Standing before Akainu were three people… Oguro, Yoruichi, and Soifon.
"Why did I come?"
Oguro put on a thoughtful expression, then smiled lightly.
"Probably because I don't like the look of you."
The moment those words fell, Akainu's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Of course, that was just Oguro messing with him.
But using it to disgust Akainu a little felt pretty good.
Ignoring Akainu's ugly expression, Oguro turned toward Ace, who had been knocked to the ground.
Magma was still burning across Ace's body, releasing thick black smoke that refused to die out.
Oguro drew his zanpakuto. Jozu and the others were startled and immediately stepped in front of him.
"What are you trying to do?"
Oguro replied calmly, "If you want to save him, move. Now."
Jozu hesitated for a moment, glanced at Akainu who was being blocked by Soifon, then clenched his teeth and stepped aside.
Oguro murmured softly, "Dance… Sode no Shirayuki."
In an instant, the zanpakuto transformed into pure white ice crystal, leaving the Whitebeard Pirates completely stunned.
Oguro did not stop. He pointed the blade tip at Ace.
"Second Dance… Hakuren."
A wave of cold surged from the blade.
Under Oguro's precise control, the cold remained limited in scope, freezing only the burning magma clinging to Ace's body.
As the searing heat faded and a cool sensation spread across him, Ace's struggling gradually calmed.
"Hanataro, treat him."
At Oguro's call, Hanataro descended from above. Healing light flared in his hands as he placed them on Ace.
A healing-type Devil Fruit?
Everyone was shaken.
That kind of ability was incredibly rare on the seas.
Fortunately, Ace was a Logia user to begin with, so his injuries were not severe. Before long, he regained the ability to move.
"Thank you for saving me," Ace said seriously, bowing toward Oguro.
Oguro waved his hand, then pointed his thumb toward Akainu behind him.
"Oh right. That guy earlier said his Devil Fruit is the superior version of yours. Don't believe that kind of nonsense."
Akainu had already pulled back a short distance, staring at Oguro's group with extreme caution.
Hearing this, he sneered.
"The Magma-Magma Fruit is naturally the superior version of the Flame-Flame Fruit. Otherwise, how do you explain him being burned?"
Oguro rolled his eyes.
"That's just because he's taken the wrong path. If he hadn't, who burns who wouldn't be so certain."
Seeing that not only Akainu, but even Ace looked unconvinced, Oguro sighed.
"Let me ask you something. In a steel mill, do they use fire… or magma to smelt steel?"
"And those special steels used on warships… even if you throw them into magma, they won't melt. So what's used to shape them?"
The moment he said that, everyone froze.
Ace felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.
Had he really gone down the wrong path?
Oguro smacked his lips.
"Go back and train properly. A few hundred degrees, and you're showing off like that? From a theoretical standpoint, fire has no upper temperature limit."
"I'm not even asking for tens of thousands of degrees. At least hit three thousand. Then go clash with Akainu again and see who burns who."
Oguro said it lightly, but inside Ace's heart, waves were crashing violently.
If he could really do that… maybe he truly could carry Whitebeard's name and let the Whitebeard Pirates continue standing at the top of the seas.
But at that thought, Ace's heart suddenly jumped.
He looked at Oguro with hope-filled eyes and spoke sincerely.
"Mr. Oguro… could you please save Pops?"
Jozu and the others' eyes lit up instantly.
The strength of the Holy Spirit Empire was something every top power on the sea had heard of.
If they were willing to intervene, there really might be a chance to save Whitebeard.
Akainu's heart sank hard.
He had personally fought those two women before. Their strength was not inferior to any Admiral.
If they joined in, the Navy's final advantage would completely disappear.
In an instant, everyone's gaze focused on Oguro.
In the distance, Bullet, who had been preparing to rescue Ace, also stopped.
He watched Oguro with great interest.
After all, his purpose in coming this time was to save Ace.
As for whether Whitebeard lived or died, he couldn't care less.
Back when Roger was still alive, those two crews had fought countless times.
Not mortal enemies, but not exactly friends either.
What interested him now was Oguro himself.
Just how much power did this mysterious newcomer of the seas possess?
At this moment, he still had no idea that the young man before him was the direct superior of his own boss, Aizen Sosuke.
Oguro fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere on the battlefield became suffocating.
Akainu had already prepared himself for a fight to the death.
In his eyes, Oguro's sudden intrusion and obstruction could not possibly be good news for the Navy, no matter his intentions.
Finally, Oguro let out a soft sigh.
"He can be saved… but are you sure you want that?"
Ace and the others were stunned, not immediately understanding what he meant.
Oguro pointed toward Whitebeard's proud, upright back.
"You don't need me to tell you how old your Pops is, right?"
"His physical condition was already terrible. Now he's suffered heavy injuries on the battlefield."
"Even if you save him, all that awaits him is lying in bed, waiting for death."
"For a hero of the seas, do you think he'd choose to die in bed… or die gloriously on a battlefield unlike any before?"
Ace and the others fell into silence.
They all knew that with Whitebeard's personality, being forced to lie in bed doing nothing would be worse than killing him.
"Gurararara… Oguro brat! I never thought the one who understands me best here would be someone I've never even met!"
Whitebeard laughed loudly without turning his head.
"Stupid sons! Didn't I already tell you? I'm a remnant of the old era! There's no ship in the New World that can carry me!"
"What you need to do is leave… and create your own era!"
At that moment, everyone understood.
Whitebeard had never harbored any hope of surviving.
"Alright, get going. Don't waste Whitebeard's intentions."
Oguro waved his hand, urging Ace and the others to retreat.
He himself stepped forward a few paces.
Akainu immediately went on full alert and shouted sharply.
"Sith Oguro! You barged into Marineford… what exactly are you here to do?"
Oguro cast him a cold glance.
"Akainu, get lost. I'm here to purge a traitor. I don't have time to argue with you."
A traitor?
Akainu froze.
What does your traitor have to do with Marineford?
Oguro didn't look at him again. Instead, his gaze locked onto someone within the ranks of the Marines as he sneered.
"What's wrong? Even now, you still don't dare step forward?"
"Former Captain of the Fifth Division of the Gotei 13…"
"Aizen Sosuke?"
***
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