Chapter 182: The Emperor of the Sea's Final Choice!
Center of the Deserted Island - Battlefield
The flames had died down, but the scorched earth had not yet cooled.
Between heaven and earth, a suffocating pressure quietly permeated the air.
Whitebeard stood quietly between the fissures in the ground, holding Murakumogiri. His shoulders trembled slightly, veins pulsing on his forehead.
His gaze pierced through the residual ash of the fire, staring at the figure in front of him.
Roy stood with his left hand behind his back, his right hand still choking the critically injured Teach.
That massive body hung limply like a broken sack, charred black and breathing faintly. Yet those eyes still stared fixedly at the black wooden box in Ace's hands, greed undiminished.
"Pops! Save me! Save me, hurry—!!!" Teach screamed hoarsely, struggling madly like a wild dog in a mire.
This cry of "Pops" struck the softest corner of Whitebeard's heart once again.
After seconds of silence, Whitebeard slowly raised his head, his cloudy yet firm gaze meeting Roy's.
"...Roy."
His tone was low, yet carried an undeniable majesty. "Give Teach back to me."
Roy looked quietly at the old man before him, a trace of complexity flashing in his eyes.
"You still insist on protecting him?"
"Even if he will... destroy your home in the future?"
Whitebeard remained silent, his expression heavy.
Roy didn't press further. He simply shook his head gently, his tone like falling snow. "Obsession with family... You truly have grown old."
"RUMBLE—!!!"
Just at this moment of extreme tension, the earth trembled!
Aura after aura of powerful individuals approached like a tidal wave from the other side of the forest!
The next moment—
A group of figures descended upon the battlefield like a storm!
"Diamond Jozu"!
"Flower Sword Vista"!
Thatch, Fossa, Blenheim, Rakuyo, Namur, Curiel, Kingdew, Haruta, "Water Buffalo Atmos", Speed Jiru, Izo... All fourteen Division Commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates had arrived!
They saw the scene before them—
Pops facing off against Roy!
Roy choking the critically injured Teach!
In the distance, rocks crumbled, and Marco lay covered in blood amidst the broken cliffside!
Rage ignited everyone instantly!
"BASTARD!!!"
"What are you doing?! Put Teach down!!"
"Marine!!! YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH!!!"
Roars thundered as the fourteen commanders instantly deployed into battle formation!
Diamond Jozu covered himself in Armament Haki, transforming into an indestructible diamond giant, taking the lead to block in front of Whitebeard!
Vista drew his dual blades, sword energy swirling like a gale, killing intent boiling!
Thatch held his swords, eyes sharp as a hawk, coldly locking onto Roy!
The others unleashed their weapons, Haki surging, shaking the heavens and earth!
In this moment, all the core combat power of the Whitebeard Pirates aimed at Roy alone!
Roy stood in place, still unmoving.
His gaze swept across the faces burning with rage, finally returning to Whitebeard.
His eyes were indifferent, yet held a probing quality. "Is this your choice?"
Whitebeard took a slow step forward, smashing Murakumogiri into the ground!
"BOOM—!!!"
A ring of tangible Conqueror's Haki exploded outward from him!
The sky changed color, air waves rolling like thunder!
Whitebeard roared, like a deity in wrath: "I AM WHITEBEARD!!!"
"MY SON... WILL BE PROTECTED BY ME!!!"
Wind howled. War drums had not yet sounded, but the storm was already approaching!
In the collapsed rocks far away, a burst of blue-green flame exploded, shattering the debris.
"Cough..."
Marco struggled out of the broken rock layers, covered in wounds, blue flames churning. His right arm was injured, and his forehead still bore the crack-like scar from being "slapped away" earlier.
He stumbled but did not fall. Blue flames burned fiercely on his shoulders, transforming into a pair of trembling fire wings.
He looked up at the center of the battlefield—Roy, Whitebeard, the fourteen commanders, and Teach suspended in the air by Roy.
—The air seemed to still hold the echoes of those deafening conversations from moments ago.
He had heard every word of the exchange between Roy and Whitebeard clearly.
"To dare take Rocks' spawn as a son..."
"Even if he would kill your other sons for the sake of a fruit..."
"You always knew, but didn't want to admit it..."
These words cut back and forth in Marco's mind like knives.
His fingertips trembled slightly, his gaze falling on Teach.
That guy was charred black, bones broken, yet the manic greed in his eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest!
That gaze, staring fixedly at the black wooden box in Ace's arms, was not human.
It was... the look of a mad dog.
Marco's heart sank.
He had seen that look in countless battles—the light in the eyes of a mad dog about to devour its prey.
Marco's fist slowly clenched.
He looked down at the blue flame in his palm. Deep in his eyes, an unprecedented calmness emerged.
"If what he said is true... then Teach is not my brother."
"Pops may not... always be right."
He took a deep breath. The blue flames on his body were no longer violent, but sharp as a blade.
"As long as you dare hurt my brothers..."
"I, Marco, will personally finish you."
—In this moment, he didn't roar, nor did he question.
But in his heart, he silently set an iron rule for himself... and for the Whitebeard Pirates.
Focus Returns to the Center of the Battlefield
Roy still held Teach. The fourteen commanders around him were furious, Whitebeard's Haki was overwhelming, and the atmosphere was explosive!
Roy, however, shifted his gaze slightly to the man opposite him.
In Whitebeard's eyes, that familiar battle intent and the fatherly rage to protect his own had reignited.
Roy raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling faintly. He understood clearly in his heart—
"Looks like... today won't end peacefully."
Just then—
"BOOM!!"
Flames jetted!
A figure descended from the sky, landing heavily beside Roy!
Ace!
His shoulder still bore bloodstains, flames wrapping his arms. His eyes were firm as iron, standing fearlessly by Roy's side!
"Big Bro Roy!" Ace shouted. "At a time like this, how can I take a step back?!"
Roy paused, then laughed heartily. It was a long-lost feeling of freedom, recklessness, and hot blood!
"Hahahaha... Good!!!"
He casually tossed Blackbeard like a rag onto the open ground!
Teach tumbled through the air and hit the ground with a scream, but no one sympathized with him anymore.
Roy took a deep breath, looking at this "Emperor-level Battle Formation" of the Whitebeard Pirates before him.
"Then bring it on."
"Let us brothers take a good look—"
"At what exactly these so-called 'Four Emperors' are made of!!!"
Ace's rage soared, flames surging like dragons. He stomped forward violently. "WHITEBEARD—!! FIGHT ME!!!"
The might of an Emperor pressed down on them!
The battle intent of the fourteen commanders skyrocketed!
Flames, sword energy, Conqueror's Haki, killing intent—
The battle was on the verge of erupting!
—But just a second before this violent clash began.
A voice suddenly rang in Ace's ear, audible only to him. Like a whisper, like a dream, like an illusion...
"Ace."
"In a moment... toss the box to one of the people opposite us."
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you