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--xLOVEx--
Whitebeard's rage was unmatched. His attacks were wild, filled with grief and fury, and each one hit harder than the last. He wasn't holding back anymore—this was Whitebeard at his most dangerous.
As Whitebeard's fists rained down on Akainu, the rest of the battlefield had frozen, watching the legendary pirate in awe and terror. Marines scattered, unsure whether to continue the fight or retreat from the sheer destructive force coming from Whitebeard.
Luffy, still on his knees, cradled Ace's lifeless body. His eyes had gone white, unconscious from the shock. Tears streamed down his face, his body limp, unable to process what had just happened. Coby stood over him, fists clenched, a wave of anger rising in his chest.
This wasn't what he wanted. The outcome he expected was war, but he never wanted Ace or Whitebeard to die.
He had stopped Squardo from impaling Whitebeard at the very start. He had warned Whitebeard about the Marines' trap—how they would lure the pirates onto frozen ground to crush them in a pincer attack.
He had fought harder than most of Whitebeard's crew, cutting down Marines and clearing a path. He had helped Luffy. He had freed Ace from the Sea Stone cuffs and pulled him away from the battlefield.
But the idiot still charged at Akainu. And now, seeeing Ace like this and the state of Luffy—it pissed him off.
Without another word, Coby grabbed Luffy by the collar and shot into the sky with Geppo, soaring above the chaos below. His eyes darted across the battlefield. Whitebeard had gone ballistic. His giant naginata swung in massive arcs, every hit sending shockwaves that split the ground and the air itself. Marines were thrown aside like ragdolls.
Coby glared down, muttering under his breath, "Old man's finally lost it." He soared higher, away from the collapsing battlefield, Luffy's limp body still in his grasp. The wind howled around them, but Coby barely registered it, his mind locked on the chaos they were leaving behind.
Down below, Whitebeard unleashed another tremor punch, the ground cracking and splitting beneath his feet. Akainu, bloodied but not backing down, launched another magma fist, meeting Whitebeard's attack head-on. The clash sent shockwaves through Marineford, shattering what little remained of the battlefield's structure.
Marco, seeing the devastation, quickly flew over to assist his captain, but even the Phoenix's healing flames couldn't stop the inevitable. Whitebeard's body was riddled with injuries, magma burns covering his chest and back, but the old pirate refused to fall. With a final roar, he swung his weapon again, sending Akainu flying across the battlefield.
Coby's eyes narrowed as he looked back at the wreckage. He spotted Whitebeard's forces retreating, following the command their captain had given them. Pirates scrambled onto ships, dodging the barrage of attacks coming from the Marines. Pacifista units marched forward, their glowing eyes locked onto the retreating pirates.
"Not my fight anymore," Coby muttered, looking down at Luffy. The kid was out cold. He kicked off the air, propelling them further from the battlefield. Behind them, the sounds of destruction echoed across Marineford—explosions, screams, and the relentless clash of Haki-infused attacks.
Blackbeard and his crew arrived just as the chaos peaked. Coby, still carrying Luffy and escaping from the battlefield, paused in mid-air for a moment to look back. Blackbeard's newly assembled crew, along with the prisoners freed from Impel Down, charged at Whitebeard. The noise of their approach was enough to silence the battlefield for a moment.
"That bastard really showed up," Coby muttered under his breath, glancing down at Luffy, who remained unconscious in his arms. He watched as Teach, now wielding the powers of the Yami Yami no Mi, moved toward Whitebeard with a grin on his face.
The dark vortex of Teach's Devil Fruit expanded, its tendrils creeping across the ice, sucking in debris, bodies, and even light itself. As the darkness wrapped around Whitebeard, Coby's eyes narrowed.
"Scan," Coby muttered, directing the command to his system as he watched Teach in action.
[Skill Scan initiated on 'Yami Yami no Mi (Blackbeard's Devil Fruit)'. Analysis in progress… The Yami Yami no Mi (Dark-Dark Fruit) is a Logia-type Devil Fruit that grants the user control over darkness and gravitational forces. The user can absorb and nullify attacks, drawing in enemies and materials into the darkness. Unlike other Logia fruits, the user does not become intangible but instead amplifies the damage they take. Its most feared ability is the power to nullify other Devil Fruit abilities upon contact, making the user a direct counter to any Devil Fruit user. Additionally, the Yami Yami no Mi allows the user to steal Devil Fruit abilities from other individuals. This power makes it possible to permanently remove another user's Devil Fruit ability and potentially transfer it to another person, creating a terrifying advantage in combat and in accumulating powers. This capability also allows for storing or sharing Devil Fruit powers among the user's crew. Estimated cost for acquisition: 1,880,000 SP. Please confirm if you wish to proceed with the Skill Scan and acquisition.]
Coby's lips tightened. "1,880,000 SP? That's robbery," he muttered, but his eyes stayed on Blackbeard.
Teach laughed maniacally as he approached Whitebeard. "Zehaahaha! This is it, old man!" His hand stretched out, tendrils of darkness swirling as they enveloped Whitebeard's massive frame. "Time to finish you off!"
Whitebeard, standing tall despite the brutal damage he'd taken throughout the battle, sneered. His voice came out raspy, but it carried a weight that silenced Teach's crew. "You think you're the one, Teach?" (Bro thinks he is him)
Teach's laughter died down as Whitebeard raised his massive naginata, the blade glinting in the fading light. "When that treasure is found… the world will be shaken to its core," Whitebeard said, his voice deep and resolute. He coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, but he didn't falter. "You're not it, Teach."
Blackbeard's expression twisted into one of rage as he stepped closer, his hands clenched into fists. "Shut up, old man! You're finished! Nobody can stop me now!"
Whitebeard's weapon slammed into the ground, and a final quake rippled through the battlefield. The earth beneath Blackbeard and his crew trembled, but the old pirate didn't fall. His massive frame stood tall even as his body gave out.
"ONE PIECE… IS REAL!" Whitebeard bellowed, his voice carrying across Marineford and beyond. The declaration reverberated through the battlefield, freezing both Marines and pirates in their tracks.
With Whitebeard's final words echoing across Marineford, his body froze, lifeless, but still standing. The battlefield paused momentarily, as if time itself held its breath. Marines and pirates alike were stunned into silence at the powerful declaration of the Pirate King's treasure being real.
Coby, hovering above the chaos with Luffy unconscious in his arms, watched the scene unfold below. Whitebeard's death had changed the battlefield's entire tone. Blackbeard and his crew were moving in to claim the old man's powers, and the Admirals were making their next move.
Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji were already closing in, their eyes locked on Luffy. Coby gritted his teeth. "Time to get the hell out of here," he muttered. He glanced at the sea, spotting an opening.
Without a word, Coby vanished, using Geppo to push through the air, heading straight for the water. Kizaru's eyes tracked him instantly. "Oh? Suicide? Isn't he a Devil Fruit user?" Kizaru asked casually, but his crossed arms was already pointed at Coby. "Yasakani no Magatama!"
A barrage of light beams shot toward Coby, but he was already moving. He hit the water, disappearing beneath the surface just as the light rained down, exploding around him. Kizaru's expression tightened ever so slightly as he watched the surface ripple. "Now where did you go?"
Below the surface, Coby used Shadow Step, his body flickering between currents as he dodged the attacks. He propelled himself through the water. From above, Aokiji stepped forward, his hand raised. "Ice Age!"
The sea began to freeze, ice spreading rapidly over the battlefield. Coby shot downward, escaped the incoming freeze like movie 2012. Aokiji's cold gaze followed him.
Just then, reinforcements arrived. Marco, Vista, and Jozu dove into the fray, intercepting the Admirals. Marco's phoenix flames clashed with Aokiji's ice, the blue fire melting the frozen sea below. "Stay back!" Marco yelled at Coby, who couldn't even hear him. "We'll handle these guys!"
Coby spotted Law's submarine under the sea and made his way toward it. Law's timing was damn near perfect—right when everything was going to hell, there was his escape. The door to the sub opened just as Coby got close, and without any hesitation, he dived in, pulling Luffy along.
Inside, the crew of the Polar Tang moved quickly to help. "Get him on the table!" one of them barked. Coby set Luffy down, barely acknowledging them as he took a second to catch his breath. The cold, sterile air of the submarine was a far cry from the chaos above.
Law was already there, eyes sharp as he looked at Luffy. "Trafalgar!" Coby shouted. "He's out cold!"
Law didn't need the explanation. "I know." His tone was clipped, hands moving fast as he started checking Luffy over. "You did good bringing him here. Get out of the way." Law's crew jumped into action, prepping medical tools and clearing the space.
Coby stepped back, running a hand through his hair. He felt the weight of everything that had just happened hit him like a ton of bricks. Ace's death, the chaos of the battlefield, Whitebeard's rampage—it was all playing out in his mind.
Law glanced over his shoulder. "I've got him. But if we stay here too long, we're dead meat. The Admirals aren't going to let this escape slide."
Coby nodded, still catching his breath. "There's a snake above. Follow it."
Law looked puzzled, assuming Coby was delirious from exhaustion. But then one of the crew shouted, "Captain, there's actually a snake!"
Sure enough, Hancock's snake was visible through the periscope, coiling above the water. Coby walked over to the hatch and opened it, staring at the snake without hesitation. "Tell her we'll follow," he said calmly.
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