Summary:
Just after a dose of tension hormones, Luffy rushes to the execution platform where the blades are raised in preparation for their descent down Ace’s neck. Ivankov reminds Luffy that he is still seriously injured and can’t afford to get hurt again as he helps Luffy clear a path to Ace. Suddenly, Luffy notices that Koby is blocking his direct path to Ace. Strengthening his determination to fight and grow, Koby attacks Luffy. Despite Koby using Sora, Luffy sees through the technique and delivers a crippling blow (Gomu Gomu no Bullet) directly into Koby’s face, leaving him crumpled and bleeding on the ground. After that obstacle is jumped, another rises in the form of pacifists run by the World Government and allies with marines firing lasers at them. Conveniently, the Shichibukai Boa Hancock appears and lunges in front of Luffy, rendering the Pacifista unable to attack as their programming prohibits them from attacking allies. Luffy thanks the Pirate Empress and she faints in return when he says her name.
The scene then focuses on First Division Commander Marc Phoenix trying to recover after having just been impaled by two beams of light from Admiral Kizaru when he was interrupted by the attack on Whitebeard. Marco tries to continue fighting, but Vice Admiral Onigumo sneaks up on him and places Seastone handcuffs on his right hand, sealing his Devil Fruit abilities. Subsequently, Admiral Kizaru pierces his chest again with two beams of light. The Whitebeard pirates scream at the sight of the defeated commander.
Also defeated is Jozu, who was frozen by Admiral Aokiji, who also took full advantage of the Commander’s distraction by striking Whitebeard. Aokiji leaves, noting that “The Whitebeard Pirates really fell apart…”
Even as the commanders are “dropping like flies”, Fleet Admiral Sengoku demands the immediate delivery of Whitebeard’s head. This sparks a full frontal assault on Whitebeard, leaving him speared, impaled and bullet-riddled by the remarkable marines, but remarkably still standing. Pirates call “Old man!” worried about Whitebeard, who clearly shows fatigue, but with strong determination, he roars, “I AM WHITEBEARD!!!” as he fends off the attackers with his bicent, claiming he doesn’t need any help and can hold on for a while longer.
Seeing Whitebeard take down a number of exceptional marines in one fell swoop, and still standing despite his severe, mortal-looking injuries, they conclude that he is a monster. Whitebeard then announces that he is fully aware of what his death entails and that he will not perish until he can mourn the future of his children.
A group of Whitebeard’s pirates, including Vista, along with Jinbo, stand behind Whitebeard to help him, but Fleet Admiral Sengoku declares that he will show Whitebeard the future of his “children” and orders Ace’s execution to begin. Sengoku tells Whitebeard to watch carefully as the executioners’ blades swing down in a wide arc. With Ace resigned to his fate and Whitebeard incapacitated, all the pirates can do is watch as the result of their efforts is about to be shredded.
With his brother’s demise imminent, Luffy lets out a Haki-saturated scream, “DROP IT!!!” (much like what he did in the arena in Amazon Lily), which renders the executioners (and some weak-willed individuals, especially Jango) unconscious. The Sengoku fleet admiral’s eyes darken in shock and the knowledgeable pirates and marines notice that it is Haoshoku Haki. Whitebeard looks on, equally surprised, and tells Marco to protect Luffy.