia fruit to become a powerhouse. But after his crushing defeat by Rowen, Smoker realized how naive he had been.
Especially after the constant stream of news reports about Rowen—Smoker now knew how childish his old way of thinking was.
Sky Sovereign Rowen—the World's Strongest Devil Fruit User—was a top-tier powerhouse based on his Devil Fruit abilities alone, yet he still relentlessly trained his Haki.
And from Rowen's terrifying battle record, Smoker fully understood: The gap between Devil Fruits was greater than the gap between humans and ants.
His Smoke-Smoke Fruit... had probably been discarded somewhere by Rowen long ago.
Compared to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which could unleash terrifying natural disasters from afar, the Smoke-Smoke Fruit was vastly inferior.
Trying to become a true powerhouse of the seas with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit... WAS PURE FANTASY.
Smoker clenched his fist, Armament Haki flickering faintly around it.
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"Hurry up! Move those cannonballs! Carefully!"
CRASH!
A crate of cannonballs, fumbled by a nervous Marine, tumbled to the ground.
"The atmosphere... feels wrong," Smoker commented, looking up at the sky above Marine HQ. Though clear, it felt incredibly oppressive.
Only the most elite Marines were gathered here; rookies had no place in this war. For a mistake like dropping cannonballs to happen... was unusual.
"The war is about to begin. And the enemy... might be more than just the Whitebeard Pirates," Hina stated, taking a nervous drag from her cigarette.
"That man too... Emperor Sky Sovereign Rowen," Hina exhaled a plume of smoke, her beautiful face looking somewhat grim.
Admiral Akainu and Admiral Aokiji—both defeated by him, Marine HQ had suffered an unprecedented, catastrophic defeat.
And now... Rowen might join forces with the Whitebeard Pirates to attack Marine HQ.
No wonder even these elite Marines were so anxious.
Forget them; even the Vice Admirals were on edge.
To Marine HQ, the pressure Rowen exerted was even greater than Whitebeard's!
"Sky Sovereign Rowen," Hearing the name, the cigar between Smoker's teeth snapped in two, his expression darkening.
"Rowen..." Tashigi murmured, her face filled with complex emotions.
Back in Loguetown, she had yelled at Rowen's retreating back, vowing to capture him. But now, though she had grown much stronger, the gap between them hadn't closed; it had only widened.
"Don't wear that expression. We just need to do our best in the war. If that man really comes... forget Hina and you two, even Vice Admiral Gion isn't qualified to face him. That man is an Emperor," Hina stated, stubbing out her cigarette and marching towards Marineford Bay, her Justice coat swishing behind her.
That crescent-shaped bay was where the execution platform for Fire Fist Ace was located.
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"IS IT STARTING?? THE PUBLIC EXECUTION!"
Sabaody Archipelago.
After Sky Sovereign Rowen vanished, Sabaody Archipelago hadn't been calm for long before the news of Fire Fist Ace's public execution threw it into turmoil once more—
—The news that Marine HQ would publicly execute the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Division Commander, Fire Fist Ace, had already spread throughout the world!
And now—only three hours remained until the execution!
A massive viewing screen flickered to life.
The public execution would be broadcast via Image Transponder Snails to Sabaody Archipelago, and then to the entire world!
"LOOK! IT'S MARINE HQ!!"
Countless reporters had already gathered here, nervously watching the screen. They were here to transmit firsthand information to the world as quickly as possible.
"What a terrifying military force! As expected of Marine HQ's full deployment!" a reporter swallowed hard, looking at the immense, terrifying force displayed on the screen.
"Whitebeard must know this... Even so, will he still show up?" another reporter murmured, frantically taking notes, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"WILL... WILL 'THAT MAN'... ALSO SHOW UP?" a trembling voice suddenly asked.
All eyes immediately focused on that reporter. His entire body was drenched in cold sweat.
"Gulp!"
Everyone swallowed hard.
They seemed to understand who the reporter was talking about...
"Don't forget! That man also has Fire Fist Ace's Flare-Flare Fruit ability! He has some unknown connection with Fire Fist Ace!"
"The World's Most Dangerous Man... The World's Strongest Devil Fruit User... The man with the Most Vicious Ability in History!"
"The man with the 3,988,900,000 Beri bounty... SKY SOVEREIGN ROWEN! WILL HE APPEAR??" the reporter roared, his voice trembling.
"SHUT UP! ARE YOU TRYING TO PLUNGE THE WORLD INTO CHAOS??" The reporter who had been talking about the Whitebeard Pirates earlier grabbed the man by the collar, his own face pale with terror as he roared.
In their view, just the Whitebeard Pirates alone had forced Marine HQ and the Seven Warlords into a full-scale deployment.
If Sky Sovereign also joined in??
Two Emperors attacking Marine HQ simultaneously... One the World's Strongest Man, the other the World's Most Dangerous Man!
Just imagining it filled everyone present with absolute terror!
If Rowen joined forces with Whitebeard... could Marine HQ really win??
Everyone stared nervously, fearfully, at the giant screen. The tense atmosphere seemed to engulf the entire world.
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"Everyone! It is time. Please proceed to the harbor—" A Marine messenger opened the door to a waiting room, swallowed hard, and announced to the four great pirates inside.
Four of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
Hawk-Eyes Mihawk.
Donquixote Doflamingo.
Boa Hancock.
Bartholomew Kuma.
Clank.
Mihawk stood up, strapping his black blade, Yoru, to his back, his hawk-like eyes flashing.
Publicly executing Fire Fist Ace. Their confirmed enemy was the Whitebeard Pirates.
And their unknown enemy—was Sky Sovereign Rowen, who had vanished from Sabaody Archipelago. Along with the entire Straw Hat crew, and the six Supernova crews under Rowen's command!
Yes—in Marine HQ's view, the six Supernovas captured by Rowen were now under his command.
They believed Rowen was already forming a Grand Fleet to become a true Emperor, though they didn't know which of the Four Emperors he was targeting.
But terrifyingly, Rowen and his pirate fleet had mysteriously vanished from Sabaody, with no trace in the New World either!
This situation, combined with the man's unknown connection to Fire Fist Ace, had led Marine HQ to classify this Emperor and his fleet as a potential enemy.
Even Mihawk felt a profound sense of awe.
He had told Shanks after clashing Haki with Rowen in the East Blue that Rowen's future Haki might surpass even Shanks's.
But Rowen's growth rate had exceeded even his imagination.
He was now challenging the title of World's Strongest—
If Rowen truly came to the battlefield, the situation would become very interesting.
Mihawk strode towards the harbor.
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"Quite eager, aren't you, Hawk-Eyes," Doflamingo, lounging on a sofa, sneered at the departing Mihawk.
"Doflamingo... If Sky Sovereign Rowen really shows up... you should worry more about keeping your own 'head' attached. after all, your head is 'reserved' by the World's Most Dangerous Man—" Mihawk's detached words made Doflamingo's smile vanish instantly, veins throbbing on his forehead.
Mihawk then left.
He had been present at the Warlord meeting; he knew Rowen had designated Doflamingo's head as his.
"Bastard!" Doflamingo glared at the departing Mihawk, and at Kuma, his face twisting.
'THAT MADMAN! IS HE REALLY GOING TO INTERFERE IN A WAR LIKE THIS??'
"Hancock, Doflamingo, please proceed as well," the Marine messenger swallowed hard again, but still urged them forward.
"Do not speak my name so casually," Hancock replied coldly. Her powerful aura made the Marines unable to look at her directly.
'Will he come? Sky Sovereign Rowen?' Hancock strode forward, her beautiful eyes flashing. She had come here precisely to meet this man...
"Damn it!" Doflamingo stood up and headed towards the harbor.
In this situation, he could only try his best to protect himself. Before the Emperors, his fate was not in his own hands.
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The atmosphere above Marine HQ was incredibly tense.
Marine HQ was now completely blind and deaf.
The scout ships they sent out were sunk the moment they left, leaving them completely unable to track the Whitebeard Pirates' movements—
—And the vanished Sky Sovereign Rowen, the Straw Hat Pirates, and the six Supernova crews under his command—were still nowhere to be found!
Anxious tension permeated the air above Marine HQ.
"DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN! NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, IN THREE HOURS, IT WILL ALL BE OVER!" Marine HQ Giant Vice Admiral Lacroix roared, trying to boost morale.
"OHHHHHHH!!!" The Marines raised their weapons, roaring back as if to drive away their fear and anxiety.
Fifty warships now encircled Marineford Bay.
Countless heavy cannons lined the shore. At the forefront of the army stood four great villains—the Warlords of the Sea.
And behind them, the Marine HQ Giant Vice Admirals!
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The sound of footsteps approached. Numerous Marines swallowed hard.
"IT'S THE ADMIRALS!"
Below the execution platform, three chairs were arranged. Three figures slowly took their seats.
"Hmph," Akainu looked up, his eyes smoldering. He would use this war to wash away his shame!
"Hah..." Aokiji exhaled a stream of cold air, his terrifying presence beginning to coalesce.
Kizaru remained silent, looking at Kuma's back, an unreadable, complex emotion in his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses.
"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Seeing the assembled Warlords and three Marine HQ Admirals, the numerous Marines roared!
All the forces of Justice that could be gathered—were now here!
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Clank! Clank!
Inside the prison, Ace was escorted by executioners towards the platform. His eyes were dark, filled with incredibly complex emotions.
At this final moment, his mind was filled with thoughts of his little brother, Luffy.
He had once told Luffy they should both die with no regrets.
Unfortunately, now...
Ace numbly moved his feet, heading towards the execution platform.
'At least... Luffy has Rowen looking after him. I can rest easy. That man, Rowen... is truly incredible.' Ace sighed, then stepped onto the platform.
"HE'S OUT! IT'S FIRE FIST ACE!"
The eyes of the entire world were now focused on Ace.
"I will say everything, Garp," Sengoku stated grimly, walking towards the execution platform.
"Do as you please. I'm going down below," Garp replied, his expression dark, as he walked down from the platform.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku?" The numerous Marines looked on, confused, as Sengoku ascended the platform.
"Bring me a Transponder Snail." Sengoku took the snail.
"Before the execution begins, I have a major announcement for all of you," Sengoku stated gravely.
"Ace. State the name of your father," Sengoku commanded coldly.
"MY FATHER IS WHITEBEARD!" Ace roared, head bowed, as if sensing what was coming.
"WRONG!" Sengoku boomed.
"IT'S NOT WRONG! ONLY WHITEBEARD! NO ONE ELSE!" Ace roared back.
"We searched desperately back then! Using every scrap of intel from Cipher Pol, searching every pregnant woman and infant from that time—yet we found nothing. It's no wonder—your mother deceived the entire world. Your birth was paid for with your mother's life. On an island in the South Blue called Baterilla! Your mother's name was Portgas D. Rouge! This woman's actions defied all common sense—for the sake of her child, she carried you in her womb for 20 months! The moment she gave birth to you, she died from exhaustion! One year and three months after your father's death, the infant inheriting the world's most evil bloodline was born—AND THAT IS YOU!"
Sengoku stared coldly at Ace, whose face was now completely contorted with anguish.
"You cannot be unaware! YOUR FATHER IS—"
"—THE PIRATE KING! GOLD ROGER!!!"
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