HTP: Ch. 59

[Ace]: Hey, have you ever heard that song?

Ace suddenly sent a message.

[Hiruzen]: ?

[Ace]: You know the one: "If I can see it, then I can do itIf I just believe it, there's nothing to it"

[Hiruzen]: Yeah, I've heard it. "I Believe I Can Fly," right?

[Ace]: I'm already on the execution platform. My next stop is Wano.

[Hiruzen]: So?

[Ace]: That's why I have to survive this time!

Hiruzen originally wanted to complain: Don't go around setting death flags like that.

But in the end, he simply replied:

[Hiruzen]: Then I wish you the best of luck.

At that moment, someone who had been silent for a long time finally spoke.

[Yoriichi]: Wishing you the best.

---

Sea winds, laced with smoke and the scent of blood, swept across the plaza of Marineford. Sengoku's glasses reflected the blinding sunlight.

The time until Ace's execution was now less than three hours.

The Marine Headquarters had deployed a full 100,000 elite troops. The entire event would be broadcast to the world. This battle was set to execute Ace, devour the Whitebeard Pirates, and restore order to the seas.

The three Admirals and all but two of the Seven Warlords of the Sea were present.

At the top of the execution platform, he stared at Garp beside him and said solemnly, "Then it's settled. I'm going to reveal everything."

Garp looked down at Ace with a deep gaze and grunted, "Do what you want."

He then leapt down from the platform to stand beside Tsuru.

She had wanted to offer him some comfort, but to her surprise, he was calmly eating rice crackers. She gave him a few curious looks, then cautiously said, "You don't seem too upset."

"Huh? That's because I'm too upset, so I need to eat more crackers to cope, hahaha."

He dumped the whole bag of rice crackers into his mouth, chewing loudly.

Really? I don't buy that. Tsuru frowned as she stared at him. You better not do anything reckless.

Sengoku stared down at Ace, whose eyes had lost all light, and wondered, Has he really given up?

Ace's head hung low, the shadow of his orange cowboy hat hiding his face, as if he'd surrendered completely. Maybe it was for the best. The execution would go more smoothly this way.

Sengoku raised the golden Den Den Mushi. His voice, amplified by the loudspeakers, rang out across the world, "I have an announcement to make, regarding the significance of executing Portgas D. Ace today..."

Then he suddenly raised his voice, shouting, "Ace! Tell everyone the name of your father!"

At that moment, it was as if Ace snapped out of a trance, his eyes gleamed with sharp light.

"Hahaha. Fine!"

The dramatic change caught Sengoku off guard, but he reminded himself they were in Marineford and relaxed.

"My father... is Whitebeard, Edward Newgate!"

"Wrong!" Sengoku roared, preparing to educate the world about Ace's true background. But to his surprise, Ace immediately shouted in full cooperation. "You're right! My real father is Gol D. Roger! The former Pirate King!"

That cooperative? Sengoku was shocked.

Ace lifted his head and laughed loudly, then shouted for all to hear, "I am the son of the Pirate King, the adopted son of Whitebeard, the destroyer of the Celestial Dragons, the liberator of destiny, the sworn enemy of the Five Elders, and the one most hated by the corrupted Marine, Sengoku!"

That many titles?

Corrupted Marine?

"Silence!" Sengoku's face darkened.

Ace glanced at him. His voice rose even higher. "And one more thing! The One Piece is real!"

That shout was like a bolt of thunder, leaving all of Marineford in dead silence. The eyes of the entire world turned toward his face.

All across the globe, in front of countless live broadcast screens, people shot to their feet in shock. The News Coo furiously pressed their shutters, capturing Ace's determined expression in a moment destined for history.

Even the three Admirals and all but two of the Seven Warlords couldn't help but turn to look.

Garp's rice cracker got stuck in his throat. He stared in disbelief, You've got some nerve, huh?

Sengoku, livid, pointed at Ace and roared, "Stop him! Shut him up, now!!"

The execution guards rushed forwar, but were suddenly forced back by just one fierce glare from Ace.

Conqueror's Haki?! This is bad!

Sengoku prepared to step in personally. But just then, a signaler at the foot of the execution platform suddenly reported: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku! The Gate of Justice has suddenly opened!"

The waters around Marineford began to churn violently. The previously calm bay stirred up waves without a breeze; even the anchored warships began to shake violently.

He whipped his head toward the direction of the Gate of Justice.

That colossal gate was now slowly creaking open. The sound of its massive gears echoed like the roar of an ancient beast, shaking all of Marineford.

Marines across the plaza stared in disbelief at the impossible sight.

Forty-three ships under Whitebeard's command sailed into the bay. Their skull-and-crossbones flags glared in the sunlight, and each deck was packed with battle-hardened pirates radiating killing intent.

Then, the surface of the Marine's inner harbor darkened as a massive shadow spread beneath the water.

Whitebeard's four main ships burst through the waves.

"Gurahahaha!" A bold, booming laugh rang out from the Moby Dick.

"Sengoku, long time no see."

Whitebeard's towering figure stood at the prow of his ship. His Murakumogiri slammed down onto the deck with thunderous force.

In that instant, all of Marineford shook.

And just like that, the world's attention shifted completely, from the Marines to the Whitebeard Pirates.

On the deck of the Moby Dick stood a gallows mirroring the Marine's execution platform.

Kneeling on it in disgrace, wearing ornate clothes now in tatters, was Saint Charlos, his arms shackled in thick iron chains, just like Ace. To his left stood the executioner, blade in hand, none other than Squard.

To the right, with arms folded and robes fluttering in the wind, stood Itachi, his red-cloud Akatsuki cloak billowing fiercely. Beside him, Marco stood with hands in his pockets, his slicked-back hair swaying in the breeze.

Whitebeard's voice thundered again, "Sengoku. You're executing my son. So I'm executing this so-called Celestial Dragon. Sounds fair to me."

The moment he finished, all 43 ships erupted in cheers.

"Pops is too cool!" they cried.

The entire battlefield erupted. From low-ranking sailors to Vice Admirals, all were whispering in shock.

Among the Admirals, Kizaru and Akainu exchanged glances, while Aokiji held his forehead, deep in thought.

Among the Seven Warlords, Doflamingo looked stunned, then broke into his signature loud cackle. Hancock was so excited she nearly defected on the spot.

Garp looked from Ace on the Marine's execution platform… to the Celestial Dragon on Whitebeard's execution stage.

He is seriously going all in, huh?

Ace's eyes widened as he stared at the Moby Dick in disbelief, Wait, what the hell is going on? Itachi? What the hell have you done?!

Cold sweat trickled down Sengoku's forehead as panic gripped him.
Whitebeard's gone completely insane.

Meanwhile, in the newsroom, Morgans, watching the broadcast, was the first to react. His eyes bulged as he shouted, "Hold the headline! Hold it! There's more coming! Tell our frontline photographers, start shooting! Don't stop the shutters!"