NOVEL NEXT Chapter 123: Whitebeard hiring
(Sorry for the delay but I needed that rest week.)
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Blood gushed ceaselessly from the gaping wounds in Ace's chest and back.
"Someone… someone save Ace!!"
"Please! Someone save Ace!!!"
"Begging for help? You brothers can reunite in hell together!"
Ace was as good as dead. Akainu, intent on finishing the job, turned his sights on Luffy. Compared to killing the son of Pirate King Roger, he was far more eager to eliminate Dragon's son, with whom he had a personal grudge.
"Stop! Don't you dare hurt little brother Luffy!"
Jinbe lunged forward, using his palm to block Akainu's molten fist, but the searing heat burned his hand.
"Don't waste your time, Jinbe," Akainu sneered. "As a former Warlord of the Sea, you should know my power."
Jinbe growled back, "If I have to lay down my life to hold you off, so be it! I never planned to keep it anyway!"
At that moment, Garp stood up, rage emanating from his very being, ready to charge at Akainu.
Sengoku quickly dashed forward, pressing Garp to the ground.
"What do you think you're doing, Garp?!"
"Keep holding me down, Sengoku! Otherwise, I swear I'll kill Sakazuki with my own hands!!"
His voice trembled with fury. That bastard had already killed one grandson and was now aiming for another. Was he trying to leave Garp with no descendants? How could he tolerate this?
Just then, Vista and Marco charged at Akainu, forcing him to retreat. Both of their faces were grim.
"We were careless… and now it's too late to regret it!"
"How could this happen…"
Ace had been rescued, and freedom was so close. Yet, it all took a turn for the worst.
"I'm sorry… Luffy. You came all this way to save me, and I've failed you. Forgive me."
"What are you saying? Don't talk like that! Someone help! Treat him! Save Ace!!"
"It's no use. I know my body. My organs are burned beyond repair. Listen to me, Luffy…"
"What are you talking about, Ace? Didn't we promise? You said you wouldn't die! You promised!" Luffy's voice cracked, panic spreading through his very soul.
Ace gave a faint smile. "If it weren't for Sabo and my troublesome little brother, I wouldn't have wanted to live at all. No one wished for my life, but… I'm grateful."
"My only regret is that I can't see you achieve your dream. But I know you will, because you're my brother."
"As we swore all those years ago, my life… it's been without regret."
"What I truly wanted wasn't fame. I only wanted to know if my existence in this world was justified… to find the answer to that question."
"I… can't speak much longer… Luffy… what I'm about to say, you must share it with everyone…"
"To have been loved by all of you… thank you."
With those final words, Ace used the last ounce of his strength, a faint smile gracing his face as he slid from Luffy's grasp to the ground, lifeless.
"Ace!!!"
Luffy let out a soul-crushing cry of despair. The pain of losing Ace shattered him completely, leaving him unconscious.
The pirates closest to Ace wept bitterly. Even Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world, couldn't hold back his tears.
From above, Kitaro watched the all-too-familiar yet distant scene, his heart heavy with emotions he couldn't suppress.
Akainu, now seething with intent, turned into molten lava and charged toward Luffy. "You're next, Straw Hat!!"
"It's Akainu!!!"
"I won't let you take his life!"
Marco immediately flew in, blocking Akainu's fist with his blue flames.
"Jinbe! Take Ace's brother and leave now! That boy's life is Ace's will! We must protect him! If we let him die, it'll be the Whitebeard Pirates' eternal shame!"
"I already told you—neither of the brothers is escaping alive!"
Suddenly, a tall, imposing figure appeared behind Akainu.
"Akainu-san! Behind you!"
"—!!"
BOOM!
Whitebeard's fist smashed into Akainu, sending tremors through his body. Even with Armament Haki, Akainu couldn't fully defend against it, and blood trickled from his mouth.
"Hellhound!!"
Akainu retaliated immediately, his magma-coated arm slicing through half of Whitebeard's face.
But Whitebeard didn't even flinch. He swung his fist again, striking Akainu in the waist.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The shockwaves radiated through Akainu's body, shattering what was left of Marineford's already crumbling headquarters. Akainu was sent flying, crashing into the building's remains.
"Uwaaahhh!!!"
"It's collapsing! Marineford is collapsing!"
Marines on the ground scrambled for cover, desperate to avoid being crushed by the falling debris.
Sengoku's face darkened. "Even after losing half his face, he still has this much strength?!"
Whitebeard smirked, his voice defiant. "If you want my life, you'll have to try harder than that!"
"Father!! Ace!!"
The pirates were on the verge of breaking down completely.
Whitebeard glanced at his sons, then at the remaining Admirals and Sengoku. He knew that relying on his strength alone wasn't enough to hold them off.
Aokiji could freeze the seas, trapping their ships. Kizaru's speed was unmatched. Sengoku and Garp were still there, formidable as ever.
Only Marco remained by his side, and they were no match against such overwhelming power. He had already lost Ace, his beloved son. He couldn't let more of his family die here.
"Uchiha Kitaro!!!"
Whitebeard roared toward the sky, calling Kitaro's name.
"What?!"
"Why is he calling Uchiha Kitaro?!"
…
Sengoku's heart sank with a sudden sense of dread.
Kitaro descended, landing beside Whitebeard. "What do you want?"
Whitebeard's voice was grave. "Ace is dead. The World Government's contract with you is complete, isn't it?"
"That's correct."
"Then I want to make a new contract with the Uchiha Security Company. I want you to ensure the safe return of all my sons to the New World."
"And the payment?"
"Everything I have. My entire fortune. All of it!"
Kitaro's eyes gleamed. "Deal."
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