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[TIOP] Chapter : 93
🕑 Added 2025-04-14 11:59:20 +0000 UTC"Gum-Gum Substitution!"
Just as Hawkeye prepared to unleash his next devastating strike, Luffy’s eyes caught sight of Buggy hurtling through the air—flung skyward by the shockwave from Crocodile’s attack. Thinking fast, Luffy stretched out his arm, grabbed Buggy mid-flight, and yanked him down to use as an impromptu shield.
"WHAT THE HELL, STRAW HAT?!"
Buggy screamed in panic, realizing too late what was happening.
"You dragged me into the path of Hawkeye’s slash?! Are you trying to get me killed?!"
But as Mihawk’s blade cut through him, Buggy’s body harmlessly split apart—his powers from the Chop-Chop Fruit rendering him immune to slicing attacks.
"Gum-Gum... launch!"
Without even glancing back, Luffy hurled Buggy straight at Mihawk and bolted toward the execution platform.
Buggy, still mid-rant, barely had time to react before clashing with Hawkeye. He managed to hold him off—barely—for two brief exchanges before being effortlessly knocked aside.
"Vista! Cover Straw Hat!"
Seeing Luffy in danger, Marco, the commander of Whitebeard’s first division, called out. Immediately, Flower Sword Vista, captain of the fifth division, leapt into the fray.
Clang!
Their blades met in a dazzling flash.
"An honor to meet you, Mihawk," Vista said cheerfully, holding his ground with grace.
"Flower Sword Vista… Whitebeard’s fifth division commander," Mihawk acknowledged, his tone calm and focused.
"Oh? I’m flattered. Didn’t expect the world’s top swordsman to know my name."
Vista’s eyes gleamed, a playful grin on his face as their blades clashed again.
Hawkeye cast one last glance at Luffy, who had already slipped past the chaos and continued charging toward the execution platform.
"His strength," Mihawk mused inwardly, "doesn’t come from his abilities or techniques. It lies in something far more dangerous—his power to draw others to him. That… is the most fearsome force on this sea."
But Luffy remained oblivious to the impact he was having on the battlefield. His mind was fixed on one goal: saving Ace. The war at Marineford raged on—soldiers and pirates alike continued to fall, one after another.
Back on the command platform, Sengoku’s voice cut through the storm of battle, heavy with urgency.
"It’s time. Cut all the Den Den Mushi feeds. The world must not see what comes next. If public trust in the navy wavers, the consequences will be catastrophic. In a few hours, all they need to hear… is that justice prevailed."
With his order, the live broadcast to the Sabaody Archipelago and across the world went dark. Confusion erupted among the crowd—angry voices clashed with frantic reporters now left in the dark, their frustration boiling over.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Marineford, the pirates who had just broken through the harbor were met with a fresh wave of horror—surrounded once again by the navy.
"So many... ‘Kumas’?!"
Ivankov’s eyes widened as an army of Pacifistas, all modeled after Bartholomew Kuma, marched onto the battlefield.
Indeed, the group that had flanked the pirates from behind was none other than the Pacifista army, led by Sentomaru.
"Phew... good thing I listened to Pops and cleared out the marines in this area first," muttered one of Whitebeard’s subordinates. "If we hadn’t, we’d be completely trapped right now!"
Even the hardened pirates felt a chill run down their spines at the sudden appearance of the mechanical monsters.
But Sengoku remained unfazed. Even with this minor disruption, his strategy hadn't changed.
"It doesn’t matter. We’ll cut off their escape vertically if we must. Focus on wiping out Whitebeard’s fleet first. Then we’ll crush the stragglers."
His voice was cold and commanding as he adjusted the battle plan without hesitation.
At that moment, Sentomaru contacted Kizaru through a Den Den Mushi.
"Uncle, the enemy’s smarter than we expected. If we push too hard, a few warships might get taken out. Is that acceptable?"
Kizaru, ever laid-back but calculating, responded with a hint of concern:
"It’s fine… Just keep the damage to a minimum. Whitebeard is still the biggest threat to our ships. Handle him carefully."
"Understood. Pacifistas—engage!" Sentomaru shouted.
With that single command, the massacre began.
The Pacifistas stormed the battlefield with terrifying precision. Ordinary pirates, no matter how brave, stood no chance against their overwhelming firepower and mechanical strength. The tide of battle was beginning to shift once again.
"Are you truly willing to sacrifice your own men?" Whitebeard growled, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the chaos. After a brief pause, his voice thundered across the battlefield:
"Forget the enemies at our backs! Everyone—charge the square!"
"Wooooaaahhh!!"
The pirates roared in unison, obeying without hesitation as they surged forward with renewed fury.
Meanwhile, Sengoku issued his own counter-command with steely resolve:
"All units—evacuate the ice immediately! Under no circumstances are they to reach the square!"
With both commanders making their moves, the battlefield erupted into a storm of motion—navy forces pulled back strategically, while the pirates launched a full-scale assault on Marineford’s center.
On the fringes of the battlefield, Vista exchanged a look with Mihawk.
"Looks like it’s time we paused our duel," Vista said with a grin.
Mihawk gave a slight nod, sheathing his black blade.
"Agreed. This is no longer a time for rivalry—our focus lies elsewhere now."
Suddenly, a beam of light streaked across the battlefield—Kizaru, in his elemental form, appeared in front of Luffy and landed a devastating kick.
"Go back to where you came from!" the admiral commented.
Luffy was sent flying—only to be caught midair by Jinbei.
"Are you alright, Luffy-kun?" Jinbei asked, bracing against the force of the blow.
"I'm fine. Thanks, Jinbei!" Luffy replied, panting, his eyes locking onto Kizaru.
"An admiral... just as strong as I feared."
But before hesitation could creep in, several captains of the Whitebeard Pirates appeared beside him.
"Don’t falter just because it’s an admiral!" one of them said firmly.
"Now that the navy’s retreating, this is our best shot. Push forward—Ace is waiting!"
"It’s the division captains, Luffy-kun! Each one of them is strong enough to take on a hundred men alone!" Jinbei exclaimed with a rare smile, rushing alongside Luffy as they followed the captains into the fray.
"Oh dear... this is going to be quite the hassle," Kizaru muttered with a drawn-out sigh, his expression a mix of annoyance and mock defeat.
Back on the Sabaody Archipelago, the broadcast screens suddenly went dark—except for one. In the command room, Sengoku frowned, issuing a stern inquiry:
"Why is the live feed still running? I thought I ordered it cut off!"
"Apologies, Marshal! One of the live-broadcast Den Den Mushi was stolen by prisoners who escaped from Impel Down!" The naval communications officer reported with a tense salute.
And so, to the dismay of the navy and the confusion of the world, the citizens of Sabaody were now being treated to the chaotic and bizarre antics of Buggy the Clown—who, blissfully unaware, continued to display his ridiculous powers for all to see.
"Pops!"
A familiar voice echoed across the battlefield as a figure emerged from behind Whitebeard.
"Squardo, you're alright," Whitebeard said, his deep voice tinged with concern. "You disappeared for a while—we lost contact."
"Ah... Sorry to make you worry, Dad. I’m fine," Squardo replied solemnly as he approached. "But my crew took heavy losses."
Whitebeard gave a grave nod.
"I see. Then it’s time I moved out as well. Let those behind us chase—we want them to. This chaos works in our favor."
"That's right. We owe you everything. For the Whitebeard Pirates, we would walk through fire and brimstone without hesitation!" Squado, said solemnly as he slowly unsheathed his longsword.
"Huh? Squado? What’s he doing over there...?" Marco, poised to lead another charge, turned and caught sight of Squado standing beside Whitebeard. His brows furrowed in confusion.
But before he could make sense of it, something unthinkable happened.
Without warning, Squado drove his blade deep into Whitebeard’s chest, catching the old pirate completely off guard.
"Pops!!"
A wave of disbelief crashed over the battlefield. Pirates froze in place, their hearts sinking. Even the marines—unaware of what had led to this moment—stood stunned.
"Squardo, have you lost your mind?! Do you even understand what you’ve done?!" Marco roared, flying to Whitebeard’s side and seizing the now-shaken Squado. The look on Squado’s face said it all—he hadn’t fully grasped the weight of his actions until it was already too late.
"Whitebeard...?" Buggy muttered, eyes wide with disbelief. "How could someone like him get taken down by such a simple strike?" He stood frozen, watching the scene unfold with a gaping mouth.
And to make matters worse, the only remaining live-broadcast Den Den Mushi had captured every second of the betrayal, sending shockwaves through the watching world.
"Whitebeard… was stabbed?!"
"It’s true! He was attacked… by one of his own—by a captain under his command!"
Shock rippled through the crowd watching from the Sabaody Archipelago. Reporters and citizens alike erupted into stunned whispers and heated debate, struggling to comprehend the betrayal they had just witnessed.
Not far away, Rayleigh, casually sipping his drink while observing the lone remaining broadcast screen, let out a weary sigh.
"You've grown old, Whitebeard…" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Back on the battlefield, Squardo, still trembling from the act, suddenly erupted in rage. Though he made no attempt to flee, his voice rang out furiously:
"Shut up! Don’t act like this wasn’t your plan all along!" He glared at Marco with unrestrained bitterness. "Pretending you didn’t know? The Whitebeard Pirates made a deal with the Navy, didn’t they?! You offered up the heads of the 43 allied captains—our heads—in exchange for your own safety and that of Ace!"
Gasps and murmurs broke out among the pirate forces. Squado’s words sowed doubt like wildfire. Though no proof had been given, his accusation struck a nerve.
They were the ones surrounded. They were the ones targeted by the pacifists.
And in that moment, an unsettling realization dawned across the 43 pirate captains—
'What if it was true?'
