The Death of Portgas D. Ace

Chapter 574 title page. Large bold lettering declares "Chapter 574: 'THE DEATH OF PORTGAS D. ACE'". Below, a chaotic splash illustration shows the Straw Hat crew in a smoky, debris-filled area. Nami stands prominently in the foreground wearing a "CRASH" jersey and short skirt, smiling as she holds a large mallet. Luffy lies sprawled on the ground nearby with his straw hat. Several crew members appear in the background wearing helmets and goggles amid swirling smoke and impact effects. Giant lettering spells "MOGURA" across the top of the scene.

Explosive action erupts across the page. In the top panel, a massive figure looms over a fallen man amid smoke and debris as a voice cries "...!!!I". Below, multiple close-up reaction panels show shocked expressions from Whitebeard Pirates and allies. A large speech bubble declares "THEY GOT ACE!!!" as the crowd reacts in horror. Whitebeard himself appears in the lower panels, mouth open in a roar, with sweat flying and intense expressions visible on surrounding fighters. Smoke, motion lines, and impact effects fill the chaotic battlefield scene.

Intense close-ups and wide shots capture the escalating chaos. Whitebeard's furious face fills one panel as he shouts. A Marine officer yells "STOP AKAINU!!!" while another figure screams in the background. Multiple panels show panicked Marines and pirates with wide eyes and open mouths. A massive "DO-GOON!!" sound effect erupts as a cannon fires. A fish-like character shouts "FIRE!!!" while another yells "!!!". The bottom panel reveals a vast Marineford plaza packed with soldiers and spectators watching the unfolding battle on a large screen. Japanese SFX and impact lines emphasize the frantic atmosphere.

A massive explosion erupts across the battlefield as a burning figure crashes down amid smoke and debris. Portgas D. Ace lies battered on the ground with "GUTA..." and "GUTA..." sound effects marking his labored breaths while a shocked ally stares with "!!!" on his back. In the next sequence Ace surges forward and drives a powerful punch into an opponent, who shouts in panic, "IT'S NO GOOD, WE CAN'T STOP HIM!!" Another voice adds, "IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE STILL ALIVE..." Ace's expression hardens as he growls, "NO MORE!!!" Nearby, Monkey D. Luffy's face twists in anguish, screaming "STOP!!!" as the chaos rages around them.

Jimbei charges in with a massive strike, yelling "JIMBEI!!!" as the impact sends shockwaves and water flying with "JUUWA!!!" and "!!!" effects. An enemy taunts, "STOP WASTING MY TIME, JIMBEI. YOU'RE A FORMER SHICHIBUKAI, YOU SHOULD KNOW MY STRENGTH..." Jimbei replies grimly, "UHHM..." while freeing Ace, who cries out, "UNDO MY HANDCUFFS ALREADY!!" A relieved voice exclaims, "OH MAN!! I'M SAVED! I WAS ABOUT TO..." In a close-up Jimbei roars with determination, "I'LL HOLD YOU BACK AS LONG AS I CAN!!! MY LIFE HAS NO VALUE TO BEGIN WITH!!!" and "EVEN IF IT COSTS ME MY BODY."

Sengoku confronts Garp amid the rubble, demanding "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, GARP!!I" and "VICE ADMIRAL GARP!!! WHAT ARE YOU...!I" Garp's face twists with rage as he declares, "I'M GONNA KILL THAT SAKAZUKI!!!" and threatens, "HAA...!!! HOLD ME BACK JUST LIKE THAT, SENGOKU!!! OTHERWISE..." Below, Jimbei is struck while protecting Ace; someone yells "JIMBEI, GET BACK!!!" as an explosion erupts. A Marine officer sneers, "IT LOOKS LIKE I'LL NEED TO PUNISH YOU FOR HIGH TREASON!!!" and mocks, "...!!! YOU FOOL...!!!"

A massive blade swings through the air with "ZUUUN" and "BANNN" impact effects as Vista and Marco appear. Someone shouts "VISTA!! MARCO!!!" In the lower panels a bloodied man gasps, "DON'T YOU REALIZE IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE FOR FIRE FISTI" while another wonders, "HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED!I" A Marine with a mustache mutters, "THAT ONE MOMENT OF CARELESSNESS!!" and a third Marine sweats, "KU...!! AHH, HOW IRRITATING!! HAKI USERS, HUH...I"

Ace kneels on the battlefield, bloodied and exhausted, as allies and enemies react in shock. A voice cries out, "ACE!!!" Luffy rushes forward and embraces his brother tightly. "Luffy..." Ace gasps. Luffy replies, "...!! I'm sorry..." Ace continues, "Sorry I couldn't let you save me..." Nearby allies shout desperately, "Ace!!! Hurry, we've got to get you help..." Luffy repeats, "I'm sorry..." while Ace struggles to speak amid the chaos and smoke. The scene captures the brothers' final embrace as the battlefield rages around them.

Allies scream for aid as Ace collapses. "Doctor, hurry!! Please treat him!!!" one shouts. Another yells, "Somebody help him!!! Please save Ace!!!" and "What the hell are you talking about!!I" Ace, barely conscious, mutters, "I'm done for... so... He burned up my insides... zeh..." and "I can tell that my life is coming to an end..." Luffy stares in horror, then roars, "YOU PROMISED!!! HAA..." as the battlefield erupts in smoke and debris. Voices plead, "What are you talking aboutI Ace, are you gonna dieI" while Ace whispers his final thoughts.

The battlefield echoes with past accusations. "Isn't that what you said, Ace!!I" someone demands. "You promised you wouldn't die!!!" Luffy and Ace share a quiet moment. Ace reflects, "I would never have thought... to live..." and "Yeah... just like with Sabo... if I didn't have an annoying little brother like you..." Flashback panels show crowds jeering: "Would love to see that!!" "Burn him at the stake!! Everyone in the world would say that..." "Serves you right!" "You know what we'd say!I" "How about we count how many people in the world hate Roger," and "If Gold Roger had a kid... I can't blame them... Kill him!!!"

Ace's memories surface. A young Ace declares, "Shut up!! If I was strong enough, I would have killed them all!!" and questions his birth. He recalls, "I'm so sorry that a piece of trash like me was born." and "I hope these are his last words." In the present, Ace admits, "Now that I'm about to die... I even kinda miss her..." asking Luffy to tell Dadan thanks. Luffy cries, "You're my brother after all!!!!" Ace smiles faintly, "But I'm sure you'll do it..." before whispering his one regret: "That I couldn't see you achieve your dream..."

In the midst of the raging battlefield at Marineford, a young man in a black hat and coat shouts defiantly, "GET OUT HERE! I'M HERE FOR WHITE-BEARD'S HEAD!!!" Whitebeard towers amid smoke and flames, his massive naginata raised as he roars, "EVERYONE...!!!" and "....!!! OLD MAN....!!!" Smaller panels flash back to Ace's tormented face, tears streaming as he declares, "I'M A WORTHLESS MAN..." and "WITH THE BLOOD OF A DEMON FLOWING THROUGH ME..." Allies cry out, "DON'T GIVE UP!! ACE, WE'LL SAVE YOU!" while Whitebeard's voice echoes, "HAA... HAA..." A massive SFX "わあああああ" shakes the scene. Luffy appears in close-up, beads around his neck marked with an "A," staring in shock as a voice says, "LUFFY... AND" Nearby, a bloodied figure kneels amid rubble, muttering fragments about living without regrets and what he truly wanted: "WASN'T FAME OR ANYTHING... THE THING I REALLY WANTED... WAS TO KNOW THAT IT WAS OKAY FOR ME TO BE BORN..." Luffy's eyes widen as he reaches out, "...!I" while distant voices plead, "Luffy, what I'm about to tell everyone else... HAA... I CAN'T... TALK FOR MUCH LONGER..."

Ace's bloodied face fills the frame, tears and sweat mixing as he grips Luffy tightly. With a broken, grateful smile he cries out, "FOR LOVING ME!!!" and "THANK YOU..." His voice cracks with overwhelming emotion. In the background, smaller panels show Garp's anguished face shouting "ACE...!!!" and Luffy's desperate reach toward his fallen brother amid swirling smoke and debris. A large SFX "わあああああ" and impact marks "ド" emphasize the raw grief and finality of the moment as Ace's body slumps.

Luffy stands stunned on the battlefield, asking himself in shock, "SHOULD I HAVE BEEN BORNI" Nearby panels show his trembling form and a small figure in the distance. Ace's lifeless body lies across the ground, blood pooling beneath his tattooed back marked "A." Luffy's face twists in denial as he stares at his brother. Suddenly, a wild-eyed figure with a wide grin bursts into frame, shouting, "DID YOU THINK I WAS DEADI" The scene cuts between Luffy's horrified expression and the chaotic aftermath, with motion lines and sweat drops conveying overwhelming despair and disbelief.

Luffy screams in anguish, "I CAN'T DIE AND LEAVE A WEAKLING BROTHER LIKE YOU BEHIND! I PROMISE! I WILL NEVER DIE!!" while clutching Ace's body. Flashbacks show a young Ace and Luffy arguing, with Ace yelling, "DON'T GO KILLING ME OFF, IDIOT!!" and Luffy crying, "WHAT'RE YOU CRYING FOR!I" A quiet panel reveals a woman holding a baby as narration states, "IF IT'S A BOY... ACE. HIS NAME IS GOL D. ACE." The present-day scene returns to Luffy howling over Ace's corpse amid smoke and debris, his face streaked with tears and blood, the weight of loss crushing him as the chapter reaches its devastating climax.

A lone, heavily built man kneels on the ground in the lower right of the otherwise empty page. His head is bowed deeply, face hidden, with spiky dark hair and a muscular torso marked by scars and sweat. He wears an open dark vest, striped armbands, a wide belt, and shorts, one hand pressed to the floor while the other hangs limply. The figure appears utterly defeated or grieving, with motion lines and debris around his knees suggesting he has just collapsed or is struggling to remain upright.

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