OPTT: Chapter 94/95

Chapter 94: Summit War

This response instantly triggered a chain reaction.

The top ten trending topics on TikTok were all connected, and the entire internet was engulfed by the coming storm:

#SummitWarCountdown
#WhitebeardVSMarineford
#Ace

A tense atmosphere spread across every corner of the sea. Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

Meanwhile, in Impel Down, Ace watched the video a jailer had secretly shown him. Tears streamed silently down his face.

His expression was complicated—part worry for Whitebeard's safety, part helplessness in the face of the oncoming war. He murmured softly, "Whitebeard…"

On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard closed Sengoku's response with a cold grin, his signature gap-toothed smile showing.
"Gurararara… My sons!"

He pointed his Murakumogiri directly toward Marineford.
"Prepare for battle!"

The thunderous roar of pirates echoed into the sky. The entire sea trembled with their war cry. Their eyes were resolute, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Whitebeard's flag flapped in the wind, boldly announcing to the world: They would not back down!

...

At the same time—

Ron sat aboard a ship in the New World, watching the TikTok data stream skyrocket in real-time. His brow furrowed.

A hint of exasperation flashed in his eyes.
"Can't these old guys just chill for once? Ever thought about solving things peacefully?"

His gaze then drifted to the Honor of Kings icon on his phone screen. His brain buzzed and then an idea slowly took shape.

His eyes lit up, the corners of his mouth lifting into a subtle smile.
"I've got it."

...

As soon as Whitebeard's war declaration video dropped, the entire sea was shaken.

Inside the dimly lit conference room at the Revolutionary Army's HQ, the glow from the projector illuminated Dragon's serious, tattooed face.

He clasped his hands beneath his chin, silently watching the video of Whitebeard's imposing declaration. The furrow between his brows deepened.

"Leader, latest intel."
Sabo walked in briskly, holding a thick stack of faxes.
"Whitebeard has gathered forty-three pirate crews under his command. The entire fleet is heading straight for Marineford at full speed."

His voice was tense.
"At this pace, they'll collide with Marine forces in under 72 hours."

Dragon slowly stood and walked toward the world map.

His fingertip traced the path of the Whitebeard Pirates until it stopped at Marineford. A grave expression formed in his eyes, as though he were calculating something.

"The Marines won't let him go," Dragon said flatly.
"Ace's identity is too special. He's Roger's son."

Sabo's pupils shrank. The documents in his hand nearly slipped.
"What?! Fire Fist Ace is the son of Pirate King Roger…"

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed through his head. Vague images began surfacing in his mind. The harder he tried to see them, the fuzzier they became. The pain only grew.

He clutched his forehead. Cold sweat formed.

Dragon noticed his condition and gently patted his shoulder, pulling him back from the brink. He frowned slightly and asked,
"Did you know Ace before?"

"I… I don't know," Sabo shook his head, his voice weak.
"I keep seeing flashes of something. I don't know if they're memories of him."

"In that case, I'm giving you your next assignment."

Dragon turned around, eyes glinting like blades from the shadows.
"Sabo, take the Second and Third Divisions and move to the waters near Marineford. Await further orders."

Sabo stood straight.
"Are we going to assist Whitebeard?"

"No." Dragon's tone sharpened.
"We're going to make this war… burn even hotter."

He stepped to the window and stared into the distance, watching waves crash endlessly under the dark sky.
"The Marines have grown reckless these past years. It's time they got a taste of real consequences."

Sabo nodded thoughtfully.
"So, harass their supply lines during the chaos? Or…"

"Act based on the situation," Dragon cut him off.
"Your goal is to bleed the Marines as much as possible."

He paused for a moment, then added in a low voice,
"But don't get involved directly. Let Whitebeard and the Navy tear each other apart."

Sabo saluted and turned to leave.

A lightning bolt suddenly split the night sky outside the window, casting Dragon's complicated expression in a flash of silver. Rain began falling, tapping rhythmically against the glass, like a prelude to the bloodbath ahead.

"Oh, and one more thing," Dragon called after him.
"If possible, document every detail of this war."

Sabo glanced back knowingly.
"Should we livestream it on TikTok?"

A cold smile crept across Dragon's face.
"Let the world see just how fragile their so-called 'absolute justice' really is."

When Sabo disappeared into the rainy night, Dragon looked back at Whitebeard's war declaration on the screen.

The world's strongest man held his Murakumogiri high, while the pirates behind him roared like thunder.

Dragon's lips curved upward ever so slightly.
"The tide of the era… is finally about to change course."

...

At the Revolutionary Army's secret port, dozens of warships disguised as merchant vessels were quietly setting sail.

On the decks, soldiers of the Revolutionary Army silently checked their weapons. In each pair of eyes, the fire of revolution blazed.

Their gazes were steady, as if they had already glimpsed a brand-new future.

...

In various corners of the New World, countless taverns were playing out the same scene.

Under dim yellow lights, groups of pirates huddled around greasy wooden tables. The glow from their phones lit up faces filled with disbelief.

The air reeked of rum and tobacco, and tension hung heavy in every room.

An old pirate with a scarred face stared at Whitebeard's declaration video. The rum glass in his hand slipped and shattered with a crack, amber liquid splashing across his worn leather boots.

He widened his eyes, disbelief etched on his face.
"For one crewmate… he's taking on the entire Navy Headquarters?"

His voice trembled slightly.

Bounty hunter Viper Jason took a sharp breath, veins bulging on his forehead.
"That old monster Whitebeard has lost it!"

The tavern fell silent. The only sound was Whitebeard's deep voice echoing from the phones:
"If you won't release him, then let's fight!"

In a shadowy corner, a one-armed pirate slammed his hand on the table. The glasses jumped.

Tears glistened in his single eye.
"If I'd had a captain like that back then… my brothers wouldn't have…"

His voice broke. He wiped his face with a rough palm, pain and longing flashing in his expression.

"To Whitebeard!"
The young pirate Musket Billy stood up and raised his glass, voice shaking.
"A captain like that… is worth dying for!"

"To Whitebeard!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 95: Full-blown War

"To Whitebeard!"

The entire tavern erupted.

The sound of clinking glasses rose and fell, mixing with the scent of ale and rum.

Old pirates had red-rimmed eyes. Young pirates trembled with excitement as they raised their glasses high, toasting Whitebeard's courage and conviction.

At the Tavern, the proprietress Machi wiped down the counter, quietly dabbing tears from the corners of her eyes.

She remembered twenty years ago, when the Whitebeard Pirates passed through. That giant of a man had gently held the sick orphans in his arms and promised to take them to see the sea.

His smile back then was so warm, it could chase away any darkness.

"Crazy…" In a corner, a hooded man muttered under his breath, but there was a faint smile on his face. "Truly an incredible madman."

The whole tavern was awash in warmth and excitement.

...

Red-Haired Shanks stood alone at the bow of the Red Force, the setting sun casting a long shadow behind him.

He stared at the video of Whitebeard's declaration of war on his phone screen. His brow furrowed tighter and tighter. The sea breeze tousled his red hair, but couldn't blow away the heaviness in his eyes.

"This stubborn old man…" Shanks muttered, his fingers unconsciously brushing the scar over his left eye, a "souvenir" left by Teach years ago.

Teach handing Ace over to the Marines… His real aim was to force Whitebeard into a war, using the Marines' blade to eliminate those he couldn't defeat himself. That move was peak Teach.

Shanks tapped into Whitebeard's TikTok homepage. After a moment's hesitation, he hit the Follow button. Then, he quickly typed out a private message:

[Newgate, let's talk. This war will shatter the current balance.]

After sending it, he held the phone in his palm, thumb tapping lightly against the screen.

One minute... five minutes... ten minutes passed. The message remained Unread.

Shanks's mouth twitched. Benn Beckman had never seen his Captain show this expression before. It was a tangled mess of annoyance and deep concern.

He sighed, about to speak, when Shanks suddenly let out a cold laugh and typed rapidly on the screen:

"Heh…"

[You think you're the only one who values family? This war will drag countless islands and innocent families into the flames.]

Waves slammed against the hull with a dull thud. The glaring "Unread" notification reflected in Shanks's eyes. He took a deep breath and sent a third message:

[Final warning. If you insist on starting this war... I'll stop you myself.]

As soon as he hit send, Shanks tossed the phone to Beckman beside him. His red hair whipped wildly in the wind, like a fire about to erupt.

"Prepare to set sail." Shanks's voice was terrifyingly calm. "Full speed ahead to Marineford."

Beckman caught the phone, glanced at the unread messages on the screen, and sighed silently. "You're really planning to intervene?"

Shanks gripped the hilt of Griffon, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "If he won't reply, then I'll tell him in person."

...

Just then, the phone buzzed.

Beckman looked down at it. His pupils shrank sharply. "Shanks, we've got bad news."

Shanks took the phone. The screen displayed a new piece of intel:

[Beasts Pirates are on the move! Kaido has transformed into his Azure Dragon form and left Wano!]

"Damn it!" Shanks's expression shifted into pure fury, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the phone. "That lunatic Kaido is trying to exploit the chaos!"

Beckman blew out a puff of smoke, his tone tinged with helplessness. "He wants to swoop in after the Marines and Whitebeard bleed each other dry."

Even though he was angry, there wasn't much Shanks could do.

Kaido's sudden move was a full-blown game-changer for the New World. After a long silence, Shanks finally made his decision: stop Kaido at all costs. This war couldn't be allowed to spiral further.

He was about to issue a change of course when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something utterly surreal on the sea's surface.

A Sea King the size of a small island was breaking through the waves. Its massive body sent monstrous swells across the sea like a moving mountain.

And right on its massive head… sat a man cross-legged!

The man casually gnawed on a chicken leg, occasionally patting the Sea King's head to guide it along—like it was a damn taxi.

"Is that…?" Shanks squinted his single eye. His whole body suddenly stiffened. "It can't be him?!"

Beckman's cigarette fell onto the deck. His eyes widened in disbelief. "No way… it's really…"

"It's Ron." Shanks's voice grew heavy, his fingers gently brushing the Griffon at his waist.

The setting sun cast a golden outline around Ron's white robe. His laid-back posture looked wildly out of place in this sea teetering on the brink of war.

Beckman strode up beside Shanks, the glow of his cigarette flickering in the dusk. "The former Admiral kicked out of the Marines… what the hell has he been plotting all this time?"

Shanks shook his head. He wanted to know that too.

"Full speed!" Shanks suddenly ordered. Ron showing up now wasn't random. "We're catching up to him!"

The sails of the Red Force filled with wind. The hull surged forward, slicing through the waves at incredible speed.

Yasopp adjusted the sails from the mast. Lucky already had the ropes ready.

As the distance closed, Ron's figure grew clearer.

...

On the bright blue sea,

Ron lounged casually on the Sea King's head, scrolling lazily through his phone.

Suddenly, the beast beneath him let out a low groan, causing the phone in his hand to wobble slightly.

"Huh?" Ron raised his head, confused. That's when he noticed the familiar red pirate ship racing in from behind.

He squinted, recognizing the red-haired man standing at the bow.

"Red-Haired Shanks?" Ron raised a brow and lightly patted the Sea King's rough skin. "Hey, pause here for a sec."

The Sea King let out a drawn-out "Ooooooh", its massive body slowing down and sending ripples across the sea.

The Red Force closed the distance quickly.

As the two sides drew closer, Shanks's pupils suddenly contracted. The man reclining lazily on the Sea King's head looked nothing like the frail, half-dead former Admiral from years past.

Ron's skin glowed with health. His presence was as steady as the ocean. There was not a trace of the weakness he had shown when the Marines kicked him out.

"Something wrong?" Ron said lazily, still glued to his phone screen, swiping occasionally.

Shanks finally snapped out of it. He took a deep breath. "Whitebeard is on his way to Marineford. This war will upend the entire world." He locked eyes with Ron. "Help me. I want you to stop him."

"What???"

(To be continued.)