Marine Headquarters

Rain falls over a rocky island in the South Blue as a ship sails past. A voice wonders, "WHO KNOWSI" while another states, "MAYBE WHITEBEARD'S ALREADY THERE." "THERE ARE ONLY THREE HOURS LEFT..." In the East Blue, people gather at a market stall. One man says, "HE HASN'T REALLY MADE ANY BIG NEWS IN YEARS..." Another replies, "YOU REALLY THINK HE'LL SHOW UP!I EVEN IF HE'S WHITEBEARD, HE'S GETTING A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH." An older man with a pipe declares, "IT WOULD BE BEST IF HE DOESN'T SHOW UP AT ALL. IT WOULD BE BEST IF THIS ALL ENDED WITH THE EXECUTION." Nearby, a woman in a headscarf listens as others comment, "WHETHER HE WINS OR LOSES... THERE'LL BE LOTS OF DEATH..." "THERE'S NO WAY THE MARINES WOULD LOSE, RIGHTI" "JEEZ... HE'S FROM ANOTHER AGE."

In the North Blue, an angry man in a fur hat slams his mug and shouts, "THEN JUST SELL ME SOME BOOZE!! I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT SOMETHING TO DRINK!!!" A voice calls out, "HEY HEY, BOOZE!! OLD MAN!!!" while another warns, "IF THE WORLD'S STILL HERE TOMORROW, I'LL OPEN THE STORE. ARE YOU TELLING ME TO WORK ON A DAY LIKE THIS!I GO HOME!!" In the West Blue, injured men lie bandaged as one recalls, "WE GAVE UP ON OUR LIVES. WE WERE JUST SITTING THERE, AND WHEN HE LAID HIS EYES ON US FOR JUST A SECOND, HE HASN'T WEAKENED A BIT...!!! WHY, JUST ONE YEAR AGO..." A loud "CRASH!!" erupts as a figure smashes through a bar. In the Grand Line, a cloaked woman gasps, "OH GOD ABOVE, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WORLDI" Children sing, "SCARIER THAN A DEMON ♪ WHITEBEARD THE PIRATE, EVEN THE KIDS KNOW. LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE SINGING WHILE THEY'RE SKIPPING ROPE."

On the island of Marineford, where Marine Headquarters is located, a large city housing the families of the marines stands nearly empty. Signs read "MARINE FOOD" as a lone dog wanders the cobblestone streets. Text notes: "Those residents have been evacuated." "As the execution draws ever nearer, they watch on monitors at Shabondy Archipelago." In a forest clearing filled with glowing spheres, people gather around screens. Reporters and cameramen from around the world prepare to broadcast. A crowd reacts in shock as one man yells, "HEY, LOOK!! THEY'RE BRINGING ACE OUT!!" Multiple monitors show Ace being escorted, a Marine ship, and live footage, with flashes and "CLICK" sounds from cameras.

Tension grips Marineford as Whitebeard remains unseen. Narration states, "Whitebeard has yet to be sighted, and tension at Marineford is running high." A marine reports, "The patrol ships sent out by the marines have all been sunk," while another figure stands watch with a massive weapon. Below, a chained prisoner with dark hair, a tattooed chest reading "ACE," and heavy shackles kneels in silence. A voice mutters "..." Nearby, the sound "CASHAN!" rings out. The narration continues, "Only three hours remain. The execution slowly draws closer," as massive crossed blades frame the prisoner beneath a dramatic "ガチャン!!" and "ドン!!" impact.

The scene shifts to the massive fortress at Marineford. Bold text declares "Grand Line Marineford Marine Headquarters." Narration reads, "Well-known marines have been gathered from all over the world. In all, over 100,000 elites are there, waiting for the final battle." A fierce marine captain shouts, "THEN IT'LL ALL BE OVER!!!" Another voice cries, "NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THERE'S ONLY THREE MORE HOURS!!" and "DON'T BE NERVOUS!!!" The colossal Marine Headquarters building towers over a fleet of warships filling the bay, with flags waving and the kanji "海軍" emblazoned across the structure.

The Royal Shichibukai stand ready. Narration explains, "stand the five villains who hold the key to the battle," with additional notes that "around the crescent-shaped bay and island. Fifty battleships are stationed" and "Countless heavy cannons are set up along the coast." Among the warlords, a massive stitched creature looms, a tall man in a black hat and coat grips a hook, and Boa Hancock poses confidently atop a giant snake. A cloaked giant and other figures gather as dramatic sound effects "ドン!!" and impact lines fill the page. At the front of the troops, small onlookers peer out from behind cannons.

The three admirals sit in ornate chairs at the plaza. Narration states, "the three admirals. are the marines' greatest military force, protecting the platform." Labeled clearly are "Marine HQ Admiral Kizaru (Borsalino)," "Marine HQ Admiral Akainu (Sakazuki)," and "Marine HQ Admiral Aokiji (Kuzan)." Kizaru lounges with crossed legs, Akainu sits sternly with arms folded, and Aokiji rests with hands clasped. To the side, the narration notes, "And at the rear of the plaza, atop the towering execution platform, the center of this incident, the head of the second division of the Whitebeard Pirates, Portgas D. Ace, awaits his fate," showing Ace bound and hanging his head as "ワアアア" cheers erupt from the crowd below.

A vast view of Marineford shows the fortress surrounded by countless Marine ships as narration states, "have gathered to prevent Ace's rescue and wait for the Whitebeard Pirates." "All of the forces of justice imaginable" fill the waters. On a small ship cutting through the waves, someone shouts, "HEY, JIMBEI!!" A panel labels the technique "Tri Current." Luffy grips the ship's wheel with Buggy's crew aboard, yelling, "ALRIGHT BASTARDS, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE!!! CLOSE TO WHAT!I" "NOW, HOW DO WE PASS THE GATESI" "I'D SAY IT WAS SLOW... IF THE WIND WAS AT OUR BACK, WE'D HAVE ARRIVED ALREADY." "I CAN ALREADY SEE THE GATES OF JUSTICE! THAT WAS FAST!!" A crewmate cheers, "THE TIME WHEN CAPTAIN BUGGY RULES THE WORLD!!!" Another echoes, "THAT'S RIGHT!!!"

Footsteps approach on the stone as a caption reads "Marinford." Vice Admiral Garp stands beside a Marine officer who says, "DO WHAT YOU WANT, I'LL BE BELOW." The officer adds, "I'M GOING TO TELL THEM EVERYTHING... ALL RIGHT, GARPI" Garp replies, "GIVE ME THE DEN DEN MUSHI..." Below on the execution platform, a Marine calls, "YES, SIR. STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT." Sengoku appears on the high platform as the crowd reacts with shock. Voices shout, "IT'S FLEET ADMIRAL SENGOKU!!" A Marine asks, "WHATI" while another mutters, "I"

Sengoku stands on the platform and declares, "PORTGAS D. ACE... THIS MAN WILL DIE HERE TODAY. AND THERE IS GREAT MEANING IN THAT DEATH...!!" He continues, "GENTLEMEN, I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU." In the crowd, a pirate yells at Tsuru, "BUWAHAHA, WHY'RE YOU BEING NICE TO ME AT A TIME LIKE THIS, TSURU!I" Tsuru answers, "NONE OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT..." Ace, bloodied and chained, looks up with "..." and "I" Sengoku points down and commands, "ACE, SAY THE NAME OF YOUR FATHER!!" Ace reacts with shock, "....!!"

Ace, beaten and chained, thinks, "MY FATHER... IS WHITEBEARD!!" A Marine wonders, "IS THIS THE TIME FOR THAT...I" "HIS FATHERI" Ace shouts desperately, "IT'S TRUE!! THE ONLY FATHER I HAVE IS WHITEBEARD!!! NOBODY ELSE!!!" Sengoku kneels before him and explains, "CIPHER POL COULD ONLY GIVE US THE SMALLEST BIT OF INFORMATION. BECAUSE ON SOME ISLAND SOMEWHERE, THAT MAN'S CHILD MIGHT BE ALIVE. A LONG TIME AGO, WE WERE DESPERATELY SEARCHING. SO WE CHECKED THE NEWBORN CHILDREN, AND ALL THE CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN SOON AFTER, AS WELL AS THEIR MOTHERS, AND STILL WE FOUND NOTHING."

At Marine Headquarters, a Marine officer with glasses declares, "YOUR MOTHER'S NAME WAS PORTGAS D. ROUGE." He continues, "IN SOUTH BLUE, THERE'S AN ISLAND BY THE NAME OF BATELIRA." Earlier panels show shocked reactions as voices state, "BUT YOUR MOTHER GAVE HER LIFE FOR YOUR BIRTH" and "USING SHEER WILLPOWER TO PERFORM A TRICK...!!!" Another adds, "THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IT..." A long-haired figure with sunglasses replies, "SHE DECEIVED US..." while a bandaged young man with a tattoo exclaims in disbelief, "NO... SHE DECEIVED THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!"

The Marine officer continues the revelation: "OUT OF LOVE FOR HER CHILD, SHE CARRIED HIM IN HER WOMB FOR TWENTY MONTHS!!" and "WE NEVER EVEN IMAGINED WHAT SHE WAS CAPABLE OF." He explains, "AND SHE DIED RIGHT THERE." and "AND WHEN SHE FINALLY GAVE BIRTH, HER STRENGTH GAVE OUT." A close-up shows a sweating, intense man with beads shouting, "THERE'S NO WAY YOU DON'T KNOW....!!!" The officer states, "A CHILD WAS BORN WITH THE BLOOD OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST VILLAIN RUNNING THROUGH HIS VEINS." "ONE YEAR AND THREE MONTHS HAD PASSED SINCE THE FATHER DIED..." "THAT CHILD WAS YOU." Crowds react with shock in the background.

The Marine officer roars, "WAS THE PIRATE KING, GOL D. ROGER!!!" and "YOUR FATHER..." Ace kneels in shock amid debris. Flashback panels show a younger Garp with sweat and tears: "MY UNBORN CHILD BEARS NO SIN, GARP!!" and "TAKE CARE OF MY BOY!!" The crowd in the distance reacts with panic and motion lines as the truth about Ace's parentage lands with devastating impact.

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