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[TIOP] Chapter : 98
🕑 Added 2025-04-20 19:36:03 +0000 UTCJust when it seemed like all hope was lost and Ace’s fate was sealed, Whitebeard and Jack quietly carried out their unspoken agreement.
Jack, with his knowledge of the unfolding events, knew what was coming. Whitebeard, ever the battle-hardened veteran, sensed it too—Ace’s presence had shifted. He could feel it in his bones.
And then it happened.
A swirling path of fire opened within the sea of flames, parting the inferno like a curtain. From within emerged Ace, finally free, pulling Luffy and Mr. 3 out of the blaze.
“OHHHH~~ ACE!!”
A roar erupted from the pirate ranks. Joy surged through their veins—Ace had been rescued. Their mission, for which they had risked everything, was finally fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Jack quietly approached Garp, who was still sprawled out from Luffy’s earlier punch.
“Sensei, are you alright?”
Jack asked, pretending to lend a hand in support.
“That rascal Luffy really went through with it! Bwahahaha!”
Garp let out a booming laugh. Perhaps it was the sight of Ace’s rescue, or maybe just the pride he couldn’t hide anymore—but his mood was noticeably lighter.
Their brief moment was interrupted by the stern voice of Sengoku, who had returned to his normal form.
“You two are quite the pair—conspiring right under our noses. Now look what you’ve done. Not only is Ace free, but the Revolutionary Army is attacking Mary Geoise. We’re under siege from inside and out! Enough games!”
Jack gave a cheeky smile.
“Well, Fleet Admiral, since I’m not exactly keen on playing bodyguard to the Celestial Dragons, why not send someone else? Akainu seems perfect for the job—ruthless and strong, just the kind of guy they’d love. As for the vacancy in the ranks... I’ll take it.”
“You?”
Sengoku raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“Don’t worry, Fleet Admiral,” Jack said, straightening up, his tone suddenly serious.
“I’m still a marine. Ace has been saved, and that’s all that mattered to me. Whitebeard? He’s no ally of mine. I’ll take him on if you give the order.”
Sengoku narrowed his eyes.
“If you can hold off Whitebeard... I’ll approve it.”
“I—”
Before Jack could finish his sentence, a heavy fist slammed down on his head.
“You idiot!”
Garp glared at him, his massive hand still resting atop Jack’s skull.
“You think that was a real fight earlier? Whitebeard was holding back. Now that Ace is safe, he’s not planning on leaving—he’ll stay to cover their escape. And if you go after him now, he’ll flatten you without hesitation. That old man’s in the mood to take someone down with him—and you’re a tempting target!”
Jack winced, rubbing his head.
“In short, don’t provoke Whitebeard right now,” Garp said, shaking his head firmly.
“Then what are we supposed to do? Ace has escaped, the Revolutionary Army’s hit Mary Geoise, and if we can’t at least stop Whitebeard, the Navy’s pride will be in shambles!”
He looked around at the chaos and let out a heavy sigh.
Sengoku glanced at Jack, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He hadn’t expected Jack to see the bigger picture so clearly. Initially, Sengoku believed Whitebeard wouldn’t linger now that Ace had been freed. With no burden holding him back, Whitebeard could retreat at any moment.
But Jack had made a sharp observation—if Whitebeard escaped with Ace and died later on a retreating ship, it wouldn’t be the Navy’s victory. It would be a humiliation.
“Fleet Admiral,” Jack said with quiet resolve, “our priority should shift. No matter what happens to Ace now… Whitebeard must not leave here alive.”
He wasn’t volunteering to take on Whitebeard again—he already understood just how terrifying the old man truly was. After all, Jack remembered what happened after Ace’s death in the original timeline: Whitebeard had nearly torn Akainu apart. And Jack doubted he’d survive even half as long in a fight.
“If Whitebeard escapes with Ace, it’s over. Aokiji must intercept them!” Sengoku gave Jack a look—he understood what the young man was trying to do. But there was no way he’d assign Jack to capture Ace. He simply wouldn’t be fast or strong enough.
“Akainu—stop Whitebeard!” Sengoku barked. After a moment’s deliberation, he made his decision. Garp was right—Jack had impressive power, maybe even on par with an admiral, but it had never been truly tested. In a real battle, instincts, endurance, and experience often tipped the scale far more than raw strength.
Just then, Kizaru appeared beside them in a flash of golden light.
“Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what are your orders now?” he asked, his usual laziness replaced with rare seriousness.
“Borsalino,” Sengoku said firmly, “the Revolutionary Army launched a surprise attack on Mary Geoise while we were busy with Whitebeard’s crew. We need to send an admiral immediately.” He paused, scanning the chaos of the battlefield. “But we can’t spare Sentomaru or the pacifistas. The situation here is still too volatile.”
“Understood,” Kizaru replied, his tone uncharacteristically sober.
Off to the side, Jack curled his lip, muttering silently in his mind: 'Maybe Kizaru’s a Revolutionary Army spy himself. They should be sending me instead!' But of course, he dared not say that out loud. If Sengoku did send him to Mary Geoise, it’d be a disaster. After all, Ace hadn’t escaped yet!
Back on the battlefield, Ace stood protectively in front of Luffy, glaring at the encircling Navy soldiers.
“He’s my brother—don’t lay a finger on him!” He shouted, fists igniting with flames.
“Fire Fist!”
From the sidelines, someone couldn’t help but remark with admiration,
“Those two really are brothers. Look at how perfectly they fight together.”
Seeing that Ace was finally safe, a wave of relief washed over the Whitebeard Pirates. For the first time in what felt like forever, they allowed themselves to breathe.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
A sudden chill sliced through the air.
"Watch out—Admiral Aokiji!" someone shouted.
But before the ice could reach them—
"This time, let me protect you! Fire Fist: Mirror Flame!" Ace roared, intercepting the attack.
Aokiji, acting under Sengoku’s command, launched himself straight at Ace. But now that he was no longer shackled, Ace fully unleashed his strength as the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. He wasn’t going down easily—not this time.
Suddenly, a movement drew everyone’s attention. The foreign pirate ship that had brought Whitebeard to Marineford—tossed into the square earlier by Little Oz—was now mysteriously moving.
"There’s someone aboard… It’s Squard!"
The pirates recognized him instantly—the very same Squard who had once stabbed Whitebeard in betrayal. Now he stood at the helm, weapon raised, steering the ship straight toward the Navy’s formation.
"Everyone—Dad!" Squard shouted, voice booming across the battlefield. "Run! We’ll cover your retreat! We’ll be the rearguard of this war!"
"That idiot!" Whitebeard shot him a glance and understood immediately.
"Squard, are you trying to throw your life away?! Don’t do anything reckless!" A fellow pirate, clearly close to him, shouted in panic.
"Damn it, is the lock still not open?" Marco turned to the technician beside him, his voice tense.
Because many of their fighters had Devil Fruit powers, the Whitebeard Pirates always carried a skilled locksmith to handle seastone restraints—but time was running out.
"I know I stabbed my dad," Squard bellowed. "And I can’t make up for it that easily—but at least I can do this! Take Dad and Ace and get out of here! Leave the rest to the Spider Pirates!"
But just as he declared his resolve, the ship suddenly ground to a halt.
Whitebeard was standing there—towering and immovable—one hand planted firmly on the bow of the ship.
"You fool," he growled, "a son dying before his father? That’s not how it works!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"Squard, don’t you get it yet? That sword of yours was never enough to kill me!"
The massive ship groaned under Whitebeard’s grip as silence fell.
"Life and death are written by fate," he said, straightening up and surveying the battlefield with grim determination. "We’ve accomplished what we came here for—it’s time to retreat."
He raised his weapon high and roared:
"So now, as your captain, I give you my final order... Listen well, Whitebeard Pirates!"
Whitebeard’s words sent a ripple of unease through the crowd. The pirates pleaded with tearful voices, begging him not to speak such ominous words. They believed—they hoped—that they could all return to the New World together.
But Whitebeard didn’t waver.
“This is where I part ways with you,” he declared, his voice ringing out like a war drum. “All of you—live, and return safely to the New World!”
“Dad, what are you saying? Are you planning to die here?!”
Whitebeard raised his arm, power surging through his body. “I am a remnant of the old era. There’s no place for me on the ship of the new age!” His voice was steady, resolute.
Then, with a thunderous wave of his arm, another devastating shockwave tore through Marineford, shaking the very foundations of the battlefield.
Sengoku stood firm, gazing at the destruction. “So now that Ace is free, you plan to bring Marineford down with you?” he asked coldly.
“Dad!!!”
“We can’t leave him behind! Let’s go back for him!” the pirates cried, desperation rising.
Whitebeard turned to them with a fierce glare, having just sent another wave of marines flying with a single blow.
“What? Planning to disobey your captain’s final order? Go, you fools!” he roared.
On the edge of the battlefield, Garp approached Sengoku slowly. His expression was heavy. It was clear—he was preparing to act. He couldn’t stand by and watch Marineford fall, even at the hands of a man he respected.
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner, Buggy and his ragtag crew finally managed to revive the slumbering Den Den Mushi. As the screen flickered back to life, the image of the battlefield was broadcast across Sabaody Archipelago.
At that moment, Whitebeard struck down a line of marines chasing his retreating sons, then turned and pointed his blade—not at Akainu, but directly at Jack.
“You there... You said you wanted my head, didn’t you? Call off your soldiers. Let me see if you’ve got the guts to take it!”
Jack froze. “Damn it, old man... I asked you to keep Akainu busy—not pick a fight with me!” he thought bitterly.
Still, the Navy couldn’t afford to show weakness—not now. Standing tall, Jack stepped forward and pointed his sword at the legendary pirate.
“Rear Admiral Jack of Navy Headquarters!” he shouted. “I’ve come to claim your head, Whitebeard!”
Whitebeard burst out laughing. “Gurararara! Bold words, little brat. But do you have the strength to back them up?” He raised his weapon, battle-ready.
By now, the Whitebeard Pirates had commandeered a docked warship. All that remained was to get everyone aboard and sail away.
“Ace—don’t waste your father’s sacrifice,” Jinbei said sternly as he saw Ace hesitate. “You’re the Navy’s target. Whoever escapes today is a victory in itself!”
“I know...” Ace whispered, his heart heavy. “I won’t let his sacrifice be in vain.”
Turning toward Whitebeard, Ace slowly dropped to one knee.
The old man glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“No need for words, Ace. Just answer me one thing—was I worthy of being called your father?”
Ace’s voice cracked through his tears as he shouted, “Of course you were!”
Whitebeard laughed again, warm and thunderous. Then he turned to Jack, the fire of battle still burning in his eyes.
“Gurarara... Sorry to keep you waiting, kid. Now come on—let’s see what you’re really made of!”
