Chapter 592: The Face King
Ian had never really considered before whether the life force extracted from someone could be used on another person. It was like how Devil Fruit users develop their own abilities—Ian was constantly exploring the potential of his card powers. Within certain rules and conditions, he could achieve effects that the cards didn't originally possess, such as Enel's lightning smelting or using Flying Shadow's flames to replace Iori's flames for Iori's techniques. These were likely hidden abilities.
So Ian wondered if the life force extracted by the Great Serpent card could only be destroyed or returned to its original owner, or if there were other hidden effects he didn't know about. Coincidentally, the life force he had taken from Kaido hadn't been destroyed yet, so he could try using it on Whitebeard.
However, to Ian's surprise, after hearing his suggestion, Whitebeard didn't hesitate to shake his head and refuse. "No need, Ian. This old man is already content to have regained a healthy body at the end of his life. But I don't want to become an immortal monster."
"Huh?" Ian was taken aback, then scratched his head in confusion. "Wouldn't living longer mean more time with your family? Isn't that a good thing?"
Whitebeard glanced at his adopted sons around him, smiled, but still shook his head. "That would be nice, but you have to understand, as a father, the greatest joy isn't how long you spend with your children, but watching them grow and achieve things. The Whitebeard Pirates have been under my shadow for too long. One day, I will pass on, and one day, one of my children will take up the captain's duty. I... cannot keep them under my protection forever. That's what makes a truly qualified father. Do you understand?"
"..." Ian fell silent, suddenly realizing he had underestimated Whitebeard.
No one wants to die; pursuing a longer life is an instinct for all living beings, no matter the world. Yet, faced with the temptation of extended life, Whitebeard refused. Was it because he didn't want more time with his family? No, he certainly did, but he knew that as long as he existed, the pirate crew would always be overshadowed by his reputation. The world knew of Phoenix Marco, Fire Fist Ace, and Diamond Jozu, but whenever they were mentioned, it was always "the Whitebeard Pirates' so-and-so." This showed how deeply Whitebeard influenced the crew.
The older generation often thought more about legacy. Whitebeard hoped that one day, a child would take up his flag and carry the crew forward, rather than it forever being called the "Whitebeard Pirates."
Whitebeard's greatness lay in the fact that he never saw himself as just a pirate but as a true father. He didn't want the fame of an Emperor or eternal life; he just wanted his children to grow up.
Realizing this, Ian fell silent. The world saw Whitebeard as a monster, but only by getting close and understanding him could you see he was just an ordinary old man. Only to protect his family and friends would he transform into a demon.
"The old era will pass, and a new one will come," Whitebeard said. "That's an unchanging truth. I'm grateful to you, Ian. Without you, this war would have been a huge crisis for the Whitebeard Pirates, possibly even causing the crew to collapse. But I appreciate your kindness. You know, seeing you reminds me of my sons. Under my reputation, they haven't achieved as much as you, who forged your own path. That's my fault—I protected them but also restrained them."
"Wait, old man, are you planning to retire?" Ian caught his meaning and was somewhat surprised.
"Why not?" Whitebeard chuckled, looking toward Sengoku and Garp. "It's not just me; those two old men are the same. This war is the final clash of us old-timers. Win or lose, we'll eventually take our leave. They couldn't kill me, and I couldn't kill them. Maybe a peaceful end is the best outcome."
"But it seems some of them aren't satisfied with that..."
Ian turned to look as well. On the battlefield, sporadic fighting was still happening, led by Vice Admirals like Fighting Dog and Onigumo, who were clashing with several Whitebeard Pirates division commanders.
Within the Marines, Akainu's absolute justice philosophy had many followers. Ruthless individuals like Fighting Dog and Onigumo shared his beliefs and had always been his supporters. However, Akainu, the figurehead of this philosophy, had lost both arms in this war, dealing a massive blow to his followers.
Thus, the battle Ian had angrily started continued stubbornly, even after Kaido had left. Fighting Dog and his group didn't want it to end so easily, ignoring Sengoku's orders as if they hadn't heard them.
Their open defiance angered Sengoku, but he knew he couldn't punish these vice admirals severely, only reprimand them. They represented a faction and a mindset within the Marines. You couldn't say their insistence on fighting was wrong, nor could you forcefully order them to stop—they were nominally avenging Marine Admiral Akainu.
However, these sporadic battles were dangerous at this point. With Kaido no longer the focus, both pirates and Marines were starting to notice the ongoing fights between the commanders and vice admirals. Under their influence, the conflict could escalate again.
Just then, the Red Hair Pirates' ship docked.
They anchored far out on the ice's edge, and under Shanks' lead, the Red Hair Pirates stepped onto the ice and walked toward the center.
Perhaps because Kaido had tricked them, Red-Haired Shanks was in a foul mood. No one expected that a madman like Kaido would pull off a feint. The impact of Doflamingo joining Kaido was something no one had anticipated.
So, the moment Shanks set foot on shore, his powerful Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire battlefield.
He led his crew step by step toward the center. With each step, nearby Marines and pirates collapsed unconscious. Even those with stronger strength felt dizzy under the assault of this Conqueror's Haki.
Like cutting wheat, both sides saw people falling in droves.
"That brat Red Hair!" Whitebeard was displeased, squinting at Shanks. He felt the kid was showing off.
Flower Sword Vista was still fighting Onigumo. When Shanks walked over to them, the surrounding Marines and pirates who had been fighting had mostly collapsed. Seeing Shanks approach, Vista chuckled, parried Onigumo's blade, jumped aside, and stroked his mustache while watching Shanks.
"Move aside!" Shanks tilted his head slightly, staring at Onigumo.
"..." Onigumo gripped his swords, hesitating. He didn't speak or immediately step out of the way.
Shanks placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist and said word by word, "I'm different from that madman Kaido. If you Marines want to keep fighting, I'll stand firmly with the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Are you sure you don't want to make way?"
Hearing this, Onigumo's pupils contracted. He silently sheathed his weapons and stepped aside.
Shanks walked forward, separating all the still-fighting Marine vice admirals, and finally stopped before Sengoku.
He looked at Whitebeard, then at Sengoku, and said, "Lord Sengoku, look around. This war has brought too much pain. It's time to stop."
Sengoku followed his gaze. During the fighting, it hadn't been so noticeable, but now that the battlefield had quieted down, people realized that the white ice frozen by Aokiji had been stained red with blood.
Countless severed limbs and bodies lay scattered. Both Marines and pirates had many wounded, sitting on the ground, clutching their wounds and wailing.
Sengoku closed his eyes in pain, tilting his head back, unable to bear the sight.
"Whether pirate or Marine, they all have families," Shanks said. "Don't let more young lives be lost on this battlefield. This war, you Marines have lost. But pirates and Marines can't settle everything in one battle. You still have hope for the future."
"Give me face, Marines... retreat!"
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku looked up at the sky and suddenly shouted, "All Marines, hear my order! Retreat... to Marineford!"
The war was over. But strangely, when the Marines heard Sengoku's command, they felt no disappointment, only relief.
They silently helped their wounded comrades, gathered the bodies of their fallen, and slowly, orderly retreated back to the ice-bound Marine warships.
Seeing this, Whitebeard paused, then said, "Ace, give them a hand."
Ace nodded, stepped out of the crowd, walked to the shore, raised a massive Emperor's Flame fireball in his right hand, and slammed it onto the ice.
Under the intense heat, the ice began to melt, and the Marine ships could finally move again.