One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

"The remains of Saint Satan..."

"We'll deal with it after the war ends," Piet Saint's voice was hoarse and low.

His gaze fell on the head still lying on the ice. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

Meanwhile, Akainu was still trying to give chase in the direction of the port, but Shanks appeared in front of him.

Griffin's blade was still pointed at his nose.

"Red hair".

Akainu's voice suppressed his anger.

"You're just a pirate, what gives you the right—"

"Because I'm standing here."

Shanks interrupted him, his voice not loud, but every word was like a nail driven into Akainu's ears.

Akainu clenched his fist, and magma churned and boiled between his fingers.

But in the end, he did not make a move.

Because he knew that Shanks wasn't there to fight, but Shanks was definitely not afraid of fighting.

If he attacks Shanks now, it would be tantamount to pushing the Red-Haired Pirates to the opposite side of the Navy.

The Navy can no longer afford to have another Yonko as an enemy.

Akainu gritted his teeth as the magma on his right arm slowly cooled and solidified back into the shape of his arm.

"Withdraw." When he squeezed out this word, the veins on his face bulged.

As Shanks sheathed Griffin, the Conqueror's Haki that had enveloped the battlefield dissipated.

He turned and walked toward the Red Fosse, his cloak billowing behind him in the sea breeze.

Beckman watched him from the ship's railing, having replaced his cigarette with a new one, but not lighting it.

After taking a few steps, Shanks stopped again and looked back at the figure leaning on his naginata in the square.

Whitebeard.

The white-bearded man happened to be looking at him, a grin spreading across his face. He didn't say anything, but simply waved at him.

Everyone understood the meaning of that gesture—get lost, kid, this is none of your business.

Shanks was silent for a few seconds, then continued walking forward.

He knew what Whitebeard was going to do next.

Sengoku knew it, Garp knew it, everyone present knew it.

But no one could stop him, because it was Whitebeard's own choice.

A man who has roamed the seas for decades has the right to choose how he dies.

Others have no right to criticize.

When the gangway of the Red Fosse was lowered, Beckman finally lit a cigarette.

"Has an agreement been reached?"

"It's settled."

Shanks boarded the ship, stood at the bow, and took one last look at Marineford.

The flag of the Navy Headquarters was still flying, but the building was riddled with holes, with cracks in the walls extending from the foundation to the top floor, and half of the building was tilted.

The square was riddled with shell craters and cracks, and the ice surface was utterly destroyed by the battle.

The corpses lay scattered in pools of blood—some were from the navy, some were pirates, and some were dressed in civilian clothes—these were the unfortunate souls who had been dragged into this mess.

"Let's go," Shanks said.

The Red Fox slowly turned its bow and headed out to sea.

The ship left a white trail of spray at its stern as it gradually moved away from the now-ruined naval headquarters.

The Red-Haired Pirates were like tourists, taking a stroll around the battlefield before quickly leaving.

On the deck, Yasopp disassembled the sniper rifle and cleaned it, muttering to himself as he did so.

"Those guys on Beehive Island are really ruthless."

When I saw Roy sever Satan's head through the scope, I almost dropped my gun.

"That knife was really scary."

Raki Lu took a bite of the meat leg.

"But what I'm more curious about is how he knew about Black Turn's weakness?"

Isn't that the Celestial Dragons' trump card?

Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke.

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

Roy started planning this ten years ago; it's not surprising he knows everything.

Shanks did not participate in their discussion.

He leaned against the ship's railing, watching Marineford recede into the distance, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of Griffin's knife.

Shanks closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The sea breeze carried the smell of gunpowder and blood, but he detected a familiar scent within it—

That was the scent of a new world.

The wind blowing from Marineford towards the latter half of the Grand Line carries the salty, fishy, ​​and scorching heat unique to that sea.

"Beckman." He opened his eyes.

"Um?"

"After we get back, keep a close eye on Kaido's movements."

Now that he has begun assembling the fleet, he won't just be putting on a show.

Beckman nodded:

"That madman Kaido is probably trying to seize territory while Whitebeard is away."

However, since the Whitebeard Pirates' main force is still intact, he probably won't engage in a direct confrontation.

"uncertain."

Shanks shook his head.

"If the news gets out that Whitebeard has chosen to die here today, the Whitebeard Pirates will be leaderless."

Kaido won't let this opportunity slip by.

Beckman paused for a few seconds, then asked a question.

"You're planning to help the Whitebeard Pirates?"

"It's not about helping."

"It's about maintaining balance."

If Kaido were to take over Whitebeard's territory, the balance of the New World would be completely shattered.

"At that time, Kaido will be the only one in power, and with the remnants of Hazel and Big Mom's forces, the New World will be in complete chaos."

"What about Beehive Island?"

Roy really hit the jackpot this time; he'll definitely want to recruit the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates too.

Shanks recalled the glance he had exchanged with Roy earlier, and a slight smile played on his lips.

He will.

However, he won't forcibly take it; instead, he will give those people a choice.

He's that kind of person—he doesn't force you, but lets you choose for yourself, and the outcome is always in his best interest.

Beckman flicked his cigarette ash: "These kinds of people are the most troublesome."

"That's really troublesome."

Shanks turned away, no longer looking in Marineford's direction.

"Fortunately, he is not an enemy so far."

As the Roy Pirates and the Red-Haired Pirates withdrew, Marineford Square...

Only an old man with white hair remained, raising his naginata and laughing loudly.

"Gurara la la la—Sengoku! Let me see the last vestige of your navy's backbone!"

Whitebeard held his naginata high, the vibrational energy concentrated on the blade compressed to a level visible to the naked eye—

The air around the blade was violently distorted, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

The ice surface cracked outwards from him in all directions, with the cracks extending to the edge of the harbor.

Even the wreckage of warships anchored in the open sea was shaken slightly.

The Buddha, an incarnation of the Warring States period, shone with golden light, its palms clasped together, and shockwaves were compressed wildly between its palms.

There was no anger or fear on that aged face, only a solemnity of facing a mortal enemy in a decisive battle.

Two longtime rivals, locked in a bitter feud for decades, are engaged in their final showdown in this devastated square.

At the moment of impact and vibration, the entire Marineford shook violently.

The seawater in the harbor was shaken and rolled back up, forming several water walls tens of meters high, before crashing back onto the surface, splashing up a cloud of water mist.

The newsbirds circling in the sky were scattered and fled by the shockwave.

The warships that were still gathering the remnants of the army on the battlefield were shaken and tilted, and the sailors were thrown about.

The Warring States period was forced back several steps, his feet carving two deep furrows in the ice.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Whitebeard raised his naginata once more.