21 The Final Push

Blackbeard is dead!

Contrary to the trajectory set in the original storyline, where he was meant to gather a formidable crew in Impel Down and alter the course of the battle, he had encountered Whitebeard. All his ambitions and dreams had been reduced to nothing.

"Teach!"

Whitebeard stared at Blackbeard's lifeless body, his eyes devoid of any pity.

Then, he reached into his palm, producing a card.

After ending Blackbeard's life, he acquired another card.

[Physical Recovery: While it can't restore one to their peak condition or reverse the effects of aging, sickness, or death, it can heal physical injuries and regenerate severed limbs.] "To restore the physical body?"

Whitebeard fell into silence for a moment before speaking in a weak, barely audible voice, "Perhaps it might work for that individual."

With that, he stowed the card away.

The onlookers began to stir, their expressions a mix of emotions as they gazed upon Blackbeard's lifeless form.

"Is he... dead?" Luffy asked, breaking the silence.

Though Blackbeard was his adversary, and Ace had been captured because of him, Luffy couldn't help but feel conflicted about Blackbeard's demise.

After all, Blackbeard was another person who fervently believed in the existence of the Great Pirate Era. He clung to his dreams just as resolutely as Luffy did.

"It's undoubtedly Whitebeard, who showed no mercy even to his former son!" Crocodile sneered.

"Blackbeard isn't Whitebeard's son. He's merely a traitor. Do you show mercy to traitors?" Ryder chuckled.

"Of course not... not anymore!" Crocodile blew a smoke ring and responded, referring to Kaido's intervention.

Regardless of who he was, Crocodile would never forgive someone who betrayed him, especially someone who had sought to end his life.

"Valorolo~"

"A traitor can never be easily forgiven!" World laughed, but his expression quickly darkened, as if he were recalling unpleasant memories.

"This guy is finally gone!" Joz exclaimed, tears of laughter streaming down his cheeks. "Did you see that, Saatchi? That scoundrel, Teach, is finally gone! This is the fate of a traitor!"

Bista chimed in, "A betrayer can never be forgiven easily."

As he spoke, he abruptly withdrew his gaze and swung his hands vigorously, sending a crescent-shaped sword light soaring into the sky.

Rafit, who had been airborne, looked horrified. He hadn't expected his captain to meet such an easy end. In a master's duel, the slightest mistake could make all the difference.

In this moment of distraction, he was caught by the flash of the sword. One of his white wings was severed by the blade, causing him to plummet from the sky.

"Two swords…"

Bista's eyes narrowed, seizing the opportunity. With the toe of his right foot on the ground, he generated a powerful force that shattered the rock beneath him. His body shot forth like lightning.

Stabbed~

A sharp light flickered.

The chilling intent passed over Rafit's face, paralyzing him as if he had plunged into an icy abyss.

Just as he was about to regain his senses and resist...

A blazing radiance enveloped him, obscuring his vision.

"Perish!"

Bista moved swiftly, rushing forward with his dual swords slashing in a swift cross. The sound of the blades cutting through the air was followed by a gory spectacle as blood and a head shot into the sky. Rafit had no time to scream before Bista beheaded him.

Boom! Rafit's lifeless corpse fell heavily to the ground, staining it with blood.

"Rafit!"

The other Blackbeard crew members cried out in panic upon witnessing this gruesome scene.

Jinbei seized the opportunity and pushed his arms, unleashing a powerful force that sent Burgess flying, causing him to vomit blood. While the Blackbeard crew members were formidable, they were now facing the combined might of Joz, Bista, and Jinbei.

"What..."

Screams filled the air, followed by an eerie silence. In less than twenty minutes since their arrival at Impel Down, the Blackbeard Pirates had been utterly defeated.

"It's finally over," Rain Shiryu exhaled a smoke ring and then turned to look at Whitebeard.

"Jinbei!"

Sensing the collective gaze, Whitebeard turned his attention to Jinbei.

Jinbei hurried over, and after Whitebeard whispered a few words in his ear, Jinbei headed to the beach to find a warship. While the Moby Dick could accommodate many people, a warship was necessary to pass through the Gates of Justice.

When Blackbeard and his crew had first arrived at Impel Down, they had already been manipulated by the Marines using hypnotic techniques. Thus, the warship became a crucial part of their plan to assault Marineford.

"Goo la la la~"

"Sengoku, I'm coming soon!"

"Are you prepared?!"

Whitebeard chuckled deeply, raised his massive knife, and began walking toward the Moby Dick without looking back.

"I'm finally going to save Ace!" Joz and Bista exchanged excited glances.

"Valorolo~"

"Are we heading into a major battle next? We'll get our revenge on those damned Marines, and in this war, I want the world to know of my return!" World declared proudly with arms akimbo.

"Marineford... Who are the strong ones out there?" Bullet's eyes glittered with anticipation. He had agreed to go to Marine Headquarters for two reasons: to challenge Whitebeard and to exact revenge on those who wronged him in the original story.

Now that they were on their way, the warlust in his heart could no longer be contained.

"This battle will echo across the seas!"

"As pirates, will we rise and conquer the seas once again, or will we sink into obscurity and become losers of this era?" Crocodile's tone turned sharp.

With various thoughts and motivations, the crew members boarded the Moby Dick.

As the waves rolled, the two large ships carried them toward their final destination—Marineford!

=========

Do you want to read ahead? Then what are you waiting for Join my Pa*treon right now.

Link : pa*treon.com/GalaxyWonder (Remove the *)