Shiki had already begun his retreat.

  Charlotte Linlin, seeing the situation deteriorate rapidly, also decided to cut her losses. She wasn't about to stick around and risk being captured and thrown back into Impel Down. The battle had clearly turned against the pirates, Marineford had been too well-prepared. Even with Whitebeard's forces and the chaos sown by Shiki and others, the Marines had maintained control of the battlefield.

  Newgate was dying. Once he fell, the Marines would have more resources to spare. If she didn't escape now, she'd be next.

  Garp, watching Charlotte Linlin disengage, hesitated briefly. He then shifted his focus and delivered a crushing punch to Marco, sending the Phoenix crashing to the ground.

  Let Big Mom go, Garp thought.

  He wasn't acting out of mercy but strategy. The remnants of the Big Mom Pirates would likely end up with Kaido. If that happened, the two Yonko wouldn't coexist peacefully for long.

  Either Charlotte Linlin would challenge Kaido's authority, sparking internal strife, or Kaido would try to crush her to maintain dominance. Regardless of the outcome, it would throw the New World into chaos, chaos that would benefit the Marines when they eventually unched their offensive there.

  ---

  Cudius had initially pnned to use Teach to stir unrest in the New World. But with Teach dead and Shiki now on the run, Cudius saw a new opportunity.

  Shiki will serve as the catalyst for the New World's chaos, Cudius thought. He's too arrogant to sit still and too ambitious to give up.

  With Teach gone, Shiki would inevitably try to cim territory, pushing the New World's pirate factions into conflict.

  Better him than Teach, Cudius concluded.

  ---

  The battlefield had descended into chaos.

  The Whitebeard Pirates were desperately trying to escape. The Marines pursued with relentless aggression. Shiki's forces scattered, and no one cared enough to chase them.

  In the center of it all stood Newgate, facing the combined assault of Cudius, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino.

  The four high-level combatants worked in perfect harmony. Their attacks came from all directions, Kuzan's ice, Borsalino's light, Sakazuki's magma, and Cudius's ruthless swordpy.

  Newgate fought valiantly, but his injuries were taking their toll. His reactions slowed. His movements grew sluggish. Defending against Sakazuki left him open to Borsalino's sers; blocking Kuzan's ice left him vulnerable to Cudius's strikes.

  His body already riddled with wounds, suffered more damage with each passing second. Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, and his vision began to blur.

  ---

  Despite the worsening injuries, Newgate remained conservative in his attacks. He wasn't afraid of dying, he'd accepted that fate the moment the war began. But he needed to buy time for his sons to escape.

  He could go out in a bze of glory, but that would end the battle too soon. If he could survive for just a few more minutes, that might give Marco and the others the window they needed to retreat.

  "Ugh…"

  Newgate took a powerful kick from Borsalino. His knees buckled, and his left leg colpsed beneath him. Blood sprayed from his mouth.

  Sakazuki seized the opportunity.

  "Hellhound!" he roared, unching a magma-coated fist directly at Newgate's skull.

  Newgate twisted his head to avoid a direct hit, but the bzing attack still clipped him.

  Half his scalp and his left ear were incinerated on impact. The pain was blinding. His vision bcked out for a second.

  Before he could recover, Cudius struck.

  His bde Shindō pierced Newgate's chest.

  "Freeze—Winter!" Cudius intoned.

  Cold, white mist billowed from the bde. Frost spread outward from the wound, crystalizing across Newgate's torso. A jagged ice flower bloomed over his heart.

  Cudius pulled the sword free. The wound didn't bleed; the ice had sealed it shut.

  Newgate staggered, his breath coming in short, shallow bursts. His legs trembled. His eyes dimmed.

  But then…

  A smile appeared on his face.

  "Heh… What a grand funeral," Newgate murmured.

  ---

  Cudius turned and surveyed the battlefield.

  Marineford, once an imposing fortress of justice, y in ruins. The great walls were shattered. The pza was a graveyard of corpses. Fires crackled amidst the debris, while smoke billowed into the sky.

  Iron. Blood. Fire.

  The perfect setting for the death of the Strongest Man in the World.

  Cudius exhaled softly. "As far as pirate funerals go… you're right."

  He waved his hand. Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino understood immediately. They ceased their attacks and turned their focus to chasing the retreating Whitebeard Pirates.

  Cudius sheathed his sword and looked down at Newgate.

  "As a pirate, you should feel honored. Few get to die with this kind of send-off," Cudius said. His tone was devoid of sympathy. "It's a shame about the Marines who died in this war. They sacrificed themselves for justice. To honor them, I'll ensure the Whitebeard Pirates are completely eradicated today."

  Newgate didn't respond. He was barely conscious.

  "He's done," Cudius thought.

  Newgate's breaths were slow and shallow. His legs swayed. But still, he stood.

  The pirate raised his head and forced out a raspy chuckle.

  "Didn't expect… it'd be you in the end…"

  Cudius said nothing.

  Newgate coughed violently. Blood trickled down his chin. Yet, despite the agony, he shifted his weight and pnted his feet more firmly.

  "What's he doing…?" Cudius wondered.

  Newgate tightened his grip on Murakumogiri and used it to push himself upright.

  Cudius watched without intervening. He understood the significance.

  Newgate was choosing to die standing.

  The Yonko drew one st, bored breath and stared toward the horizon.

  "The era of chaos ends here… huh?" Newgate rasped. His gaze flicked toward Cudius. "You… you're right. My time is done. Yours begins now. But remember this…"

  Cudius frowned.

  "The One Piece…" Newgate's eyes burned with final defiance. "…is real."

  The words resonated like a cannon bst across the battlefield.

  Pirates nearby froze. Marines gnced at each other with anxious expressions. The decration spread like wildfire.

  Newgate's strength gave out.

  His body locked in pce, held upright only by the weight of his naginata. His eyes gzed over. His breathing stopped.

  But he did not fall.

  Cudius stood there for several seconds, silent.

  Then he pulled the Den Den Mushi from his coat and spoke into it:

  "Whitebeard is dead. All units, proceed to phase two. Exterminate the Whitebeard Pirates."

  The command crackled across the battlefield.

  But before the Marines could respond, a powerful ssh of compressed air shot in from the sea. It tore through the ice Kuzan had id across the bay.

  The frozen surface shattered into jagged shards.

  Sakazuki intercepted the ssh with a magma-coated fist. The two forces collided with a deafening crack, sending steam billowing into the air.

  ***

  This book is complete. Support me on Patreon to read all advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.