#1453 - Chapter 1463: The Battle of Mariner (Part 75)

This scene seemed to foreshadow the inevitable tragic fate of Whitebeard.

"I'm sorry!"

Whitebeard murmured these words in his heart, filled with guilt and helplessness.

At the same time, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, standing on the execution platform, spoke: "The operation plan is basically going smoothly so far. Next, immediately execute Portgas D. Ace!"

With Sengoku's order, the entire scene became tense.

As soon as these words were spoken, both the Whitebeard Pirates and Luffy's companions all turned their attention to the execution platform.

Unfortunately, due to the towering city walls, most people could not directly see the crucial place where life and death would be decided.

"How can this be? Are they going to kill Ace where we can't even see it?"

The Whitebeard Pirates' captains had frighteningly grim expressions, staring intently at where Ace might be, despite only seeing a cold, thick wall. The worry for their comrade's safety in their hearts did not diminish.

At that moment, a deafening roar echoed through the clouds.

"Ace!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and saw Luffy leap over the crowd like an arrow released from a bow.

Instantly, everyone's attention focused on Luffy.

"Ace!"

Luffy shouted his brother's name as he frantically ran towards the execution platform.

His agile figure and unstoppable momentum were like a bolt of lightning, cutting through the heavy, oppressive air.

Luffy's action was like a spark falling into a pile of dry firewood, instantly igniting the fighting spirit of everyone present.

"Let's charge too! We absolutely can't let Ace die here!"

Someone shouted this slogan first, and then the Whitebeard Pirates' somewhat low morale rose again.

The remaining brave sailors followed closely behind Luffy without hesitation, like a surging flood, launching a final charge towards the execution platform.

However, just as Luffy was about to approach the gigantic Oars, the gunners hidden in the shadows, who had been waiting for this moment, instantly took action.

One of the seemingly experienced gunners shouted without hesitation, "Fire!"

With the Navy gunner's command, several cannons simultaneously fired scorching flames and deadly cannonballs.

These cannonballs, like shooting stars, roared straight towards Luffy with fierce momentum.

At this critical moment, a scene suddenly flashed through Luffy's mind.

Although it was only a brief moment, it was enough for him to react instinctively.

Luffy almost subconsciously dodged to the side.

No sooner said than done, a loud "Boom!" was heard, and a cannonball heavily struck the place where Luffy had just been standing, splashing countless rocks and dust.

Then, a thunderous explosion rang out, and the powerful shockwave generated by the explosion spread wildly around like a surging wave.

Luffy took advantage of this powerful impact, borrowing its force to charge forward again.

His figure was like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, he narrowed the distance between himself and Oars once more.

However, compared to Luffy, the Whitebeard Pirates' crew members behind him were not so lucky.

The overwhelming artillery fire mercilessly covered the entire Whitebeard Pirates' area. Apart from a few strong captains who could barely dodge with their own skills, the other ordinary members had no time to react and were hit by the cannonballs.

For a time, screams rose and fell, blood splattered, and the scene was extremely tragic. The dead and wounded were countless, lying scattered all over the ground.

Ace, who had been closely monitoring the development of the battle from afar, felt his heart twist when he witnessed this scene.

He clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and his face was full of pain.

The uncontrollable grief and indignation in his heart made him struggle constantly, trying to break through the heavy and solid shackles on his body and rush towards his comrades who were suffering.

But no matter how hard he tried, the cold shackles still firmly locked his hands and feet, leaving him only able to watch his companions fall one by one, while he was powerless to do anything.

Luffy ran as hard as he could, every step seeming to exhaust the last bit of strength in his body.

His breathing was as rapid as bellows, and sweat poured down like rain, soaking his signature red vest.

Although his body was exhausted to the extreme, his legs were as heavy as lead, and his waist was bent into a bow due to overexertion, he had only one firm belief in his heart—to get close to that terrible execution platform and save his beloved brother Ace!

"Ace!"

Luffy shouted hoarsely.

This shout was full of endless worry and anxiety, piercing through the noisy battlefield and reaching Ace's ears directly.

Ace opened his eyes with difficulty, his originally dim eyes lighting up when he heard his younger brother.

However, when he saw Luffy's disheveled appearance, he was stunned.

At the same time, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who was commanding the battle from a high position, ordered with a grim expression: "Fire!"

With his order, in the next second, countless cannons simultaneously adjusted their angles, and the dark muzzles aimed at Luffy, who was rushing towards the execution platform at all costs.

Only a deafening roar was heard.

"Rumble..."

Dense cannonballs rained down on Luffy's location.

The shockwave generated by the huge explosion instantly overturned Luffy and blasted him backwards with amazing force.

Luffy let out a miserable scream, his body drawing an arc in the air before crashing heavily into the turbulent sea.

Luffy, who fell into the sea, was quickly submerged by the seawater. His figure sank little by little until it completely disappeared below the surface of the sea.

Ace witnessed all of this, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Luffy!"

Ace roared heart-wrenchingly, his eyes fixed on the place where Luffy fell, his body trembling slightly with extreme grief.

Sengoku glanced coldly at the emotionally broken Ace and said in a deep voice without emotion: "Begin the execution!"

The execution soldiers immediately began to act upon receiving the order.

They marched towards Ace with neat steps, holding aloft gleaming blades.

However, just as the execution soldiers raised their arms to swing their swords, the ground suddenly trembled violently.

The entire battlefield fell into chaos, and people looked around in panic, not knowing what had happened.