PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

BOOM!!

A colossal wave erupted, blasting dozens of pirate ships high into the air.

At the center of the ruined battlefield stood Whitebeard—alone.

Everyone stared in stunned disbelief.

No—they thought he was mad.

Even Blackbeard, crushed into the ground and coughing blood, looked dumbfounded.

Yes, Whitebeard was one of the Four Emperors.

Yes, he was old, battered, and clearly past his prime.

But no one had expected that, in this moment of life and death, Whitebeard would cast off all fear, standing alone against the world, daring all who would oppose him to come and face him.

"Pops!!"

Ace's scream pierced the air as he tried to ignite his flame and rush to the battlefield.

But just as he moved—

A numbing weakness swept over him.

He turned in disbelief to see Marco, face drenched in tears, clasping a pair of seastone cuffs around his wrists.

Ace froze.

The others, too, were utterly shocked.

"Marco, are you out of your mind?! That's Pops! Are you going to just let him die?! This is treason!"

Ace roared in fury.

"Why would you do this? Don't tell me you're like Teach, forgetting Pops' code?!"

The rest of the commanders tensed, some ready to break through Whitebeard's seismic barrier to return to his side.

But before they could move—

Atmos, the Water Buffalo, blocked their path, tears streaming down his face.

He howled:

"No—it's not Marco's fault! Pops never intended to leave this battlefield alive!"

"He said it himself: better he, an old relic of the past, die in exchange than watch his sons fall one by one."

"From the start, Marco knew this. He couldn't change it. And having to be the one to push Pops to his death… that's the real burden."

"Marco isn't a traitor. He's the one carrying the heaviest pain of all—his heart has been torn to shreds trying to fulfill Pops' final wish."

His anguished voice echoed across the sea, refusing to fade.

Ace and the others stood frozen.

They stared at that solitary back—unshakable, enormous, fatherly.

And when they realized that this man was laying down his life for his children…

They broke down.

Sobbing, loud and uncontrolled, echoed across the deck of the Moby Dick.

The entire battlefield had gone still.

Everyone—ally and enemy alike—was shaken by Whitebeard's decision.

This man, one of the greatest pirates to ever live… a symbol of an entire era… had chosen to die for his sons.

To be a father to the end.

Far away, aboard the Reverth, a ship flying the Jolly Roger of another Yonko—

"Captain," Lucky Roo murmured, "should we step in? Things are getting out of control."

The Red Hair Pirates had arrived shortly after the battle began.

But per Shanks' orders, they had waited—biding their time for the right moment.

Now, Whitebeard's sacrifice had caught them off guard.

If they didn't act now, the war might end before they had a chance.

Shanks remained calm.

"No… we wait."

"Whitebeard is a pillar of this era. His final roar will shake the heavens. If we jump in now, we might just get caught in it."

"When he falls—that's when we move."

"And by then… it'll be time to ask them to give me some face."

At those words, Lucky Roo wisely shut up.

Beckman and the others nodded grimly.

It felt cold and calculating.

But this was the world of pirates.

Sentiment got you killed.

Just like Whitebeard… and Ace.

Otherwise, the greatest Emperor wouldn't have fallen so far.

Back at Marineford, Sengoku recovered his wits first. He roared:

"Luo Yu! Be careful of Whitebeard's final counterattack!"

"Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji—move now! Assist Luo Yu! Minimize Whitebeard's destruction!"

The three Admirals stiffened.

They rarely coordinated, but a dying Whitebeard going berserk was no small threat.

But before they could act—

Whitebeard grasped his bisento and raised his arms wide.

He laughed, loud and unrestrained.

"Hahaha! You Marines… still so out of place in this world!"

"But to die by your hand, boy of the new era… that's enough for this old man."

"Come now—shatter the gears of the old world. You are the storm that will shake the Grand Line to its roots."

"To die at your hand… it's enough."

"Come, don't forget—I'm Whitebeard!!"

His thunderous cry echoed like a war drum across the heavens.

The crowd stood frozen.

Of all the outcomes they'd imagined, this—Whitebeard offering himself to die—was the one no one had predicted.

All eyes turned toward Luo Yu.

What would he do?

Inside the colossal Susanoo, Luo Yu lifted his wine gourd and took a light sip.

Then he raised his head, looking at Whitebeard—covered in blood but still roaring like a lion.

To the others, Whitebeard looked as imposing as ever.

But Luo Yu could see the truth.

The fire was almost out. The old giant was already dying—holding on by sheer will.

Even if Luo Yu didn't strike, Whitebeard would die here today.

But still… such heartfelt sincerity couldn't be ignored.

Luo Yu tossed his gourd toward Whitebeard.

And behind him, the towering Susanoo no Musha moved.

"Time to clock out. Until we meet again."

SHING!

The crimson blade was drawn.

The moment it sang through the air—

The Susanoo hurled its sword.

BOOM!

Just as Whitebeard raised the gourd to drink—the blade pierced his chest.

A streak of red energy roared like a comet across the sky and sea.

Whitebeard was hurled backwards—like a shooting star crashing to earth.

BOOM!!

He slammed into the distant lighthouse, miles away at the harbor's edge.

The impact shook the entire tower.

His body—along with the Susanoo's sword—was pinned into the structure.

Then—

CRACK!!

The tower crumbled under the force.

As the debris fell…

Whitebeard's towering figure remained standing on the shattered platform.

His bisento in hand.

Eyes slowly closing.

Surrounded by a waterfall of crashing seawater.

Like a monument carved by the sea itself.

The curtain had fallen.

Whitebeard was gone.