One Piece: New Order-Chapter 54: Whitebeard Attacks

A few days later, at Marineford, the Marine Headquarters.

After holding the funeral for his wife, Zephyr was no longer the same. He lost all desire to work, and the justice he had upheld for so many years began to crumble in his heart.

The only time he showed any sign of life was when he was caring for his child. The rest of the time, he sat in silence, staring blankly into the distance, motionless.

With no other options, Fleet Admiral Kong granted him an extended leave of absence. He also arranged for additional personnel to stay with Zephyr and provide support, hoping to prevent further decline.

The attack on Admiral Zephyr's family sent shockwaves through the Marine Headquarters and the World Government alike. No admiral in history had ever suffered a direct assault on their family. The implications were staggering.

After several days of high-level discussions, the higher-ups issued a new directive: a section of Marineford would be designated for a residential area where the families of officers ranked rear admiral and above could live under Marine protection.

Meanwhile, pirates across the seas, emboldened by the event, grew more reckless and aggressive.

Attacks on the Marines grew more frequent.

...

New World, the second half of the Grand Line.

A massive pirate ship surged across the waves, its figurehead a giant white whale: the unmistakable Moby Dick. It sailed directly toward the G-4 Marine base with speed and intent.

At the ship's bow stood Whitebeard, his massive frame unmoving as he gazed toward the horizon, brows slightly furrowed.

Nearby, Marco—still a new recruit and just an apprentice in the Whitebeard Pirates—turned to the young Whitey Bay beside him and whispered, "Big brother Theodore... how did the Marines catch him?"

Whitey Bay, her eyes red from crying, clenched her fists. "The Marines have gone insane since the attack on Zephyr. They've been slaughtering people at sea nonstop. We were collecting protection money on Rossq Island when we ran into a Marine vice admiral who was restocking there. Theodore stayed behind to cover our retreat... that's how he was captured."

She broke into fresh sobs, guilt overwhelming her. Marco, flustered, tried his best to console her.

At the front of the ship, Whitebeard stared at the distant outline of the G4 base. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"They'd better not have hurt my dear son... Marines."

...

New World, G-4 Marine Branch.

Bzzz—bzzz! Bzzz—bzzz! Bzzz—bzzz!...

The base alarm blared the moment the Whitebeard Pirates were spotted.

Marines scrambled to their positions. Every soldier armed themselves and took up defense on the fortress walls. Beside each one sat blood-soaked sacks.

Vice Admiral Quell, commander of G-4, stood tall and grim-faced. He stared across the sea at the approaching pirates. He knew this was a fight to the death. Either they perished, or the pirates did. Still, he showed no fear.

From the very first day he became a Marine, Quell had steeled himself for moments like this.

'Death is just death. Justice lives on.'

As the Moby Dick dropped anchor just a short distance from the fortress, Whitebeard stepped forward on the deck, his voice deep and thunderous.

"My dear son better be safe, Marine."

In response, Quell simply drew the blade at his waist and raised it high. At his signal, the marines standing guard lifted the sacks at their feet and dumped them over the wall. Severed heads rolled down in a heap, forming a gruesome pile.

The vice admiral's cold voice followed. "Take a look. If you find your son's head among them, it's yours."

Fury exploded aboard the Moby Dick. The crew was seething, their rage boiling over.

Whitebeard's expression darkened. He locked eyes with Quell. "In that case... all of you can die with Theodore."

He raised his left hand and clenched his fist. A translucent white shockwave ring formed around it.

Then he threw a punch into the air before him.

A massive crack split through the sky. A thunderous shockwave surged forward, slamming straight toward the fortress's giant gates, towering dozens of meters high.

Boom—!

The thick gates caved inward from the impact, shaking violently.

Crash!

They slammed to the ground, sending up clouds of dust.

Whitebeard raised his fist again and launched another invisible shockwave toward the marines on the fortress walls. With a deafening rumble, the entire base shook.

The marines staggered, trying to steady themselves. Once they regained their footing, they immediately raised their rifles and cannons and returned fire.

Bang! Bang! Boom! Bang! Boom!...

Gunfire and explosions echoed non-stop. Under Whitebeard's cover, the pirates charged through the ruined gate and stormed into the fortress.

Vice Admiral Quell's sword was coated in Armament Haki. He slashed again and again, sending flying strikes toward Whitebeard as he rushed in to face him directly.

Whitebeard easily shattered the incoming attacks, his eyes locked onto the charging Quell. His naginata, also coated in Armament Haki, came down hard on the vice admiral.

Clang!

The clash sent a deafening boom through the air as one figure was launched backward.

...

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Fleet Admiral Kong massaged his temples, a deep frown on his face.

They had just dealt with the attack on Zephyr's family, and now Whitebeard was attacking G4.

After reporting the situation, Quell had hung up the Den Den Mushi and could no longer be contacted. Kong racked his brain for available personnel. After all his thinking, only Sengoku and Sakazuki came to mind.

He immediately sent orders to stall Whitebeard while arranging for the two to be deployed.

It wasn't until the afternoon of the next day that the duo finally regrouped. With help from a special Devil Fruit user borrowed from the CP organization, they were teleported straight to G-4.

But what greeted them was nothing but ruins.

The once-mighty fortress had collapsed into broken sections. The towering walls were shattered. Blood had stained most of the grounds. The corpses of fallen Marines were tossed aside like garbage.

Using Observation Haki, they sensed Whitebeard's presence at the center of the wreckage.

The second Sengoku and Sakazuki appeared, Whitebeard noticed. He lifted the broken body of Quell, whose limbs had all been crushed, and walked out with his crew following behind.

The moment they came face-to-face, Sengoku and Sakazuki immediately saw Quell dangling in Whitebeard's grip, his body limp and mangled.

Both their expressions darkened. Sengoku was the first to speak. "Whitebeard. Are you trying to provoke the Marines?"

Whitebeard chuckled. "Gurararara... Sengoku, you were the ones who started this mess."

The admiral's face turned grim. His voice was deep and steady. "What will it take for you to release Quell?"

Whitebeard waved it off. "That depends on what you're willing to give u—"

Before he could finish, Sakazuki stepped forward and cut him off.

"No need for talk. Justice doesn't compromise with evil."

Casually tossing Quell to the ground, Whitebeard spun his naginata once in his hand, its blade gleaming. "What's this? You're giving up on saving him?"

Sengoku's mouth moved as if to speak, but Sakazuki held out an arm to stop him. He didn't answer Whitebeard. Instead, he turned to look at the fallen officer, lying in a pool of blood.

"Vice Admiral Quell. Are you ready?"

Barely conscious, Quell lifted his head with effort. Through blood and pain, he forced a weak smile.

"Cough... always... ready."

Sakazuki lowered his head slightly. His voice was cold and emotionless.

"For justice."

Quell's eyes shone with pride. "For... justice."

Sakazuki's entire right arm transformed into searing magma, forming a massive molten fist. Thick, black smoke curled from it, the heat radiating off him revealing the fury inside.

He suddenly raised his head. His eyes were filled with killing intent as he aimed straight at Whitebeard—and Quell.

"Great Eruption!"

The already huge magma fist expanded further as it flew, engulfing everything in its path. For a moment, even Whitebeard couldn't tell whether Sakazuki truly meant to kill Quell or if it was all part of something else.

However, hesitation was a luxury he couldn't afford currently. In the next instant, his eyes hardened with resolve. There was no choice between one crippled vice admiral and the lives of his children.

He raised his fist, and activated his Devil Fruit. A violent tremor burst through the air, distorting space itself as it crashed down in front of his crew, forming a barrier of fractured force.

The colossal magma fist shattered against the quake, molten rock scattering like fireworks.

At the same time, Whitebeard's Observation Haki locked onto the two figures across from him—never dropping his guard for even a second.

Without Whitebeard's protection, magma poured down toward the helpless Quell like a blazing waterfall. Just as it was about to consume him, the molten mass abruptly reformed into Sakazuki.

A sharp sonic boom followed as something sliced through the air.

The vice admiral seized Quell with one arm, his body covered in hardened Armament Haki. At that exact moment, Whitebeard's counterattack came crashing down.

Sakazuki took the hit head-on.

Blood spilled from his mouth, but he didn't waver. With a mighty heave, he hurled Quell toward Sengoku.

Now freed from any burden, Sakazuki turned to face the gloomy Whitebeard. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he straightened his back.

Lava bubbled beneath his skin, glowing through as red-hot cracks veined across his body. His entire frame radiated heat. Golden light blazed from his eyes, and a boiling wave of pressure burst outward as he entered Crimson Lotus Mode.

A twisted grin curled across Sakazuki's face, the glow intensifying.

BOOM!

The ground below him exploded. A crater formed where he had stood a heartbeat before. In the blink of an eye, his figure reappeared in the heart of Whitebeard's children, the crew barely reacting in time.

Whitebeard's eyes widened in alarm. His Observation Haki rang out like a warning bell.

Sakazuki turned his head toward him with terrifying calm.

Then spoke.

"Magma Burst."

BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!

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