Whitebeard's declaration of war against the Marines echoed above the Moby Dick, lingering in the air long after his voice faded.
"We are going to…"
"Launch the greatest war this world has ever seen!"
The deck froze at the weight of the command.
No frenzied cheers.
No reckless roars.
Every crew member, every commander, every warrior of the Whitebeard Pirates turned into silent statues in that moment.
But!
In their eyes burned the fire of vengeance.
"Form ranks!"
"Raise the sails!!"
"Notify all allied fleets! Gather at the 'Trident Sea Region,' the entrance to the New World!"
Orders were barked by division commanders—brief, sharp, filled with the smoke of looming war.
The Moby Dick let out a deep rumble as its massive hull cut a resolute arc through the waves. The whale-shaped prow seemed alive, jaws gaping in a voiceless roar at the route leading straight to Marine Headquarters.
The great storm had begun.
Barely half a day later, the whole world heard the roar of this sea emperor.
An emergency extra edition signed personally by "Big News" Morgans blanketed every corner of the world like a fall of black snow.
No surplus words.
Only a single, full-page photograph of Whitebeard.
His eyes glared wide, beard and hair bristling, the fury within him seeming to tear through the paper itself and scorch the soul of anyone who looked at it.
The headline carried but one word:
[DECLARATION OF WAR!]
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
The Den Den Mushi in the Fleet Admiral's office had been screeching without pause for the past hour, croaking like a chorus of dying frogs.
"Report, Fleet Admiral! G-5 branch confirms the Whitebeard Pirates' main ship has changed course!"
"Report! In G-2's waters, we've spotted the fleet of 'Maelstrom Spider' Squard!"
"Report! The ship of 'Bohemian Knight' Doma has appeared as well!"
"And the Decalvan Brothers! 'Ice Witch' Whitey Bay! They're all converging in the same direction!"
One after another, names were shouted—each a notorious pirate long established in the New World.
Sengoku stood before the great window, silent. His expression was darker than the storm clouds outside.
Because they had angered a Yonko.
The office doors slammed open.
Hero of the Marines, Garp, strode in, a bag of donuts still in his hand.
The smile usually on his face was gone, replaced by a grave seriousness never seen before.
"Sengoku."
"There really is no turning back, is there?"
Without turning around, Sengoku spoke, his voice heavy as an erupting volcano.
"Issue the 'Mandatory Summons!' Target: the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"Order the three Admirals to return immediately!"
"Marineford is now under the highest level of war alert!"
Holy Land, Mary Geoise—Room of Authority.
The Five Elders sat in silence, staring at the wanted poster bearing Ace's face.
"That old man Whitebeard… he's coming at last."
"This war will shake the world."
"But it is also an opportunity—an opportunity to cleanse the remnants of the old era once and for all."
"Keep CP0's eyes on Kaido and Big Mom. We cannot allow those lunatics to stir the waters now."
"Send word to Sengoku… let him do whatever it takes."
This time, the World Government would back him unconditionally.
Moby Dick, War Council Chamber.
The heavy doors swung open, and the division commanders entered one by one.
The room bore no excess decoration—only a massive round table large enough for every core member, and the giant flag of the Whitebeard Pirates hanging upon the wall.
Marco entered first. Gone was his usual drowsy air—what remained was only a cold, sharp demeanor.
Jozu followed, each step landing with a thud that strained the deck beneath him. His diamond-armored arms gleamed under the lamplight, radiating silent intimidation.
Flower Sword Vista came next, his hand never leaving the hilt at his waist. His once-gentle eyes now brimmed with lethal intent.
Then Izo, Blamenco, Rakuyo.
Fourteen division commanders in all—the pinnacle of the Whitebeard Pirates' might—present in full.
Lucian Thorn was the last to enter.
The instant he stepped inside, he was struck by a suffocating pressure so heavy it felt as though it could crush him flat.
It wasn't Haki.
It was the collective, silent fury of dozens of Whitebeard's commanders fused into one.
Each found their place. All remained standing.
They waited.
They waited for the arrival of the one who spoke for them all—Edward Newgate.
Creak—
From behind the head seat, a private door opened.
Edward Newgate walked in.
He carried no weapon. He released no Haki. Yet his very presence alone drove the tension in the room even higher.
He reached the massive chair at the head of the table, but did not sit. Instead, he pressed his enormous hand upon the tabletop.
Thud.
The muffled impact made every commander tense unconsciously.
Whitebeard's gaze swept across the room like a beam of light, pausing for a heartbeat on Lucian Thorn.
In his eyes, there was no longer warmth or admiration—only the bottomless stillness of a storm about to break.
At last, he looked away, pulled out the chair, and slowly sat.
Boom!
It was as though a mountain had settled upon their hearts.
Long silence.
Oppressive silence.
Finally, Whitebeard spoke. His voice was not loud, but each word struck the ear as if carved from stone.
"That bastard Teach murdered his comrade for the sake of ambition. And now, to save his own life, he has handed Ace over to the Marines."
"This is the gravest provocation and betrayal to the Whitebeard Pirates."
"The Marines have accepted his 'gift.' They mean to execute Ace as a display of their so-called 'justice'—to humiliate us and trample on the dignity of a Yonko."
He paused, raising his eyes.
"They want to fight."
"Then we will give them war."
With that, he slammed his hand across the table.
Shrrrk!
A giant map, tanned from the hide of a sea beast, unfurled instantly across the tabletop.
Every route, every island, every Marine base was marked in dense detail.
Whitebeard's massive finger traced the Grand Line, swept past the Red Line, and came down hard at the center of the chart.
There, a crescent-shaped island bristling with fortifications and cannons was drawn.
Marine Headquarters.
Marineford.
Every commander's eyes fixed upon that single point.
"Our son is there."
Whitebeard's voice was ice and iron.
"Now—begin the war council!"