Summary:
In the Tarai stream, Ivankov is seen wondering if Dragon and his revolutionary army will show up. Luffy asks why and Ivankov says that the Dragon would not bear to see his son executed. Luffy simply reveals that he knows about the connection between Roger and Ace. This surprises the entire ship as Luffy tells them not to tell anyone because it was a secret.
At Marineford, Sengoku is in awe of the sudden arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates. What appear to be division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates stand around and just watch. Whitebeard looks up and punches the air, “smashing” it with his devil fruit, Gura Gura no Mi. This causes a gigantic shock wave that spreads through the marines. Two massive explosions go off, but no one is hurt, but it causes alarm among the Marines.
Back at the Tarai Current, Luffy says he hasn’t seen the Marines or the Whitebeard Pirates yet due to the fog. Meanwhile, Ace enters a series of flashbacks.
A younger version of Ace told Luffy that he would now leave to become a pirate. Luffy told him that he would marry in three years and he would be stronger by then. However, Garp was angry that Ace chose to become a pirate instead of being a marine. Soon, Ace is known around the world as the infamous and powerful captain of the Spade Pirates. Sengoku was seen questioning this new recruit while Whitebeard commented on Ace’s invitation as a sea warrior and his rejection.
Some time after that, Ace found Shanks. He asked if Ace wanted to say hello, grabbed his sword and threatened him. However, undeterred by the threat, Ace states that he was Luffy’s brother, saying that Luffy was bragging about Shanks and he decided to come see the real thing. Shanks cheered and said that was cause for celebration.
Sometime later, Jinbe stood in Ace’s way, stating that even though he wasn’t part of the Whitebeard Pirate, he wouldn’t let the “young reckless boy” go after the “old man”, referring to Whitebeard. The pirates recognized Jinbe and his martial status and warned Ace. However, Ace and Jinbe are at each other’s throats. So they fought for 5 days in a row without a clear winner. At this point, Whitebeard himself appears to the Pirate Pirates, stating that the challenger should stand up, that this was their chance to take his head. Whitebeard goes alone and defeats most of Spades’ pirates. Ace stands up and summons a wall of fire using his devil fruit. Ace tells his crew to run and that he will face Whitebeard alone. Whitebeard calls Ace a “cheeky little brat” and attacks Ace. After what appears to be a long hard battle, Whitebeard comments to Ace saying that it would be a shame if he died there. He states that if Ace still wanted to wreak havoc on the seas, Ace should bear Whitebeard’s symbol and become his “son”.
When Ace wakes up after defeating Whitebeard, Thatch greets Ace and tells him of his position as the commander of the 4th Division of the Whitebeard Pirates. Thatch tells Ace about what happened after he passed out, saying that the Pirates came to get Ace, only for Thatch and his division to defeat them. However, they were on board this ship. Ace questions how Thatch could be so comfortable without being shackled or guarded like a prisoner. And soon Ace’s attempts to kill Whitebeard begin. Ace begins by trying to kill Whitebeard in his sleep. Whitebeard wakes up at the last second and sends Ace flying, soon falling asleep again. Ace tries again, this time with an axe. Whitebeard deflects this attack and throws Ace into the sea. Ace tries it day by day, soon breaking the 100 mark. One day, Marco hands Ace a bowl of soup. Ace asks Marco why everyone called Whitebeard “Pops”. Marco replies that Whitebeard called them his “sons”, that even though the whole world hated them, such words made them happy. Marco presents Ace with the decision of whether to take Whitebeard’s name on his back.
Sometime after talking to Marco, the Whitebeard Pirates cheer as Ace celebrates another victory by taking down Dom and his crew. Later, he has a chance to take the position of commander of the 2nd division. Ace asks around and almost everyone agrees, even the younger version of Blackbeard, still the Whitebeard Pirate. As Ace’s reputation grows, Ace reveals his father to Whitebeard. The old man laughs and says that Ace and Roger have different personalities. Ace asks if he should have been kicked out, but Whitebeard refuses, saying that everyone was a “child of the sea”.
After Blackbeard murders Thatch, some men are seen holding Ace back, saying that Whitebeard made an exception. Ace, outraged, shouts about Blackbeard, saying that he is a traitor, that he must go after him because he committed the ultimate crime and was under his division. Marco and Jozu try to stop him, but Ace runs.
Back in the present at Marineford, Ace yells at the Whitebeard Pirates that he should have been left for dead because he refused to listen and surrendered. Whitebeard says that he told Ace to go, but Ace refutes him, saying that Whitebeard and the others said not to go. However, Whitebeard calls Marco and asks if he told Ace to go. Marco answers yes, saying that Whitebeard told Ace to go. Everyone cheers to save the commander of the 2nd division. The Marine admirals are getting ready and everyone is commenting on the coming war. Suddenly, everything rattles, causing alarm among the marines, even some of the sea warriors. It was then revealed that Whitebeard was the “Quakeman” who ate the Gura Gura no Mi. Sengoku tells everyone to fight and says that the Marines could face the end, not the Whitebeard Pirates. The two sides begin to fight, with two tsunamis on either side of Marineford as the war begins.